Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Good videos.....have always preferred the word Goods to Freight......

 

For those interested, the next scheduled goods running days are 23 July and 6 August.

Thanks to @David R and other colleagues in the C&W, the goods rake is a reasonable length at the moment - I think it was about 15 vehicles at GoS, limited by platform length during a busy gala. When I was fireman on it last month, I think we had about 10 or 11 plus a brake van.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom! Took the shot of the C from the lay-by as didn't fancy getting soaked! Whilst waiting at Horsted House saw a lightning strike in probably the next field and the loudest thunder I have ever heard, scared me to death! Was just debating whether to go back to the car or not when it happened, was only going to go as far as Leamland Bridge but noticed the speed restriction, bet that makes things interesting on the run to the tunnel!

 

Duly edited! Thanks for the comment, I think I normally describe them as 'demonstration goods' in my captions as I suspect the wagons are empty!

 

John Sandys' flickr site now has recent images showing the new carriage sheds fully roofed.

46118

 

Indeed - it was good to go past a few times at the weekend (having not visited since the AGM) and see the LBSCR milk van under cover along with the four wheel stock, on the maintenance road; as well as a sneak preview of 3188, the next LCDR four wheeler whose arrival into service is imminent.

This photo from @Extension3363 gives a good impression of recent progress.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/27377911360/in/dateposted/

Tom

 

Tom: Interesting images. Do you happen to know if there is enough money in the kitty to put in the side wall down the far side of the storage shed?

Thanks

46118

 

There are others on here who probably have a more up to date knowledge, but my understanding is that more money still needs to be raised for the side cladding.

The e-Newsletter for 8 May 2016 said, in part:

"The 'Cash for Cover' fundraising campaign raised enough money to provide the framework and roof for the whole building, and this will complete phase 1. The focus of future funding initiatives will concentrate on providing side cladding for the south end of the maintenance road, to provide weather protection for the maintenance staff in the coming winter. In addition, funding priority will be given to the provision of side cladding, windows, etc. for the Heritage Skills building, to make this facility available at the earliest opportunity. "

See also post #2011 on the previous page which explains a bit more of the phasing.

Tom

 

Tom and Ashley,
The southern end of the shed had been completed last week, however the northern end of the storage part had reached the point where the east side tapers and a couple of bays short of that on the east. Hopefully this has now been completed and a start made on digging the ring beam for the two storey "Heritage Skills Centre". The steel work is onsite and the sloping roof tucks in under the eaves of the storage shed to which it is bolted. The down pipes and drainage from the current roof will also need to be completed.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/27375478090/in/album-72157659146847649/

Once completed the Infrastructure department will lay another jacking pad immediately north of the current one for long term projects and another pad to the west of the pit so that the steam heat boiler can be reinstalled. The ground will have to be leveled before track can be laid. This should include a second tramway in the maintenance shed (F-road?) while we have the opportunity and four tracks in the storage shed. Carriages should be put in one at time after their condition has been assessed and an inventory of their contents made.

A further fund raising appeal will be made later in the year to raise further funding. As a matter of priority this will include cladding to the west side where it protrudes beyond the paintshop and completion of the "Heritage Skills Centre" so that this can become operational and also clad most of the west side. and finally the northern end. This is the point at which I believe the tarpaulins should be removed.

This probably won't cover the cost of completing the facility so a further appeal will be necessary. This may well cover the utilities and internal fitting out of the maintenance road, building an interior dividing wall between the maintenance and storage areas to protect the latter from the former! A longer term aim will be to reroof and clad the existing shed to match the current and new extensions.

However the new shed is already providing shelter for coaches awaiting or under maintenance. Last weekend this was the scene:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/27582237971/in/datetaken-public/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/27553409062/in/datetaken-public/

The latter shows SECR No. 3188 which will be launched into traffic tomorrow with a special train for the restorers and guests at 4.30. Working volunteers and Bluebell members are welcome to join the second round trip departing Sheffield Park at 6.50, arriving at East Grinstead at about 7.30 and returning to Sheffield Park at 8.30.

Dave
3188 restoration team

 

Some pictures from today of the launch into traffic of 3188. The General Public will be able to ride in this coach next weekend when the four 4-wheelers will be running an additional shuttle service between Horsted and Sheffield Park as part of the Model Railway weekend.

All the vehicles in the train (including the locomotive) were built at Longhedge Works of the LCDR

David R

 

Very nice, you lot must be proud & rightly so.

 

Quick heads up that next weekend is the model railway weekend.

See http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/model-railway-weekend/

In addition to the normal Service 2 timetable, there will be an additional shuttle between SP and HK comprising the four wheeled carriages, which will be the first public opportunity to ride in LCDR 5 compartment 3rd 3188 - see @David R's photos above. "Bluebell" and "Baxter" will be top-n-tailing the service, with 73082 and 847 on the main service trains.

Tom

 

That's probably the closest we will ever get now to a complete LCDR train, given that a Wainwright C was in essence a slightly enlarged LCDR Kirtley B2 class.

EL Ahrons said of the LCDR "the locomotives were excellent but the carriages were always poverty stricken rabbit hutches". It's an interesting thought, but I suspect that there might be more of those LCDR rabbit hutches operational today than from any other contemporary railway!



