Bluebell Railway Giants of Steam 2026:Putting the Giants in Steam!
Welcome back to the Sharpthorne Steam blog! It feels like ages since I last sat down to write one of these. Life has been busy, and finding the time to spend a few days writing and editing blogs has taken a back seat, largely because of that four-letter word… work!
However, Zac (@71d_productions) reminded me on Friday that Giants of Steam definitely deserved a blog of its own. So, without further ado, here is my account of the Bluebell Railway's Giants of Steam Gala 2026.
Before we get started, I would like to thank all the photographers and videographers who contributed to this blog. One of the pleasures of attending these events is meeting other people who share the same passion, enjoying their work as much as my own and helping to showcase their photographs to a wider audience. And yes, there is always room for the videographers among us, too!
The line-up for this year's gala was, in my opinion, a real coup. Having two of Britain's greatest, largest and most powerful steam locomotives together on the same railway was quite something. What more could you ask for than Standard 8 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester and 9F No. 92134?
Well, perhaps one of my favourite tank engines, Ivatt 2MT No. 41313, and a welcome treat for fans of the Standard 4 tanks: No. 80151 would be facing north towards East Grinstead rather than south (confirming her position as the best Standard 4 tank in preservation) Revolutionary stuff, really!
With such a line-up, the only question was whether the weather and the light would play ball. As it turned out, the weekend would deliver a little bit of everything.
Friday: From Duck Weather to Golden Light
Let's face it, Friday was a bit of a damp one. Ideal weather for ducks, as I kept telling everyone. I seemed to develop something of an obsession with them that morning!
Our first port of call was Horsted Keynes station, where I was joined by members of the Canon fraternity, @southeastclassicrail and @robdoestrains. After spending the previous Monday getting soaked during the 9F charter, none of us was particularly keen to head straight back out into the rain with our cameras.
Instead, there was something rather therapeutic (possibly the calm before the storm) about sitting back and watching Standard 4 No. 80151 arrive, collect the vintage set and head north towards East Grinstead in a downpour. Sometimes, simply watching the railway go about its business is just as enjoyable as trying to photograph every movement. It was great to sit and have a chat and not have to worry about wiping the camera down.
The highlight, however, was Camelot departing Horsted Keynes and beginning the climb towards Horsted House Farm. The sound was pure music. I only wished we had been out on the lineside for it, although with the next locomotive being a visitor, it was time to start racking up those miles lineside (a grand total of 22 miles covered over the weekend)
Making the Most of the Weather
For my first video, I headed to a location we had earmarked as a potential cloud-friendly spot on the other side of Vaux End, on the morning side of the line.
It is not my usual approach on a gala day, but when the weather refuses to cooperate, you have to be flexible. If the sun disappears, I often switch the camera over to video mode in the hope of capturing something equally interesting.
First up was the 9F, which had already become my favourite visiting locomotive of the gala. Part of that affection is undoubtedly rooted in nostalgia. When I visited the Bluebell Railway as a child, its own 9F, No. 92240, was in service alongside No. 73082 Camelot and the much-missed Standard 4 No. 75027. Those weekends were what I often refer to as my Golden Age for the railway.
The resulting clip was short and sharp, but it was certainly a location worth exploring further on a future visit, but only when it is cloudy.
80151 and 34059 “Sir Archibald Sinclair” power through Vaux End but this time on the morning side to illustrate where I was on the Friday morning with the 9F. The great thing about the early gala timetable is being able to take shots like this, that on a normal running day wouldn’t be possible as the sun would have come round too much.
My next spot was the outside curve on the northern side of Horsted House Farm Bridge. For me, this is an excellent spot for video. The bridge and signal arms add interest to the composition, while the steep gradient means that locomotives are often working hard as they pass.
And Duke of Gloucester did not disappoint.
The opportunity to capture this magnificent locomotive in action was too good to miss. A fantastic display of exhaust, accompanied by that wonderful chime whistle, made for an excellent start to the gala. There was, however, a little adversity to overcome before we reached what would become one of the best evenings of photography we have ever enjoyed.
