Rail_Sussex
Member
I believe the EPB & MLVs are currently at Southall, please correct me of I’m wrong.
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Bluebell Railway NSE Diesel Gala 4-6 September 2026
- Thread starter trainmania100
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
03179 - Isle of Wight
31108 - Midland Railway Butterley
31210 - ?
33108 - Severn Valley
50026 - Eastleigh (50021 and 50026 Group)
60028 - Cappagh (DC Rail)
73128 - GBRf
1001 - St Leonards (Hastings Diesels)
9001 - Southall? (EPB Pres Group)
9002 - Southall? (EPB Pres Group)
5759 - Southall? (EPB Pres Group)
Many thanks for this detailed reply. I support your decision to spell it out in detail, it really could be a life saver.
43096
On Moderation
- Joined
- 23 Nov 2015
- Messages
- 18,733
Hastings Unit 1001 is already on the railway.
Thanks
Just on that though, and to save a small bit of confusion, both 33108 and 1001 are both in temporary residents on the line and have been for part of the summer. I believe both leave for their respective homes after the gala has finished.
Also, something of BR Mk1 Suburban origin in NSE has been seen in the line too. Unsure if one of the EPBs has arrived.
Last edited:
It is indeed, but I included that and 33108 as they are both visitors to the railway
That’s the Oxted Thumper 1305 - it’s been partially repainted into NSE for the gala.
SECR 65
Member
33108 will remain at the Bluebell for some time after the gala and will leave later in the Autumn. It is booked to haul further services which will be announced in due course.
Invincible
Member
It is the part of the only phase 1 cig unit, displaying it, even as a static display might help raise funds for restoration.
Ideally there should be a EMU gala, but till that happens EMUs will be guests at diesel galas, ideally push pull powered by diesel locos
Last edited:
UP13
Member
- Joined
- 27 Jul 2018
- Messages
- 509
Just bought my tickets for the Sunday. Shame I couldn't make the Sunday as the band in the evening sounds really good too.
Hope the event is a huge hit and helps the railway claw back some of the lost revenue from the dry summer!
Hope the event is a huge hit and helps the railway claw back some of the lost revenue from the dry summer!
SECR 65
Member
The music is on Saturday evening, is it not?
Only thing is... The Bessemer Arms is at Sheffield Park, not Horsted Keynes!
I understand that the bar in the Bessemer Arms will be open until late on Friday and Saturday of the gala.
So do I - the steam ban, whilst absolutely neccecary, has been really bad for the railway and visitor numbers have been noticably lower.
UP13
Member
- Joined
- 27 Jul 2018
- Messages
- 509
Typo on my behalf. I meant to say shame ai couldn't go on the Saturday.
As easy to get to East Grinstead from Gatwick (500) or Three Bridges (281, 291, 400) on Metrobus, as to use the replacement buses.
SECR 65
Member
As of yesterday, there is no sign at the railway (I didn't look that hard, in honesty) of any of the gala visitors, aside from 33108 and 1001, and (obviously) E6040.
When I looked last night there was no sign yet of any STP moves to East Grinstead in the NR data which are of note for the gala.
When I looked last night there was no sign yet of any STP moves to East Grinstead in the NR data which are of note for the gala.
50026 was, I think, hauled to Willesden from Eastleigh by 60028 yesterday.
0Z61 1142 Eastleigh Arlington (Zg) to Willesden Dc Rail Sidings
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R56604/2026-08-28/detailed
60028 with 50026 working 0Z61 Eastleigh Works to Willesden DC Rail Sidings via Woking passes Basingstoke 28/08/26
60028 was picking up 50026 from Eastleigh Works in readiness for their visit to the Bluebell Railway Diesel Gala over the weekend of 04-06 September 2026.
www.flickr.com
Southall move on Wednesday
5Z84 1030 Southall Wcr to East Grinstead
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:K03125/2026-09-02/detailed
Butterley move also on Wednesday
0O47 1124 Butterley M.R.C. to East Grinstead Sidings
https://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/service/gb-nr:R46339/2026-09-02/detailed
Last edited:
5759, 9001 & 9002 booked to arrive by rail on Wednesday (5Z84).
31108 and 31210 booked to arrive by rail on Wednesday (0O47).
50026 and 60028 booked to arrive by rail on Thursday (timings TBC).
73128 booked to arrive by rail on Thursday (timings TBC).
The 03 will arrive by road (I believe next week).
I don’t have any info on the move of 1753’s DTC 76048, but I imagine that will arrive by road next week.
As mentioned above 33108 and 1001 are already on the railway, having run most of the summer services alongside E6040.
31108 and 31210 booked to arrive by rail on Wednesday (0O47).
50026 and 60028 booked to arrive by rail on Thursday (timings TBC).
73128 booked to arrive by rail on Thursday (timings TBC).
The 03 will arrive by road (I believe next week).
I don’t have any info on the move of 1753’s DTC 76048, but I imagine that will arrive by road next week.
As mentioned above 33108 and 1001 are already on the railway, having run most of the summer services alongside E6040.
I'm pretty sure it's already there , it was seen moving by road early last month and there are photos on the bluebell Facebook of it in undercoat in a shed.
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Poor joined up thinking. I note that, likewise, Alnmouth will only have RRBs on the day of the Aln Valley Gala
SECR 65
Member
It's very frustrating that the mainline closure and the gala have fallen on the same day. At least there are trains running on Friday and Saturday. I suspect the Bluebell had little choice in terms of the placement of the gala. You couldn't really run it this weekend, in August, on the bank holiday, as that would be a detriment to Summer holiday traffic who want steam......
Likewise, two weeks after the diesel gala is the beer festival. Four months after that is Giants of Steam. Both will be determined by loco availability.
Peter Sarf
Established Member
I wonder which came first ?.
Bluebell Railway fixing the date
OR
Network rail planning the engineering work.
It is frustrating but at the same time the engineering work is necessary. In that case make sure to leave a bit earlier since the bus does take longer than train
Techniquest
Veteran Member
I hear you on that, I’m absolutely not going now as a result of faffing around with buses. It wouldn’t have been too big an issue if I hadn’t planned to use the coach to London in the first place, I can find better things to do elsewhere!
Ted633
Member
- Joined
- 15 Mar 2018
- Messages
- 556
Just seen on 1753 Facebook page that the DTC will be travelling from Burton for this, so it isn’t the one seen on the road last month. The one seen on the road was entirely in Connex livery, no primer in sight, so not the one we’ve seen images of.
The DTC in primer/undercoat as we’ve seen pictures of is likely the one attending. Think it’s possible it’s been repainted (and if it has, it’ll be NSE)
The gala was planned and the date fixed towards the end of 2025. I don’t know how far in advance Network Rail releases info about planned engineering works, but I imagine it would be quite close between the two.