Bluebell Motive Power

I was thinking of locos that have been away in fairly recent years, but going back a little bit further, as you've all pointed out, Bluebell locos making trips away isn't exactly 'rare'.

Since we're playing this game 672 to the IoW and Holland, 55 to the KESR, 32473 to the SpVR And 21C123 to the NRM.

 

NLR TANK and LSWR B4 to Barrow hill railway

B4 to Eastleigh open day.

 

One of members of the 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society knows one of the team that organises WSR Gala's. Apparently the society advised the Bluebell that they would like it to visit other railways.

 

Stepney went to the IoW at the same time as Fenchurch as well and Stepney I think has been to the MHR. Normandy has been to Swanage and 323 to ESR but those were in the 80's I think. The NLR Tank was also at Wirksworth for a spell on loan after Barrow Hill (though it never steamed at either.

 

Sir Archibald Sinclair to the South Devon..... oh no, hang on......

 

Talking of which ....

A short update and photos on the Boiler Work at South Devon Railway Engineering here: http://www.bulleidsociety.org/News/Latest_News.html for 21st March.

Also, there will be more chances to have a driving experience day on "Camelot" this year - two dates in May and two dates in September. See here: http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/driving-experience/

Finally, as noted on the Flying Scotsman Gala thread, RH&DR "Typhoon" will be making another visit to the railway, allowing Flying Scotsman and Typhoon to be seen together again 90 years after they were first posed next to each other.

Tom

 

Stamford has been on rather a long visit too...

 

Stepney on the MHR n 2006
Mid Hants Miscellany by Arle Images, on Flickr

 

Was it not sold?

Cheers,

Alan

 

I think it's still Bluebell owned but on a long term loan to Rocks By Rail.

 

That's what the website states http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/loco_loan.html

 

Thanks for the update Dan.

Cheers,

Alan

 

From the e-Newsletter:

Bullied Society by the Numbers: Updates on Nos. 21C123, 34059, 96, & 5768

Readers might be wondering what is happening to the two Bulleid Light Pacifics on the Bluebell Railway. Although both have been out of traffic for nine and six years respectively, behind the scenes the Bulleid Society--owners of No. 21C213--and the Bluebell Railway Battle of Britain Group--custodians of No. 34059--have been progressing the return of the two Light Pacifics to traffic.

Since both were withdrawn with firebox problems, with the fireboxes dating from BR days, piecemeal repair of the fireboxes and thermic syphons was not considered to be a viable proposition. Among the surviving 20 Light Pacifics, similar firebox problems have resulted in an order for five new inner fireboxes placed with South Devon Railway (Engineering). This bulk order gives all the loco owners a suitable discount.

South Devon Railway (Engineering ) has the ability, coupled with the advice of Paul Pridham, to press appropriate inner firebox components such as the foundation channel sections, tubeplate, firebox doorplate, and thermic syphons, and to fabricate the steel inner firebox for the Bulleid Light Pacifics.

Two of the five new inner steel fireboxes that have been ordered are for the Bluebell Railway Pacifics, with the one for No. 34059 to be fitted to the locomotive's boiler at South Devon. Both fireboxes will have the stay holes pilot drilled by the South Devon Railway, with the stay fitting on No. 34059's to be undertaken when the boiler is returned to our Railway in the early summer.

The completion of the boiler work and the refitting of components on No. 34059 will hopefully see the engine back in traffic in 2018. The new inner firebox for No. 21C123 will be fitted to the engine's boiler and then fitted with stays at the Bluebell Railway when its overhaul is underway. We hope that both engines will see a period of time in traffic together.

To give an indication of the amount of work required on each firebox, there are nearly 2,000 steel stays, 200 monel stays, and 280 crown stays required with each pilot hole awaiting drilling and tapping to 5/8" before the firebox stays can be threaded in place. After completion of the firebox staying, the 115 small tubes and 32 flue tubes and 32 superheater elements will be fitted.

The Bulleid Society's other engine, B4 class No. 96 "Normandy", was withdrawn from traffic in July 2006. The stalwart of the initial work on the northern extension and a shunting favourite, the engine requires new tyres and boiler work and awaits its turn in the overhaul queue.

Bulleid coach CK No. 5768 is nearing the end of its first major overhaul since arriving at the Railway in 1971. All the exterior cladding has been replaced along with structural timber and steel selections. The coach has been rewired, seat trimming is underway, and a number of compartments are now complete. We hope that the vehicle will return to traffic next year in Southern Railway livery.

Readers can assist the financing of these projects by purchasing books and railway memorabilia from the wide-ranging selection at The Bulleid Shop on Platform 2 at Sheffield Park station. Further information on nos. 21C123, 34059, and 96 and coach No. 5768, as well as membership in The Bulleid Society, can be found at www.bulleidsociety.org.

Lastly, the Bluebell Railway will again echo to the sound of Bulleid power when No. 34092 "City of Wells" visits the Railway in the summer!

By John Fry, Chairman, The Bulleid Society

 

Any news on 80151?

 

From Bluebell B.O.B Newsletter Re : 34059

"It is hoped the Firebox will be finished in June and back with us soon after. However there will be still be a lot of work to be done before steaming can take place. By far the biggest amount of work will be the staying and tubing of the boiler ".
Goes on to state that that reassembly will start in the Summer. Further finance required for purchase of stays and tubes.

 

Out of interest, are there any plans for a further class 2-3 loco to be overhauled once No. 65 is finished? The withdrawal of 592 will leave only the O1 and the H in this bracket. All the other locos likely to steam in the next couple of years are all class 4 or above (928, 34059, 80151) - all welcome, but resulting in rather an imbalance in favour of the bigger engines.

 

Nothing has been mentioned recently, but about 4-5 years ago it was suggested that the most likely class 2/3 loco to be overhauled once 65 was completed was the Dukedog.

 

I think the plan is that one will go into the works when 65 is finished - possibly the Dukedog.

Tom

 

Thank you both for the replies, It will be interesting to see what happens once the O1 is outshopped. I won't be surprised if the Dukedog is next. I'd suspect it requires less work than some of the other contenders.

 

Is the Q's boiler ticket 5 or 10 years - I thought I read somewhere it was only to be given a short ticket but I'm not convinced about how true this is?