Bluebell Railway | 32424 Beachy Head Steams - 23rd August-1st September 2024

65 vice 72 till further notice on the website

 

Having had two full trips now - what a machine! Unfortunately neither was completely non-stop; we got held at the up Horsted outer home on our first trip; and the Kingscote home on our second. But that can't deflect from a brilliant day (good to meet @torgormaig as well on one of our run rounds).

Tom

 

Good to meet you too Tom. Have to say it was a really excellent day, well worth the risks of Bank Holiday train travel down from York. Fortunately it all went like clockwork until we ran into chaos at Kings Cross on the last leg home. But by then it didn't matter - the objective had been achieved.

Like many on here it was a dream come true to see Beachy Head (Mark II) alive and running. The maticulous attention to engineering detail in its construction was clearly evident in how smoothe and steam tight the engine is. What a credit to the small dedicated team in Atlantic House who produced this fine machine. There are so many heros in the field of railway heritage but I feel that these guys are at the very top of this tree.

And as for Nat Pres' Bluebell correspondent and the forum's dispenser of sanity and reason, here he is keeping a good look out as his loco backs onto its train

I'm sure that he will have a lot of fun on this in the years to come even if it is of Brighton and not Ashford heritage.

Peter

 

I don’t know @Jamessquared personally, but have seen the odd (in the nice way) photo, and I’m not sure that’s him, is it…?

 

It’s me …

Tom

 

I can only assume you photoshopped your Match.com photos then (or more likely, I need my eyesight tested…!).



Simon

 

I'm sorry for your loss, I was definitely thinking of my Dad who passed 12 years ago this weekend. A long-time Bluebell member who first visited in the (very) early 60's, introduced me to the line (first recorded visit was when I was 3 weeks old!) and would have absolutely loved to see 32424 in steam.

I decided to visit again yesterday, bit of a shame that Fenchurch was out but always a pleasure to ride behind the O1 and travel 1st Class in 7598. 'Archie' also seemed in fine form, and another excellent run with Beachy Head. Atlantic House relieved me of some cash for the Adams Radial, and good to see they are already cracking on with 'Normandy'.

 

Glad to see the trip went well Pete. Sorry not be there to see you and Rob, but i sure there will be another time.

 

Thanks Roger - we missed our usual meet up with you and Sally down there. As you say hopefully next time.

Best Wishes

Peter

 

A question for Tom aka Jamessquared.
Looking to visit either Thursday or Friday for a trip behind Beachy Head and some more photographs. Am I correct in my interpretation of the timetable that 32424 does not stop at intermediate stations apart from her final run of the day? Also is the up platform at Kingscote the main or the loop? Just trying to plan where to hop on and off trains.

 

Just seen Beachy Head go through the down platform (loop?) n/s at Kingscote whilst Archie was in the up platform with a down service on the webcam. I assume this is to make it easier to be non stop wit the token to hand from the down service.

 

At Kingscote, “main” is the up platform and “loop” is the down platform.

Times with / in the timing (ie 11/30) are passing times, not stopping times. So on Thursday, the 11:15 ex- Sheffield Park is non-stop in both directions and the the 4:15 is stopping both ways. Note as well that the 1:45 on Thursday is a Wealden Rambler, not a public service.

Tom

 

Beachy Head at the loop/down platform yesterday.

 

My first sighting of Beachy Head in action yesterday, non-stop through Kingscote on the down/loop road. A memorable sight (and thankfully without that bright red headboard).

Peter

 

Thanks. Confirmed my assumptions.

 

Two round trips on 32424 (2nd and 3rd) plus trips on 65 and 34059 earlier in the day .

Of all the new builds/conversions etc so far this is the best …doesn’t look like a fat ,podgy hall or similar and got a nice even ,noisy beat to it when working .Well done all involved .

 

Thank you for your condolences.
The grief still hits hard when we think about Mum.

Sent from my XQ-BT52 using Tapatalk

 

Very well put Tom! Fenchirch keeps eluding me but the O1 is a fantastic substute - was a very lively run up to HK and it gave us the oppurtunity to watch you carry out the shunting duties to add the extra coach too.

 

Some photos from the weekend now up, what an awesome machine 32424 is, looks and sounds absolutely perfect.

https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/Bluebellphotosets/Built-at-Brighton-Weekend-August-2024

 

Also a video from the event now online