Lindfield Wood was where we hoped our photographic fortunes would begin to improve. Unfortunately, the photographer's greatest enemy reared its ugly head once again: clouds.
For the shots, we had to battle our way through the ferns to reach our chosen positions. With the 9F, the sun seemed to take particular delight in frustrating us. It was shining before the locomotive arrived, disappeared just as it passed and returned roughly 30 seconds later.
You really couldn't make it up!
We stayed for the Duke, as I have always found Lindfield Wood to be an atmospheric location. Autumn was running late this year, though, with the ferns still mostly green and the trees showing only a few hints of seasonal colour.
There is also an element of luck involved when photographing here. Lindfield Wood marks the beginning of another steep section of line between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes, and depending on the circumstances, locomotives can sometimes coast through rather than work hard.
Unfortunately, that was the case with the Duke. To make matters worse, the exhaust drifted across the carriages and obscured them from view.
Were we downhearted? Not at all. We knew the weather was supposed to improve as the day progressed, and we still had plenty of opportunities ahead.
A Puncture, a Northbound Tank and a Change of Fortune
This was where the group split up, and for Rob and me, it proved to be a fortunate decision. Alex, on the other hand, was about to have a rather less enjoyable experience, the curse of the group at the moment, a puncture!
As we made our way north from Lindfield Wood towards Three Arch Bridge, little did we know that Alex had suffered a puncture. It seems to be becoming a regular occurrence on our photographic trips. Joe had suffered a similar fate when we visited the Paignton and Dartmouth Railway back in May!
Anyone who has photographed along the Bluebell Railway will know that mobile reception can be rather dreadful. Trying to contact someone when something goes wrong is therefore something of a lottery.
Rob and I reached Three Arch Bridge in time for Standard 4 No. 80151, and it was there that we finally picked up enough signal to discover Alex was having trouble.
Fortunately, we still managed to capture a lovely photograph of the Standard 4 facing north. As plenty of people commented throughout the weekend, it was a rather unusual sight, but a very welcome one. Having the locomotive facing this way opened up some fresh photographic opportunities.
As we walked back towards Horsted Keynes station, where my car was parked, we bumped into Alex. Thankfully, the puncture had been minor, and a little sealant was all that was needed to get us back on the road.
We were all rather relieved, particularly as we were about to enjoy some of the best photographic conditions of the entire gala.
Standard 4 80151 now turned north to face London, is seen powering through Three Arch Bridge with the early Friday afternoon run with the vintage stock.
Freshfield Bank: When Everything Comes Together
Friday evening and Saturday morning delivered some of the best conditions I have ever experienced at a gala.
There were still the occasional clouds to contend with, but Freshfield Bank is one of my favourite locations on the Bluebell Railway for evening sunlight, particularly when the wind is light. On Friday, the conditions were about as good as you could hope for.
My main priority was to secure an early photograph of No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester working up the bank. I wanted to get the shot in the bag so that I could stop worrying about it for the rest of the weekend!
The 9F came first, and after spending much of Monday's charter in the rain, it was fantastic to photograph her at Freshfield in glorious sunshine.
On loan from the North Yorkshire Moors Railway, 9F No92134 powers at break neck speed with her last run up the line on Friday evening. Complete with speedy sheep, this wonderful pan showcases a part of photography I increasingly enjoy, the Pan Shot! Wonderful photograph from @Robdoestrains
Then came the Duke.
I deliberately tried not to pay too much attention to the clouds and their position relative to the sun. If the photograph worked out, brilliant. If it didn't, well, sometimes blissful ignorance is the best policy!
As it turned out, there was absolutely no need to worry. The result was one of my shots of the gala, showing the Duke beautifully with a rake of the Bluebell Railway's wonderfully coloured blood-and-custard Mk1 coaches.
Everyone seemed pleased with their photographs, too. You can always tell when a shot has worked: cameras and video screens suddenly appear as everyone starts showing off their latest captures. Naturally, the Nikon–Canon rivalry was alive and well! But when the light is this good it doesn’t matter as long as we both get winner shots!
