Diesel Gala 2025
With an array of diesel locomotion from the Class 25 “Rat” to the Class 47 “Spoon” the Bluebell hummed to the sound of diesel power. Locomotives/units featured included:
Class 25 No. 25262
Class 47 No. 47715
Class 201 ‘Thumper’ DEMU
Class 50 No. 50008 ‘Thunderer’
Class 33/1 No. 33108
4-VEP 3417 ‘Gordon Pettitt’
Class 73 E6040 ‘The Bluebell Railway’
The Golden Spoon - On the 1830 departure from Sheffield Park on the Saturday of the Gala No47715 climbs Freshfield Bank towards Horsted Keynes.
Thumping Past - No1001 "Hastings" makes a sprinted departure from Horsted Keynes on the Sunday of the Diesel Gala.
The Southern Formation - E6040 leads No33108 and No3417 on the Sunday of the Gala as they climb Freshfield Bank one last time.
Sunny Rat - No25262 running early passes over New Road Bridge as she is signal checked before Horsted Keynes station.
Shaprthorne Slamdoor - With Sharpthorne in the background No3417 assisted by No33108 on the rear round the curve towards New Coombe Bridge
Southern Formation Pt II - E6040 leads No33108 and No3417 under Town Place Bridge on the Sunday of the Gala
The Countryside Spoon - No47715 climbs Freshfield Bank on the Sunday of the gala in a typical Sussex countryside vista with sheep and greenery.
Thunderbird - E6040 returns south (through Birch Farm) on her own as No50008 "Thunderer" developed a fault at East Grinstead which stopped her gala running. E6040 would later rescue the Class 50 from Kingscote.
A Rat Amongst the Ferns - No25262 snakes her way through Lindfield Forest as she returns south on her last Set B run of the Sunday.
Southern Vista - No33108 coasts in Kingscote with No3417 with the Sussex countryside and sheep bathed in sunshine.
The Morning Thump - No1001 "Hastings" bathed in morning sunshine passes through Sharpthorne with the first up train of the Diesel Gala.
Thundering to Halt - The only picture of Class 50 No50008 "Thunderer" before she failed at East Grinstead on the return run. She is seen passing Mill Place Bridge.
The Sharpthorne Spoon - No47715 passes through Sharpthorne on her first up service of the Saturday morning.
Southern Formation Pt III - No3417 descends south into Sheffield Park with E6040 and No33108 on the rear seen at Freshfield Bank
Demolished Rat - No25262 passes through the now demolished Town House Bridge on the Sunday of the Gala
The Sunny Spoon - No47715 passes under Birchstone Bridge as she descends the gradient into Kingscote.
The Cloud Draws In - After a Sunny Start to the Sunday Morning No47715 pulls out of Horsted Keynes towards Three Arch Bridge.
The Final Spoon - No47715 passes the camera for the final time as she rounds the curve at Monteswood.