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 Motive Power

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Orion, Nov 14, 2011.

  1. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,922
    Likes Received:
    3,829
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    It has been stated many times in the past that 80100 is unlikely to be done until 84030 is completed. A separate area outside the main works will be required and with space being taken by Beachy Head, 27,and 84030 I think it unlikely until these projects have been completed. There is also question of funding the restoration.
     
    30854 and Jamessquared like this.
  2. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    There's only so many projects you can work on at once, for reasons of space, people and fundraising capacity. Better to have two or three projects making solid progress than a large number each dribbling along at a very low pace. We have been bitten before by locos being disassembled and then activity coming to a standstill, so quite correctly in my view there is now a requirement that projects only start when they can meet certain criteria of having funding and manpower lined up to support them to the finish.

    If you look at how we overhaul and restore locos, there tends to be a split between main workshop activity (primarily overhauls, with as far as possible work proceeding to a schedule to keep the operational fleet at a viable size); and restorations (which tend to be more volunteer led, and proceed at the pace of available resources). So 9017, 80151 etc. are in the former group, progressing (or soon to progress); 84030, 27 etc. are in the latter group. The difference being that there will be a long-range availability prediction that will be factoring in the overhaul queue so that we can see, within reason, the motive power situation for several years ahead; whereas locos like 84030 and 27 will be ready when they are ready, and are unlikely to figure much into long-term planning, at least not until the end point starts to become fairly predictable.

    80100 will be a huge job when it is tackled, so best fits the latter model: my understanding is that the team currently working on 84030 are likely to take it on, but only when that latter loco is finished.

    Tom
     
    Bluenosejohn, Paul42 and 30854 like this.
  3. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    @Paul42 and @Jamessquared Thanks for the clarification. I was just wondering, as there'd been a few comments suggesting 80100's turn was imminent. My visits to the Bluebell over decades have invariably managed to coincide with 21C123 being OOT (dammit!), but I've always been able to console myself with plenty of images of the loco in traffic, whereas poor old 80100 just seems to sit around eternally, rusting quietly to itself.

    As a full-on scrapyard restoration, I'd actually be shocked to find out it was expected to be straightforward, but could anyone confirm reports I recall that the boiler is in fair order, all things considered?

    So far as funding is concerned, 99% of the time it'd be easier to name projects where money isn't an overriding issue! Is there currently any ball-park figure (or even guestimate) for the sums and duration likely for 80100's eventual restoration? All a bit "chicken and egg" I appreciate, but fundraising (or simply getting folk interested) is never easier without targets.
     
    paulhitch likes this.
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I'm not quite sure where. I tend to disregard any news not in one or the other official channel (and no, this thread isn't one of them!) i.e. Bluebell News, eNewsletter or the website in the main; or else some other source quoting a named director etc.

    I'm not sure it is especially helpful to even try to quote a figure unless you know when and how you want to do the project. (For example, an all-volunteer effort will be cheaper than doing in the workshop, but will take longer etc etc). I seem to recall that there was a comment from the previous loco director several years ago in BN that the boiler and tyres were in comparatively good condition. That still leaves an awful lot to do!

    Tom
     
  5. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    @Jamessquared Absolutely fair point regarding sources Tom and thanks for your reply on the boiler query (Wow! A rumour which actually appears to hold up!). With the cost of retyring, it's good to know at least one expensive job may prove less resource hungry down the line. In the meantime I guess we'll all just have to await some official announcement on when and how 80100 fits into future plans.
     
    Jamessquared likes this.
  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Meantime, since this is the Bluebell Motive Power thread:

    Progress on new fireboxes for 34059 and 21c123:

    https://www.facebook.com/Bulleid/posts/1810796865611015

    New frames for 27 have arrived from Tata steel:

    http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/the-frames-have-arrived.html

    Gratuitous photo (not mine) of a very shiny thing last Sunday. First train of the day was all SECR in consist, before we swapped to the Golden Arrow set for the lunchtime train.
    https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1511284418992819&set=p.1511284418992819&type=3&theater

    Tom
     
  7. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The O1 is a thing of beauty, although we're downright spoilt for choice for a "best looking pre-grouping 0-6-0 tender loco" right now, as SECR No. 65, GER No. 564 and Caley No. 828 each look absolutely stunning in their respective plumage. Have I forgotten any other candidates?
     
