The second gallery from the gala taken on the Sunday. Unfortunately, whereas Saturday had stayed largely fine and dry until the late afternoon, the weather on the Sunday was more overcast and frequently pierced with showers.

Photographs from the Saturday of this year's branch line event at the Bluebell, featuring the smaller engines from the home fleet and vintage carriages.

This year the event featured the first gala appearance since it's return to traffic of newly repainted B473, as well as visiting engines Fairburn 4MT no. 42085 (from the Lakeside and Haverthwaite Railway) and Standard 2MT no. 78019 (from the Great Central Railway).

The Bank Holiday monday of 2009 was warm and sunny on th Kent Coast, which meant the RHDR was displayed in all it's glory.

The steam exhibits at the Open Day commemorating the centenary of the opening of Eastleigh works by the LSWR.

The annual Branch Line event at the Bluebell, featuring the smaller engines and older carriages running the service. This year, the home fleet was bolstered by visiting P class no. 753.

Instead of the usual Giants of Steam gala at the end of October, this year the line hired in 7F no. 53809 from the Midland Rialway - Butterly and the Spa Valley Railway 'Jinty' no. 47493 (which unfortunately was unable to run). It was joined by Standard Tank no. 80151, a class typical of the old 'Slow and Dirty' in it's final years, as well as 1638, 65 and long-term visiting Prairie 5199.

The 'Steam Railway' sponsered Autumn Gala at the Grwat Central included arguably the biggest locomotive line-up of the year, with four 'star' engines in Lord Nelson, Oliver Cromwell, Leander and the brand new Tornado supported by engines from the GCR's own fleet in 78019, 4141 and 63601. Peak D123 also put in an appearance late in the day.

The Goods Trains got an airing to run in between the service trains on a rather damp and dreary weekend at the Bluebell

Engines featured 80151, 672, 1638, 9017 and 32473

4965 paid a brief visit to Didcot Railway Centre this afternoon having worked a farewell railtour from Solihull to Didcot Parkway. The opportunity was taken to line her up alongside the Centre's resident Halls nos. 5900 Hinderton Hall and 6998 Burton Agnes Hall. 4965 was then turned and serviced prior to departure.

Day two of the Bulleid themed gala saw a more intense service with four carriage rakes plus a morning goods train. 80151 replaced 32473 on the timetable but the four Bulleids ran together or on their own throughout the day. 55 Stepney (done up as DS 377 Brighton Works) was operating brakevan rides at Horsted.

The first day of "Bulleidfest" as it was dubbed at the Bluebell, visiting 34007 Wadebridge and 34081 92 Squadron joining long-term visitor 34028 Eddystone and home based 21C123 Blackmoor Vale.

An engineers train supplemented the passenger services and E4 32473 was on driver experience courses

The annual Double Header day at the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch line, the mark of the end of the operating season. The gala this year was blessed by gorgeous sunny weather (albeit a low sun making photography tricky) and eight engines in steam.

The activites occuring the day after the Bank Hoilday at the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

The biggest gala of the year at the Bluebell, celebrating 125 years since the opening of the East Grinstead - Lewes line. All available engines were in traffic, plus newly overhauled 592 in light steam, Met No.1 static in the yard (it had run hot) and Sir Berkeley running at Horsted Keynes.

The action from the 80th Birthday event at the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

The gala comemmorating the End of Steam on the Southern Region in 1967, featuring...

34016
35005 (running as 35008 which reputedly achieved 100mph in the last few days of steam)
73096 (with 73029 'plate)
41312 (which worked the Lymington trains on the last day)
60019 (freshly overhauled)
34007

All engines were specially dirtied for the event and a DMU operated a shuttle between Ropley and Alresford.

A day on the Bluebell trying out a few new techniques and experimenting. Engines in service nos. 9017, 80151, 55 and 21C123

The spring bank holiday steaming day at the Didcot Railway Centre, with 4144, 3738 and Bonnie Prince Charlie sharing duties, and 6233 arriving on a mainline tour

This mega gala, held in aid of the Betton Grange project, was one of the biggest of the year. 11 engines in steam, including 34081 92 Squadron in action for the first time since a repaint into BR green and 78019 from the GCR

A small gallery showing the lesser stars of the gala, the humble miniature engines which put in sterling work on their short runs.

The annual Branch Line Weekend at the Bluebell was marred by heavy showers, but the railway activity was nothing to compain about! Mixed workings, short trains, half line trips and unusual engine movements made it a great event.

Engines in action were 55, 65, 672, 9017, 32473 and 80151

Two train operation on the Bluebell during the East Sussex half term week of 12 - 16 February. These photos are from the Thursday of that week, with 9017 and 32473 on the passenger trains and D3023 putting in a brief appearance on the Carriage and Wagon shunt

The second gathering of Stroudley's famous A1X class tank engines, commonly known as 'Terriers' due to their bark.

The home based nos. 672 Fenchurch and 55 Stepney were joined by 662 Martello (from Bressingham), 32678 Knowle (from the KESR) and W8 Freshwater (from the IoWSR).

Unfortunately, K&ESR based no. 3 Bodiam failed before coming to the railway, and as such O1 no. 65 joined 32473 in helping out the Terriers

The annual Giants of Steam gala at the Bluebell featured the first double heading of GWR outside framed engines 9017 and 3440 City of Truro at the Bluebell.

Also running were 75027, 1638, 80151 and 34028 shunting around Sheffield park after work on a slipped tyre, and 65 on shunting demonstartions in the loco yard

The Autumn Gala on the Mid Hants is traditionally the end of the season. The line welcomed two GWR visitors, nos. 4160 and 4396 Kinlet Hall, in addition to the 'home' fleet of 92212, 73096, 45231, 34016 and 41312 (which returned from the Bluebell for the event)

A day spent linesiding at Bluebell. 1638, 9017 and 75027 on passenger duty, with 41312 on a wedding charter. The day was completed by the passing overhead of a B-25 heading from Holland to the Dunsfold air show the following day

A visit to the Isle of Wight and the steam railway for their works outing gala with Ajax, Waggoner, Invincible and W8 Freshwater all in service.

'East Sussex's best kept secret' announced itself with this gala. The home steam fleet of Austin 1 and Sentinel were joined by Terrier Martello from Bressingham.

The spring gala at the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway featured a freight working, a heritage train, several loco combinations and a visiting engine from the Bure Valley Railway, Bickling Hall.

The first big Terrier get together of 2006 occurred at the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Visiting 55 Stepney and 672 Fenchurch (from the Bluebell) and 662 Martello (from bressigham) joined homebased 32678 and newly overhauled no.3 Bodiam

Goods Trains were slotted into the timetable for this weekend, which bought the photographers out in force. Unfortunately, 1638 failed, leading to 75027 on the Vintage train, but otherwise a successful day

The biggest gala event of 2006 thus far was held from Friday 17 to Sunday 26 March 2006. Featured typical classes from the S&D, locos in attendence being 34067, 80136, 92203, 88, 53809, 45407, 76079, 73129 and two small tank engines shunting the yard at Washford.
Photos taken 25 March.

A weekend for the smaller engines and shorter trains. The big draw this year was the public return of 1638, supported by 41312 (disguised as 41284), 55, 65, 9017 and 96

This years Giants of Steam was one of the biggest events of 2005 at the Bluebell, even rivalling Thomas.

Visiting engines Merchant Navy no. 35005 Canadian Pacific and Ivatt 2MT no. 41312 (both from the Mid Hants), plus the larger engines from the home fleet (21C123, 9017, 75027, 80151 and 32473)