Gordon leaves East Grinstead already

Message from Roy Watts, Chairman of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society:

"Although she was only delivered on Saturday, the railway now needs to honour its commitment to ensure that the 4 Vep is looked after. Following the hugely successful Open Day, the East Grinstead site has now reverted to a construction site and is therefore now inaccessible to people, thus isolating the unit.

With construction works due to start at East Grinstead and the unit in an exposed position, the Bluebell Railway has accepted the offer of short term accommodation at Eastleigh railway works.

Knights Rail have generously sponsored the move to the works where she will be under cover and back on the 3rd Rail. She will receive care and attention whilst she is in the works and she will certainly, along with LSWR B4 No.96 "Normandy" be representing the Bluebell at the forthcoming Eastleigh 100 event in May.

All this has happened very quickly (it left at 12.50 today - Thursday 22nd - in a special move organised at remarkably short notice) and we are grateful to everybody who has made this move possible an excellent example of team work co-operation to ensure that the unit will be in a much safer store.

The unit remains in Bluebell ownership, and will of course return at an appropriate time later."

Well who would credit it? A surprise win-win move results in slam door action on the Brighton and South West main lines twice in five days.

Here 73209 and 73205 are approaching East Croydon with 3417 in tow.

photograph by Ian Buck

Gordon bringing up the rear through Barnes.

photograph by Colin Price

The darned intrusive galvanised palisade fencing does a classic viewpoint no favours at Worting Junction.

photograph by Lawe