Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I'm certainly not complaining, as for Heritage Railways to survive I fully accept they need to keep strict control over costs and to broaden the range of interests they cater for.

But I still find it sad that an event I attended last year that was 100% steam on the day(s) I was there, should see the Saturday of the same event a year later having made such a move away from pure steam.

I will of course keep visiting the Bluebell, but I will have to be increasingly selective on the days/events I support.

Bryan B

PS - And certainly no criticism of TheModster's excellent filming!

 

A few hours in the beer tent and you probably wouldn’t notice what the motive power was.

 

I'm mindful that diesel haulage on the Bluebell is an unusual treat for those who like such things, relatively speaking of course and a visiting rail tour brings plenty of diesel enthusiasts just as it does steam. The Saturday of the beer festival at the Bluebell last year had intended to run their Class 73 but they weren't quite ready on the day. UK Railtours visited with a tour hauled by two class 73s and a class 66 both last year and this year on the Saturday both times. I don't see much to be sad about to be honest?

 

Sad because I am a life long 100% steam enthusiast and I make no apologies for that - it is what I am. My emotions, part of my genetic make up, cause me sadness when I see things changing from what I have enjoyed for decades to things I don't enjoy.

And I have seen the Bluebell 100% steam service train operated during my very many visits since the first one I have a record of in June 1965 - I am now into my 60th year of visits. But, over the same sort of timescale during which I watched, photographed, and travelled tens of thousands of miles behind BR SR steam from 1960 to the inevitable end on 9 July 1967, I am seeing significant changes in that wonderful, once pure steam service train operated railway in Sussex.

As for last year, I must have steered around the Saturday of the beer festival because, quite naturally for my likes, I went on a 100% steam day.

I chose the words in my first post on this, #7161, carefully. I am sad, but I am not complaining. The changes are as inevitable as the electrification of the steam services out of Waterloo, as the Bluebell and other heritage railways have to develop in a way that controls costs and broadens the attractions they offer in order to survive. I fully accept that.

Bryan B

 

LOL!

I've been teetotal for over 15 years.

Bryan B.

 

Personally I don’t like any double heading especially those which almost certainly never happened

 

The beer festival would seem an odd weekend to plan a visit on then!

The incoming charter on Saturday was what it was - an addition. I’m not sure why the class 33 was used for one of the two service trains rather than a steam loco; maybe just because it was at the railway after the diesel gala. FWIW, Fenchurch yesterday was being dolled up to the nines for its visit to the K&WVR.

Plenty of opportunities in the first half of October for steam, including Beachy Head on both the first weekend of October and Giants of Steam.

Tom

 

I kind of know what you mean. I'm not a lifelong steam enthusiast. I got into steam about 25 years ago when I was in my 30s. I got to know several heritage railways quite well since then and have always accepted that they run diesels on occasions. I don't mind diesels as such as they bring back memories of seeing them in action in the 1970s/1980s. However, the thing I really liked about the Bluebell was that it was 100% steam. They even used to do their shunting with a steam loco (96 Normandy). I wasn't bothered when a Class 09 diesel shunter appeared - that just seemed like good practical sense, but wasn't so keen on the arrival of Class 33s and 73s even though they are appropriate for the region. As for diesel galas - don't expect to to find me there! Anyway, I'm sure the Bluebell have their reasons and let's face it, the greater majority of the time it does provide steam haulage so there's not too much to be sad about. As you say, it's just a case of being selective as to what to go for. This year the Branch Line weekend and Beachy Head event were brilliant and I'm looking forward to Giants of Steam as well.

 

I get that Bryan - I'm also a life-long enthusiast but have chosen to embrace the changes over my lifetime whilst still holding on to the nostalgia. You have nothing to apologise for although I'd happily arm wrestle you to see who loves a Bulleid pacific the most ;-)
It's probably just better to aim for days when diesels aren't running on the Bluebell imho, given that they don't operate very often.

PS - it's 64 years since D6500 was introduced on BR metals - 7 years before the last Bulleid ran in service - just saying

 

Tom,

I need to check my notes, but with what I think was an extended, 100% steam service for the 2023 Beer festival on the day I went (Friday 22 September), I saw it as a good opportunity for my usual photography day generally based at Horsted Keynes (with rover ticket of course).

I had a fabulous day photting 80151 and 73082. I found those enjoying the beers very responsive indeed to extremely gentle suggestions to join a brief, makeshift photo line, rather than wander around, rapidly emptying beer glasses in hand, getting in shot.

