Wonderful Wightwick | Best of 6989 Wightwick Hall at the Bluebell Railway

Designed by GWR, and Built post-nationalisation by British Railways, Modified Hall Class No 6989 'Wightwick Hall' Came to the Bluebell Railway in Early Summer 2022. Now having run for just over two years on the Bluebell, we look back at its operation since Autumn 2023.
At the time of writing, 6989 has not run since the Branchline Gala, last running double heading with visiting Mannor No 7812 'Earlestoke Mannor' on Sunday, 12th May 2024. Wightwick Hall has now been rostered for running in August, but with the recent return to service of Battle of Britain Class No 34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair', and the approaching entry of Beachy Head, there will be enough locos in the Bluebell home fleet without the need to run Wightwick Hall. Partially for this reason, it is thought by some that No 6989 will be leaving the Bluebell soon, heading back to its base at the Buckinghamshire Railway Centre, ahead of its boiler ticket expiring in the next couple of years.