The Duke! No71000 climbs Freshfield Bank with a complete set of Blood and Custard Mk1s with perfectly early Golden Hour light
The next locomotive was from the home fleet, and by this point, most people had packed up and gone home. Their loss was our gain.
As No. 80151 climbed Freshfield Bank, the sun hovered above the trees, the exhaust hung beautifully in the air and the golden light was everything a lineside photographer dreams of.
Would I have preferred to see a couple of Bulleid coaches or Mk1s behind the Standard 4? Of course. But this is the joy of railway photography: you take what the railway gives you and make the most of it.
Friday had begun with rain, clouds and plenty of frustration. It ended in glorious light, with some wonderful photographs safely on the memory cards and with some of us already doing some quick edits.
But the light was not finished with us yet. Because the following morning would be two things I love, sun and freezing cold conditions!
The Golden 4 - No80151 climbs Freshfield Bank with the late Golden Hour sun perfectly lighting the train
Saturday: Cold Mornings and Sunny Steam
I have a real soft spot for light-engine movements. I know they are not to everyone's taste, but there is something special about a locomotive running without its train, cylinder cocks open, with the cold morning air helping to create those wonderful clouds of steam. And it was cold that morning, the first cold morning of the year for me, why I didn’t pick up my gloves is beyond me?!
The curve outside Sheffield Park is always a lovely spot for an early-morning photograph. I tend to save it for galas or one of Jon Bowers' charters, when there is a chance to catch a locomotive having lots of drama with cylinder cocks open and being colder as well to produce more dramatic exhaust.
The Standard 4 delivered a wonderful shot, complete with a smoke ring. That is always a welcome bonus! And I believe one of the first smoke ring photos I have been satisfised with
With the locomotive facing north, I was now three for three with the locomotive. Not a bad hit rate at all.
The Early Standard, Catches the Stock - No80151 departs from Sheffield Park light engine on her way to Horsted Keynes to pick up the vintage stock.
We were joined by the group's “Young One”, @72bphotography, who we made very jealous with our photography from the previous evening, and set about capturing some lovely early-morning scenes featuring both the Standard 4 and the 9F in the cold air.
For @southeastclassicrail and me, the next destination was the straight just before Ketches Wood. After carefully stamping down some vegetation and pruning back a little of the lineside growth, we settled on a new position for both of us.
The main reason for the move was that we had already photographed the 9F in excellent light at the location where we had photographed the Standard 4 during the charter on Monday. There was little point simply repeating the same photograph when a fresh composition offered something different.
The cold conditions certainly helped, as did the crew, who very kindly closed the cylinder cocks to give us the opportunity to capture another excellent shot.
For me, this was probably the point at which my Saturday photography peaked. There would be a few more successes during the day, but I felt that I had captured some of my strongest images early on.
Freshfield Bank and a Change of Perspective
I love Freshfield Bank as much as the next photographer, but the wind can be a real nuisance. Our next shot, featuring No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair, was a perfect example of how it can create unwanted shadows and generally play havoc with a carefully planned composition.
It was not a complete waste of time, though, but better shots were to come of No34059 later on in the day. This was more of a positioning move before heading north to Three Arch Bridge for the double-header featuring the Ivatt and Standard 4 tanks.
For the Duke, I decided to try the curve just beyond Caseford Bridge when heading north. The light was slightly better there, and I wanted to capture a photograph that emphasised the imposing proportions of the locomotive.
My Canon rival, Mr South East Classic Rail, opted for his favourite position at Three Arch Bridge. While his chosen location undoubtedly produces excellent results, I enjoy experimenting with different viewpoints to see whether they might work for future photographs and videos.
I had previously tried the curve with a Class 73 back in September, and the results had been promising. This would be my first attempt with a steam locomotive, so I was keen to see how it would work.
Rather than keeping all the results to myself, I will showcase both my photograph and Alex's alongside the blog.
Who do you think got the better photo? the classic spot at the Three Arch Bridge above or Caseford Curve below, let me know in the comments below!
