Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Just heard that Bluebell are getting a Crampton. Appropriate for the region, and I've always wanted to see one. Good news.

 

Recalling the last surviving Marsh/Panter 'balloon' (IIRC, at Lancing) was considered past saving, way back in the early days, do those comments on LBSC design aspects (survival and restoration related) apply to 6w and bogie stock (through beyond Robert Billinton) too?

 

Ooh that would be really nice! I think it is a Crompton though

Tom

 

I'm certainly not an expert on it, but my understanding is that, in comparison with an LCDR vehicle, there are a couple of points.

One is that LCDR carriages were made from Teak, and the LBSCR ones made from Mahogany. Once they were grounded, the mahogany rotted and teak generally didn't, with the result that mahogany carriages generally need massive reconstruction /replacement of the the bottom rail and much of the lower framework. Two really illustrative photos of carriages "as recovered":

949 - LBSCR, Mahogany: https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/coach949.html
114 - LCDR, Teak: https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/106/106_3.jpg

114 is in service; 949 is under what has been a very long overhaul.

The other point is just about shapes: LCDR carriages tended to be very boxy, with square door and window frames etc. LBSCR ones tend to have all sorts of subtle curves.

The consequence of those two points is that (1) you tend to have to do much more replacement woodwork on an LBSCR carriage and (2) the replacement you do is much more complicated because of the shapes. Both factors make restoring LBSCR carriages far more time consuming than LCDR ones - which maybe explains the relative numbers of operational LCDR and LBSCR carriages across preservation.

I believe (open to correction) the Bluebell has one compartment from a Marsh balloon carriage, currently dismantled. If it gets restored at all, I suspect it would be as one compartment for display in a museum.

Tom

 

There was a vague aspiration to build one. Maybe you could ask the Atlantic lads if they fancy a challenge...

 

.... just as soon as they've finished the Wainwright E.

 

. I just liked the idea of a Crampton as the ideal thunderbird loco for 200 ton trains...

 

Surely no problem southbound?

 

You've still got 1/4 mile of 1 in 60 and a bit over a mile of 1 in 122. They'd count as gradients on other railways (rather than the downhill coast home) ...

Tom

 

I always think of the 1 in 122 as our 'level' bit. It's nice to get a P pulled up and motoring.
Mind you, it has caught quite a few people out.
No me. No. Not ever. <s>

 

I think the tricky bit about it is that you want to make sure you have enough, but not too much, because if you over do it you are going to have problems keeping the loco quiet by time you get to Sheffield Park. So that leads to sometimes trying to finesse it a bit too much and undercooking it instead. I said in an earlier post that the Kingscote - West Hoathly on the way back is the crux to the whole trip back and what happens during the layovers at HK and SP.

I've never underdone it along their either

Tom

 

If there's no train heating boiler to play with, the only thing a second man has to do is couple up and keep the driver awake. I reckon Tom is qualified for both so that makes him competent as a second man. No excuse, Tom.

 

Nah, I’m banned from diesels after an unfortunate incident one dark morning a few years back when, mistakenly thinking I knew all there was to know about locos of class 73xxx, I was a bit too keen to clean the ashpan of a visiting ED and ended up putting a rake through the fuel tank …

Tom

 

If you can put a rake through the fuel tank, it was obviously too thin and thus dangerous so you obviously did a good job in discovering it. You're obviously well suited to fault finding on diesels.

 

Damn - rumbled …

Tom

 

............ and is available in Southern Railway Maunsell green.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_vogel/2893154853
https://www.flickr.com/photos/johnmightycat/8272370723

 

Event details for the Bluebell 60+1 event, 6 - 8 August, are now online, along with ticket booking:

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/steaming-through-60/

Tom

 

I know @Ploughman likes his modern p/way kit. We have one of these on the railway at the moment:

robel 69 70 mobile maintenance vehicle

Apparently being homed while its normal base is unavailable, rather than carrying out work on the Bluebell. I had no idea such vehicles even existed.

Tom

 

It has the intention of allowing PW Staff to work inside outside, if you get my meaning.
No more nasty wet stuff either.

However, Do they work?

 

The July issue of The Bluebell Times has more details of what is planned for our 60+1 anniversary gala – and how we have marked the landmark anniversary over the last few years.

In issue 22:

• Appointment of a volunteer co-ordinator
• Use your skills to help the Bluebell Railway Trust with fundraising and accounting
• The arrival of ‘Crompton’ D6570
• A round up of activity in our carriage and wagon workshop
• A walk along the line in July 1959
• The end of steam on 9 July 1967 – on the Western Region!
• And much more.

The Bluebell Times is published monthly on the second Friday of every month. The August issue is due out on Friday 13 August.

You can download the latest edition using the link below.

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/bluebell-times/

Tom