What happened to the Bluebell's fire train?

With respect Neil , I was there but had nothing to do with the fire service, only involved with the restoration of the ex fire train LSWR 1520, which is why I am asking the question why was the fire service closed when it did so much good work?

Kind regards
Chris:

 

In the 1990s we visited a French preserved railway which ran from Richileau towards Chinnon. The passenger train was followed by a fire train about 100 metres behind which was called into action numerous times.

Somewhere I have some video of it which I will try and dig out.

 

Many thanks, love to see that video Simon,

Kind regards

 

I've just looked up the Richelieu-Chinon line (correct spellings). I hadn't realised it had closed in 2004. I went on it in 1997 and I don't remember the fire train - I do remember the tediously long stop at the intermediate station while everyone was served cheese and wine - very French! Also the loco's whistle was not shutting off properly, so the entire journey was accompanied by an ear-piercing shrieking noise. I then missed the last train back to Tours and had to get a taxi, so it turned out to be an expensive trip.

 

Hmmm waters regarding the disbanding of trumpton are considerably more murky than is being described here. The department was closed and the 'fire station' shed in the field at HK was dismantled. Bigger question never answered was what happened to all the equipment, in particular the two vehicles. The immaculate S3 Land Rover fire engine donated by ICI and the other (think it was a GMC) truck. The WW2 Coventry Climax pump was worth a few Bob as was a lot of the other equipment. All disappeared...

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Thats what I know and heard too Peter though I admit to being reluctant to say so publicly. The rumour mill going around at the said that the monies from Trumptons assets went onto the extension?, we might never know the true story.

 

I think the analysis of 1520 being damaged by water which complicated it's overhaul is wide of the mark. It was well stripped, leaking and with rotten bottom rails before it came to Bluebell. It had been an ambulance car in WW2, departmental afterwards and then Clan Line's workshop. The fire dept (ver 1) recovered the roof using felt, unsealed some of the doors and slapped a ton of paint over it. The vac brakes were overhauled and recommisioned and it was lifted at least once for bogie maintenance. Without that it would have been abandoned down the back siding and would by now no doubt collapsed structurally. When it was painted red it was in the eye of all and seen, and heated. It only went to one fire and that was caused through the pway idiot control burning vegetation and promptly destroying 5 acres of crops. It also went to the fire slip north of HK where we emptied the contents of both tank wagons into the ground in a vain attempt to put it out. How do I know this? I started at the Bluebell in 1983 as a thirteen year old. In the fire dept before going over to the C&W. The original restoration team were comprised mainly of ex fire dept people who wanted to restore what was seen as a hopeless case. By that time the fire dept ver2 had arrived and the shed in the field appeared. I was long gone by then and just looked over the fence and smiled at the keystone cops-esq activities. Tearing round Sussex with blue lights on the fiesta and squirting water from a hydrant wearing a red helmet was not my idea of fun and I don't think it fitted in with the Bluebell's management teams ideas either....

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