Afterwards, I headed south to Holywell. I had seen an excellent clip from ChaileyStoweYT, filmed a little further up the bank, and wanted to try the location for myself.
I can already see myself returning for more photography here in the future.
At this point, my stint as the group's chauffeur came to an end. I made my way back towards Three Arch Bridge as quickly as possible, trying to avoid the pesky brambles that seem determined to trip me up at every opportunity.
However, when I arrived, there was nobody about and, with no mobile signal, I had no way of finding out what was happening. So, after a brief rethink, I turned around and headed back to Holywell to capture the first of the two double-headers featuring Standard 5 No. 73082 Camelot and 9F No. 92134. Surprisingly having all the equipment and dumping my coat with 72bphotography and it still felt like I had done 30 minutes cycling in the gym going back and forth between Three Arch and Holywell.
Like plenty of railway photographers and enthusiasts, I have a real interest in the Somerset and Dorset Railway, affectionately nicknamed the “Slow and Dirty”. The chance to photograph Camelot working with a 9F was not one I was prepared to miss.
Sorry, Alex and Rob, but nobody gets between me and a photograph of Camelot!
The Pines Express - No73082 Camelot with 9F No92134 passes Holywell with a Somerset & Dorset Railway recreation
Vaux End: A Change of Luck
Fortunately, Alfie and I managed to catch up with Alex and Rob by chance. We met them at Freshfield Bank as they were making their way back up the line, rescued them and piled back into the car.
Our next destination was a location I had never been particularly fond of: Vaux End.
I have often struggled here with overhanging foliage obscuring the exhaust, the camera failing to focus or some other problem spoiling the shot. For whatever reason, it has never been a particularly reliable location for me.
Thankfully, the Duke changed all that.
The resulting photograph was one I was genuinely pleased with, and the weather was proving to be glorious. Blue skies, sunshine and plenty of opportunities to capture steam locomotives working hard made for a very enjoyable afternoon.
The Royal Scot - No71000 passes through Vaux End on the Saturday afternoon with safety valves lifting to add to the drama.
Horsted Keynes: The Standard Line-Up
Next on the agenda was a location that no surprise seemed to have attracted just about everyone else at the gala: Horsted Keynes.
And for good reason. All four Standard locomotives were to be assembled at the northern end of the station for the Standard line-up.
As usual, the crowds gathered wherever they could find a view, whether on the station, in the paddock or on Leamland Bridge. I opted for the paddock, where a number of friends, including the wonderful 30742 Charters, kindly lent me their large steps so I could get above the crowds and capture a decent photograph.
It was a lovely opportunity to photograph the line-up, and I really ought to make more use of the paddock when it is open, especially when there is lovely light to boot as well.
The Standard Line-Up: From 9 to 4 from left to right, we have 9F 92134, Standard 8 No71000 “Duke of Gloucester”, Standard 5 No73082 “Camelot” and finally Standard 4 No80151
I also found myself becoming Chailey’s videographer using his Panasonic camera for the shunting movements around Horsted Keynes. I have always admired the zoom-out feature on his camcorder, so naturally I appointed myself his paid videographer and got to work. However, the cheque still hasn’t arrived in the post! Maybe I got my address wrong?
Joking aside, watching the results has left me wondering whether a dedicated camcorder might be a worthwhile addition to my own kit. That is probably a discussion for another blog, though. Back to the photography!
We stayed for the departure of Camelot and No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair. The latter photograph had all the hallmarks of autumn, with a few splashes of colour in the foliage, even if autumn seems to have been delayed somewhat this year.
Autumnal Tints - No34059 “Sir Archibald Sinclar” leaves Horsted Keynes station with the first signs of autumn appearing in the trees and a lovely haze of sun illuminating that lovely worn in paintwork.
It was nevertheless one of my favourite photographs of Archie for quite some time.
Unfortunately, that was more or less where my run of successful lineside photographs came to an end for Saturday. For the next image, I will hand over to Joe (@21cPhotography), who captured the shot of the 9F that I had been hoping to get myself.
