It was to be a varied traction fest in Sussex on Saturday 21st September, as UKRailtours would run a railtour to the Bluebell Railway, in conjunction with their Beer Festival weekend.
The tour would set out from Nottingham behind 66792, travelling to Grantham and then heading down the ECML to Finsbury, before heading to Acton Sidings, where 73128 and 73119 would attach to the rear, to haul the set to East Grinstead, and onto Sheffield Park. The return would follow the same route, but with all three locos triple heading the set.
Before the Bluebell action, we headed to Beckenham Hill to catch 34046 Braunton on Saphos Trains 'Golden Arrow' to Canterbury. The tour has started at Birmingham under electric power and had also travelled to Acton Sidings, where 34046 would take over. Braunton is captured climbing the grade through the station before shutting off from a signal check.
Onto the Bluebell tour now, with the two 73s seen on electric power through Woldingham. Now on Bluebell Metals, the tour is seen climbing out of East Grinstead at Imberhorne, with the two 73s now on diesel power. The Bluebell were running a two train service for the Beer Festival, with diesel power from Class 33111, visiting from the Swanage Railway having starred at the Bluebell's Diesel Gala a few weeks prior, and New Build Atlantic No. 32424 Beachy Head providing the steam power.
At Freshfield Bank, the Class 33 is captured climbing the grade, followed by Beachy Head an hour later. Once the Atlantic had cleared the single line section, the railtour would depart for the mainline, with all three locos working to get the train up the grade. A chase was made to Sharpthorne Tunnel for a second shot, before heading back onto the mainline at Hurst Green. Having been delayed by an electrical fault, the tour is seen getting away from an unexpected stop just outside the station, having been put behind a service train.
To end the day, we headed back into Kent for the return of the Golden Arrow, and headed to Morleys Road just prior to Sevenoaks tunnel, where we witness Braunton tackling the climb of Hildenborough bank in the sunset.
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29 сен 2024
