Last Wednesday, 5th April, after four months of effort, Class 73 No. E6040/73133 was renamed The Bluebell Railway at Eastleigh Works.
The locomotive now carries its original number of E6040 and has been repainted into early BR Blue livery with half-yellow warning panels. It has also been renamed The Bluebell Railway from its previous name of The Bluebell Railway (1990–2004), with the name being unveiled by Bluebell Railway Preservation Society Vice President, Roy Watts.
The loco will soon be moving to the Bluebell Railway where it will be commissioned before taking up its first duties. By being based at the Bluebell Railway and operating services on the line, the 73133 “The Bluebell Railway” project can move forward to achieve its goals of establishing a group to ensure E6040 continues to be reliable and in good condition and to fundraise for the inevitable work that will be required in the future.
The Class 73s were designed by Southern Region engineers who built six electro-diesel locomotives at Eastleigh during 1961–2. They had a 1,600 hp electric engine and an English Electric 600 hp diesel engine similar to those used in the Southern Region's diesel-electric multiple units. After proving the success of the prototype locomotives, British Railways ordered a further 43 locomotives, including E6040, from English Electric's Vulcan Foundry at Newton-le-Willows.
The group is planning further events to celebrate E6040's return to service, and these will be posted on the group's Facebook page 73133 “The Bluebell Railway” and on the Bluebell Railway website at www.bluebell-railway.com for more information as it becomes available.
Anyone who would like to become involved in the group by doing practical work to support E6040's operation should contact the project leader, Paul Auckland, at paulchillout@aol.com or phone 07970 406353.
The group also welcomes donations. Either one-off or by setting up a regular donation via 73133 “The Bluebell Railway” Restoration – a Heritage crowdfunding project in Uckfield by Paul Auckland (crowdfunder.co.uk).
Paul Auckland, Project leader said, “This is a key milestone on the journey for having “The Bluebell Railway” loco operating at its namesake railway. As a long-standing Bluebell volunteer on steam and diesel locos, I'm excited that the Bluebell has been so welcoming of this Heritage Loco and look forward to it operating trouble-free for many years at its new home.”
Roy Watts, Bluebell Railway Preservation Society Vice President, said “The Bluebell Railway continues to move with the times, and we've now had diesels for many years, starting with diesels operating the tip trains as part of us getting to East Grinstead more than ten years ago.
“I'm delighted E6040 is coming to the Bluebell Railway as it will be a highly versatile and economical locomotive allowing us to enhance our timetable alongside steam locos, I'm confident it'll find a number of uses, including giving us the option to keep operating during high fire risk periods”.
Good News, a welcome return to an old favourite