The Bluebell Railway - Spring Steam Gala Celebrating Photographers on the Line!
As I finally sit down on Monday night to gather my thoughts on the Bluebell Railway Spring Steam Gala, I had a moment of clarity: why not celebrate the fantastic work of others and give their photography a wider platform on the World Wide Web?
I continue to be impressed by the sheer talent within the railway photography community, from those just beginning their photographic journey to seasoned hands who have been at it for years. The standard of work on display is nothing short of staggering. That, ultimately, is the reason for this post.
What follows is a mixture of words and images: a written reflection on my three days at the railway, alongside photographs from friends whose work I greatly admire and wish to showcase. I hope you enjoy taking a look at some of their images below as well as throughout this blog.
The Bluebell Railway’s Spring Steam Gala was held from March 20–22 and featured three exciting guest locomotives alongside the well-established home fleet.
Among the visitors was BR Standard Class 4 No. 75069, a 4-6-0 with strong local connections to the Bluebell Railway during her British Railways working life. 75069 visited for the weekend only, but following the gala she remained for a photographers’ charter on the Monday before returning to the Severn Valley Railway.
The second guest arrived from the Isle of Wight Steam Railway: W8 Freshwater, a sister locomotive to the Bluebell’s own No. 55 Stepney and No. 72 Fenchurch. Over the course of the weekend, Freshwater operated in tandem with Fenchurch, providing a particularly fitting and atmospheric pairing.
The third guest was No. 2999 Lady of Legend, which had joined the railway in September last year and looks set to remain through the summer and into the autumn. Altogether, this superb line-up meant that eight locomotives were in steam over the course of the weekend. With so much going on, something different was needed to cover the whole event properly — a plan!
For some, that might seem obvious. For me, it usually takes the form of a loose mental plan: I’ll be here for the first shot, there for the seventh, and we’ll see what happens in between. I spent much of the weekend walking the line with the usual Musketeers/Carrots from last year, @Robdoestrains and @72bphotography. Thankfully, the weather largely played its part, aside from Sunday afternoon, which allowed us to make the most of the excellent photographic and video opportunities on offer.
Friday (Video Day)
The day began with a rather impromptu photographic briefing from @70cphotography in the Sheffield Park car park at 08:30. This covered which crews were on which locomotives, along with any interesting headboards to look out for. It also provided a welcome opportunity to catch up with friends and share a few laughs before donning the orange jacket and heading lineside.
The first location on the list was Freshfield Bank, a shot that would prove tricky over the first two days of the gala. While Freshfield Bank is one of the primary locations along the line for any steam photographer or enthusiast, it certainly lives up to its name. On the Friday morning, strong winds blew across the line and into the field, directly across the path of the sun. As a result, the exhaust continually shadowed the train. Unfortunately, this was the case whether you were positioned in the field or on the lineside, and it would remain an issue until my final attempt on Sunday morning.
The next location was Holywell, which, since being cut back last year, has quickly become a favourite of mine. The banking there offers an elevated viewpoint and a pleasing angle for a more side-on shot of the locomotive, particularly useful during the double-header workings over the weekend. Especially if the shot involved two tender engines.
According to the plan, we were due to return to Rock Cutting. However, with time moving on and the whistles of the Standard 4 tank drawing ever closer, we instead positioned ourselves just north of Tremains Crossing. Definitely not the shot I was intending but in the end, it just about worked as a outro shot for the video.
Sun, No Wind and Power - Visiting from the Severn Valley, Standard 4 4-6-0 No75069 powers up the bank at Freshfield with lots of spring flowers in bloom as she works with Bluebell Resident No34059 “Sir Archibald Sinclair” on a Ian Allan Rail Tour on Sunday afternoon. An example when the conditions align on Freshfield to make wonderful photography.
Thank you to Alfie (72bphotography) for allowing me to use this photograph in the blog.
The trek back towards Tremains was deliberate, allowing us to position ourselves just north of Horsted House Farm Bridge for the first run of No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair. This is a location I’ve grown particularly fond of, especially for video. The locomotives are working hard here and, with the right Bulleid driver, you can be rewarded with some truly monstrous performances.