The Blood & Custard 9 - 9F No92134 in the evening light on her only run with the Blood & Custard set of the weekend, looks marvellous from @21cphotography’s perspective.
The Mound and a Night Shoot at Sheffield Park
Chailey and I stayed to photograph the Ivatt tank at the Mound. Looking at the image on the back of the camera, I have to admit that it did not look particularly promising.
However, I have always believed that editing can be one of the most powerful tools available to a photographer. A photograph that looks rather dark straight out of the camera can sometimes be brought to life with a little careful work.
After some editing, I was pretty please with the result.
The Evening Ivatt - No41313 on loan from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway passes the Mound on her way into Horsted Keynes.
With the day's lineside photography coming to an end, we made our way back to Sheffield Park for something a little different: an impromptu night shoot with the Duke.
There were two reasons for our return. The first was the opportunity to photograph No. 71000 with the Pullman coaches on the evening dining train. The second was to meet with the Bluebell Railway team to discuss a project we are working on for next year. Hopefully, I will be able to share more details about that early next year.
Naturally, there was also time for dinner and a few drinks between the Duke's northbound and southbound movements.
I have enjoyed night photography with steam locomotives ever since photographing Sir Nigel Gresley at Sheffield Park two years ago. I had wanted to revisit the idea, and the Duke seemed like the perfect subject.
One thing that really struck me was just how enormous the locomotive was. We kept moving further back, only to realise that we needed to be right at the northern end of Platform 2 to fit the full length of the train into the composition.
This was another occasion when I appreciated the handheld capabilities of my Nikon cameras. I have found that I can get acceptably sharp handheld images with the Z8 at shutter speeds of around two seconds, depending on the circumstances.
The resulting photograph made me very happy. It was slightly different from the image I captured two years ago, partly because of the elongated and raised platform at Platform 2, but Sheffield Park remains an excellent location for night photography.
The Golden Pullman - No71000 “Duke of Gloucester” stands at Sheffield Park with the 1900 departure of the evening Golden Arrow on Saturday night.
With the shoot complete, it was time to head into the Bessemer Arms for some bevvies and a look at the dinner menu. Thankfully, a lovely curry was available, complete with poppadoms. After a long day on the lineside, it was exactly what I needed.
The evening continued with the usual banter, a resumption of the Nikon–Canon War and plenty of interference from the Panasonic brigade, who seem to take great delight in stoking the flames.
As we do not get too personal in these blogs, I will be adding a photograph of the group so you can see the lovely faces who photograph at the railway.
It was a thoroughly enjoyable evening, with plenty of ideas exchanged and future plans discussed. Before calling it a night, we had one final photographic opportunity as No. 71000 ran round its train before heading north towards Horsted Keynes.
A fantastic end to Saturday, but there was still one more day to go.
The team from right to left
Chailey - @chaileystoweYT, Alex - @southeastclassicrail, Alfie - @72bphotography, James - @70cphotography, Rob - @Robdoestrains, Me (Ben) - @sharpthornesteam
Sunday: Hot Dogs, Chime Whistles and the Mega Train
Sunday was Hot Dog Day, complete with a mug of tea! And for me Sundays are the best days of any gala.
For much of the day, I put away the hi-vis and headed fenceside rather than the lineside. I was joined by my best friend for what has become a rather lovely tradition: a day of photography accompanied by some freshly cooked food and a good cup of tea.
It really does make railway photography all the more enjoyable, especially as I do not normally bring lunch with me on my usual photographic outings.
As on Friday and Saturday, it was an early start. We arrived at Horsted Keynes at 07:45, ready to secure our positions for the Ivatt's northbound run with the vintage stock at Horsted House Farm Crossing.
I was a little concerned about the light. Clouds were building, and the sunshine kept coming and going. So, I adopted the same strategy I had used on Friday: look away and try not to think about the weather while the locomotive approached.
Thankfully, it worked again.
