Editors Notes:
March's season of interesting railway galas saw the Bluebell Railway outdoing everyone else (appropriately for the pioneer!) by gathering together no fewer than four ex-LSWR tank locomotives together in matching liveries (what a shame the Swanage's M7 is out of ticket!). The two visitors were one of the two really ancient preserved Beattie 2-4-0WT well tanks, the NRM's no 30587 from Bodmin, and the sole-surviving Adams O2 0-4-4T no W24 from the Isle of Wight. They headed a four-loco consist which also saw the Bluebell's own Adams Radial tank no 30583 and the (again) Adams class B4 0-4-0T no 30096, both especially reliveried for the event in matching BR black! We see them ascending the bank at Freshfield and then being remarshalled for display at Horstead Keynes by the O2 while the Beattie waits in the background. Also seen is SECR class H 0-4-4T no 263, heading some true Victorian relics out of the tunnel at what remains of West Hoathley station.