Friday morning was no exception. The locomotive thundered past the camera, exhaust shooting skywards, that distinctive three-cylinder beat pounding along the rails. I’m not usually a fan of rebuilt Bulleids, but the more I see this locomotive in the very capable hands of Andy Kelly, the more I find myself converted. That said, once Blackmore Vale returns, I suspect I’ll quickly revert to my long-standing love of “Spam Cans”.
The next location on this frantic day, was one I’d only discovered the previous weekend, but with the attractive framing offered by Courtland Wood, I felt it would work nicely as a filler shot for bunker-first 80151. As mid-day approach it was a reasonable light still, one location to definitely work in the next few weeks before the leaves come out. One area of Courtland Wood I particularly enjoy for video is the entrance itself, which offers a superb view towards Vaux End, just north of Horsted House Farm Bridge. It provides an excellent blend of a strong run-up combined with a pleasing side-on view as the locomotive sweeps past. This was the location for the Standard 4 4-6-0s next turn to be filmed, as we got No75069 swooping through the turn at Vaux End before powering her way up the gradient towards the camera, clearly the fireman was doing too good a job as the safety valves lifted just as the loco was in line with our little group.
After the lovely shot of the Standard 4 through Courtland Wood, it was time to turn to the main event of Friday, the triple-header, with Bluebell residents Standard 4 No. 80151 and A1 Terrier Fenchurch joining visiting A1x Terrier Freshwater from the Isle of Wight. For this, it was a more leisurely walk back to Horsted Keynes to collect the car before heading north to Kingscote. At this point, thankfully, @72bphotography produced a much-needed Wispa Gold (other chocolate bars are available), which provided a welcome boost after a brisk morning of walking.
We met up with @southeast_classic_rail on the approach to Kingscote, where a fine display of daffodils added some welcome colour as the Terriers pulled in on their way towards East Grinstead. From there, we moved on to Birch Farm to capture a long run-up of the triple-header, with 80151 now joined by the two Terriers on the south end of the train. Unfortunately, for both myself and @chaileystowe, the run-past wasn’t quite what we’d hoped for, but you can’t win them all, and there was thankfully another opportunity on Saturday.
Two’s Trouble and Three’s a Crowd - Joe captures the scene of the weekend as W8 and No72 Terriers work in consort with their bigger cousin Standard 4 Tank No80151 at Birch Farm on the Saturday afternoon after a fantastic display at Hillplace Farm earlier. W8 proudly displays her “Cleanest Engine Today” winners headcode.
Thank you to Joe (21cphotography) for allowing me to use this photograph in the blog.
From there it was down to Stumpy. For those who know me, this is a spot I love in much the same way as Courtland Wood: a long run-up followed by a very close-quarters view as the line curves towards Horsted House Farm. It gives a real sense of speed and power as the locomotives tackle the 1 in 75 gradient and fortunately we were so placed for a wonderful run of Standard 4 No75069 as she climbed the bank out of Horsted Keynes.
The final shot was back where the day had started at Freshfield Bank, with the Terriers running past but us out wide in the field. The aim was to capture both engines together in the fading light for a final video — though, thanks to my silhouette against the skyline, it also resulted in an impromptu photoshoot courtesy of my fellow photographers.
The End of a Fantastic Day - In my first appearance in the blog, I hadn’t realised that I had set myself up perfectly for a silhouetted shot, so I thought I would do some posing for the cameras. Thank you Rob for capturing this and I am glad you can’t see my face as I was shattered.
Thank you to Rob (Robdoestrains) for allowing me to use this photograph in the blog.
However, for some people, it was not the end of the day and fellow linesider @robdoestrains made his way up to Horsted Keynes station for a charter with the visiting Terrier W8 “Freshwater”. This charter saw the Terrier arrayed with a small goods trains and also re-enactors to provide a great setting for the 1930s Southern station with a Southern liveried locomotive completing the picture.
A Southern Scene - On Friday night W8 Freshwater was the subject for a photo charter with the Goods Division of the Bluebell Railway organised by Jon Bowers. The locomotive is seen in Platform 4/5 as she prepares to take a small rake of boxvans back south to Lewes.
Thank you to Rob (Robdoestrains) for allowing me to use this photograph in the blog.
Saturday (Being a Photographer and a Videographer Day!)
This was the first opportunity to catch a light engine movement for me during the gala and it was lovely to start the day with No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair. Together with 72b, I headed for Holywell, which also placed us in a strong position for the first double-header of the day. Light engine moves are always worth chasing, offering something a little different from the usual passenger workings.
