Bluebell Railway | 'Branch Line Weekend' starring 7812, 7714 & 1369! - Sat/Sun 11th & 12th May 2024

#erlestokemanor #gwr #steam

Friday 10th to Sunday 12th May would see the Bluebell Railway's annual 'Branch Line Weekend' Gala, a weekend where traditionally smaller locos take center stage. Also over the last couple of years the gala timetable has seen a variety of workings, from local trains running sections of the line to loco swaps at Horsted Keynes to maximise variety.

Visiting this year was Manor no.7812 'Erlestoke Manor' from the Severn Valley Railway and the Erlestoke Manor fund. She joined another Severn Valley Railway resident, Pannier Tank no.7714. The third visitor was another Pannier Tank, no.1369 from the South Devon Railway. From the home fleet, long term visitor Hall no.6989 'Whitewick Hall' gave a GWR flavour to the event, she was joined by Terrier no.72 'Fenchurch', O1 no.65 and Std 4 no.80151 who was running as 80100 for the weekend. A busy timetable was in operation, some trains double headed, some running only as far as Kingscote, longer layovers at Horsted Keynes and loco swaps on some services meaning there was non stop action across the event!

We visited for the weekend, our third straight gala weekend after Epping Ongar and then West Somerset Railway last weekend! Saturday 11th we had travel tickets, taking a round trip from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park and return, stopping off at Kingscote and Horsted Keynes on the way to soak up the action, spending a lovely few hours with my parents at the same time. Sunday 12th we spent a while at West Hoathly in the morning to get some lineside action. As usual the video is sequenced in time of day order from across both days.

It was a lovely weekend in some glorious weather, too hot at times really! Many thanks to all involved in organising the event.

Photos...

https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts198...

Locations and Locos...

6989 at West Hoathly 12/05/24.
7714 at West Hoathly 12/05/24 x2.
6989 at West Hoathly 12/05/24.
7812 at West Hoathly 12/05/24 x2.
7714 at West Hoathly 12/05/24.
7812 at Kingscote 11/05/24.
7714 at Horsted Keynes 11/05/24.
1369 at Horsted Keynes 11/05/24.
65 at Horsted Keynes 11/05/24.
7812 at Horsted Keynes 11/05/24.
6989 at Horsted Keynes 11/05/24.
7714 at Horsted Keynes 11/05/24.
72 & 80151 at Horsted Keynes 11/05/24.
7812 at Horsted Keynes 11/05/24.
7714 at Sheffield Park 11/05/24.
1369 & 6989 at Sheffield Park 11/05/24.