Recalling the LBSCR celebrity’s brief appearance at Sheffield Park

When Gladstone graced Sheffield Park.

It is common for locomotives to visit preserved railways for galas, but it is rare for them not to steam. Even rarer for a static locomotive to be the star of the show, but that’s just what happened in 1982 when the illustrious Stroudley 0-4-2 Gladstone was given rare dispensation by the National Railway Museum to visit the Bluebell Railway.

Rare, because in the 55 years since its original preservation by the Stephenson Locomotive Society, it had never been displayed outside York.

The occasion was most fitting: the centenary of both the locomotive and the former Lewes & East Grinstead Railway; a line that No. 214 would have run over during its 44-year LBSCR and Southern Railway career, allocated to Brighton.

The Adams ‘Radial’, ‘Caley’ tank No. 419 from Bo’ness and replica Rocket were among the operational highlights of the 100th anniversary, but the year will be perhaps best recalled for the simple, yet effective, positioning of the Improved Engine Green masterpiece Gladstone in the Victorian environs of Sheffield Park.

Even so, it is arguable that more could have been made of its visit as Gladstone spent most of the time in the shadows of the engine shed. The pragmatic decision having also taken not to tow the museum piece to Horsted Keynes for the centenary cavalcade that June. But when it was outside, several period scenes were staged and made to look as authentic as was possible with what was available, in full knowledge that there may never be the same opportunity to see this 1882 gem in an authentic setting again.

The fact that it hasn’t happened since proves what a perceptive move that was. Put it another way: you’ve only been able to see No. 214 in genuine, steam-era surrounds once in the last 93 years.

Will we ever see its like again? Don’t hold your breath, but don’t rule it out either, says its de facto keeper Andrew McLean of the National Railway Museum.

“I believe it is still in sound condition though, so in theory it could be moved and displayed outside of York,” he says. “One thing that would be highly unlikely however is to have the locomotive outside for any length of time as we couldn’t risk damaging the paintwork… it’s unlikely but not impossible!”

The 150th anniversaries of Gladstone and the railway are now only 12 years away. Just saying…

The 1940s-liveried ‘100 Seaters’ may jar, but as far as Victorian railway re-creations in the 1980s went, this was about as good as it got. Were this to be attempted today, the Bluebell would be able to pair No. 214 with a more suitable train of period fourwheeled carriages.

ALL: PETER ZABEK Beauty and the beast. Two of the most extraordinary locomotives to have ever graced the preserved Bluebell Railway come face to face, certainly for the first time following very different Southern careers and preservation paths. Gladstone is posed as though arriving at Sheffield Park with a Brighton-bound train as Bulleid ‘Q1’ 0-6-0 No. 33001 simmers in Platform 2. Both of these National Collection engines are now on permanent display at York.

On shed at Sheffield Park. A floodlight was removed from the water tower and a ‘modern’ Southern Railway ground signal disguised with foliage to make the scene look as Victorian as possible. Will we ever see its like again?