Bluebell Railway: Spring Gala 2026 It’s Easter, which is prime spring gala season in the heritage railway world. Many railways like to run galas at this time of year, running more intensive timetables and bringing in guest locomotives to attract crowds. In previous years, the Bluebell Railway has run what they call a Branch Line gala in the spring, but this year they ran a more general spring gala, presumably to free themselves from working to a ‘branch line’ theme.

A couple of weeks ago I spent time at the Bluebell Railway Spring Gala. As you can imagine, photos were taken, which can be seen on my website alongside the story behind the shots.

#steam #steamlocomotive #locomotive #heritagerailway #railwaysofbritain @bluebell_railway

Sir Nigel Gresley 60007 Sir Nigel Gresley sits on platform at Sheffield Park steaming away to herself ahead of her first service of the day. My favourite steam locomotive. Found In: Bluebell Railway: Giants of Steam 2024 Just a quick note. I've now managed to post on this site every day for 500 consecutive days. I'm very pleased with that achievement, but I am also starting to think it might be time to take another break. I hate to break a streak though, so I might find myself fighting that urge.

60007 Sir Nigel Gresley sits on platform at Sheffield Park steaming away to herself ahead of her first service of the day. My favourite steam locomotive.

#photography #steam #steamlocomotive #heritagerailway #railwaysofbritain

Owl A great horned owl at Huxley's Bird of Prey Centre in Sussex. It doesn't look too pleased. Found In: Huxley's Bird of Prey Centre

A great horned owl at Huxley's Bird of Prey Centre in Sussex. It doesn't look too pleased.

#photography #wildlifephotography #wildlife #naturephotography #birdsofprey

South Downs Some sea mist starts to roll over the South Downs in Sussex. Found In: Return to the South Downs Way

Some sea mist starts to roll over the South Downs in Sussex.

#photography #sussex #southdowns #mist #hills

Chairs Some chairs in the grounds of Sheffield Park & Gardens, presumably as part of some sort of formal al fresco meeting. Found In: Return to Sheffield Park & Gardens

Some chairs in the grounds of Sheffield Park & Gardens, presumably as part of some sort of formal al fresco meeting.

#photography #alfresco #outdoors #chairs #sussex

Terrapin A terrapin at the Brighton Sea Life Centre. Found In: Return to Brighton Aquarium

A terrapin at the Brighton Sea Life Centre.

#photography #wildlife #aquarium #sussex #water

Hose A hose in the back of a fire engine. Found In: Random Gems #6

A hose in the back of a fire engine.

#photography #hose #fireengine #yellow

Flower A macro shot of what I think is a buttercup, somewhere in the New Forest. Found In: The Macro World of the New Forest

A macro shot of what I think is a buttercup, somewhere in the New Forest.

#photography #flowers #macro #newforest #plants

Streetlight A tree somewhere in London, illuminated by fairy lights, and reflected on a damp surface. Or possibly a water feature. Found In: London at Night V

A tree somewhere in London, illuminated by fairy lights, and reflected on a damp surface. Or possibly a water feature.

#photography #water #night #London #reflection

Red Arrows The Red Arrows perform against a dark and moody sky during a display last year. Found In: The Red Arrows

The Red Arrows perform against a dark and moody sky during a display last year.

#photography #aerialdisplays #redarrows #raf #displayteam @rafredarrows

Live Whilst I'm sure this was intended as a reassuring warning that some cabling was still live, but it takes on a different tone when it's painted in blood red and found in the basement of an abandoned building. Found In: Derelict

Whilst I'm sure this was intended as a reassuring warning that some cabling was still live, but it takes on a different tone when it's painted in blood red and found in the basement of an abandoned building.

#photography #urbex #abandoned #warning #theylive

6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’ 6989 Wightwick Hall heads north from Horsted Keynes Station on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. This locomotive is painted red thanks to her appearing in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series. Found In: Bluebell Railway: New Year's Steam Up 2026

6989 Wightwick Hall heads north from Horsted Keynes Station on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. This locomotive is painted red thanks to her appearing in the upcoming Harry Potter TV series.

#photography #steam #steamlocomotive #heritagerailway #railwaysofbritain

On My Phone Yours truly, staring at my phone, from a set of experiments I did with light many years ago. (This shot is lit only by the light from my phone.) Found In: Experimenting with Light

Yours truly, staring at my phone, from a set of experiments I did with light many years ago. (This shot is lit only by the light from my phone.)

#photography #people #portrait #lighting #phoneaddiction

Bridge Looking up at the support struts of one of the Golden Jubilee Bridges in London. Found In: West End Wander

Looking up at the support struts of one of the Golden Jubilee Bridges in London.

