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

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Jamessquared, Feb 16, 2013.

  1. 73082

    73082 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2015
    Messages:
    267
    Likes Received:
    377
    Does anyone know the timings for Captain Baxter's demonstration freight runs on Saturday?
     
  2. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,412
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Light engine Dep SP 08:55 to Horsted Keynes, then:

    Dep: HK 09:30 Arr KC 09:45

    Dep KC 10:39 Arr HK 10:54 Dep 11:46 Arr SP 12:04

    Dep SP 12:52 Arr KC 13.22
    Dep KC 14:05 Arr SP 14:35

    Dep SP 3:22 Arr HK 3:37
    Returns light engine from HK at 4:36

    Normal shunting moves at each end to swap ends with the brake van (plus no doubt a trip into the yard at SP each time it is there for coal).

    It's then out in the evening on a private charter for its 140th birthday

    Tom
     
  3. 73082

    73082 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 11, 2015
    Messages:
    267
    Likes Received:
    377
    Thanks for that, I'll hopefully be down on Saturday so it'll be nice to see.
     
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,412
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    From the e-Newsletter:

    "Elephant Play Van Now Open!

    The Railway's Elephant Play Van attraction opened on 5 Aug., 2017, at Horsted Keynes. Positioned into the dock by "Captain Baxter" and whistled in by the passing service trains, this ceremony showed the culmination of 24 months of hard work and preparation by volunteers and staff in the Carriage and Wagon Department.

    The major portion of funding for the project of nearly £90,000 was secured in March 2015 following a successful application to the Arts Council England Museum Resilience Fund, with the balance provided by the Bluebell Railway Trust. Representatives from Arts Council England and the Bluebell Railway were in attendance. Brief speeches were made by Bluebell Railway Preservation Society Chairman Graham Aitken and by Roy Watts on behalf of the Bluebell Railway Trust.

    The official ribbon-cutting was performed by Michael Cooke, ACE Relationship Manager for the project. A clap of thunder and sudden downpour of rain did nothing to dampen the enthusiasm of all involved, and in fact was declared a blessing by Michael!

    The history of the van is worthy of comment ...

    Scenery Van No. 4601 was built in Lancing in 1949 to carry scenery and props for theatre productions which used to be toured around the country in specially formed trains. Our van with its large end doors and high roof profile was one of three of these, adapted to carry circus elephants, and it was used by Billy Smart's circus in the 1950s. As these events moved from town to town there could be up to nine elephants on the move at any one time, three to a van.

    When theatre and circus traffic dwindled, the van was used instead for transporting mail and parcels, and when it was withdrawn in 1980, it was the last survivor of its type. It was obtained for use on the Bluebell Railway as a signalling equipment store and workshop, and it was until a couple of years ago completely loaded with large cable drums.

    Recognising the need for entertainment for our younger visitors to Horsted Keynes station, the idea of a children's play area was born. Financial support was sought from Arts Council England, and our success in securing this prompted selection of No. 4601 as a suitable candidate. The plan was that the van would first be fully restored and then fitted out with play equipment, so the project had two distinct parts. We had two years to complete the work.

    The van was emptied and brought into the Carriage & Wagon works where it was thoroughly surveyed before being dismantling. The most challenging aspect proved to be the steel roof. It needed to be replaced, and the sheets had to be cut and rolled to shape by an outside company. Some of the planking was repaired and reused, but much of it was replaced with new. The floor was completely replaced. New doors were constructed for the sides and ends, and the completed vehicle was painted inside and out in an historically correct livery.

    The result is an accurate rebuild of the original vehicle with a large interior space available to create a suitable play area for our young visitors.

    After consulting with three design companies, we decided to design and fit out the play area ourselves, using the expertise we have in the department thanks to volunteers and staff from diverse backgrounds. First, we had to insulate the van, then line it with boards. The inner roof took the form of sky-printed Foamex sheets adorned with various aircraft and other flying objects. The sides were again covered with Foamex, printed with images such as Bruegel's Children's Games.

    The interior was designed to give a "serious" end, finished to look like the original van interior, with a huge image of elephants leaving an elephant van through the massive end doors. Walking through the van, the interior becomes a lively play area ending with a circus ring at the other end to provide a safe area for very young children.

    The majority of the play content was designed and built by volunteers, with the mechanical models fitted to the wall on the east side being supplied by a local craftsman. Some features have been incorporated for the comfort and enjoyment of our visitors, such as air conditioning and a sound system.

    By Roger Garman, Communications Director"

    And on the assumption a picture is worth a thousand words, some photos (not mine) to show the finished van: http://www.derekhayward.co.uk/BluebellRailway-1/Childrens-Play-Carriage-Elephant-Van/

    Tom
     
    Extension3363 and David R like this.
  5. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,575
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Has there been a change of plan with the Operation Undercover at Horsted?

    I can't quite tell but it looks like an additional road has been laid inside the shed housing the maintenance road and 2 of the 4 roads inside the storage shed have been laid with the sleepers in place for the third. The amended design sketches show only one line into the part covering the maintenance road and 4 roads into the storage shed. Has space been found for an additional storage road?
     
  6. Grashopper

    Grashopper Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    Messages:
    274
    Likes Received:
    88
    Occupation:
    Assistant FLeet engineer Southern Railway
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Alongside the maintenance road is a non-connected tramway road for carrying out bogie maintenance and overhauls on. I guess the longer term plan is to use some kind of crane (static or mobile, not sure) to transfer them across once removed from coaches. We have similar un-connected roads in our level 5 overhaul facility at Selhurst for the same reason.
     
