Bluebell Railway Preservation Society

Discover our railway’s rich heritage!

The volunteer-run Bluebell Railway was the UK’s first preserved standard gauge passenger railway. Since then it has developed into one of the largest tourist attractions in Sussex, yet it still remains true to its objectives of preservation for posterity.

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Our current operational locomotives

Discover our diverse fleet of steam locomotives currently being used at Bluebell Railway.

BR (GWR Design) No. 6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’

  • Class: Modified Hall
  • Designer: Frederick Hawksworth, a development of Charles Collett’s earlier Hall Class
  • Wheels: 4-6-0
  • Built: March 1948, Swindon Works
  • Withdrawn: June 1964
  • Restoration Completed: December 2018
  • Returned To Service: 2 March 2019
  • Arrived On Bluebell Railway: 22 October 2025
  • Previously Operational: on the Bluebell Railway 2 July 2022 to 6 July 2025
  • Owned By: The Quainton Railway Society
Visiting locomotive

LBSCR H2-class Atlantic No. 32424 ‘Beachy Head’

  • Class: H2
  • Designer: Marsh/Billinton
  • Wheels: 4-4-2
  • Type: Atlantic
  • Built: Sept 1911
  • Numbers Carried: 424, B424, 2424, 32424
  • Withdrawn: April 1958
  • Returned To Service: Reconstruction completed and entered service 18 August 2024
  • Current Status: Available for service
  • Owned By: Bluebell Railway

Rebuilt SR Bulleid Battle of Britain Pacific No. 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’

  • Class: Battle of Britain (Rebuilt)
  • Designer: Bulleid / Jarvis
  • Wheels: 4-6-2
  • Built: 1947 - Rebuilt 1960
  • Numbers Carried: 21C159, 34059
  • Withdrawn: 1966
  • Last Overhaul Completed: November 2023
  • Previously Operational: April 2009 to October 2011
  • Owned By: Bluebell Railway

LBSCR Terrier No. 72 ‘Fenchurch’

  • Class: A1
  • Designer: William Stroudley
  • Wheels: 0-6-0T
  • Built: 1872, Brighton Works
  • Numbers Carried: 72, B636, 2636, 32636
  • Last Overhaul Completed: 10 January 2023
  • Previously Operational: February 2001 to 23 January 2011, as No. 672
  • Owned By: Bluebell Railway

BR Standard 5MT No. 73082 ‘Camelot’

  • Class: 5MT
  • Designer: Robert Riddles, with design work done at the ex-LNER Doncaster Drawing Office
  • Wheels: 4-6-0
  • Built: 1955, Derby Works
  • Last Overhaul Completed: September 2021
  • Previously Operational: 28 October 1995 – June 2005 & 25 October 2015 – December 2020
  • Owned By: The 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society

BR Standard 4MT Tank No. 80151

  • Class: BR 4MT
  • Designer: Robert Riddles, with design work done at Brighton
  • Wheels: 2-6-4T
  • Built: 1957, Brighton Works
  • Last Overhaul Completed: 27 July 2019
  • Previously Operational: Oct 2001 to 19 May 2012
  • Owned By: The 80151 Locomotive Company Limited (The Bluebell Railway Trust currently holds 40.3% of the shares in the company)

SECR O1-class No. 65

  • Class: SER O, rebuilt by SECR, as O1
  • Designer: James Stirling, 1878, rebuilt Harry Wainwright
  • Wheels: 0-6-0
  • Built: 1896, Ashford Works - Rebuilt 1908
  • Numbers Carried: 65, A65, 1065, 31065
  • Returned To Service: 15 July 2017
  • Previously Operational: 5 August 1999 to 7 July 2009
  • Owned By: The Bluebell Railway Trust

BR Class 73 (JB) Electro-Diesel E6040 ‘The Bluebell Railway’

  • Class: JB (later Class 73/1) Electro-Diesel
  • Designer: English Electric
  • Wheel Arrangement: Bo-Bo
  • Built: 1966, English Electric, Vulcan Foundry
  • Numbers Carried: E6040 (was 73133 under TOPS)
  • Arrived On Bluebell Railway: 25 April 2023
  • Present Location: Bluebell Railway
  • Owned By: Private

Howard Petrol-engined Locomotive

  • Class: 2-speed 7 ton Main Line Loco
  • Wheel Arrangement: 4w, chain driven, maximum speed 8mph
  • Built: 1926 by James & Frederick Howard Ltd, Britannia Iron Works, Bedford
  • Returned To Service: August 2010
  • Arrived On Bluebell Railway: March 1965 (Used on Bluebell until 1969)
  • Operated: 1926-1965

BR Class 09 Diesel Shunter D4106

  • Class: Class 09 Diesel Shunter
  • Designer: BR
  • Wheel Arrangement: 0-6-0 DE
  • Type: BR 350 HP Diesel Shunter
  • Built: 13 November 1961, Horwich Works
  • Numbers Carried: D4106, 09018
  • Arrived On Bluebell Railway: 23 April 2013
  • Current Status: Operational
  • Owned By: B350 Ltd

Sentinel/Rolls-Royce/Thomas Hill 4-w Diesel-Hydraulic loco No. 10241

  • Designer: Sentinel
  • Wheel Arrangement: 4w DM
  • Built: Rolls Royce, 1966
  • Numbers Carried: Rolls Royce works No.10241, Manchester Ship Canal DH27, NCB D24, rebuilt Thomas Hill (their works No.247C)
  • Arrived On Bluebell Railway: 7 May 2010
  • Current Status: Operational (restricted to Horsted Keynes)
  • Owned By: Bluebell Railway

Explore the historic legacy of The Bluebell Railway

Immerse yourself in a journey through history as you explore the rich heritage of The Bluebell Railway. Our meticulously preserved locomotives, carriages, and signalling systems take you back to the golden age of steam travel.

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