Uploaded September 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
The 10th June 1986 saw the launch of a new passenger sector of British Rail: Network SouthEast. The NSE brand, which would see station refurbishments, new passenger initiatives and the introduction of Networker trains, became the fabric of rail services in the South of England, stretching as far as Dover, Brighton, the Isle of Wight, Weymouth, Exeter, Northampton and Ipswich. 40 years on, the days of NSE's red, white and blue continue to be celebrated by enthusiasts, many riding the nostalgia of daily commutes.
To celebrate four decades since the launch of NSE, the Bluebell Railway's diesel gala would take on a strong theme of the 80s and 90s, with many guest locomotives and stock holding some lineage to Network SouthEast. The toothpaste livery was well represented by 03179, 50026, 73128 and MLV 9002, as well as a repaint of one car from home-based Oxted Unit No. 1305, whilst Hastings Unit 201001 featured after returning to the railway for the summer season. Other locomotives of the era included Railfreight liveried Class 31 pair 31108 and 31210, whilst DC Rail's 60028 gave representation of what was new on the rails back in the 1990s, with 028 being what is believed to be the first member of the class to visit the Bluebell.
In addition to the variety of locomotives and stock, Horsted Keynes station became a central hub for all things NSE, with the station appropriately dressed for the event: NSE signage, bins and benches could be found on the platforms, whilst the station buildings featured various NSE ephemera on display, including posters, timetables, badges, signs, and a collection of OO Gauge models. One of the more unusual NSE items on display could be found outside Sheffield Park station, in the form of London Transport Daimler DMS bus/tube/train, built to promote the London Travelcard in 1991.
LINKS
Facebook: facebook.com/BrickishRailYT
Instagram: instagram.com/brickishrail
LOCOS & STOCK
British Rail Class 201 Hastings DEMU 201001
British Rail Class 207 Oxted DEMU No.1305
British Rail Class 419 MLV 9002
GB Railfreight Class 73 73128 'Kent & East Sussex Railway'
DC Rail Class 60 60028
British Rail Class 73 E6040
British Rail Class 419 MLV 9001
British Rail Class 416 2-EPB No.5759
British Rail Class 33 33108
British Rail Class 50 50026 'Indomitable'
British Rail Class 03 03179 'Clive'
British Rail Class 31 31210
British Rail Class 31 31108
LT Daimler DMS 1515 'SUPERCAR'
British Rail Class 421 4-CIG No.1753 (Static Display)
British Rail Class 33 D6570
VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 - 201001 - Horsted Keynes Station
1:35 - 201001 - Horsted Keynes Southfield
2:33 - 1305, 9002 & 73128 - Horsted Keynes Station
3:44 - 60028 & 33108 - Horsted Keynes
5:09 - E6040, MLVs, 2-EPB & 73128 - Horsted Keynes
7:14 - Miniature Railway - Kingscote Station
8:11 - 73128, MLVs, 2-EPB & E6040 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
9:34 - 33108 & 50026 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
11:07 - 03179 - Horsted Keynes
13:17 - NSE Displays - Horsted Keynes Station
14:37 - 31108 & 31210 - Leamland Bridge
16:28 - 201001 - Freshfield Bank
17:10 - SUPERCAR - Sheffield Park Station
18:00 - 4-CIG 1753 - Sheffield Park Station
18:42 - 50026 & 33108 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
19:47 - D6570 & 1305 - Horsted Keynes Station
20:13 - 03179, 50026 & 33108 - Horsted Keynes Station
23:13 - 201001 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
24:43 - 33108 - Freshfield Bank
25:41 - 73128, MLVs, 2-EPB & E6040 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
26:51 - 31210 & 31108 - Freshfield Bank
27:32 - 33108 & 50026 - Freshfield Bank
Filmed on 4th - 6th September 2026.
The 10th June 1986 saw the launch of a new passenger sector of British Rail: Network SouthEast. The NSE brand, which would see station refurbishments, new passenger initiatives and the introduction of Networker trains, became the fabric of rail services in the South of England, stretching as far as Dover, Brighton, the Isle of Wight, Weymouth, Exeter, Northampton and Ipswich. 40 years on, the days of NSE's red, white and blue continue to be celebrated by enthusiasts, many riding the nostalgia of daily commutes.
To celebrate four decades since the launch of NSE, the Bluebell Railway's diesel gala would take on a strong theme of the 80s and 90s, with many guest locomotives and stock holding some lineage to Network SouthEast. The toothpaste livery was well represented by 03179, 50026, 73128 and MLV 9002, as well as a repaint of one car from home-based Oxted Unit No. 1305, whilst Hastings Unit 201001 featured after returning to the railway for the summer season. Other locomotives of the era included Railfreight liveried Class 31 pair 31108 and 31210, whilst DC Rail's 60028 gave representation of what was new on the rails back in the 1990s, with 028 being what is believed to be the first member of the class to visit the Bluebell.
In addition to the variety of locomotives and stock, Horsted Keynes station became a central hub for all things NSE, with the station appropriately dressed for the event: NSE signage, bins and benches could be found on the platforms, whilst the station buildings featured various NSE ephemera on display, including posters, timetables, badges, signs, and a collection of OO Gauge models. One of the more unusual NSE items on display could be found outside Sheffield Park station, in the form of London Transport Daimler DMS bus/tube/train, built to promote the London Travelcard in 1991.
LINKS
Facebook: facebook.com/BrickishRailYT
Instagram: instagram.com/brickishrail
LOCOS & STOCK
British Rail Class 201 Hastings DEMU 201001
British Rail Class 207 Oxted DEMU No.1305
British Rail Class 419 MLV 9002
GB Railfreight Class 73 73128 'Kent & East Sussex Railway'
DC Rail Class 60 60028
British Rail Class 73 E6040
British Rail Class 419 MLV 9001
British Rail Class 416 2-EPB No.5759
British Rail Class 33 33108
British Rail Class 50 50026 'Indomitable'
British Rail Class 03 03179 'Clive'
British Rail Class 31 31210
British Rail Class 31 31108
LT Daimler DMS 1515 'SUPERCAR'
British Rail Class 421 4-CIG No.1753 (Static Display)
British Rail Class 33 D6570
VIDEO CONTENTS
0:00 - 201001 - Horsted Keynes Station
1:35 - 201001 - Horsted Keynes Southfield
2:33 - 1305, 9002 & 73128 - Horsted Keynes Station
3:44 - 60028 & 33108 - Horsted Keynes
5:09 - E6040, MLVs, 2-EPB & 73128 - Horsted Keynes
7:14 - Miniature Railway - Kingscote Station
8:11 - 73128, MLVs, 2-EPB & E6040 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
9:34 - 33108 & 50026 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
11:07 - 03179 - Horsted Keynes
13:17 - NSE Displays - Horsted Keynes Station
14:37 - 31108 & 31210 - Leamland Bridge
16:28 - 201001 - Freshfield Bank
17:10 - SUPERCAR - Sheffield Park Station
18:00 - 4-CIG 1753 - Sheffield Park Station
18:42 - 50026 & 33108 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
19:47 - D6570 & 1305 - Horsted Keynes Station
20:13 - 03179, 50026 & 33108 - Horsted Keynes Station
23:13 - 201001 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
24:43 - 33108 - Freshfield Bank
25:41 - 73128, MLVs, 2-EPB & E6040 - Horsted Keynes Footpath
26:51 - 31210 & 31108 - Freshfield Bank
27:32 - 33108 & 50026 - Freshfield Bank
Filmed on 4th - 6th September 2026.
