Some of the delights of steam power running in 2024 in the South of the UK.
Cast in order of appearance: -
- Brighton 'Terrier' A1X class 0-6-0 tank engine built in 1872 No. 72 'Fenchurch' climbing Freshfield Bank at pace. (Not as incorrectly captioned No. 55, which , of course, is 'Stepney')
- Visitor to the Bluebell Railway No. 60103 LNER Class A3 4-6-2 'Flying Scotsman' on Freshfield Bank. Then seen and heard climbing up towards Sharpthorn Tunnel as a small herd of deer remain unmoved on the opposite hill.
- On loan GWR Hall class 4-6-0 No. 6989 'Wightwick Hall' on Freshfield Bank and climbing past Horsted Place on the Bluebell Railway
- British Railways standard class 5 4-6-0 No. 73082 named 'Camelot' after the King Arthur Class locomotive of that name was retired. Seen and heard working hard up to Sharpthorn Tunnel with a train of mixed carriages, including vintage 4-wheelers more than a century old. Then seen coasting down Freshfield Bank to the destination, Sheffield Park station.
- LNER B1 class 4-6-0 No. 61306 named 'Mayflower' in preservation runs past Littlehampton Junction with a long Steam Dreams excursion and again crossing the river Arun at Shoreham in Sussex.
- The sights and sounds of a Bullied West Country/Battle of Britain Class 4-6-2 can be best appreciated on board the train. BB N0.34070 'Manston' is seen leaving Sheffield Park and observing a temporary speed restriction whilst acting as a competent sheepdog. Then seen and heard climbing the 1 in 60 bank to Sharpthorn tunnel and on board at the same spot.
- Visiting rebuilt West Country class 4-6-2 No 21C127 (34027) in inauthentic war time black livery and number for a 'Rebuilt' climbing Freshfiield Bank during the Bluebell Giants of Steam weekend. Cation incorrectly shows 34023. (How I got that wrong, heaven knows. I saw the engine nearly every day for months in the early '60s)
- BB 4-6-2 'Manston' in deliberate work stained external condition runs past at Sheffield Park followed by Std 5 72082 'Camelot' readying to leave with a re-enacted double-headed Somerset and Dorset Railway 'Pines Express' working.
- Standard Class 4 2-6-4 tank engine no. 80151 coasts down towards Sheffield Park
- LMS Ivatt class 2MT 2-6-2 Tank engine at Ropley on the Mid Hants Railway and an on board departure.
- Somerset and Dorset Fowler 7F 2-8-0 No 53808 powers up the 1 in 60 climb from Alton to Medstead and Four Marks. Difficult to get a clear lineside shot on this stretch but we can enjoy the pounding chatter when on board. This was 53808's final weekend in service prior to withdrawal and rebuild.
- Rebuilt Southern Railway Battle 0f Britain class 4-6-2 No. 34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair' returns to active service on the Bluebell Railway!
Enjoy - do comment and subscribe if you feel so inclined.
Nick 1/1/2024
11 сен 2024
