Bluebell track laying South from EG?

As debated at great length a week or so a go on this thread,I'm afraid the Bluebell website is probably the last place you will find up to date news!

 

It was posted on the Bluebell Yahoo group yesterday, I expect it will be posted on the BB website along with a report of WBR4 in the coming days.

 

That's a bit below the belt!

I assume Richard was waiting for it to be officially confirmed, as the original comment last night on the Yahoo group came from an unofficial (though well informed) source. There is a brief note on the blog page now confirming the late November timescale, so I assume the date is now confirmed.

It should also be said that the comment on the Yahoo group was pretty close to midnight last night, and Richard does have a day job - just how fast do you want updates?

Tom (speaking entirely for myself, and not on behalf of the railway, or its webmaster!)

 

I shall be watching the Bluebell website with great interest over the next few days!

 

I'm guessing that if there is something of real importance to report, Richard will be updating the web site as soon as he is able to do.

And I do hope the unfortunate exhange re that website we had here a short while ago can be left behind us now.


Oh. I see Richard has just done an update.

The tantalising words there are "a final few more to run next year"..................

 

I agree with KentYeti the words 'just a final few more to run next year' is very tantalising and while at the Bluebell this weekend intend to get a Tenner for the Tip.

 

If previous estimates are right, it would be between 1 and 2 weeks. However, I believe after the last dig (WBR 4) the team were going to be in a better position to make a final estimate, so that figure may have been revised since. But whichever way, it appears that breakthrough is pretty close - subject of course to raising the last bit of money.

Once the spoil is removed, there is also the "little" problem of moving a few tens of thousands of tons of sandstone and clay southwards. It is possible - though by no means confirmed - that the most efficient way to do that may be hiring in the same wagons as were used for tip removal, and clearing 500 - 1000 tons per train, rather than the 200 tons or so that the Bluebell can manage using its own engineering fleet. So it's possible that the first through train from the national network to the Bluebell may be a class 66 and 20 MLAs... Longer term, it is likely that ballast deliveries etc will now be cheaper by rail than by road.

As for what to do with the spoil - current most likely option seems to be to build a triangle at HK between the SP and Ardingly lines. This would allow incoming steam engines to be turned, and also allow regular turning of our own fleet to even out wear and weathering. This has been stated as much cheaper than a turntable, as the spoil needed to construct an embankment will be essentially free. But again, this is at the stage of feasibilty study, not a confirmed plan as of now.

Tom

 

I guess a triangle is best as there isn't much space for a good size turntable other than at West Hoathly where it would not be so accessible to the public except those who use the crossing there. As long as there's somewhere to turn a loco coming off a tour as the only place I can think of turning the locos is the Preston Park-Hove-Brighton-Preston Park triangle which would be a long journey for turning. I guess it could also work for reducing wear on locos.

A part of me keeps thinking that next year or 2013 the Bluebell may have a provisional gala to celebrate the line entering East Grinstead.

 

I've lost count of the number of years I've ridden a train or walked past that bit of land at Horsted Keynes thinking it looked suitable for a triangle!

So, yes. An excellent place to dump all residual spoil and build a triangle to make incoming steam specials possible. Let's hope it comes to pass.

And yes also to the estimate of the number of trains needed early next year to get rid of all the spoil that is being removed. I've watched the video again, read through a few reports and came to a number of circa 10 more trains after those announced today. Up to two weeks worth as you said Jamie. No doubt the reports post WB4 will give a number soon.

 

I did wonder about more capping being used for Sheriff Mill Viaduct?

Patrick

 

A good point Patrick, although not sure how much room there is between the toe of the extended emankment and the road. Now if the spoil could be deposited on the other side of the road that would be even better.

Regards,

Dan

 

The Bluebell Website has just been updated, and mentions running a further 15 spil trains running later this month:-

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html

 

I paid a visit to the Imberhorne site to-day - my first for several months. It certainly looks different! No spoil trains running but there was some activity regarding the huge pile of clay capping that has been assembled. I've been following progress on Robert Philpot's website, and he has done an excellent job in recording the developments, but it was still fascinating to see it for myself. There's still plenty of rubbish to be removed, but particularly when viewed from the southern end of the tip (Imberhorne Lane), I was quite amazed by the progress.

It also struck me just how much planning has been needed even to get his far. It sounds simple in theory - a bit hole full of rubbish just needs digging out. In practise, it is anything but simple, as anyone visiting the site can see, so my congratulations to all involved. Hopefully not too long before the rails are connected.

 

yes, its one of the epics of preservation isnt it! Not too many more mountains to climb now in terms of impossible projects!

 

Well, there is head south from the Park, cross the A275 (lowering the road and installing pumps as we go), then turning east on the formation of the part-constructed but never finished Ouse Valley Railway and running to a new terminal in Uckfield, thus linking EG and Uckfield for the first time. Though even that is possibly simpler than getting back all the way to Lewes...

Not long now to EG, with any luck - possibly as little as 5 - 10 more trains to fund (plus the other enabling works) after the next phase of digging in November.

Tom

 

i thought running powers to Victoria was next..

 

Heading back to Lewes is quite tricky as the route would need to be changed because of the loss of Newick and Chailey Station where the station is now a housing estate and the private ownership of Barcombe station. as well as a few missing bridges and entry into Lewes.

Mind you going into Haywards Heath which is possibly the next extension target is difficult with the need to build at least one bridge over the road at Horsted then from Ardingly into Haywards Heath its difficult because after Copyhold Junction about halfway the Ardingly Branch becomes electrified until a set of points just outside of Haywards Heath which is used to run round the diesels on the Stone trains and track space is limited from Copyhold to build a new line. Although Haywards Heath is due to be redeveloped sometime in the future and supposedly the Bluebell was offered a place.

 

There is also guess what? Another cutting filled in with rubbish in the 1970s! Though apparently this one would be way harder than Imberhorne Lane, as I believe it was mainly industrial (not domestic) waste, and it is also outgassing large amounts of methane. Which means that even if money were available, it probably would't be possible to dig it out. Which means a diversion, i.e. making an entirely new line. Suddenly Uckfield looks an easier bet!

After EG, I think there would be a lot of votes for a major period of consolidation and building up engineering capacity to cope with the extra length of line before we head off to Ardingly. Though on the positive side, a SP - EG mainline and a short HK - Ardingly branchline would form an interesting operational scene at HK as well as providing a really good reason to run Terrier / P class and 4 wheel stock.

Tom

 

I too would agree that there should be a decent length of time before they push to Ardingly, everybodys got to rest once in a while!

Although I look forward to the day it does happen. They'll be the only heritage railway with a passenger branch line, now that's got to be something to boast about!

I would also like to say, that I do believe you have a good point about there then being a good reason for running the Terrier / P class and 4 wheel stock, when the Ardingly branch opened. After all, what's the biggest problem that the Bluebell Railway is facing at the moment, motive power. Sure, they have that, but the real problem is that the motive power they do have is not good enough; the Terriers, the P Class trio, etc. Their too small.

They need bigger locos, certainly when the extension opens up. Now the Bluebell Railway does seem to be working to address this issue, but what about a beloved small engines...? Simple, give them the Ardingly Branch to themselves. It's short enough for the locos to be comfortable with it, yet long enough to satisfy tourists and enthusiasts a like.

Let the big boys and their roomy coaches run the main route, while the good old small engine folk and their 4 wheel stock, have a nice quiet branch to themselves, just as we always imagine them doing so.