The first train ex SP must have meant an early start to the event, as the top photo below is 80151 at HK on the 10.15 from EG, meeting 73082 on the 10.30 SP. The second was taken from the Xing footpath at the site of West Hoathly station.

And yes, I look for pure steam events at the Bluebell, and hope to attend the G.O.S on the first two days at least - the double headers really attract me.

 

Yes indeed, but in summer 1965, after the electrifciation work started on the Bournemouth line, I was still able to get good value from a SR 7 day all line rover (£5), by travelling 24/7 for all 7 days to just exceed 5,000 miles behind steam - 100% of my journeys were steam hauled.

Bryan B

 

All of which discussion just reminds us what a broad constituency railway enthusiasts are! What seems to me to be commendable about the Bluebell is that they are very upfront about what you can expect on any particular day - usual caveats applying. They don't run diesels on passenger trains in the usual course of events, but when they do then it's well publicised, so if you con't like it you can stay away, but if that's what floats your boat then go for it!
Personally, my first visit to the Bluebell was also in the summer of 1965, with a few years volunteering as a teenager in the early 1970s. My preference is for steam, preferably in anything but BR green or black (sorry Bryan!), and the older the better, both locos and coaches. But I'm interested in the Bluebell's approach to "modern traction" (ie. only 50-60+ years old!) and find their policy document on the matter really helpful to understand the aims, whys and wherefores on the matter - https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/soc/ic_e_traction_policy_issue1.pdf. It's good to see such policies on this area of preservation and I wonder if other railways have similar ones?

Steve B

 

Does anyone know the reason for the wreath carried on 32424 on Saturday afternoon?

 

In memory of a well-regarded volunteer of long standing who died very recently.

Tom

 

I suspect you didn't miss too much yesterday weather wise anyway!

If you can make the Sunday of GoS, or the previous Sunday, come and say hello - I should be on the medium black one with a five figure number starting with "3" both days You can thank me for my heroically early alarm call to make a 9am departure from SP afterwards

On double heading: seems to be one of those "love it or hate it things" with enthusiasts. From an operating point of view I'm not much of a fan, at least not at an event like GoS; it mucks up your firing when you have two big engines on a six coach train. It's a bit more worthwhile at Branch Line gala; I must admit to have been part of some quite fun Chatham double headers at times (O1 + H, or H + P; or P + P for part of my firing test ...)



Tom

 

From a photographer’s point of view double heading is fine providing the two engines are compatible. For me it’s all about reproducing things I missed in my youth, the Standard Tank and the 5 are fine but the o1 and the five looks ridiculous. I also try and find a location where the length of the train is not apparent, outside of a curve or coming out of Sharpthorne Tunnel for instance.

 

I agree - I like to see double headers that are credible from a historical point of view. So double heading the Standard 5 and the Bulleid is fine (all very Somerset & Dorset) but double heading Beachy Head and Sir Nigel - well I'll pass on that one!

 

I think the reason why the H2 and A4 are double heading is because of an apparent photo taken in BR days (or whatever it was and no I don't know if its completely true) of a GNR Atlantic piloting an A4. I think if it is true it'll be to try and recreate that. If it isn't. Then just call it a bit of fun

 

Thanks for that, I'll try and save some energy during G.O.S to do Sunday as well, and won't moan about having to get up early again in view of your planned heroism. Especially as you are on a correctly liveried and numbered steam loco.

As for bad weather observations and photography, I have sort of specialised in that. I covered both days of the Spa Valley Model Railway weekend, and did ok yesterday. And for those who say, hang on a minute, they were using top and tail diesel and steam: yes, that is how I found operations there when I made my first visit only 4 years ago. Diesel at the front going down the hill to Eridge, steam on the front climbing back - done for their one train operation as there are other financial priorities before even thinking about a run round at Eridge station - plus somehow getting that at 75F extended to take a Bulleid that it cannot do at present. Also, the steam locos they have /have had in my barely 4 years of visiting are right up my street most of the time, and rarely has there been a train climbing back to 75F without steam haulage, so my time there is time well spent. And I choose my locations there with care - as @Johnb (and me too when I can) does with double-headers on short trains. So with the train increasing to six cars from four as Saturday progressed it got easier and easier to get my pure steam photos. Three from Sunday just added to the Spa Valley page on Nat Pres.

Bryan B

 

Converting BH to a GN large Atlantic is one hell of a Photoshop challenge!