RAIB tells Bluebell Railway to review coupling arrangements after locomotives moved with shunter between them

The Rail Accident Investigation Branch (RAIB) has recommended that the Bluebell Railway carry out a risk-based review of how it couples and uncouples rail vehicles, after two steam locomotives moved while a shunter stood between them in August 2025.

RAIB published its report on 8 October 2026. It covers an incident on the East Sussex heritage line at about 15:00 on Saturday 9 August 2025, when a shunter was coupling two steam locomotives and they moved unexpectedly.

According to the report, the locomotives travelled about 3 metres before another member of staff on the platform stopped the movement. The shunter was uninjured but shaken.

RAIB's initial notice of the investigation, published on 26 August 2025, had put the distance at about 4 metres at slow speed. That notice said the shunter was forced to walk along the track between the two moving locomotives to avoid being struck, and that neither locomotive nor the railway's infrastructure was damaged. The notice was withdrawn when the final report was published.

What RAIB found

The incident happened during the Bluebell Railway's 65th anniversary mini-gala. The locomotives, Fenchurch and Stepney, were being coupled together so they could be returned to a nearby shed.

RAIB found that the locomotives moved because steam pressure built up in Fenchurch's cylinders, producing an uncommanded movement. The regulator valve had not been fully closed, so steam was admitted to the cylinders. The reverser was also not in a position that would have reduced the risk of the locomotive moving.

Fenchurch had not been effectively immobilised, RAIB said, because its air brake was not fully applied. The shunter had taken steps to stop Fenchurch moving, but these were ineffective because they had not been made aware of the type of braking system the locomotive used.

RAIB identified an underlying factor: the Bluebell Railway was not effectively managing the risks associated with coupling air-braked rolling stock.

The recommendation

RAIB has made a single recommendation, directed at the Bluebell Railway, that it undertakes a risk-based review of its arrangements for coupling and uncoupling rail vehicles.

When it announced the investigation in August 2025, RAIB said its scope would include the management of the staff involved, including their training and competence, and the arrangements in place to manage and control the risks of coupling and shunting trains.

RAIB's role

RAIB became operational in October 2005 as the independent body investigating accidents and incidents on mainline railways, metros, tramways and heritage railways throughout the UK. It says its investigations are focused solely on improving safety; it is not a prosecuting body and does not apportion blame or liability.

Its investigation was independent of any investigation by the railway industry or by the Office of Rail and Road, the industry's regulator. RAIB also says that where it finds matters that may affect railway safety, it circulates information to the right people as soon as possible, and long before its final report is published.

The railway and the locomotives

The Bluebell Railway runs 11 miles from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead in Sussex. According to the railway, 2025 marked the 200th birthday of railways in Britain, and it held its 65th birthday mini gala during the Railway 200 celebrations.

Fenchurch was built in 1872 and the railway said it would be the oldest participant in the gala. It was withdrawn in 1963 and sold to the Bluebell Railway. After a long hiatus and overhaul, it returned to steam in late 2022 and resumed hauling trains the following year.

Stepney was sold to the Bluebell Railway in May 1960 as the line's first locomotive, according to the railway's fleet page.

The full report, reference R112026_261008_Sheffield Park, runs to 39 pages and is available on GOV.UK.