N ‘C’ ROSS’?
A filming contract with Warner Bros meant that the venerable Wainwright 0-6-0, together with a mixed bag of SECR four-wheel and bogie coaches and Maunsell stock, was towed from East Grinstead to Bounds Green on the evening of February 5 by GB Railfreight Class 20 diesels Nos. 20142 and 20189. The ensemble was then berthed in Platform 1 at King’s Cross for the filming during the weekend of February 6/7. The movie’s identity has not been officially released, but reports suggest that it is Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them - a prequel to the ‘Harry Potter’ series, set 70 years before the existing ‘Hogwarts’ films, and thus requiring an older locomotive than their star ‘Hall’ No. 5972 Olton Hall. Fortunately, the ‘C’ did not have to be repainted in ‘Hogwarts Express’ red, although it and some of the coaches had received heavy ‘weathering’ on one side. It was the first time that the ‘C’ had ventured onto main line metals since arrival at the Bluebell from its first preservation home of Ashford Works, in 1970. Another
THE GREAT train shed of King’s Cross is set to witness some remarkable sights in the coming months, starting with Flying Scotsman’s official launch and culminating in the appearance of an ‘A4’ and ‘N2’ for the unveiling of the Gresley statue in April. But the vision of South Eastern & Chatham ‘C’ class No. 592 under the roof with vintage stock from the Bluebell Railway was on another level entirely…
Bluebell veteran, Billinton ‘E4’ 0-6-2T No. 473, is also set to make a foray onto the national network this autumn, to be displayed at Haywards Heath station’s 175th anniversary celebrations on September 17/18 along with Stroudley ‘Terrier’ 0-6-0T No. 55 Stepney. Its last appearance on the national network was on September 15 1963, double-headed with Adams ‘Radial’ No. 488 on the ‘Blue Belle’ railtour.