Next October, the Bluebell Railway is to celebrate Railway 200 with its own event celebrating locomotives that have been built since the end of steam.

The celebratory event is titled ‘Giants of Steam 2025’ and will be held from Friday, 17th to Sunday, 19th October 2025.

Four impressive new-build steam locomotives will shine a spotlight on the new chapter of railway preservation.

Locomotives attending the event will be:

• 2999 Lady of Legend, based on a Great Western Railway Star Class 4-6-0 and appearing thanks to The Great Western Society – Didcot.
• 6880 Betton Grange, based on a Great Western Railway Grange Class 4-6-0 and appearing thanks to The Betton Grange Society.
• 60163 Tornado, based on a London North Eastern Railway A1 Class 4-6-2 and appearing thanks to the A1 Steam Locomotive Trust.
• 32424 Beachy Head, based on a London, Brighton and South Coast Railway H2 Class 4-4-0 and is one of the Bluebell Railway’s fleet of Locomotives.

It is thought the event will be the preservation era’s largest gathering of newly built standard gauge steam locomotives.

As such, Giants of Steam 2025 will be an important event for The Bluebell Railway and Railway 200, which will celebrate 200 years of railway history.

The assembly of the four locomotives will be a rare chance to witness them in action as they celebrate the past, present, and future of steam locomotives.

Details of timetables and tickets are not yet available but will be issued as soon as possible.

In August, Railway 200 will be celebrated with The Great Gathering at Alstom’s Derby Works when over 50 rail vehicles from the past, present and future will all come together.

A special event was held for the press last Friday, 30th January, to launch the gathering.