Bluebell Railway General Discussion

@Ben Jenden

Set A = green Mark 1s
Set B = Maunsells + 100 seater

Tom

 

I see the Bluebell railway has a new publicity officer!!
https://www.mimsdavies.org.uk/news/...english-tourism-week-outside-bluebell-railway
But came the wrong day to the railway to do the video for tourism week!

 

I was looking for something else on the internet when I came accross this
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2025/03/update-on-steam-locomotive-92240.html
(As the link suggests, it's an update to the work on 92240).
I was interested to note they have started work on the tender first. Is there a rationale for this?
It would seem usually that the tender is the "easiest" (least difficult?) and is done last.

 

I'd suggest that the completed tender could be then displayed as very visible evidence of progress to attract additional fundraising, particularly once 92240 is out of public view in the works?

 

Could be. Could it be run with any other standards on the bluebell? (Or hired out)

 

I think the reasons are that there isn't space in the works for the loco. As soon as you take it in, lift the boiler and lift the frames off the wheels, you have three big, largely immovable lumps taking up space. So you only want to do that when you have the capacity to tackle it.

By contrast, the tender needs doing, and is something that can be worked on now by the volunteer team.

(You also wouldn’t want to get to a point of working on the loco, having it ready to go - and then finding you have 18 months work to go on the tender …)

Doing it this way round is sensible to me. Doing the tender shows visible progress for those providing funds and uses the resources of the volunteers right now, while the loco and boiler wait space in the workshop.

Tom

 

I suspect it may be the latter. I seem to remember at least a couple of standards are currently operating wtih borrowed tenders from locomotives under overhaul - 92134 being one of them, it's borrowed from a Standard 5MT I think - so there is definitely demand there.

 

Think it’s using the tender from 73050 (Nene Valley Railway)

 

For anyone wanting some Beachy Head haulage, it is out on the service trains this weekend.

For both days:

34059 - A
32424 - B
65 - WR (Sat) / GA (Sun).

Carriages:

Set A - Green Mark 1s
Set B - Mets + Victorian 4 wheelers

@The Gricing Owl - Saturday evening 34059 becomes the evening Arrow engine, so you get your "Bulleid + Pullmans" shot at Horsted Keynes at about 7:20pm. But it would probably be too dark still - maybe viable next weekend after the clocks have changed! I'll keep looking out for you ...

Tom

 

BR GUV 93722 (built 1959), which was at the Bluebell as a museum store, has left the railway. I don’t know where it has gone, but the webpage says “for further preservation elsewhere”.

https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/vans/guv93722.html

Tom

 

Thanks Tom. A shot of it coming through Horsted Keynes at night, with the station lights on and heavy rain falling would make a great photo!

But the one I really would like to get is the GA Luchtime train with 34059 rounding the curve into HK, with just the first three vehicles showing to create the illusion of it being a longer train. As per the shot I got of 73082 doing that a few weeks back. Or was it months?

Short of that, the evening train when the light improves taken from Leamland Wood Bridge, as HK station would be shut, will be be ok.

Many thanks for the heads up on this.

Bryan

 

Look out for the loco roster - if there is an evening arrow, generally it is the day’s A engine that hauls it.

Tom

 

Afternoon. Possibly a strange request here, but has anyone the Fish & Chip supper train timetable including arrivals / departures from all stations for yesterday (28th March 25) they could attach here please? Thanks

 

The working timetable says:

SP dep 6.30
HK 6/45
Kingscote arr 7.04
Kingscote dep 7.05
EG arr 7.15

EG dep 7.35
Kingscote arr 7.42
Kingscote dep 7.44
HK 8/05
SP arr 8.20

Tom

 

Thank you Tom

 

Apologies for ‘clogging’ the forum thread again. The website calendar shows a Wealden Rambler running on 4th April. My saved copy of WR web page shows it as running from 12.30 yet the Public Train Information page (buried deep in the website) shows no train as running. Can I ask which is correct and if it running could I have the arrival/departure times for each station please. Thank you.

 

Wealden Ramblers normally run mid afternoon.

As far as I cans see, 4 April has a murder mystery train, which is an evening Golden Arrow dining service.

Tom

 

thanks Tom. Thought it seemed strange to just have a WR on a Friday in early season if no other trains were running during daylight hours

 

From the Bluebell Facebook:

"Gordon Pettitt OBE: 1934-2025
The Bluebell Railway is saddened to learn of the passing of our president Gordon Pettitt OBE at the age of 90.

A private family funeral will take place, followed by a railway industry memorial.

Everyone at the railway passes on our deepest condolences to his family, friends and colleagues at this very difficult time.

A true railwayman passes."



(Photo is taken in front of his namesake 4-VEP, taken at Waterloo last year).

Tom

 

Shame. Inevitable, but bloody sad, nonetheless.
RIP, Gordon.