Bluebell Railway General Discussion

The move of the LT 4TC to and from the Swanage was run as a passenger move....IIRC

So not insuperable difficulties?

Pleased to see a photo from anyone lucky enough to be at CJ about now!

Robin

 

But the 4TC is essentially based on a steel bodied Mark 1, not 120 year-old wooden bodies! I suppose nothing is impossible (as the efforts of the NYMR to run teak bodied coaches to Whitby show) it's just whether the compliance costs for certification would be justifiable for a one-off trip. Clearly LUL consider the investment worth it to run on their own metals.

That said, I've always taken the view that your best protection in a crash is to avoid having one in the first place, something you signalling-johnnies presumably know all about

If I see any photos from CJ, I'll post the links here.

Tom

 

The .com website has details for Giants of Steam. Britannia and Cheltenham are the visitors.
http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/giants-of-steam/

 

Aside from the crash-worthiness issue, the other major risks would be fire (wooden bodies) and lack of CDL (central door locking). The compartment design of the METs would not lend itself to stewarding the doors (as done in some cases on the mainline) as you would need one in each compartment. The risks associated with people falling out of doors would be greater over the 3rd rail network.

 

Greater than the 4 rail network they are approved to run on, including underground?

 

here they are today at sharpthorne

 

We have to run them at 25mph with passengers on board due to the lack of central door locking system, when running ECS they can be hauled at 40mph.

Regards,

Dan

 

Interesting line up. If Camelot is ready, that gives five engines for essentially four paths.

Have three Maunsell engines ever been in steam together in preservation?

Tom

 

Lets not get pedantic, suffice to say I think it is realistic to say that it is highly unlikely that they will ever be used on a mainline charter outside of TFL lines. Is it possible to use them on a NR charter? Probably, but there are simply too many restrictions and limitations to make it a worthwhile exercise.

 

Not 100% sure, but think MHR managed 777, 850 and 925 a few years back? Regardless, it's great to have GoS back in the Bluebell's calendar - if all the plans come together it should be an excellent weekend!

 

I'll second that!

Having experienced them at both a sedate 25mph on the BB, and at full whack through the tunnels at Hammersmith 150............... no way Jose - you'd be shaken to bits, never mind hot & bothered, & up close & personal with the person(s) next to you............

 

We did!

Spring gala 2013 - 777 attended having missed the autumn one the year before.

 

They did. I meant to hop out at M&4M to photograph 925 piloting 850 into the loop from Alton with 777 waiting on the main, all locos chimney first in malachite green, but it was freezing cold, foggy and I had a lovely warm seat in 1st, right behind 777 on a crowded train. Forgive me, for I stayed put .

 

Just an N, N15 and Nellie away from a full house of surviving Maunsell classes together in one place. Might have to wait a bit for that though.


Good lineup though and shall try to attend. Was rather hoping there'd be another Standard but 925 is a very good loco.

 

Thanks Jon - better hope someone in the loco department remembers the ring spanner

Shame we never got 1638, 541 and 847 all running on the same day, but 925 will give a good preview for when 928 is finished!

Tom

 

Robin, here is your wish of the Mets at Clapham Junction today

Jon

 

Robin, there are several pictures of the Mets at CJ - albeit last year - in my album at :

https://www.flickr.com/photos/carpentr/albums/72157642072513284

If that's what you're after.

Roger C

 

Surely that confused the passengers on 17.

Head Code 73 was(is?) "Waterloo - Portsmouth & Southsea (slow) via Worplesdon"

 

One thing I've often wondered is why Ketches Farm Halt is still standing. Is it occasionally required for filming, does it have some other use, would it be too expensive to remove, or is it essentially ornamental?

 

There was some talk of removing it a few years back but I assume that as long as it remains structurally sound there isn't much point in doing so when time / resources could be better used elsewhere. It generally only gets used these days to drop off / pick up the various P-Way gangs + equipment when we've been working nearby and there are no Wickham trolley paths between service trains.

Jon