If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Discussie in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' gestart door Jamessquared, 16 feb 2013.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Lid geworden:
    8 mrt 2008
    Berichten:
    28.039
    Leuk Bevonden:
    65.662
    Locatie:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It's out now and then, but not as often as the other vintage carriages it seems. I suspect it is a mixture of livery and relatively low seating capacity. Shame really, as IMHO it is the finest carriage on the railway :(

    Tom
     
    Last edited: 21 okt 2015
  2. HowardGWR

    HowardGWR New Member

    Lid geworden:
    23 okt 2011
    Berichten:
    101
    Leuk Bevonden:
    12
    Thanks @Shaggy for those photos and to others who replied. I suppose the buddleia will help grip the banking together and help prevent erosion or slips. However ISTR that the banking was sown with wild flower plants and I don't see much of that appearing, if so. The buddleia will bring the butterflies though, so that will enhance the ambience. As the scenic qualities are a Bluebell draw, the opposite would be - well - the opposite!
     
  3. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

    Lid geworden:
    8 okt 2007
    Berichten:
    2.958
    Leuk Bevonden:
    2.549
    Geslacht:
    Man
    Beroep:
    Researcher/writer and composer of classical music
    Locatie:
    Between LBSCR 221 and LBSCR 227
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Tom,

    Is this new system in force? Neither the Bluebell Loco roster nor "services for the coming week" indicate any change. From what you are saying , it should be in force during this week.

    Thanks
     
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Lid geworden:
    8 mrt 2008
    Berichten:
    28.039
    Leuk Bevonden:
    65.662
    Locatie:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    As far as I am aware, it is in force from now. According to the traffic notice, midweek during half term (i.e. this week!) should see the Mets and two four wheelers on set A (9.45 / 12.15 / 2.45 departures ex-SP) and a six coach Bulleid / Mark 1 set on Set B (11.00 / 1.30 / 4.00 departures ex-SP).

    Tom
     
  5. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

    Lid geworden:
    8 okt 2007
    Berichten:
    2.958
    Leuk Bevonden:
    2.549
    Geslacht:
    Man
    Beroep:
    Researcher/writer and composer of classical music
    Locatie:
    Between LBSCR 221 and LBSCR 227
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Thanks Tom.
     
  6. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

    Lid geworden:
    9 sep 2013
    Berichten:
    10.708
    Leuk Bevonden:
    18.815
    Geslacht:
    Man
    Locatie:
    Cheltenham
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Excellent, paying my first visit on Friday, looking forward to it. Quick question, I believe you're allowed to visit the engine sheds to see the locos not in use, but are carriages not in use available to see?
     
  7. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Lid geworden:
    8 mrt 2008
    Berichten:
    28.039
    Leuk Bevonden:
    65.662
    Locatie:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    You can indeed walk round the engine shed, though some out-of-traffic engines are elsewhere, notably at HK as well.

    Carriages are slightly trickier, as there is no public access to to either the SP Carriage shed (for operational carriages) or the back sidings at HK, where most of the "to be restored" carriages live. There is a viewing area in the C&W works which gives a fairly good view of what is under restoration at the moment.

    Are you hanging around for Giants of Steam at the weekend?- there are Workshop tours of the C&W planned at 12.25 and 1.55 each day.

    Tom
     
  8. nick813

    nick813 Well-Known Member Loco Owner

    Lid geworden:
    28 jan 2010
    Berichten:
    1.528
    Leuk Bevonden:
    1.624
    Geslacht:
    Man
    Locatie:
    poole dorset
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Hello, Good so see Go Compare using the Bluebell for a TV Advert!

    Nick:eek:
     
  9. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

    Lid geworden:
    30 jul 2013
    Berichten:
    1.020
    Leuk Bevonden:
    1.391
    Geslacht:
    Man
    Locatie:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  10. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Lid geworden:
    8 mrt 2008
    Berichten:
    28.039
    Leuk Bevonden:
    65.662
    Locatie:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Note that for the next two weekends (14/15 and 21/22 November) there will be engineering works north of HK, so the service will be restricted to SP - HK. I've heard rumours of Bluebell + Mets which should be fun, but that isn't confirmed, though Bluebell is listed as the service engine for those weekends. 592 (A), 541 (B) and 263 (Dining trains) handle the service for the other weekends we are running on the whole line.

    Normal 2-train service tomorrow and the weekend of 28/29 November, after which the Santa season starts.

    http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/november-timetable/

    Tom
     
  11. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Lid geworden:
    8 mrt 2008
    Berichten:
    28.039
    Leuk Bevonden:
    65.662
    Locatie:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

    S&T UPDATE: SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS


    The two iconic wooden LB&SCR signals at the North end of Sheffield Park platforms are planned to be replaced in the New Year, and the opportunity is to be taken to locate them 30 yards towards Horsted Keynes.