Our first success of the day was a lovely photograph of the Ivatt. A pesky drain cock had stuck open, but I actually think it added a little drama to the composition, especially as the steam kicked up the newly fallen leaves.
Ivatt Morning - On the Sunday morning Ivatt Tank No41313 with a stuck open drain cock powers towards Horsted Keynes with the drain cock blasting up the newly dropped leaves.
From there, we moved up to Horsted House Farm Bridge. I decided to switch over to video, as my weekend had so far been rather photograph-heavy. There is nothing wrong with that, of course, but we all know that reels and video clips attract more attention on the socials these days.
A quick video of No. 80151 and No. 34059 at the bridge made for a lovely pairing, particularly with the Standard 4 facing north.
Our next location was South Field, just south of Horsted Keynes. It is not somewhere I photograph very often, but having seen several successful images from the spot, I was tempted to give it a try.
By the end of the attempt, I had decided to put the stills away and concentrate on video for the rest of the day.
Unfortunately, my first effort was an off-the-power shot in beautiful sunshine. Put simply, you don’t win ‘em all. On that occasion, I’d bought a ticket but no dice on the raffle!
Hot Dogs and a Race Against Time
It was time to return to Freshfield Bank, where the food offering was now in full swing.
Hot dogs and tea were on the menu. Being the greedy pig I am, I opted for two hot dogs and a cup of tea. After a weekend of dieting, it was important to get those calories back!
We settled in for the next four up services at Freshfield Bank, although things became a little chaotic early on. A delay involving the 9F had caught me off guard just as Camelot and the Duke began their climb up the bank.
I have never changed a camera and lens so quickly.
I reached for my equipment, switched things around and went to turn the camera on. Nothing happened.
Disaster!
I had forgotten that I needed a battery as well.
Thankfully, I managed to get everything working in time to capture the two chime-whistle locomotives. It was a close call, and certainly not the sort of excitement I had planned for the morning and this late in the gala when fatigue had started to set in.
Later, when Camelot and the 9F came through together, the wind had picked up. With Camelot not working quite as hard as I had hoped, the exhaust drifted over the 9F and the rest of the train, spoiling the view.
It was safe to say that Sunday was not going entirely to plan.
Then the rain arrived, soaking us as we moved up the line to Waterworks for 34059 and the Duke.
With the weather deteriorating, we decided to retreat towards Horsted Keynes footpath. While everyone else headed south for Freshfield Bank followed by a mad dash to Imberhorne to capture the Mega Train, I decided to make the most of the remaining opportunities closer to the station.
A Visit to Stumpy
I had three shots in mind along Horsted Keynes footpath, beginning with the Ivatt at Stumpy.
For those unfamiliar with the name, Stumpy is a useful landmark at one of my favourite video locations. Following some lineside clearance in the spring, he had been uprooted. Thanks to the efforts of a few of us, particularly my best friend, he was eventually put back in place.
It was therefore good to see him again and use him as a reference point for the shot.
The Ivatt made a lovely run past, although the drain cock produced such a blast that I was left with ringing ears and a rather deaf left ear for a while afterwards!
With that captured, it was time for the opening piece of the final act of the gala from my favourite locomotive: Standard 5 No. 73082 Camelot.
Camelot: The Warm Up Act
Having spotted a certain gentleman on Camelot's footplate on my timetable, I had high hopes for this final run. By now, the weather had turned grey and overcast, so I decided to keep the camera in video mode.
For me, this was one of the runs of the entire gala. The exhaust had beautiful texture, the wonderful chime whistle gave a long blast, and the locomotive had plenty of bark as it made its way along the line.
It was a fantastic piece of footage and a fitting way to finish my lineside photography for the weekend.
As anyone involved in railway photography or videography will appreciate, capturing these moments is often a team effort. The locomotive crews are an important part of the experience, and they are usually brilliant at understanding what photographers are hoping to capture.
So, this is my opportunity to say a huge thank you to all the crews and volunteers who worked throughout the weekend. The early starts, late finishes, hard work and dedication that go into making a gala like this possible should never be taken for granted.
