Bluebell Railway Giants of Steam 22nd-24th October 2010

You've cursed it now Dave! They said today was going to be a washout, but it had stopped raining by 9 and was sunny by 11. A lot of lineside clearance got done as a result

There are a few repairs that need to be made to 30777 before it runs - let's hope that the loco works staff can get everything done in time for the weekend.

Cheers,
Jon

 

Ooops, let's hope I haven't cursed it now for this weekend. Just watched the Michael Fish forecast on BBC South East and he said sunny for Saturday, Sunday and into next week. But then again Michael Fish doesn't have a good track record for getting the weather right.hwell:

 

Well they seem to have as there's a picture of 30777 running on the website.

 

30777 looked and sounded very nice today, if a little leaky. One of the jobs needing doing seems to have been to reposition one of the front steps!

 

Once the extension to EG has been open for a few months I would think passage numbers would drop back down to previous levels. Far better to run smaller and more economical locos than running larger pacific’s.

 

Latest news is 30777 failed this afternoon with a problem on the main steam pipe and the guys won't be able to fix it until the loco has completely cooled down, so the charter we had with it this week has been cancelled, gutted!! :-(
Hopefully it maybe ok for services next w/e and for Giants. Really hope our organisers will now pair 30777 with just Bulleid carriages for the gala, as that's what our charter was gonna do, and not put the Obo or Director's Saloon in with the carriages behind the loco.

 

Yes, looking a little sorry for itself in the shed this evening. 80151 substituted for the last train of the day to HK. I must say that I thought the engine was a little unwell all day, with lots of steam from the front end and the exhaust sounding very woolly. I too was told that it's 'the main steam pipe' which I interpret as the pipe from the dome to the steam chests. If this is so then dismantling the machine just to get to the 'steampipe' may be a major job in itself. I hope I'm being pessimistic ...

Apart from that, a good day on the Bluebell, most enjoyable.

Regards

 

Shame to here 30777 has failed, I had a very nice round trip behind her today. I also got some shots from the 3pm departure from Sheffield Park passing West Hoathly, will put my photos on tommrow.

 

The curse of the "Giants of Steam" strikes again.

 

I was thinking if you take 30777 out of Giants then it's basically Branch Line w/e as all the other locos due to be in steam would normally be used for the February Gala such is our shortage of large engines.

 

Sounds like the last time she went to the Bluebell (Mid 1990's). We went to see her in action and found her "failed" in the shed at SP. She doesn't have much luck there does she. Hope she can be sorted for the Gala.

 

I noticed that the Dukedog is not listed as running at the giants -is it out of service?

 

Undergoing a retube

 

Thanks for the lightening fast update

 

I understand that it has been difficult to source the size of tube that the engine requires. Has that problem been resolved?

Regards

 

I visited the Bluebell Railway yesterday and found 30777 ‘Sir Lamiel’, 80151 and 1638 in steam. Unfortunately ‘Sir Lamiel’ developed a crack in a steam tube during the day and was failed - being unable to haul the 4.47pm train to Horsted Keynes, its place being taken by 80151. The locomotives deterioration during the day is well shown in the film. Other, out-of-steam engines shown are No.3 ‘Captain Baxter’, C Class 592 and A1X Terrier ‘Fenchurch’.

My apologies for the wind noise during the two sequences at Leamland (the jack for the external microphone got detached from the camera), and I hope, in spite of that, everyone enjoys the film which is best viewed in HD.

Regards.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9cjc39FWV5k

 

My picture of Sir Lamiel at the Bluebell yesterday

http://www.flickr.com/photos/rebeccajane7777/5071772333/

 

Four from me from yesterday...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/

Some more in here...

http://ashleysmith355.fotopic.net/c1868998_80.html

Video to follow

 

Yes the problem has been solved and the tubes have arrived at Sheffield Park.

 

30777 was in steam in the yard today, apparently with the sniffting glad repaired.