  7. fisher

    fisher New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 12, 2015
    Messages:
    59
    Likes Received:
    50
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    At some point the rest of the area to the south of the non-connected tramway will need have concrete poured to bring it to a level with the rest of this area of the shed. Simplistically it would make sense to extend the track southwards, there is clearly space for a another track and once the concrete is down the opportunity for that track is effectively gone. Having trammed in track would not impact on using the shed for other work if and when required.
     
  8. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,575
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks Grasshopper that explains it.
     
  9. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,412
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Quick note that the goods train will be running this Saturday, with "Camelot" doing the honours. Other trains will be hauled by 65 on the "A" service and 847 on the "B" service on Saturday and Sunday. The carriages for the A service have swapped back to the four wheelers and LNWR Obo, so another chance to see 65 with a couple of SE&CR Liveried carriages in the consist.

    Timetable for the goods should be the same as this one from earlier in the year:

    https://www.facebook.com/bluebellra...37982240966/10155330407745967/?type=3&theater

    (Camelot then becomes Wealden Rambler loco, and then later the evening Golden Arrow loco).

    Tom
     
  10. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,412
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Update on the work on OP4 (the Horsted Keynes Carriage Shed).

    http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/inf_news.html

    Incidentally, the numbering system for the roads referenced in the article is I think best understood by reference to the picture at the top of this page, as follows:

    http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pde/opuc_p4.html

    A & B - first two roads in the old shed (on the left of the picture, i.e. closest to the running line)
    C - second span of the old shed; now abolished but some rails remain in the carriage works floor
    D - the main workshop road (incorporating the paint shop)
    E - the OP4 maintenance road (the span that has part of the roof raised for when vehicles are jacked up
    Tramway - un-numbered and un-connected (as discussed above), immediately adjacent to E road.
    F, G, H, J - the four main storage roads in the new OP4 shed.

    Tom
     
    jnc and Paul42 like this.
  11. Rosedale

    Rosedale Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2015
    Messages:
    456
    Likes Received:
    435
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Shipbourne
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    HK is going to look very odd without its sidings full of carriages.
     
    Jamessquared likes this.
  12. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,412
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes, though there is still work to do: even with the carriages under cover, there are the historic vans and wagons and some of the locos. I think we still really need one more big under cover project after OP4 is finished, probably somewhat akin to the Engine House on the SVR as a combined flexible museums and storage space for some out of traffic locos and vans that are likely to only run occasionally but are worthy of preservation.

    HK's sidings have always had stored rolling stock of course: oh what it would have been like to have been alive in the 1900s when the back sidings looked like this! I count over twenty locos there, stored pending capacity for overhaul within Brighton works. Photo is taken from the water tower behind the signal box looking across towards the platforms. The prototype radial tank No 158 "West Brighton", designed by Stroudley but finished by Billinton is notable in the foreground.

    hk-1900s-2.png

    Tom
     
  13. steamdream

    steamdream Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    285
    Likes Received:
    15
    Occupation:
    Teacher
    Location:
    Avranches(france)
    Tom
    what is the exact date of this photo?
    thanks by advance
    Noel
     
  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,412
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I don't have an exact date, but I believe it is ca. 1905 - 1910 at the time of the great crisis in repairs at Brighton (the works was being redeveloped at the time and the Carriage and Wagon department being moved to Lancing to create more space for locomotive work - essential work but it made a bad situation temporarily worse for loco repairs). The locos are a mixture of Billinton and Stroudley.

    Tom
     
    30854 likes this.
  15. steamdream

    steamdream Member

    Joined:
    May 5, 2011
    Messages:
    285
    Likes Received:
    15
    Occupation:
    Teacher
    Location:
    Avranches(france)
    Thank u very much Tom
     
  16. Hirn

    Hirn Member

    Joined:
    Aug 11, 2015
    Messages:
    462
    Likes Received:
    295
    Gender:
    Male
    Would I be right to think that it may by Frank Burtt? There is another view along the other side of the lined up engines
    taken from above, presumably from by the top of the signal box steps which I'm sure must be.

    The conifers on the platforms planted beyond the ends of the canopies, which can't have been put in before the station opened in 1882,
    have grown pretty sizeable which supports the date.
     
  17. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,099
    Likes Received:
    57,412
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It's from the Bennett archive, so presumably Alfred Bennett - they were also active at that time, and there are some other photos of close ups of engines at HK. It would be interesting to see other photos from that time.

    On a personal note, my Great Grandfather (and avatar) worked on the line at Horsted Keynes until his death in 1908, and this must have been a scene he was very familiar with, and which he had seen develop at first hand from 1882.

    Tom
     
  18. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Sorry not "odd", simply "better"

    PH
     
    Rosedale and David R like this.
  19. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2013
    Messages:
    1,018
    Likes Received:
    1,386
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Definately agree with you there Paul. OP4 represents a fantastic opportunity to really clean up the view of what is potentially one of the most impossing preserved stations.

    David R
     
    Rosedale likes this.
  20. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Really have to come down hard on "gricer's love of grot" though. The Bluebell is by no means the worst!

    PH
     
    David R likes this.

Share This Page