Hastings diesel on the Bluebell - August 2026 - visit and report

[whole diary]

[grahame]

In a week or two, I'll be have itchy feet and not be travelling as widely as I have in recent months.  Fancying a trip to Sheffield Park to catch up and ride on an old friend.  Anyone interested in joining me?

Our sincere thanks go to our friends at Hastings Diesels Limited, whose 4-car heritage diesel unit will be on its way to the Bluebell Railway to support us during this challenging period.

The unit will help supplement our own and visiting diesel fleet while steam locomotive operations remain temporarily suspended, and we're delighted that it will also be taking part in our 2026 Diesel Gala, celebrating the 40th anniversary of Network SouthEast.

We're incredibly grateful to everyone at Hastings Diesels Limited for stepping in to help at short notice. It's another wonderful example of the support and collaboration that exists across the heritage railway movement.

Further details of operating days for the unit will be announced in due course. Please join us in thanking Hastings Diesels Limited for their fantastic support!

[grahame]

In a week or two, I'll be have itchy feet and not be travelling as widely as I have in recent months.  Fancying a trip to Sheffield Park to catch up and ride on an old friend.  Anyone interested in joining me?

Looking at this Saturday (22.8.2026) - Melksham to Sheffield Park and back via East Grinstead.  It will be my first visit to the Bluebell in so many years - when I was last there it was an isolated line from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes.

[grahame]

13 trains and a taxi.  Melksham (08:02) - Swindon - Paddington - Farringdon - East Croydon - East Grinstead - Sheffield Park - East Grinstead - East Croydon - London Bridge - Charing Cross - Paddington - Swindon - Chippenham - Melksham (20:05). 

Metrics
- longest delay - 10 minutes, GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Swindon to Paddington
- cancellations - just one, that final train back into Melksham
- longest intermediate station stops - Melksham to load and Chippenham to then unload a wheelchair, and Horsted Keynes to pass another train
- traction 3 x diesel, 1 x switched underway electric to diesel, rest electric.
- smallest profile train - Charing Cross to Paddington
- only full-and-standing trains - Charing Cross to Paddington and Paddington to Swindon
- quietest train - East Grinstead to East Croydon
- longest wait - in London when headed home; I killed time there to connect with a Melksham train
- shortest wait - London Bridge, where a Charing Cross train pulled in as I reached the platform
- longest train - Thamelink or Elizabeth line?
- shortest train used - Melksham to Swindon (3 carriages)
- shortest train seen - brake van rides at Sheffield Park
- most irritating fellow passengers - children who had been bought whistles by their access-weekend (?) dad
- most polite staff - all of them; no exceptions
- least helpful staff - [name redacted] at Swindon who had I followed advise would have delayed me by hours.
- least comfortable seating - between Swindon and Paddington
- most expensive fare per mile - East Grinstead to Sheffield Park and back
- greatest sadness - just how hard and difficult that final leg into Melksham can be
- best scenery - the wealds of Sussex and Kent, south from Oxted
- longest queue - ticket barriers, Paddington (into Elizabeth line)
- ungated platforms - Melksham and 2 x Paddington main line
- fondest memories rekindled - travelling in a Hastings Diesel power car.
- best historic station used - Sheffield Park
- best modern station used - there are lots; no single choice
- most impressive high utilisation of station - East Croydon
- worst modern station used - Swindon
- greatest love - being home after a fantastic day and waking up here the next morning
- enjoyment factor - 90% plus plus

9.4kms walked in three big batches - Home to Melksham Station, in London on my return journey, and Melksham Station home. 12 flights of stairs climbed. The specialist doctor on Thursday confirmed that walking helps lower blood pressure and indeed the reading he took on the 4th floor of the GW^» (Great Western - used as an abbreviation for the area / lines under the Great Western franchise, as opposed to FGW which includes "First", the company operating them too. For tickets - about) hospital (I had walked up) confirmed that - but I digress.