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Bluebell Railway Branch Line Gala: 15 - 17 March 2019

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by Jamessquared, Jan 22, 2019.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Event details and online booking here (with advance and multi-day discounts):
    https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/branch-line-weekend-2/

    Visiting locos W24 "Calbourne", courtesy of the Isle of Wight Steam Railway; and Beattie Well Tank 30587 , courtesy of the NRM. Plus Wainwright H class 263, Wainwright P class 323 and 178, Stirling O1 65 from the home fleet.

    Saturday and Sunday timetable will feature a lot of activity at Horsted Keynes, with many trains starting and terminating there. There will also be brake van rides around HK station.

    Tom
     
    Last edited: Jan 23, 2019
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  2. Platform 3

    Platform 3 Member

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    Seriously tempted by this - never actually made it to a Bluebell gala and may be close enough to be there on the Sunday. What carriages are likely to be used?

    Sent from my SM-J330FN using Tapatalk
     
  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Old ones is the normal order of the day. So pretty much the entire operational pre-Mark 1 fleet I’d have thought. That means four Victorian four wheelers; a two carriage Met set (may be up to three by then); the LSWR, SECR and LBSCR bogie coaches; the Maunsells; and presumably the LNWR Obo. There was also talk about the first running of the Bulleid BCK in a four coach Bulleid set if it is finished on time.

    Operationally, for the last few years Branch Line Gala has been a “pull out all the stops” affair, with all sorts of odd moves, trains joining and splitting at HK, odd trains terminating at Kingscote and so on. Hopefully as well, if last year’s GoS gala set a template to be followed, the brake van rides round the station at HK will be with a short goods train rather than just loco and brake van - yet to see that confirmed.

    Tom
     
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  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Worth it for Calbourne alone. I'll be there. Will make an interesting sight on the ferry across the Solent.
     
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  5. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I'm hoping for a day on one or other of the visitors, though since I ended up on the visiting engine for the last two Branch Line galas I'm not holding my breath. And when all is said and done, failing a visitor, there are few days on an engine more fun enjoyable on a Chatham one. I only wish I could do all three days!

    Tom
     
  6. Matt McFarlane

    Matt McFarlane New Member

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    Calbourne! Blimey i can't wait
     
  7. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Don't think any of the coaching stock is air-braked, am I right Tom? Or are the Mets?
     
  8. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    That question has been exercising my mind.

    According to our carriage stock list, this one is dual braked:

    https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/mk1/35207.html

    I couldn't find an explicit reference to any of the others, but I have a hunch that there might be one or two other Mark 1s that are dual braked. (From photos, it looks like the Bicester Military Railway carriage is dual braked, though that is still under overhaul).

    The Mets are vac only, though interestingly there is an air pipe visible on the end in pre-preservation days; I assume that was in connection with the motor train working rather than braking.

    Tom
     
  9. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Would be a pity if Calbourne cannot work trains on its own but one thing is certain and that is that the Bluebell Railway will have thought through the options!
     
  10. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

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    I know that, when we borrowed a Terrier from the Isle of Wight, it was only on air brakes. I think we had to use another Terrier inside it as a "translator" vehicle! Do you have any dual braked engines?
     
  11. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

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    IIRC Fenchurch and Birch Grove are the only dual braked locos, both of which are out of use.
     
  12. malc

    malc Part of the furniture

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    The Class 09 is dual braked.
     
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  13. jamesd

    jamesd Member

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    Maybe Calbourne will have to bring it’s own train along!
     
  14. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure that there must be some spare Mk3s knocking around the south east that could be brought in;)

    Steve B
     
  15. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    Not necessarily. She would look gorgeous double-heading with the Beattie! :cool:
     
  16. cav1975

    cav1975 Member

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    Why not bring the pair of driving trailers from the 4-VEP down from Clapham?
     
  17. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Having just spent half an hour or so reading the provisions for operating trains, using brakes etc. in our General Appendix, I think I am going to wait for the operating notices to come out!

    Tom
     
  18. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    They aren't at Clapham, they're being renovated at Strawberry Hill
     
  19. cav1975

    cav1975 Member

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    OK - 2 cars from the LUL 4-TC then............
     
  20. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

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    Cost, I expect. Sadly, main-line stock movements do not come cheap. In any case, personally I'd rather see Calbourne double-heading on a rake a beautiful vintage coaches, than running solo at the head of a couple of boring old Mk. 1s! :p
     
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