Giants of Steam 2006
was on 21st and 22nd October

The annual gala event where our larger engines are put through their paces, on an intensive train service. This year the main feature was the visit of City of Truro, believed to have been the first locomotive to have achieved 100mph.

This famous Great Western locomotive was visiting the Bluebell Railway between the 30th September and 22nd October 2006, courtesy of the National Railway Museum, York. The visit enabled us to pair the two surviving GWR out-side frame 4-4-0s, and their first ever double-headed run together on a preserved line was over this weekend.

Photos taken at the 2006 Giants of Steam are available from

• Tony Pearce
• Paul Pettitt
• Sean Tompsett
• Dave Jefferys
• Matt Allen
• Linda Chen
• Tom Waghorn
• Ashley Smith
• Andrew Strongitharm
• Scott McAvoy mainly focussing on the superb vintage buses providing the free link from Brighton and Lewes to Sheffield Park.
• Richard Thomas
• Christopher Ward
• Photos capturing the atmosphere of the event from Eduardo de Felipe (see below)
• and the photo (right) from David Chappell.

  plus videos from

• Mike Snow
• Jon Bowers
• and on YouTube:
  • City of Truro and Earl of Berkeley enter Sharpthorne Tunnel
  • 9017 and 3440 from the lineside
  • The same pair thunder under Three Arch Bridge
  • U Class 1638 pounds up Freshfield Bank in a downpour
  • 75027 departs from Horsted Keynes

Two photos from the 2006 event from Eduardo de Felipe

We had another visiting loco in steam this weekend; Bulleid West Country Pacific, No.34028 "Eddystone", but repairs required to make it fit to run were only completed to the stage where it was on display in light steam at Sheffield Park.

Edystone is seen (right - photo from Tom Waghorn) at Sheffield Park in the rain on the Sunday.

More details of the locos visiting the Bluebell this Autumn are available here.

Two more photos from the 2006 event from Matt Allen - including 80151 running as 80154, the last steam loco to be built at Brighton, and one of the last locos to run over the Bluebell line in pre-preservation days.

Features of the weekend were:

• Intensive four train service each day
• Each train included a Special Saloon carriage
• Vintage RML bus on additional 473 services from East Grinstead
• Free vintage bus service from Brighton (Sunday only)
• Double heading, including pairing of City of Truro and Earl of Berkeley both days
• Locomotives: GWR 4-4-0 City of Truro, GWR 4-4-0 Earl of Berkeley, SR U-class No.1638, SR West Coutry Pacific No.34028 Eddystone (in light steam), BR 4MT 4-6-0 No.75027, and BR 4MT 2-6-4T No.80151
• Hired in carriage in GWR livery
• Vintage Slot Machines
• Mechanical Horse Club vehicle display
• Sussex Stationery Engine Club display
• Trade Stands
• 4 Cor 1930s Electric Motor Coach open for viewing
• Pullman Car Doris (from the original Brighton Belle) open for viewing

Further details of the visit to the Bluebell of City of Truro are available.

Special Carriages in every train!

• LNWR Observation Car

• Pullman Cars Lilian and Fingall

• LNWR Semi-Royal saloon

• Great Northern Railway Directors' Saloon