Bluebell branch line gala April 2020

[TRP]

The Bluebell Railway is holding it's branch line gala over 3-5 April 2020.
This event will showcase the Railway's smaller locomotives, expected to include SECR P class No.178 on one of it's last appearances before withdrawal for overhaul. Other home fleet locos could include SECR H class No.263 & O1 class No.65, SR Q class No.30541 and BR Standard 4 tank No.80151.
The first of two planned visiting locos has been announced: Taff Vale Railway O2 class 0-6-2T No.85 from the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway.

Tony

[TRP]

The second visiting engine has been announced by the Bluebell Railway for their Branch Line gala in April:
BR-built Ivatt 2MT 2-6-2T No.41312 from the Mid Hants Railway.
This is a return to the Bluebell for 41312, having visited for the Branch Line gala in 2003, and then spent a longer period there during 2005/6 when it was hired in to provide an extra loco whilst the spoil trains were running to remove the spoil from Imberhorne cutting in preparation for the extension to East Grinstead.
41312 joins the previously announced visitor, TVR O2 class No.85 from the K&WVR, and resident BR 4MT No.80151, SR Q class No.30541, and SECR locos O1 class No.65, H class No.263 & P class No.178 - the latter having just received an extension to it's boiler certificate until October this year.

Tony

[boilersuit]

As an added attraction for SECR afficionados, the Bluebell has engaged Heritage Painting to carry out a full repaint of its out-of-traffic C class, No.592. Early photos reveal that she is looking stunning! And on the subject of repaints, SR S15 class No.847 is currently being repainted (by its owning group) into BR black for its final season in traffic before withdrawal for overhaul.

[TRP]

Thanks for that Jon. I gather the C class is going into the SteamWorks! exhibition, hence the repaint, and this will be the loco set up to give footplate access as it is easier to access (in terms of height) than BR 4MT No.75027 which was originally planned.
I didn't know about the repaint for 847 though - I believe this would be the first time a Maunsell S15 has run in BR Black in preservation, although the Urie S15 No.30506 has done so at the Mid Hants. 30841 has run in BR Green on the NYMR.

Tony

[TRP]

TVR No.85 has arrived at Sheffield Park from the KWVR, more than 3 weeks before the gala. Nothing on the Bluebell's website about whether the loco will work any other services apart from the gala over 3-5 April.

Tony