    The new position has been authorised by the Operational Safety Review Group. It will facilitate the long-term aspirations of extending the platforms. The details of the work are at present being discussed with the civil engineer who will provide the bases. The finer details of height, alignment, and the appearance to the driver will be reviewed with a formal meeting of a Signal Sighting Committee.

    Representatives of the committee from the Footplate and Operations departments will be given the opportunity to suggest improvements, and when all have agreed, they will approve the arrangements. It is intended that the new signals will look to the untrained eye the same as they are today, albeit in the revised position and of course with a fresh coat of paint.

    The impressive Down Home bracket signal also requires major repairs. The structure requires a detailed survey to confirm the extent of the work, and to facilitate this, it is intended to have it fitted out with scaffolding. It is possible that the structure will require total replacement, but whatever the extent of the work, the signals will have to be taken out of work and replaced by a temporary signalling arrangement.

    It is part of the strategy to keep this interim arrangement in use for as short a time as possible.

    By Brian Hymas
     
    Charles Parry vindt dit leuk.
  12. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

    Lid geworden:
    21 mrt 2011
    Berichten:
    1.226
    Leuk Bevonden:
    1.285
    Beroep:
    Insurance
    Locatie:
    Good Old Sussex by the Sea
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    So by the looks of it they'll end up closer to the end of the loop rather than on / near the platforms. Makes a lot of sense.
     
  13. Charles Parry

    Charles Parry Member

    Lid geworden:
    2 aug 2013
    Berichten:
    343
    Leuk Bevonden:
    315
    Geslacht:
    Man
    Yes, particularly as I noticed that the only way for Bittern's train to fit in the platform at Sheffield Park was for Bittern to be a few meters past the home signal.
     
  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Lid geworden:
    8 mrt 2008
    Berichten:
    28.039
    Leuk Bevonden:
    65.662
    Locatie:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The revised position will be where they need to be as and when the platforms get extended (as per the LTP). That in turn will make operation of seven coach trains easier but, possibly more significantly, means that with a six-coach train, both the carriages and loco will be on the platform, which will make it easier for passengers to see the engine whilst waiting at SP. At the moment, the engine is well and truly off the end of the platform with a 6 coach train, and there is no possibility of welcoming people onto the footplate at SP, nor of people having a photo adjacent to the engine, if you have a full-length train.

    Tom
     
  15. Mr Bounce

    Mr Bounce New Member

    Lid geworden:
    11 nov 2015
    Berichten:
    2
    Leuk Bevonden:
    0
    Geslacht:
    Man
    Beroep:
    Complete Ding
    Locatie:
    Sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The TPO working on the Bluebell pre dates the wind in the willows filming by 20 odd years and the SR versions didn't have the bag catching device. Flibbit
     
  16. 73082

    73082 Member

    Lid geworden:
    11 sep 2015
    Berichten:
    267
    Leuk Bevonden:
    377
    Does this mean that, in the long term, the ground level fenced viewing areas at the London end of SP will disappear?
     
  17. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Lid geworden:
    8 mrt 2008
    Berichten:
    28.039
    Leuk Bevonden:
    65.662
    Locatie:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I haven't seen a plan but if the platforms are eventually extended about a carriage length north, then it can only be into that viewing space on each side. Of course, you will still be able to get basically the same view of arriving and departing trains, but it will by standing on the platform rather than on the ground. (Subject also to the precise location of the putative reinstated north signal box as well).

    Tom
     
  18. Rosedale

    Rosedale Member

    Lid geworden:
    23 okt 2015
    Berichten:
    456
    Leuk Bevonden:
    435
    Geslacht:
    Man
    Locatie:
    Shipbourne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Here's a thought: which of the two 'Greenwich Meridian' signs at the north end of SP is in the right place?
     
  19. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

    Lid geworden:
    21 mrt 2011
    Berichten:
    1.226
    Leuk Bevonden:
    1.285
    Beroep:
    Insurance
    Locatie:
    Good Old Sussex by the Sea
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I've always thought it the one which is off the platform personally, with the one on the platform more of a thing for the punters, but that's just my summation
     
  20. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

    Lid geworden:
    20 jun 2008
    Berichten:
    2.169
    Leuk Bevonden:
    1.579
    Locatie:
    Shropshire
    Back when I volunteered on the Bluebell in the late 60's early 70's there was, to my knowledge, only one sign, and that was off the end of the platform, so I suspect that your summation is probably right.

    Steve B
     

Deel Deze Pagina