Bluebell Railway Giants of Steam 2009

...unless the railway isn't bothering to use your favourite loco at the so called gala.

 

In which case you come on another day when it is in use if that's the only reason you want to come down. Would be less busy then as well.

 

Take it or leave it?

 

When one lives over 200 miles from said railway, one does not make a journey just to ride behind a single loco, but one may make the effort to go to a "gala" if all available locos are in use - if they are not, one simply does not bother and visits more enligtened railways instead.

 

In the Bluebell's defence I will say that Giants has never been marketed as an event where all available locos are steamed, just the larger ones and usually a high profile visitor. The line hasn't really had a "gala" that fits your description since the days of "Bluebell On Parade." Fond memories of unlined green SECR locos on BR blue Mk.1 suburban stock. All things considered though I would have thought that having the Dukedog appear at Giants was a must, particularly if it was marketed as the last chance to see it run without nameplates.

 

Yes that's a very good point Ian. Since "Bluebell on Parade" stopped the railway hasn't really had an "everything" in steam gala. It's always been a format of Branch Line w/e for the small locos and Giants for the medium/big locos. From what Neil Glasken has told me, this year's Giants is to have a BR(S) theme so the Dukedog would not really fit into this theme. However as I've said on previous threads on here and the Bluebell group the black, nameplateless Dukedog is now a seriously popular loco with enthusiasts and if it's marketed in the steam media as the last chance to see the loco in this condition at Giants this could well tempt even more people down to our railway and put more money in the coffers. The other thing is that we've had loads of past events with the green named Dukedog but we've not had one enthusiast event yet with the black, nameplateless Dukedog and Giants would be the perfect opportunity to put this write.

Also on the Bluebell group it was said that Roy Watts is still trying to get a second visiting loco for Giants but so far it's proved difficult to find an appropriate loco that fits into the BR(S) theme that is available to visit. If only 92 Squadron was still steamable:smt086

 

I sense an opportunity for an extra, low-season event, perhaps between Christmas and New Year - something like a three train service, or maybe 2 passenger and one freight, staring the Dukedog and supported by the Std 4 (since it's also BR black) and the 0-6-2, since it's newly overhauled. Something to give folks like you what you are looking for, but without requiring too many extra volunteers to run it, and boosting low-season income. The GWSR and GCR winter enthusiast events are usually very popular.

 

They seem to hold them back for the big events. Bluebell125 had as good as that sort of thing in 2007, and I would assume Bluebell50 next year will be similar. After all, if you steam everything every time, the novelty soon wears off...

 

Yes I would agree with that Chris, Bluebell 125 was the closed thing we've had to an "everything" in steam Gala and I guess Bluebell 50 will be along the same lines.

 

Sounds a good idea to me. A BR black themed "mini gala" needn't involve much more than a normal service day. Just an extra loco so as to ring the changes throughout the event.

 

With about 2 weeks to go, the big question is:

WILL BIRCH GROVE BE READY IN TIME???????????????????

 

Here's a photo taken on the 27/9.09 by Derek Hayward of the E4 that was on the Bluebell site.

http://train.fotopic.net/p61250211.html

 

Yes, I was thinking Bluebell 125 was pretty similar to the old Parade days, but with the advantage of more variety thanks to the longer line.

However, Bluebell 50 will not be along the same lines as anything seen before! It will be the biggest celebration of preservation yet seen. There are more visitors to announce yet, and the next one to be announced will probably be one no-one will guess. And another visitor being lined up will possibly blow you all away!
And given a fair wind and some luck we might have 12 locos in steam from the home fleet.

But Bluebell 50 is about more than just next August - August 7th 1960 may have been when the first public train ran, but we ran our first steam train over the line in May that year, so it will be a whole year of spectactular events. The first visitor for next year's Giants is already lined up, and I think the one for Branch Line weekend may be also. I wonder whether the idea of a BR black gala will work - it's worth pursuing, but given that we have three locos in steam most weekends, to make it worthwhile we'd need 4, which means getting in two visitors, and that is assuming the Dukedog is still in black (which I'm guessing it might be at least for the first part of the year).