    Copper-capped likes this.
  8. Phil-d259

    Phil-d259 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 2, 2015
    Messages:
    703
    Likes Received:
    736
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Please remember WHY the Bluebell bought 80100 in the first place - namely to ensure it would still have an example of the Standard 4MT tank locos if the owners of 80064 (and the owners of 80151 who bought their loco to the Bluebell later on) decided to up sticks and move to another Heritage Railway.

    If 80064 / 80151 ever came into ownership of the Bluebell then the 'need' to keep 80100 vanishes and it could be sold on in its unrestored state as per one of the ex Barry S15s we used to have. Alternatively if 80064 / 80151 left the railway then 80100 would definitely be retained.

    As things stand however 80064 / 80151 are much easier candidates to return to steam than 80100 - which is why the works is overhauling 80151 and 80100 is being talked about as a volunteer led restoration project after the Atlantic and Standard 2MT projects are completed
     
  9. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    In other word(s) "Yes"

    PH
     
  10. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2007
    Messages:
    4,496
    Likes Received:
    1,079
    Location:
    Winchester
    From memory 80097/100/150 have never steamed in preservation. 80097 at the East Lanc’s and 80150 at the MId Hants. With any luck all three will steam again one day.
     
  11. 3855

    3855 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 27, 2008
    Messages:
    604
    Likes Received:
    443
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    inside a boiler
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    52322?
     
  12. 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
    Not quite. 100 was bought because at the time the Bluebell didn't have a 4MT 2-6-4T. 64 came to the line several years later as a result of a dispute between its owners and its previous host railway, and it was as a result of 64's arrival that 100 dropped down the queue.
     
  13. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    That's interesting as on my last visit I was categorically told that the firebox shown standing outside was for 34101. The one having the foundation ring offered up was for 34059 according to the person showing me them.
     
  14. nine elms fan

    nine elms fan Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 18, 2012
    Messages:
    2,439
    Likes Received:
    855
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Wessex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I could swear I saw 80064 being worked on at the Dart Valley line as it was called at the time, could be mistaken though, many moons ago.
     
  15. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,922
    Likes Received:
    3,829
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    80064 was previously at the Dart Valley.
     
  16. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2014
    Messages:
    15,330
    Likes Received:
    11,666
    Occupation:
    Nosy aren’t you?
    Location:
    Nowhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I remember seeing it in the shed at Buckfastleigh and it was being prepared to move back to the Bluebell this would have been about 20 years ago now in 1996/97.
     
  17. 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
    Its been stated by the team restoring/converting the Standard 2 tank that they will take up 80100 when that project is done. My understanding is that parts continue to be collected for the eventual rebuilding.
     
    Paul42 and 30854 like this.
  18. weltrol

    weltrol Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 29, 2008
    Messages:
    2,784
    Likes Received:
    658
    2516...
     
    Bill Drewett and Copper-capped like this.
  19. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2017
    Messages:
    12,172
    Likes Received:
    11,493
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Brighton&Hove
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    If only we could see it in steam! Seems unlikely though. Ditto the NER 'long boiler' 1275 and NBR 673 'Maude' :(
     
    Copper-capped likes this.
  20. Middle_C

    Middle_C New Member

    Joined:
    May 26, 2006
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    14
    Steve you are quite correct. The photo of the foundation channel being offered up is for the box destined for 34059, the box is due for completion around Christmas/New Year. I think Tom meant that to be a comment about 21C123, as at this moment in time construction of the box for her has not commenced. It will in fact be the last box to be constructed of the batch. Anyway I am sure Tom will put me right otherwise!
     

Share This Page