323 Bluebell

I see on the Bluebell website that Bluebell has just passed it's final steam test and, all things being well, should be back in service this weekend. This set me to thinking: what is it about Bluebell that makes it different to all the other locos in the BB fleet? Obviously the BB have a huge reputation for historical accuracy and pre-grouping goodness, especially when it comes to painting locos in their original liveries. Why is Bluebell a special case when it comes to livery? Is it just that it's been blue for 40-odd years and that's what people expect? Please don't get me wrong, I don't mind it in blue, green, black, whatever, I'm just interested to know why it's a different case to everything else at BB.
Ta,
Dan

 

Guess there maybe a few reasons:

1) Its been blue since the early 60s and thats how people remember it;
2) It actually looks nice in lined blue
3) Its the BB flagship and appears on the mastheads in blue.

Guess its the Bluebell brand

 

It's recreating the early days of preservation, they are just as worthy of recreation as the days of BR, the big 4 and so on.

 

Have to say that usually I'm all for authenticity (livery included), hence my strong opinions regarding 4472 in LNER green + Smoke deflectors, but I'm with the Bluebell on this one.

Early preservation days are worth remembering and noting, and as has been said 323 is the Bluebell's flagship. Hopefully however it will carry SECR/SR/BR livery sometime during its ticket.

 

It's Blue livery is different this time around!!!

 

New blue? What are the changes? Sounds intruiging! I'm always surprised that Britt Allcroft or whoever owns the rights to Thomas these days haven't tried to sue anybody daring to have a blue coloured tank engine... Is there any truth in the story that they once tried to get BB to 'stop using the loco masquerading as Stepney The Bluebell Engine'?

 

Not sure about the shade of blue but the lining is different and instead of having nameplates the name is painted on the tank side so my informant tells me! The lining last time it carried the livery was in the style of the SR livery, this time it will be a SECR style lining...but still blue...

 

I believe that the Bluebell were contacted over the use of the name Stepney and the Bluebell replied that perhaps the copyright holders would like to pay the railway for using their loco in the stories. Nice tale if true.

 

It's essentially a blue version of SECR livery this time, e.g. mostly a paler shade, with darker edging all round the "panels" (for want of a better word) and the corners in an indented curve.

Also the name this time is painted in big block shaded letters along the length of the tank, rather than having a nameplate.

Incidentally, a sidenote - it would be historically accurate (in SECR terms) for 323 (but not any other P tank) to actually be painted in a red variant of the livery. Now that would be entertaining to see the livery frothers scratching their heads!

Tom

 

True, I remember it fondly from my time as a volunteer in the early seventies. Interesting that it has carried "Bluebell Railway" livery much longer than any other livery during it's lifetime! And why not? - The Bluebell is a Railway Company in it's own right - one variation from it's usual policy isn't going to cause the sky to fall in and the variety is delightful.

Steve

 

Was this during the SECR's experiments with push-pull trains and a 'P' in the middle?

 

The Talyllyn had the same problem over using 'Peter Sam' on No.4 'Edward Thomas'. Turned out to be a storm in a tea-cup.

 

On the subject of our P's here are three short clips I recorded on my DSLR from yesterday's superb photo charter with no.178.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zaJtq8-I7Y
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uW1zw30q8_Q
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaSRXfainww

Cheers

 

The SE&CR did paint 323 red but it never left the paint shop and no one has come up with any photos or details so if we did that it would have to be a bit of a guess.

 

That bad was it?

 

In which case go for it; just for the reaction!

 

3 photos (by Derek Hayward, not me) here:

http://www.riff-raff.org/bluebell/v...nd+2011/323+SP+on+shed+120311+6257+E.jpg.html and next two photos

Tom

 

Having attended the Bluebell's Branch Line Weekend today I can confirm your informant is correct. 323's liviery is basically the same as what 178 currently carries (and what 27 and 753 previously carried) but with Blue. The lining is in the same style as 178 but light blue. Instead of the SECR Crest it carries the Bluebell's own Crest and instead of SE&CR written above the crest it is now Bluebell painted in yellow. She looks stunning. The only thing missing was the number on the bunker if it is indeed having a number applied to the bunker.

She was only running around Sheffield Park as a few things need to be sorted before entering service.

Edit: It seems Jamessquared has beaten me by posting the link to an album.

 

Looking very smart in the new variation of Bluebell Blue

Regards,

Dan

 

She looks very nice. I wonder what the chime whistle sounds like.