Roy Watts warns of more diesels on the Bluebell

Reading this months SR magazine (issue 367) there is a very interesting item on the Bluebell. Roy Watts chairman of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society has warned that there may be more diesel presence at the Bluebell to handle non-passenger trains to cover infrastructure work when the extension to East Grinstead and eventually Haywards Heath is complete. Once diesel locos are at the railway how longer will it be until we see another diesel charter to help pay for another project or possible on a service train to cover for a failed steam loco the temptation maybe to big for this not to happen. Then the Bluebell would become just another preserved railway.

 

Wasn't it Roy Watts who wanted a "Thumper" on the Bluebell?

I'm surprised that the members don't vote him out of office.

 

Only one reply, I'm pretty sure you Bluebell Bashers can do better than that. I'm just waiting for the uproar when they put name plates on the 08

 

What name it "Dr Beeching" after East Grinstead's most notable resident?

 

Yeh why not? We have Beeching Way in EG already. (Part of the old Three Bridges Line)

 

While I can see this will be anathema to many on the Bluebell, surely, so long as it is introduced sensitively and appropriately, diesel traction should be viewed as a sensible, cost-effective, and pragmatic solution to a number of problems. Who knows, it might even attract a whole new group of enthusiasts, volunteers and visitors, and what heritage line can afford to do without those in these days of restraint?

 

Yes but how many would it turn away. Throwing away the USP for any business is a bad idea, I can't see the GCR singling their double track any time soon.

 

With the Horsted Shunts being reintroduced with steam on every Sunday later this year, the 08 will have less work now, so a step back (or forward) in the steam direction.
Great news for crews and visitors. A chance to see a P or the E4 at work around HK is something I'm very much looking forward to.
I don't think this report is really grounds for a vote of no confidence.

Regards,

Dave G.

 

They could name the 08 Sharpthorn in readiness for work on the extension.

 

I thought the steam shunts at HK were being reintroduced on Saturdays. Either way this is good news as HK has been a lesser place since the demise of Clive Groome's footplate courses and the steam shunt.

 

No, it wasn't.....

It was H&SUPS who approached the Bluebell about the Thumper, Roy was merely the messenger asking the membership to vote yes or no to it coming. The Membership voted no and thus got their way, as it should be, therefore I see no need to vote him out of office at all? It wasn't he who bought in the 73 either..

How many more times is this one going to need explaining, I wonder....

On the other hand, if the Bluebell is going to be a potential target for railtours, get used to more diesels as something is going to have to haul it back up to East Croydon....

 

You are quite right it will be a Saturday shunt.

 

Unless in time we can get a turntable constructed at HK as has been enquired by a Bluebell member on page 30 in the latest Bluebell News Correspondence section. The West Somerset & Severn Valley have used their turntable to great effect, so if we do want through railtours from NR onto Bluebell metals a turntable eventually will probably be essential.

 

Seems a waste of money to me; if the eventual aim is to put the Ardingly branch back and have two main line connections, main line tours would be able to stop at HK for a couple of hours as part of a 'circular' tour, no turning necessary.

 

In my opinion it's simply a case of the means justifying the ends. If we see more diesels on the Bluebell, with the result that it preserves the steam fleet better and keeps costs down, then surely (whatever your heart might say) the head would say that it's a good deal?

 

Where would it go? Now that there is a "garden" in the triangle, not much room for it anywhere else...

 

The logical extension of this argument is to not run any steam locomotives at all. That way your steam fleet will never wear out.

 

Ahh damn the triangle is where I was thinking the turntable could go but if that's now been turned into a "garden" that does make life difficult. I guess if the "garden" doesn't work out then in future years' that space could be used for the turntable but other than that I guess it's answers on a postcard lol:-k