The slight rise at Holywell provides excellent elevation and width for double headers, allowing both locomotives to sit comfortably within the frame. With it now being Saturday, I shifted from video-only coverage to a mixture of video and stills. This can be a tricky balance to strike, particularly on a double-header, requiring a quick zoom out, followed by the familiar dance of grabbing a second camera for photographs. It’s a challenge, but one that paid off, even if the sun, as usual, chose to disappear behind a cloud at exactly the wrong moment, only reappearing some 30 seconds after the train had passed.
Saturday was also the day when the plan was well and truly torn up. We had intended to start at Ketches Wood before moving on to Freshfield Bank. However, as Rob and 72b will attest, I do rather enjoy a last-minute change of plan when the situation demands it. Apologies, lads, but it’s all in the name of getting the best possible shots.
Always Rely on Bulleid - With a fantastic exhaust and that typical three-cylinder symphony No34059 “Sir Archibald Sinclair” makes her way out of Horsted Keynes with a northbound East Grinstead service.
Thank you to Jack (TheRailwayRover) for allowing me to use this photograph in the blog.
For me, however, Saturday proved to be something of an off day — one where I simply didn’t click with the camera and felt I hadn’t made the most of the opportunities on offer. That was a real shame, as it was arguably the best day of the gala in terms of light. Some days, everything falls into place lineside; on others, it just doesn’t go your way.
Two moments in particular confirmed that Saturday wasn’t going to be my day. The first was indecision over where to position myself on the Horsted Keynes pathway for 2999’s 12:35 departure. That hesitation resulted in a rather underwhelming shot of Lady of Legend as she passed Horsted Keynes Farm Crossing.
That said, the main event of Saturday was always going to deliver an adrenaline rush: a double-header followed immediately by a triple-header. The logistics alone were enough to raise the pulse, requiring some precise parking and brisk driving to get from Freshfield Bank to Hill Place Farm, East Grinstead, in just over 20 minutes. I don’t usually indulge in these races between locations, but who doesn’t enjoy the occasional thrill of the chase?
With No. 75069 and No. 73082 forming a Somerset & Dorset–themed powerhouse as they attacked Freshfield Bank, I opted to shoot stills only to save time. Cameras quickly packed away, myself, Chailey, and Theo sprinted across the field — a route generously littered with cow-made ankle breakers. Ironically, the field was rolled the following day, which would have made our dash considerably easier. Meanwhile, Rob and 72b took a rather more leisurely approach, though I surprised myself with the pace I managed while weighed down by two cameras and a tripod.
With everyone bundled into the car, it was very much a “pedal to the metal” moment, the rev counter briefly touching 7,000 rpm, sadly without any dramatic wheel screech, much to my mild disappointment. Passing through Horsted Keynes, we caught up with Chailey, stuck behind what may well have been the world’s slowest BMW driver. At the top of Horsted Lane, I pulled alongside and questioned why he was turning right rather than left, little did I realise that two cyclists and a healthy amount of traffic lay in my future.
As we headed towards Kingscote, I asked Rob and 72b whether we still had enough time to reach Hill Place Farm or whether we should divert into Kingscote and catch the triple-header by the old signal box instead. As the minutes ticked by, we committed to Hill Place Farm. However, it was not the dramatic finish that was hoped for.
In the end, for all the rushing, the race proved somewhat anti-climactic. We arrived with seven minutes to spare, and a quick setup allowed all three of us to get into position without issue. Had we beaten Chailey? Not a chance. If he had had a deck chair and cold Beer, he would have rubbed it in even further.
Is this Somerset?! Standard 4 75069 and Standard 5 73082 “Camelot” power up Freshfield Bank on the Saturday afternoon of the gala in a scene from the Somerset and Dorset. Archive photos show No75027 (Bluebell’s Standard 4 4-6-0) and No73087 “Linette” working together over the SDJR. Hopefully one day, will be lucky enough to get that shot in my library but in the 21st century.
Thank you to Theo (TangoH21) for allowing me to use this photograph in the blog.
That wasn’t the first race of Saturday, though, the next was always going to be more physical. After Hill Place Farm, we returned lineside to Tremains to collect Rob’s car, which we’d left there earlier that morning. The reason was simple: to catch No. 72 and W8 running light engine back to Sheffield Park. Any opportunity to photograph a light engine movement is always welcome.