Coming back to this year's Giants - i gather the loco we nearly had lined up as the second visitor has failed with stay problems. Experience recently in trying to arrange visitors leads to the conclusion that once we get connected through to East Grinstead, it will be very much easier to get the big-uns in.

To answer another question, the Met coaches are not scheduled to be running at this year's Giants. They have however been in public service each weekend for the last month, and should be at least next weekend as well.

Regards,
Richard

 

Nearly three weeks... but last time I asked got the standard reply "It'll be finished when it's ready" which is strangely enough what we tend to say about carriages nearing completion.
It'll be a close call, but I'll put the information on the web site as soon as I have it!

Richard

 

Wow, thanks Richard for some really tantalising information from you and can't wait for next year. Dare I ask if a certain black tank loco from Lakeside is one of the visitors and potentially would the lined black T9 that's now in the process of being overhauled be ready for either Bluebell50 or next year's Giants?

In terms of a BR black gala we would have obviously 80151 & 9017 and then possibly 32678 from the K&ESR and perhaps a Beattie Well Tank if both owners were happy to let's us borrow their locos.

So it sounds like a cracking year coming up for Bluebell 50 and I can't wait.

 

This all sounds very fascinating. Another visitor lined up that will blow us away! - It's hard to think what can outshine Tornado and Furness No. 20. The T9 would be an obvious contender, but does even this lovely engine merit such superlatives? If Gladstone suddenly disappeared from the NRM for a fully-funded restoration to working order in 8-10 months, that would be quite something, but we all know this is pie in the sky, sadly.

Thanks for answering one question, Richard - that is whether everything was going to be concentrated on one big event in August or spread throughout the year. Now we know it is to be the latter.

I do hope, considering Blackmore Vale will be out of action, that one of the planned visitors will be an unrebuilt Bulleid.

One interesting point of speculation - I wonder if a main line excursion to East Grinstead is in the pipeline as past of the festivities. 45407 went to Uckfield but not East Grinstead a couple of years ago. Are there gauging issues? I always thought the pinch point was Oxted Tunnel, but this is clearly not the case.

Anyway, it looks like being a great year for the Bluebell. Even if the extension will not be open for the 50th anniversary celebrations, it would be great if by the end of 2010, all the funding was in place. Best wishes to all involved with the planning.

 

I had a thought about a guest next year. 92203 Black Prince. We know David Shepherd has rededicated Blackmore Vale twice and is a vice patron for the 50th Anniversary Appeal and with the lines own 9F out of action it would be great to see 92203 on the line.

 

I do hope it will be ready as if not then the Dukedog will be rostered and I don't think I could handle all the posts if its name plates are still on...and yes they have been welded on, I had a look last Sunday when I was on it. (and before you all go mad they are only tacked on and the welds could easily be ground off!!!)

As for the U, its looking promising that it will be fit with the centre drivers receiving a new crank pin down in deepest Devon, barring any unforeseen issues of course.

Regards,

Dave G.

 

However, Bluebell 50 will not be along the same lines as anything seen before! It will be the biggest celebration of preservation yet seen. There are more visitors to announce yet, and the next one to be announced will probably be one no-one will guess. And another visitor being lined up will possibly blow you all away!
And given a fair wind and some luck we might have 12 locos in steam from the home fleet.


Regards,
Richard[/QUOTE]

Name any engine and I've heard a rumour that it is visiting next year, some sound more plausible than others, I think the idea of a trickle of information coming out regularly about next year only adds to the excitement and expectation.
Now what is the longest cavalcade of engines seen in preservation? Something that we may exceed in August? Happy Days.

Dave G.

 

Going back to "Giants of Steam", I see the October-December loco roster is up, and 30777 is rostered to work the weekends either side of the "Giants" weekend as well as over those three days.

Anyone know when she is due to arrive at SP? and the dates & times of any test run?
Thanks in advance.