Bluebell Branch line weekend

Couldn't see a thread so thought I'd start one.

All the latest details on the web page below:-

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/events/2010/branch_line.html

The weekend features an intensive passenger steam train service using our vintage branch line locomotives - including two visiting engines: Fairburn Tank No.42085 (for which we are indebted to Stephen Maher and the Lakeside & Haverthwaite Railway) and BR standard class 2 2-6-0 No.78019 from the Great Central Railway.

The Fairburn 2-6-4 tanks were a common sight on Southern Region branch lines until they were replaced by the BR Standard tanks. Although an LMS design, this loco was built at Brighton Works.

The event will also feature the special-event debut of LBSCR E4 No.B473 freshly outshopped in Southern Railway lined green and, providing its restoration is completed in time, the first public appearance in steam since it was preserved of SECR P-class No.178.

 

Looking forward to this. How much will a Adult Members all day ticket cost.

 

A quick taster of what to see at the gala, taken from Saturday:





As for tickets, all available on the website. Am fairly certain a members discount does not apply at gala's, but I am open to correction.

Tom

 

What's the news on the Fairburn, it says on the website it's had a spring changed, but we heard at the w/e there's some other problems with it. Will it be able to steam this w/e?

 

I hope so! And I think the plan is to have both Visitors in steam along with the C this weekend with the extra trains. (Bulleid/Mk1 set, Maunsell set + Valentines Lounge Car set, and Wealden Rambler in the evening)

 

Thanks for the info Tom. Any chance we can have the Fairburn paired with the Bulleid set instead of the Maunsells and if the Obo is to be used can it please not be marshalled right behind the Fairburn.

Cheers

 

The Obo is currently not running on train services, pending some attention, as far as I know.

By Bulleids, well it's more of a Mk1 set with 1 Bulleid (the "wrong" brake).

 

Yes I think that's the set 78019 ran with this last w/e. I know this sounds a bit pedantic but after years and years of hoping to see a Fairburn Tank at the Bluebell could we please have the loco not matched with the SR olive green Maunsell set or the Pre-Grouping carriages for the forthcoming weekends. Just have the loco paired with Bulleids/Mk1's(especially the 2 Blood & Custards if that's possibly) as it would be a little frustrating if 42085 ended up pulling non-authentic carriage combinations after year's of waiting to see it pull green BR(S) carriages.

Cheers

 

According to the website ( Services for the coming week) 42085 is paired with the 4 Mk1 & 1 Bulleid on the 13th & 14th. This was the set that 78019 was paired with, on the weekend just gone.

 

Hope 42085 gets on the bulleids/marks and same with 78019, i will be there. Missing 473, 178 and 672. All which i want to see.

 

Is there a published timetable for the branch line gala yet? I can't find one on the website.

 

If past performance is anything to go by, you'll only get a detailed timetable by buying it either on the day or in advance. No doubt some details will leak out on the various forums.

 

Sorry, didn't make myself clear. All I'm interested in at this point is the passenger timetable, which I would hope would be both available in advance and FOC.

 

This is always top secret. I've never understood why the Bluebell do this

 

IMHO they should publish the times of first and last trains at the very least. Not easy to plan a day out, particularly by public transport, without that basic info. To charge for the full WTT and roster is perfectly fair but to keep even basic timetable info a secret is not IMHO.

 

I put a tongue-in-cheek posting in the Bluebell Yahoo group a few weeks ago, pointing out that the East Lancs, Great Central, Churnet Valley, Ribble Steam Railway and Worth Valley had all published gala timetables (including loco rosters) on their respective websites and querying whether the Bluebell would be doing the same - no reply as yet.

 

Is it? I think many railways could learn a few lessons from the ELR and others on this point.

 

I haven't even received a WTT yet and I'm meant to be working as a Guard over the weekend, so if the staff haven't got one, it is unlikely it has been finalised yet (what with 42085 looking unlikely, and 178 hanging in the balance)

 

Bluebell website now says 42085 looking unlikely! I hope that this loco can run on other weekends before its return. With all due respect to the Bluebell and the remaining line up, which is still good, I can see the E4 and P class at any time over their certificates but what I was going to see was the Fairburn.

I shall probably not go to the Gala now, rather wait and pay a visit to the line if the Fairburn does run on some other weekend.

 

I understand from emails exchanged with the railway yesterday that the timetable was being rewritten "unexpectedly".