AFTER more than 60 years of steam-only passenger operation, the Bluebell Railway has taken delivery of Class 33 No. D6570 Ashford for use on the railway.
This is the first main line diesel to be permanently based on the East Sussex line, although there have been a couple of shunters for use ‘behind the scenes’.
One of these, Class 09 No. D4106, which has been called on for ‘Thunderbird’ duties in the past, is owned by B350 Ltd, which has now bought the ‘Crompton’ from the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR). The group comprises long-standing BR loco department volunteers.
The Class 33 is an appropriate type for the railway as it was a common sight across the Southern Region on passenger and freight for more than 30 years, including the London Bridge to East Grinstead service.