Bluebell Railway General Discussion

From Facebook:

Important information - 3rd March

Due to the current weather conditions in the locality of the Bluebell Railway we have taken the difficult decision to cancel all train services on Saturday 3rd March.

This decision has been made as the safety of our customers and staff is paramount. We are sorry if this causes any disappointment.​

(My understanding is that Sunday is likely to run as normal, but a decision will be taken on Saturday).



Sheffield Park by John Sandys, on Flickr

(Not my photo! Taken February 27.)

Tom

 

From Facebook:

"Due to the current weather conditions in the locality of the Bluebell Railway we have taken the difficult decision to cancel all train services on Sunday 4th March.
This decision has been made as the safety of our customers and staff is paramount. We are sorry if this causes any disappointment and people with existing bookings for the 4th March will be contacted directly."

https://www.facebook.com/bluebellrailway

There were a couple of impressive photos of ice in the tunnel - even if the snow melts, it takes a while for the ice to do likewise:

https://www.facebook.com/bluebellra...58183070967/10156158328345967/?type=3&theater

Tom

 

I remember in a film about Snow on the Donner Pass in the states, one method of clearing Icicles in a tunnel was to use a Shotgun.
Don't suppose you have a licence do you Tom?

 

No I don't!

I've been through the tunnel with small icicles and you can hear them clinking off the cab roof as they get dislodged by the blast. I don't know what exact parameters for decision our operating team use, but clearly there is a threshold somewhere between "pencil sized" and those hanging from the ventilation shaft that look like they were probably eight or ten feet long.

Tom

 

Yes - I wouldn't want to be in a wooden roofed carriage if one of those fell off onto the carriage roof.

David R

 

Work continues on the CCT. Much of the frame is now in Bonda Primer. One of the buffers has been removed and is being cleaned up - the reason for removal is to allow replacement of the wooden packer behind the buffer (all the buffers will need this treatment). Meanwhile work also continues to dismantle the brake gear for overhaul

David R

 

Quick note that the O1 will be on a demonstration goods tomorrow. Normal shunting manoeuvres to swap ends with the break van at SP and Kingscote.



Tom

 

Meanwhile on the CCT we put our first "shiny bit" back on it, albeit only one buffer casting. We have now removed the other North End buffer using the "Bufefr compression tool" - a rather large sash cramp seen in the picture.

David R

 

That’s rather fancy. We just hook onto the next wagon and tighten up the screw coupling (with block of wood in-between if necessary) which probably isn’t the recommended method but as bodges in the field go, seems to work.


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Judging by the bend in it, something stronger is needed!

Not tried that method but I might, tomorrow! Usually, I use a handy loco.

 

Unfortunately it's current position in the shed makes that somewhat difficult/undesirable.

David R

 

Well I can see that. But we don’t have such a clamp so would have had to park it somewhere else!


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Shunting the wagons on Saturday to swap ends with the brake van. If I've read the roster correctly, the next goods train running will be 2 April.

(Photo taken from a viewpoint not generally accessible - I was Running Foreman that day).



Shunting the goods by Tom James, on Flickr

Tom

 

Quick note to say “Captain Baxter” has just moved to Didcot Railway Centre on loan. It’s expected to be there for a couple of months. 178 is still at the NRM but will be returning to the Bluebell in June for its annual boiler exam and some routine attention.

Tom

 

Today was the 60th anniversery of the final (second) closure by BR .

There are a number of events this weekend to mark the occassion:

On the Saturday only, there are brake van rides at Sheffield Park (first-come first-served) behind both the Q-class and the S15, which alternate on the brake van and on the service trains.
Special screenings of 'The Titfield Thunderbolt' at Horsted Keynes Station in the Cinema room at 12-noon and 2pm, included in the travel ticket.
Guided tours of the Carriage & Wagon Workshop at Horsted Keynes, allowing an opportunity to see behind the scenes with the restoration work on the carriages - tours should be around 11.00, 12.00 13.00 and 14.00 with a possibility of 15.00 if there is demand.
Kingscote Signal Box will be open for visitors, limited spaces available on a first-come first-served basis.
On the Saturday trains will run over the stub of the line to Newick and Lewes (just a couple of hundred yards south from Sheffield Park).

David R

 

30541 arrived about 5 late at EG with the first train in the snow/sleet. Just departing.

 

No 847 subsequently failed on the 11:23 from Newick (Siding)/11:30 from Sheffield Park (possibly due to an issue with the steam brake); No 30541 operated the service, departing Sheffield Park an hour late with the 'Wilting Bluebell' headboard.

Brake van rides appeared to be cancelled as a result and unfortunately they aren't planned for tomorrow (18th).

The free souvenir ticket was a nice touch, as was the 'THE END OF THE LINE TIMES' for 2 1/2 d (50p).

 

There was a deliberate mistake with the ticket we attempted to buy with 3 authentic shillings (the other was from 1961) anyone else spot it?

Nice to see more winter liveried fallow deer;

anyone know what pulled the GAL? did 847 come good? I was not disappointed with the Q and its magnificent headboard both ways

Thanks Bluebell for another cracking event as always (right down to the Please Stop at Barcombe banner) . Hope our Dutch visitors enjoyed it too!

 

As the Maunsell Locomotive Society are Bluebell based .....

26th May this year will be the 150th anniversary of the birth of R.E.L. Maunsell. Does anyone please know ..... Is anything in the pipeline to mark the occasion?