Bluebell Railway 'Diesel Gala' - 05.09.25

The Bluebell Railway’s annual diesel gala would make a return for another year, held over the weekend of the 5th-7th September, featuring a variety of diesel locomotives as they took over the line for the weekend.

The gala would consist of 5 guests, in the form of Class 25 No. 25262 (South Devon Diesel Traction Group), Class 47 No. 47715 (Rail Engineering Solutions), Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’ (Hanson & Hall Rail Solutions), Class 33/1 No. 33108 (Severn Valley Railway) & Class 201 DEMU No. 1001 (Hastings Diesels Limited). The former two have been regular scenes on the line for the past couple of months, assisting the railway with their Rail200 services, and the 33 stepping in whenever needed should other steam locomotives not been available. The Railway’s own 4-VEP 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’, which is looked after by the Southern Electric Traction Group, would also make a return from last year’s gala from its base at Strawberry Hill depot, and would be powered by the Class 33. Class 73 E6040 ‘The Bluebell Railway’ would also appear at this year’s gala, double heading with the Class 50. In addition, this would be the first time 47715 would be running in its new Virgin livery, which was first shown at the The Greatest Gathering event in Derby last month.

Captured on the first day of the gala, the timetable would see a variety of runs, with some services starting and terminating at Horsted Keynes, heading to either Sheffield Park or East Grinstead. The day would prove to be worthwhile, topped off with the excellent sunshine with signs of autumn starting to set in, a complete contrast to the downpour last year's gala faced.

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