Blackmoor Vale & The Bulleid Society

29/05/2026

Bulleid Pacific 34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair" was withdrawn from service by British Railways 60 years ago today. Here it is at Sheffield Park station today. It carries a tribute to Sally Cruse who passed away recently. Sally worked for many years as a volunteer raising money for Archie in the Bulleid Society shop. Archie is owned by The Bluebell Railway and supported by The Bluebell Railway Battle of Britain Locomotive Group. Full info on the Bulleid Society website.

15/05/2026

50 years ago today, 15th May 1976, No. 21C123 Blackmoor Vale went into traffic on the Bluebell Railway. Please see our website for photos from that day.
If you would like to see this wonderful locomotive back in steam please become a member of The Bulleid Society &/or send us a donation. We are a registered charity. All info is on the website.
https://www.bulleidsociety.org/News/Latest_News.html

29/04/2026

The Bulleid Society website has been updated with the latest exciting photos from Normandy's restoration:

The new cab floor is in place and work is underway to renew all the cab sheet metalwork, starting with the rear section. We hope to rebuilt the full cab as on the photograph below to give improved footplate crew protection in the usual British weather.

15/04/2026

Eddystone approaching Haywards Heath today. Not good weather for photography!

08/04/2026

An update on No.96 Normandy’s overhaul has been uploaded to the Society's web site:

The new cab floor is in place and work is underway to renew all the cab sheet metalwork, starting with the rear section. We hope to rebuilt the full cab as on the photograph below to give improved footplate crew protection in the usual British weather.

09/03/2026

Please see the latest update for Normandy on our website. The wonderful team we have working on the locomotive are making steady progress.

A PDF of the progress report (Autumn 2025) detailing the work carried out on Normandy is available by clicking the link below.

12/02/2026

Who would like to win a prize that money can’t buy – a “behind the scenes” tour of the Bluebell Railway? This is not available anywhere else! Visiting Loco and Carriage & Wagon departments and signal boxes. For one up-front payment of £15 your lottery ticket is entered for 40 draws. Each of the 40 prizes can be a “behind the scenes” tour with a light lunch thrown in. To enter, please see the 500+ Club entry form at https://www.bulleidsociety.org/34059/34059_500_Club.html . But hurry, entries close at the end of this month! The 500+ Club is run by The Bluebell Railway Battle of Britain Locomotive Group.

No. 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair is owned by Bluebell Railway PLC. The purpose of the 500+ Club is to provide a dedicated income for the locomotive to help with restoration and maintenance. The Lottery Promoter is Nigel Currah.

09/01/2026

We will be publishing the 2026 edition of Bulleid Express in the next few days. I have e-mailed to all members with known e-mail addresses to ask if they would prefer a PDF rather than a paper copy in the post. For those who have not responded this is your last chance to opt for a PDF if you want one. Please respond to [email protected] . If you are not yet a member the membership form is on the Bulleid Society website and there is still time to join us if you want to receive the magazine containing Bulleid related articles you will not find anywhere else.

21/12/2025

LAST CHANCE to become a member of The Bulleid Society at 2025 prices. From 1st January the price rises to £15 annual, £225 Life. Until 31st December you can join for 2026 at £10 or become a Life member for £150 (existing Bulleid Society annual members can upgrade for £140). Details at https://www.bulleidsociety.org/Society/Society_Membership.html
You know it makes sense! Please send money by bank transfer and e-mail to [email protected] to confirm.
We wish all our members and FB followers all the best for Christmas and the New Year. We look forward to seeing you at the Bluebell Railway during 2026. Don’t forget to call in to our shop on Platform 2 at Sheffield Park station.

Membership of the Bulleid Society is open to all. The fee is £10.00 (overseas members £11.00) for membership of the Society for the year, ending 31st December.

07/11/2025

We have noticed that The Model Railway Club is hosting a talk on O.V.S. Buiieid on Thursday 13th November from 7:30PM. This can be seen in person at the Club, or online via Zoom. Cost for non-members is £3.

Please click on this link for more details:

Simon A.C. Martin is back to report on his research and writing. The next engineer to discuss is O.V.S. Bulleid, a Great Northern and then LNER stalwart who eventually made the jump to C.M.E. of the Southern Railway whilst working on Gresley. Simon looks at his personal life and career before focusi...