Tom

 

Well Ahrons was much more a locomotive than a C&W man and probably did not notice that L.C.D.R. vehicles were (a) highly standardised and (b) built from the best Burma teak. Thus present day restorers have an easier time than with, e.g., L.B.S.C.R. stuff. The Ventnor West set, improvised in S.R. days from old Chatham stock, has some of the most agreeable interiors of any carriages used on present day tourist lines.

IMHO a Chatham B2 would make a far more sensible candidate for a "newbuild" than the majority of such projects. In rebuilt form this shared a boiler with the "H" and "O1" types with obvious standardisation advantages.

Paul H

 

I must admit I much prefer LCDR coaches they may be fairly plain but beautifully constructed, very much a case of less is more.

 

From the eNewsletter, a report on the re-entry into service of 3188:

NO. 3188 READY FOR SERVICE

Our third restored ex-LCDR carriage--No.3188--is now ready for service. These three carriages and the SECR C class were built at Longhedge Works in Battersea, and this formation formed Saturday's special re-launch train for the restoration team and invited guests, as seen in Alex Morley's photos.

All three carriages had become grounded bodies in bungalows before rescue and restoration to service by the Railway's C&W Department. These three will be joined by our restored LB&SCR Stroudley first next weekend and used on public services as an additional shuttle train between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes during Model Railway Weekend.

No. 3188, built by the LCDR as a six-wheeled, five-compartment third in 1897, was converted by the SECR into a three-compartment brake vehicle around 1911, and it ran until 1935. It was sold to become a grounded body in a bungalow at Yarcombe in Devon, from where it was rescued, along with LSWR saloon No. 25, for the Railway by Peter Milnes in 2005.

Between 1950 and 1978 the carriages were occupied by Nelson and Gladys Long, and we were pleased to have two of their nieces--Jenny and Mary, as well as Jenny's husband Diego--with us for the relaunch. The sisters were able to share their memories of visiting their aunt and uncle, and hence these two carriages, in the 1950s. Jenny Dal Bello is seen in the accompanying photo presenting Tony Clements and Dave Clarke with photos that show the carriages at Yarcombe in 1977, provided by one of their cousins.

The restoration of No. 3188--owned by the Bluebell Railway Trust, which paid for the materials used in the work--was led by Tony, and involved around 20 volunteers in the C&W Department. A weekend team worked on the body, and a midweek metalworking team shortened the SR van underframe to carry the body. It has been restored to its original form as a five-compartment third, and thus adds significantly to the seating capacity of our Victorian train. Dave Clarke's album covers the five-year restoration in detail.

By Richard Salmon

 

Also from the e-Newsletter:

CAN YOU HELP? FILMING FACILITIES PURCHASE VAN

If we use a moving train for filming, it is usually so a lighting crew can have power supplied from a generator carried somewhere on the train. However, a generator working in a normal brake compartment is not acceptable, for obvious reasons, so Filming Facilities has been using the well-ventilated Queen Mary brake for this work. This arrangement is practical, but it looks strange and atypical on a passenger train.

We really want to provide a specialist vehicle that will not appear out-of-place in a passenger or goods rake. At the same time, we want to improve the service we offer film producers. In other words, we have been looking for a vehicle that can be included on a train and that can safely carry a generator and other filming equipment.

So, after some negotiation, Bluebell Railway PLC has acquired an SR parcel van (BY 404). This van is in relatively good condition and fit to run, but having been out of use for some time, it is in need not of a restoration but more of a good refurbishment, with cosmetic repairs where needed and upgrading of the floor to handle a generator. The van will be repainted in SR colours but without the orange markings that indicated the original provision of a stove.

The refurbishment will be carried out in the Salt Yard Engineers' Siding, and scaffolding will be erected either side to provide access. Infrastructure volunteers already have expressed interest in helping, but anyone can lend a hand. Obviously, the more people involved, the quicker the van can be put to use--considering the amount of filming work we get!

The work entails mainly cleaning, scraping, and sanding peeling paint; easing doors and windows; de-rusting; and, finally, re-painting. The van has been steam cleaned externally, so all the green slime has gone, and we are nearly ready to make a start on the other work. So if you want to be involved in this project--one that will earn revenue for the Railway, aside from other uses--please email mikehopps@aol.co.uk. Thank you!

By Mike Hopps, Filming Facilities

 

Timetable for this weekend, including the shuttle services:

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/events/e-pic/publicity/mrw_timetable2016.gif

Tom

 

A couple of notes.

Firstly, registration is open for this year's track trek, due for November 12. Proceeds will be split between the ASH project and Operation Undercover 4, contributing to getting more of our locomotives and carriages undercover.

There are two options: the full 11 miles from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park, including the chance to walk through both the cutting and the tunnel; or a shorter 5 mile route from Horsted Keynes to Sheffield Park. A complimentary bus service will be laid on to transport walkers either to their starting point before commencing their walk; or back to the starting point after finishing, as required.

For more details see here: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/funding/fftf/

Secondly, this Saturday the goods train will be running again - timetable as below. Rostered engine is 263 (with 847 and 73082 handling the service trains, and 323 the Sunday pilot engine).



Tom

 

Although not especially Bluebell related, I see that as part of the 175 celebrations of Haywards Heath station there will be shuttle trains running from Haywards Heath to Ardingly. Not sure what will be used for the shuttles though. That weekend Stepney is on display outside Haywards Heath station.