While waiting for the Terriers, a lively debate broke out over where to position ourselves next for the double-header, with No. 73082 Camelot leading and visitor No. 75069 in support. I’d settled on Holywell, but from the opposite side, a spot where 72b had previously captured Beachy Head and Tornado during last year’s Giants of Steam event. I knew, however, that timing would be tight.
Once everything was decided, I headed north at the best possible pace, once more against against the clock. This was meant to be a relatively relaxed day compared to Friday, but as is often the case, the best-laid plans rarely survive first contact with the enemy. I set myself a deadline: to reach the end of Lindfield Wood curve by 16:35, the scheduled departure time of the double-header from Sheffield Park.
Rounding the curve, I realised I was running slightly late, perhaps by a minute or so. Having already seen the pair earlier in the day, I chose to push on rather and risk being half-set-up. With lungs burning and weighed down by two cameras, layers of warm clothing, and assorted kit, I finally collapsed onto the rise at Holywell and checked my watch. My heart-rate monitor optimistically displayed 73 bpm, either I was in outstanding shape, or the watch was telling porkies. The latter soon proved correct as it rapidly updated itself to a more believable 120 bpm.
Still, the run-past of the two Standards more than justified the effort. As the two Standards glided round the curve with a nice chime whistle from Camelot making it worth while. By the end of the day, the sweat and exertion had added up to 25,000 steps and 10.5 miles — most of it on ballast — bringing Saturday to a suitably exhausting conclusion.
The Evening Standards - No73082 and No75069 power through Vaux End during Golden Hour - a bit up the line where I was, but a wonderful image by Alex from SouthEast Classic Rail of the pair of Standards on Saturday evening.
Thank you to Alex (SouthEast Classic Rail) for allowing me to use this photograph in the blog.
I made one final attempt at the Waterworks, though it wasn’t a shot worth writing home about. From there, we headed back to Sheffield Park, and for me, the day ended perfectly with a relaxed evening at the pub, catching up with friends from the village.
Sunday (Bacon Sandwich Day)
For many of us, Sunday marked the final day of the Spring Steam Gala. For a few, however, it was only halfway through the event, with a photographers’ charter involving No. 75069 still to come on the Monday.
Sunday was the day I’d been most looking forward to of the three. It meant spending the day lineside with a friend of 30 years, ready once again for some Spring Steam Gala action. As those already in the know, this also meant bacon sandwiches and properly brewed tea, a much-needed compensation for my severe lack of calories over the previous two days.
We began once again at Freshfield Bank, I was determined to try, and finally succeed, in capturing a shot where the locomotive’s exhaust didn’t shadow the train. Thankfully, the conditions were far more favourable. The wind had shifted direction and was noticeably lighter than on either Friday or Saturday, giving us our best chance yet.
Third Times the Charm - After two shots that didn’t come off on the Friday and the Saturday, trust a Bulleid to get the winning shot, as No34059 “Sir Archibald Sinclair” takes the first passenger service north of Sheffield Park on Sunday morning.
After the frustrations of Saturday, I was determined to make amends on Sunday, and the first shot more than delivered. Hopefully, you’ll agree when you see the image above.
From Freshfield, we moved on to Leamland Bridge at Horsted Keynes. For reasons I can’t quite explain, I particularly enjoy videoing No. 80151 at this location as the tank engine pulls away from Horsted Keynes and heads north. On this occasion, there was no disappointment, with the locomotive erupting out of the station and climbing towards Kingscote. However, I was keen for this shot to hurry up, as the main reason for Sunday was just around the corner.
Next stop was Horsted House Farm Bridge, where we paused for the first of two bacon sandwiches of the day. Personally, there’s nothing better than a mate cooking lineside: the smell, the sizzling, and, of course, a well-brewed cup of tea to go with it. Add a generous dollop of ketchup and it really does hit the spot. For me, this also provided the chance to practise a shot of No. 75069 at a location I hadn’t filmed from in some time.
Throughout the weekend, 75069 had been one of the standout performers of the gala, though if I had to pick a best overall, the honour would probably go to Sir Archie. This particular shot, however, was all about preparation. It was a rehearsal for the final run of the weekend: the double-header featuring 75069 and 34059 on their last outing together.
