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Giants of Steam 2007
Friday 19th - Sunday 21st October

Our Autumn Gala event - this year featuring four Bulleid Pacifics


Photos from the gala are available and links to external galleries of photos from our many photographic contributors, and some videos, are at the bottom of this page

Blackmoor Vale and Eddystone - Jon Bowers

The annual gala event where our larger engines are put through their paces, on an intensive train service. This year's event was themed around the end of Southern Steam and featured the following locomotives:

  • 34007 'Wadebridge' (Bulleid Pacific) * Visiting engine
  • 21C123 'Blackmoor Vale' (Bulleid Pacific)
  • 34028 'Eddystone' (Bulleid Pacific)
  • 34081 '92 Squadron' (Bulleid Pacific) * Visiting engine
  • 1638 (SR U-class 2-6-0)
  • 80151 (BR 4MT 2-6-4T) - stood in for 32473 on Saturday and Sunday
  • 32473 (ex-LBSCR E4 0-6-2T)
  • 55 (ex-LBSCR A1X 0-6-0T)

It was the first time in 40 years that three air-smoothed SR pacifics have been in steam together!

This was the final occasion on which Loco 55 'Stepney' will run as the "Brighton Works" shunter before withdrawal next year at the end of its ten-year boiler certificate.

Special Carriages in every train!

Special Saloons

 

The Bluebell is justly renowned for the quality of its carriage stock. Four sets of carriages were be used, with our Bulleid carriages to the fore, along-side Mk.1s, Maunsells and the Metropolitan set.

Special Saloons and Pullman Cars were also a feature in the trains:


The event was staged over a three day period Friday 19th - Sunday 21st October.

On Friday there was an evening photographer's event at Horsted Keynes, featuring 'Wadebridge' and '92 Squadron'.

Photos from the event

(Click on photos for enlargements)

Two from Bryan Benn:
Wadebridge and 92 Squadron on shed - 19 Oct 2007 - Bryan Benn Eddystone and 92 Squadron - 19 Oct 2007 - Bryan Benn

Two from Andrew Strongitharm (taken after school):
Eddystone and 92 Squadron - 19 Oct 2007 - Andrew Strongitharm Wadebridge and 92 Squadron - 19 Oct 2007 - Andrew Strongitharm

Two from Derek Hayward:
Blackmoor Vale on the freight train - 19 Oct 2007 - Derek Hayward Birch Grove with Footplate course - 19 Oct 2007 - Derek Hayward

One more from Derek Hayward (left) and one from Ashley Smith (right):
Bulleid line-up - 19 Oct 2007 - Derek Hayward Wadebridge - 19 Oct 2007 - Ashley Smith

Two from David Chappell:
92 Squadron on Goods - 19 Oct 2007 - David Chappell Wadebridge - 19 Oct 2007 - David Chappell

One thanks to Jon Potter (from Friday) and one from Nick Talbot on Saturday:
Eddystone and 92 Squadron - 19 Oct 2007 - Jon Potter Stepney from the brake van - 20 Oct 2007 - Nick Talbot

Two more from Saturday, from Derek Hayward (left) and Bryan Benn (right):
Standard 4 and Stepney - 20 Oct 2007 - Derek Hayward Wadebridge and Blackmoor Vale - 20 Oct 2007 - Bryan Benn

And another two of Derek's, from Saturday:
U-class and Blackmoor Vale - 20 Oct 2007 - Derek Hayward Wadebridge and 92 Squadron - 20 Oct 2007 - Derek Hayward

Two from Bryan Benn (both from Saturday):
92 Squadron and Eddystone - 20 Oct 2007 - Bryan Benn Wadebridge on the goods - 20 Oct 2007 - Bryan Benn

Now, some photos from Sunday - from Ashley Smith on the left, and Andrew Strongitharm on the right
U with milk tanker and the Mets - 21 Oct 2007 - Ashley Smith U with milk tanker and the Mets - 21 Oct 2007 - Andrew Strongitharm

More from Sunday - from Tom Waghorn on the left, and Derek Hayward on the right
Eddystone with the goods - 21 Oct 2007 - Tom Waghorn Stepney as the Brighton Works Shunter, and 80151 - 21 Oct 2007 - Derek Hayward

And two more - from Tony Pearce on the left, and Derek Hayward on the right:
80151 with the Obo and Mets - 20 Oct 2007 - Tony Pearce Vintage Buses - 21 Oct 2007 - Derek Hayward

One from David Warwick from Sunday (left) and one from Nick Beck on Friday evening (right):
Wadebridge and Eddystone - 21 Oct 2007 - David Warwick 34081 at Horsted - 19 Oct 2007 - Nick Beck

A photo from Ian Bowskill showing 92 Squadron climbing through Rock Cutting on the 9.15am train on Saturday, and one from Stephen Parker of a sleepy Horsted Keynes, gradually awaking on the Sunday morning.
92 Squadron - 20 Oct 2007 - Ian Bowskill Sunday morning Horsted - 21 Oct 2007 - Stephen Parker

Photo galleries from the gala are available from: Videos are available from:
splash The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service
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