#photography #London #travel #city #architecture

Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens Back during our 2023 holiday to Dorset, we took a visit to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens, a garden holding a variety of exotic plants in western Dorset. It led to me taking quite a few lovely macro shots of flowers. Kit List Canon EOS 60D Canon EF 100mm f/2.8 Macro USM Canon EF 24-105mm f/4 L IS USM Canon EF 70-300mm f/4-5.6 IS USM…

A little while ago I took a trip to Abbotsbury Subtropical Gardens in Dorset. As I’m terrible at identifying species, here is a lovely post full of macro photos of flowers which I am completely unable to name. Jump in the comments and help me out?

#photography #flowers #macro #dorset #nature

Clown Two characters share a moment during a performance of All's Well That Ends Well. Found In: All's Well That Ends Well

Two characters share a moment during a performance of All's Well That Ends Well.

#photography #people #shakespeare #theater #acting

Ectomobile A replica of one of my all-time favourite movie cars, the Ectomobile from Ghostbusters. Found In: Ectomobile

A replica of one of my all-time favourite movie cars, the Ectomobile from Ghostbusters.

#photography #cars #movies #ghostbusters #ecto1 @ghostbustersnews

Swan A swan on one of the rivers that passes through Lyon in France. Found In: Lyon

A swan on one of the rivers that passes through Lyon in France.

#photography #travel #swan #water #wildlife

Dress A dress, illuminated as part of a light festival in London. Found In: Lumiere London

A dress, illuminated as part of a light festival in London.

#photography #night #London #dress #orange

Flower Some sort of flower in the gardens of Nymans in Sussex. Found In: Nymans

Some sort of flower in the gardens of Nymans in Sussex.

#photography #flowers #sussex #yellow #plants

Valves Some valves off the side of Worthing Pier in, er, Worthing. Found In: Worthing

Some valves off the side of Worthing Pier in, er, Worthing.

#photography #sussex #water #industrial #knobs

Trees A line of trees reflected in the water in Richmond Park, giving a look reminiscent of the trademark Boscastle Pottery 'mocha ware' design. Found In: Misty Morning, Richmond Park

A line of trees reflected in the water in Richmond Park, giving a look reminiscent of the trademark Boscastle Pottery 'mocha ware' design.

#photography #trees #royalparks #sunrise #reflection

Orangey Some citrusy fruits on display at Borough Market in London. Found In: Return to Borough Market

Some citrusy fruits on display at Borough Market in London.

#photography #food #markets #boroughmarket #London

Scarlet Ibis A scarlet ibis - which I think sounds like a chain of hotels, but whatever - spreads its wings at Drusillas Park in Sussex. Found In: Return to Drusillas Park

A scarlet ibis – which I think sounds like a chain of hotels, but whatever – spreads its wings at Drusillas Park in Sussex.

Like this? I post more wildlife photos over at @robdoeswildlife on Instagram.

#photography #wildlife #sussex #birds #scarletibis

Building A shot of the building affectionately (or not) known as the cheese grater. It's a lot more colourful from the non-cheese grating side. Found In: City of London

A shot of the building affectionately (or not) known as the cheese grater. It's a lot more colourful from the non-cheese grating side.

#photography #urban #London #travel #architecture

Bluebells It's March, spring is in the air, and it shouldn't be long now until this year's bluebells start sprouting. Found In: Bluebell Forest

It's March, spring is in the air, and it shouldn't be long now until this year's bluebells start sprouting.

#photography #bluebells #flowers #spring

It’s A Sign A lovely, weathered, mossy signpost near Ardingly Reservoir. Found In: Ardingly Reservoir

A lovely, weathered, mossy signpost near Ardingly Reservoir.

#photography #weathered #wood #sussex #sign

Aston Martin DB5 A view of the rear light cluster of a stunningly beautiful Aston Martin DB5. For me, this is one of the most beautiful cars to ever exist in one of the most beautiful colours. Found In: Aston Martins

A view of the rear light cluster of a stunningly beautiful Aston Martin DB5. For me, this is one of the most beautiful cars to ever exist in one of the most beautiful colours.

#photography #cars #classiccars #astonmartin #db5

Man I love to photograph a more distinguished gentleman such as this. There is so much more detail on their face.

I love to photograph a more distinguished gentleman such as this. There is so much more detail on their face.

#photography #people #portraits #oldman #monochrome

Spa Valley Railway At the start of the year, I set myself several photography-based resolutions for 2026. One of those was to visit the Spa Valley Railway to see Caledonian Railways № 828 in action. By late January I was itching to get out and photograph steam again, as well as give my "railway lens" a proper field test against the subject I bought it for (it had…

At the end of January I made my first visit to the Spa Valley Railway, to see Caledonian Railways № 828 and give my recently acquired "railway lens" a proper runout.

#photography #steam #steamlocomotive #railwaysofbritain #heritagerailway @spavalleyrailwayofficial