With the last decent light promised by our resident forecasters, Chailey and Tango, before cloud was due to roll in after lunch, I made a quick dash to Tremains to catch the Terriers. That decision paid off, as it meant I could skip this location next weekend when No. 72 and W8 work together again, and instead focus on other spots.
The light was just about perfect, and with 72b already positioned on the bank awaiting the Terriers, it was good to catch up on his Horsted Keynes–to–Sheffield Park walk. Of course, what really makes a Terrier shot sing is a bit of exhaust, and thankfully the crew delivered, with a spirited run-past complete with plenty of exhaust and well-timed whistles.
Seeing the two Terriers working together over the course of the three days has been a real highlight, and I’m very much looking forward to another Terrier-filled weekend to come, weather permitting, of course.
With a Toot and Whistle - W8 leads her sister No72 Fenchurch past Tremains crossing and into Rock Cutting as the pair race south back to Sheffield Park on the sunny part of the Sunday late morning.
At Giants of Steam, I hadn’t ventured to Sharpthorne Tunnel, and it wasn’t originally on my plan this weekend either. However, with No. 2999 being a long-term visitor, I decided it was time to return home, capture a shot at the crossing, and hope for some drama with noise and exhaust, and, to my delight, exactly that happened!
However, there wasn’t long to celebrate, though, as we quickly drove over to Birch Farm Crossing for a very different triple-header. Today’s combination, No. 72, W8, and No. 73082 Camelot — was an unusual mix, but one that demanded capturing. Fortunately, with the help of my capable camera assistant, I managed to get both a video and a photograph. It really pays to have a multi-talented friend on hand, who is also a very handy chef!
From there, it was back to Horsted Keynes for one final shot at Stumpy before the ultimate finale at Horsted House Farm Bridge. One last fry-up and cup of tea fuelled us for the final runs. We had to guard our Bacon against several hungry Dogs who had a sniff and had a few onlookers from the train comment at our 5 star fry-up. By now, the morning sun had given way to clouds, and the scene was growing darker and moodier. In my view, it could only be a video.
The last two runs, first No. 2999, I swear that loco gets louder every time I see it, followed by the final double-header of 75069 and 34059. The final run was simply brilliant. There’s nothing quite like ending the weekend at Horsted House Farm Bridge: the locomotives’ noise reverberates through the cutting, the steam and exhaust amplified, leaving a lasting impression of power and drama to close out the gala.
An Interesting Trio - Isle of Wight visiting loco W8 “Freshwater” leads Bluebell residents No72 “Fenchurch” and No73082 “Camelot” for the final triple header of the weekend as the trio pass the camera at Birch Farm.
Thank you to my faithful camera assistant for capturing this image.
And with the fading roar of No. 75069 as she powered into Sharpthorne Tunnel, that was it, three days of helter-skelter madness across the Bluebell Railway. For me, the highlights of the gala were undoubtedly the two Terriers, No. 75069, and No. 34059, but just as memorable was the company I had throughout the weekend. People truly make galas, and great conversation can make hours feel like minutes.
It felt fantastic to get the first major Bluebell event of the year under the belt, and I hope this is just a taste of what 2026 has in store for the railway.
Thank you for reading the Spring Steam Gala at the Bluebell Railway blog. I would like to extend a massive thank you to all the photographers who contributed to this blog and their amazing photographs and videos that they have produced. I am going to leave you with my winner for the weekend and the photograph that when I opened the email my exact words were “oh my! Now that is a winner! As many of you know I am a huge Camelot fan and to be fair I didn’t get a huge amount of pictures of her this gala. Therefore, thank you Rob, you helped brighten up my day on a terribly gloomy Friday evening as I finish this blog off.
Have a wonderful weekend and hopefully the weather improves for some more Terrier bashing this weekend.
Ben
What a picture, what a photographer?! With No73082 powering through the hut at Holywell, we see Camelot on a rake of Carmine and Cream Mk1 coaches complete with the LNWR 1913 Observation Carriage. Firstly the light in lovely and that exhaust is wonderful in the way it tails back over the train. Furthermore, I am a big fan of the con rods being in their lowest position, makes for a lovely photograph in my opinion.
Thank you to Rob (Robdoestrains) for allowing me to use this photograph in the blog.
