The Bluebell Railway Diesel Gala held on the weekend of the 15th to the 17th April 2015 featured the following locomotives;
Over the weekend of the 15-17th April 2016 the Bluebell Railway held only its second ever diesel gala. Following the success of its almost unprecedented 'Double Deltic' event last year, this once 'steam only' line invited an impressive line-up of seven locos from the GBRf fleet to company its own class 09 shunter for three days of diesel frolics. Present at the railway were 09018, 20901, 20905, 47739, 66770, 73107, 73119, 73136 and 73964.
The Bluebell railway has enjoyed a close working relationship with GBRf since the companies first came together to remove spoil by rail from the former Imberhorn Tip, a key task in the railway’s recent extension to East Grinstead. Now that the extension is complete- and the Bluebell has a mainline connection GBRf have continued to be involved with the line with stock moves and this gala - tying in with the 15th birthday celebrations at GBRf was the perfect way to continue the relationship.
Unfortunately, both class 20's failed during the course of the Saturday with 20901 being removed from its first up working leaving 20905 to soldier on alone - and also causing a 48-minute delay to trains. While the 'failed' 20901 did make a brief re-appearance on an evening train it was with regret that neither class 20 was in operation on the Sunday.
