Bluebell Railway General Discussion

If Marty McFly got in the Delorean today, he wouldn't go as far back as that picture...

 

There should be a lot more by then, judging by what appeared to be out on Monday. Look for the huge herd of deer near Kingscote as well.

This was the office on Monday. Heavy work, I don't think it will ever be my favourite loco ... Had our (for me at least) first footplate passenger; as far as I can see they have been selling well.



Tom

 

Archie.
That name always puts me in mind of the Blue Peter elephant "oohh! Gettoff me foot!", and that poor zookeeper right at the end, standing in darkness and manure, shouting "Archie!... Archie!"

 

Lovely photo Tom, taken on board a fabulous class of SR steam loco!

Bryan

 

A post on the SVR Diesels Facebook page indicates it'll be running at their diesel gala in May then heading to the Bluebell until the autumn.

 

Err, why would it be spending the summer at the Bluebell please?

Bryan

PS. The 'please' is me being polite as I usually try to be. And not me expressing pleasure about the diesel spending several months at the Bluebell Railway. Instead of just arriving late on the evening of the 4th September and leaving early in the morning of the 8th.

 

Presumably because the Bluebell want to use it?

Sent from my Pixel 9a using Tapatalk

 

I suspect it will be there (along with the 73) to act as an assurance policy for overly dry weather.

Also I imagine the coal prices may or may not see more diesel action in regular service...

 

Coal prices are falling at the moment, well down from their earlier peak.

Tom

 

Tom, how does the Bluebell go about training loco crews on diesel traction given that it is still little used in normal day to day service. Have you done any training yet?

Peter

 

I've driven the 09 a couple of times under supervision, but not under any kind of formal training programme (and I have not enquired too hard along those lines )

As far as I can see, the diesel drivers (with a couple of exceptions) come from the existing steam drivers, and they have undergone a traction-specific conversion course to either the 09 or the 73 or both. Presumably in due course the 33 and Thumper will get added to that list. There are a couple of exceptions of people passed out on the 09 who aren't already steam drivers; and also I think some C&W staff passed out on "Skippy" within HK station limits only.

Whether in due course we ever moved to having a specific diesel-only link I don't know; for the time being the default route seems to be to go up through the steam link and then convert if you so desire.

FWIW, the 09 did 44 days last year. Other diesels (at the diesel gala and an incoming charter) did another 16 but I assume in those cases, they would have had an owner's rep for traction knowledge and the Bluebell driver would have been there as pilot.

Tom

 

Thanks for that Tom, especially you not enquiring too hard about diesel training!

Depending on how I feel after my planned visit to the Mid Hants Gala tomorrow, are you able to give an update on currently planned loco/stock workings for Sunday please?

I'm guessing it will be 34059 on the mix of green MK1s etc, 73082 on the ancient stock and 31065 on the lunchtime Golden Arrow.

But 34059 on the Arrow and 73082 on the green stock and 31065 on the very old stock would be a rather nice change around!

Bryan

 

Appears to be:

Saturday

A - 73082 - Green mark 1s
B - 32424 - vintage
WR - 65 - crimson / cream mark 1s

Evening Pullman is 73082.

Sunday

A - 73082 - Green mark 1s
B - 32424 - vintage
GAL - 65 - Pullmans.

The vintage set has swapped around a bit. Listed south - north it is LNWR Obo - Mets - 100 seater. So for northbound trains, you get a green carriage immediately behind the tender of 32524 (thinking of some of the locations of your recent photos).

Tom

 

Many thanks Tom. Great to see 73082 on the MK1s and 32424 giving a potentially nice side on Northbound shot at some of my locations. And I do have a soft spot for 31065 after my one encounter with it in 1961. Potentially a better day photograhically for me than the Mid-Hants Gala - seven uphill, chimney first trains at the Bluebell compared with just four of interest to me at the Mid-Hants Gala!

Have to see how much energy I expend at the Gala tomorrow.

Thanks again,

Bryan

 

I had thought about that Al, but 35028 is due to be out (and local to me), far more then 35005 is at present. And a Saturday with a bit less rushing around will hopefully put me in a better position to enjoy the Bluebell on Sunday.

Bryan

 

Many thanks to all who supplied info about the bluebell (flowers) situation. Wednesday the staff were great, very helpful and chatty. The experience overall was great the bluebells put on a really good show so my friend was well chuffed (geddit? ). For anyone else interested it looks like they should be at their peak early next week, especially if the sun comes out. Once again, thanks to all for making this such a good visit.