The same goes for the railway's volunteers, whose efforts help make events such as Giants of Steam such a pleasure to attend.
But we were not quite finished yet.
There was still one final act to come, and it was a big one.
The Mega Train!
The highlight of the weekend's finale was undoubtedly the mega train.
Standard 8 No. 71000 Duke of Gloucester is one of the most powerful steam locomotives currently operating in the United Kingdom. With just six Mk1 coaches behind it, the Duke was hardly being stretched.
There was only one way to give it a more substantial challenge: add another six coaches and put 9F No. 92134 on the rear.
The result was a magnificent twelve-coach train, with the 9F bringing up the rear and the Duke doing the work at the front.
Resplendent with its Royal Scot headboard, the Duke rounded the corner at Horsted House Farm Crossing and came straight into the crosshairs of my camera.
I always enjoy finishing a gala weekend at Horsted House Farm Bridge, usually with a double-header, but this run had all the ingredients of a classic finale.
The Mega Train - No71000 leads a 12 coach set, plus 9F on the rear to the delight of onlookers at Freshfield Bank
The locomotive sounded better than ever, and it was a real pleasure to watch the Duke take the weight of the train and make its way up one of the steepest sections of the Bluebell Railway with apparent ease.
No. 71000 is truly a remarkable locomotive. I was already a fan before the weekend began, but after seeing it perform throughout Giants of Steam, I came away even more impressed.
The sound of those chime whistles was still ringing in our ears, and, as usual, there were a few lumps of unburnt coal to pick out of my hair!
With that, another Giants of Steam had come to an end. It also marked the conclusion of the Bluebell Railway's enthusiast-event calendar for 2026.
What a way to finish!
Final Thoughts: A Gala to Remember
What a remarkable gala it was!
It was also encouraging to see such positive reactions in the Bluebell Bashers chat over the weekend. From the impressive locomotive line-up to the double-headers, unusual formations and magnificent mega train, there was plenty for enthusiasts and photographers to enjoy.
For me, the weekend was a mixture of frustrations, unexpected setbacks and some genuinely outstanding photographic opportunities. Friday began with rain and clouds before delivering glorious evening light at Freshfield Bank. Saturday brought crisp mornings, excellent conditions and an enjoyable night shoot at Sheffield Park. Sunday had its share of missed opportunities and awkward weather, but Camelot and the mega train provided a spectacular finish.
Of course, not every photograph went to plan. Sometimes the sun disappears at precisely the wrong moment, the wind sends the exhaust in the wrong direction or the camera decides not to play ball.
That is all part of the fun.
One of the things I enjoy most about these weekends is the company. Meeting fellow photographers, sharing locations, comparing results and occasionally engaging in a little friendly rivalry make these events far more enjoyable. I hope this blog has also provided a useful opportunity to showcase the work of others, with some different perspectives on the same locomotives and movements.
A huge thank you once again to everyone who contributed photographs and video clips. It is always a pleasure to include work from other photographers and videographers and share their experiences with a wider audience.
Although Giants of Steam has wrapped up the year at the Bluebell Railway, there are still a few events left on my own calendar.
At the end of October, we will be visiting the Chinnor and Princes Risborough Railway to enjoy some rides along the line with Lady of Legend and 9F No. 92134, as well as doing some photography with USATC S160 No. 6046.
After that, it will be time to head to the Kent & East Sussex Railway to see out the gala season. Add in a few charters at the Bluebell Railway featuring Beachy Head and No. 65, and there is still plenty to look forward to before the year draws to a close.
Then comes Steamlights and that word that, in my opinion, should not exist until 24 December, when everyone suddenly rushes to the shops…
Christmas!
Thank you all for reading, and I hope you enjoy the remaining events of the gala season. I look forward to sharing more photographs, videos and adventures with you soon.
Until next time, have a wonderful weekend.
Ben
Sharpthorne Steam
Please find the gallery of photos from Giants from @southeastclassicrail, @21cphotography, @72bphotography, @TangoH21, @robdoestrains, @therailwayrover, @benjendenrailway and of course myself
