Class 33 Thrashing the Bank to Birch Farm Crossing! Class 33 Number 33108 at The Bluebell Railway

British Rail Class 33/1 Bo-Bo No. 33108
Constructed by the Birmingham Railway Carriage and Wagon Company (BRCW) in Smethwick, West Midlands in September 1960 (works number DEL 117, entering service under British Railways Southern Region as D6521), 33108 is a 66-year-old 77-tonne Bo-Bo mixed-traffic diesel-electric locomotive visiting from its home base on the Severn Valley Railway. Converted at Eastleigh Works in 1967 for high-speed push-pull operation on the Bournemouth mainline and renumbered 33108 under TOPS in February 1974, the locomotive is powered by a 1,550 bhp (1,156 kW) Sulzer 8LDA28 8-cylinder turbocharged diesel engine driving Crompton Parkinson electrical equipment. Producing a maximum starting tractive effort of 45,000 lbf (200 kN), an operational top speed of 85 mph (137 km/h), and carrying 3,600 litres (800 imperial gallons) of onboard fuel, the locomotive is equipped with high-level push-pull jumper connections on the buffer beams. Locomotive 33108 is turned out in authentic British Rail Civil Engineers 'Dutch' livery (dark olive grey upper body with a deep yellow waist band and cab sides) with full yellow warning front ends, proudly representing classic Southern Region diesel traction.

British Rail Mark 1 5-Car Coaching Rake in Southern Region Green
The train conveys a five-coach passenger rake of restored British Rail Mark 1 passenger carriages finished in authentic 1950s British Railways Southern Region Green livery with period lining and early British Railways "lion and wheel" heraldic crests. The authentic consist is formed of Corridor Composite (CK) No. S16210 (built at Derby Litchurch Lane Works in 1961 to Diagram 128 under Lot 30666), Brake Corridor Composite (BCK) No. S21246 (constructed at Swindon Carriage Works in 1962 to Diagram 171 under Lot 30669 as one of the final vehicles built at the works), Tourist Standard Open (TSO) No. S4941 (built at Wolverton Works in 1962 to Diagram 89 under Lot 30690), Restaurant Miniature Buffet (RMB) No. S1818 (constructed at Wolverton Works in 1960 to Diagram 99 under Lot 30520 providing on-train catering), and Second Open / Tourist Standard Open (SO/TSO) No. S4754 (built at York Works in 1957 to Diagram 93 under Lot 30375).

Climbing the Gradient Towards Birch Farm Crossing
Captured in 8K 16:9 widescreen in a picturesque lineside shot through the rolling Sussex High Weald, Class 33/1 No. 33108 is seen thundering up the heavy climbing grade away from Kingscote station towards Birch Farm Crossing. Working hard under full power on solo duty with the 5-coach green Mark 1 rake, the 66-year-old Sulzer power unit digs in, producing deep, rhythmic 8-cylinder diesel thrash that reverberates across the valley. The train powers uphill in stunning countryside surroundings on a warm, sun-drenched summer's morning during the Network SouthEast 40th Anniversary Diesel Gala on Sunday, 6th of September 2026 at 10:06.

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