Footage from Saturday at the Bluebell Railway Diesel Gala celebrating 40 years of Network SouthEast

Following Fridays action packed morning at Oxford https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hByja3yNppI&t=155s Saturday saw more diesel action with a return to the Bluebell Railway after last years Beer Festival https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Df-sIibePr8&t=146s were this weekend they were hosting their Diesel Gala, this year celebrating 40 years of Network SouthEast traction.

There was an impressive line up of diesel power for the event with several visiting units, locomotives ands rolling stock joing the home fleet to put on a great show, with the line up including:

Class 03 03179 ‘Clive’ visiting from the Isle of Wight
Class 31 31108
Class 31 31210
Class 33 33108
Class 50 50026 'Indomitable'
Class 60 DC Rail 60028
Class 73 GB Railfreight 73128 ‘The Kent & East Sussex Railway’
Class 73 Bluebell's own E6040 'The Bluebell Railway’
Class 201 ‘Hastings Unit’ DEMU No. 1001
Class 416 2EPB No.5759
Class 419 Motor Luggage Vans (MLVs) 9001 and 9002

Also on static display were British Rail Class 421 4-CIG No. 1753 (DTC 76048) and the London Transport Supercar at Sheffield Park, a model display all NSE through the years at Horsted Keynes, Network SouthEast Friends narrow gauge railway in operation at Kingscoat, 47701 and WCRC 33207 'Jim Martin' stabled at Horsted Keynes after taking locos and stock to the gala via the mainline, a change to station signage giving a nod along the line to NSE, lots of trade and model stalls to discover along the line and more!

Things weren't without issues, the Class 50 had a few teething troubles over the weekend but the team did well to get her out and she made a fine sight arriving later in the afternoon once repairs had been undertaken. Enjoy all the action from a sunny Saturday spend exploring the gala, riding the trains and soaking up the Network SouthEast atmosphere and plenty of tunnel runs! Not a bad event from a railway that for many years refused to embrace any diesel preservation whatsoever! | 05.09.2026

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