Saturday 23rd March 2013 will see the re-opening of the rail link between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead.  The first service is to be hauled by Ex-LBSCR class E4 radial tank B473 and with Bachmann announcing that they will be producing a ready to run model of this locomotive last Sunday (click here for more), it seemed a fitting time to publish a few pictures of this beautiful old tank engine, running in 2011.

B473 was originally named Birch Grove and was built in 1898 at Brighton to a design by R.J. Billinton.  It is known as a radial tank due to the radial axle behind the cab (it does not have a pony truck).

B473 was purchased in working order by the Bluebell Line in 1962 and was put into service until 1971.  Being one of the earliest locomotives to run on the preserved Bluebell Line; it is fitting that it will haul the first official passenger train from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead on 23rd March.

Unfortunately I am unlikely to be attending the event on Saturday 23rd March, but I look forward to traveling between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead in the not too distant future!  Thanks for reading folks 🙂