Bluebell track laying South from EG?

Pardon? Don't understand your first paragraph.

The reason why I feel that EG is not the natural extent of the railway is that the area the station is in is profoundly ugly and there is insufficient land there, or rather insufficient land there for the railway's use, to turn the EG terminus into something which would add to the attractiveness of the Bluebell Railway. Kingscote does enhance the railway, East Grinstead doesn't, and can't.

As to the connection to the national network, I feel that this is always something that is exaggerated by railway preservationists. The numbers of railway passengers who arrive by rail at EG will never, ever, pay for the money which has been spent on this extension. And I would doubt if the local community will benefit so much that the investment will be worthwhile. Who on earth wants to go to East Grinstead?

Regards

 

Me, if I want to get home!

 

I think that having a station next to the NR station will be worthwhile, think about it, anyone from holidaying in london will be able to get to the bluebell direct from Victoria and as the Bluebell is known worldwide and its a fairly short journey of about 50 mins? i would expect that one of the railtour operators would no dought be advertising a steam tour to sheffield park once a triangle is availible to turn a loco it would be ideal for large tank locos, such as 80079 and 2500

 

Middle para very helpful Tom.

Many thanks for that.

And I certainly stand and applaud those you mention in the third para.

 

The Station being next to a Supermarket carpark makes it more visable to the general public, than the other stations on the line.The line also goes some where at the Northern end.

Most Railtours go to Cities,Seaside resorts or Scenic routes, only about 20 out of 500 tours in 2010 went to a preserved Railway. There was ( and probably still is) a gauging problem between Hurst Green and Lingfield. A proposed tour PastTime Tour in 2007 ( I Think) that was cancelled due to Tangmere being required on a Torbay Express, was due to go to EG & Uckfield, the EG section was removed due to gauging. I was told by a working Bluebell member that due to a severe change in gradient ( near where the Redhill to Tonbridge line crosses) the gradient was eased, and this raised the trackbed under the bridge.

 

Hmmmm......

Me thinks NR may feel, if approached in the right way and at the right time about steam hauled excursions to the Bluebell Railway, that remedial works re the gauging issue would be a good way to go. There is going to be great deal of hype and publicity when the first "internal" Bluebell train works through to EG. If the right approach is taken that day it may be just the time to get the News broacasters etc on side with a "David and Goliath" type of story................... Or maybe that won't be needed by then.

Only sitting back in my armchair thinking out loud. But that's how things sometimes get done in this world of ours.

 

Well you referred to a Brigade - which implies some kind of external collaboration organisation and coordination.....oh never mind.
I agree with you about the aesthetic beauty of the line south of Kingscote. The Imberhorne cutting will be a dark, scarred and dismal place for some time to come, but surely the Imberhorne viaduct mitigates a lot of that. It is a spectacular start and end to a journey.
Although time will tell on the passenger numbers, the experience of other railways opening an extension has invariably been positive - from memory I think a 10% increase in numbers in the first year is a conservative estimate even if it does not connect into the national network. The fact that this one does as well should ensure that the extension continues to put further operating income into the Bluebell.
Also, the New East Grinstead is currently quite sparse over time I have no doubt it will be developed into an authentic SR period station befitting the Bluebell - as Alton was a few years ago and as Wareham will be when its railway makes the breakthough.

 

I have been an admirer of the Bluebell, specifically its fleet of carriages for many years but have never visited (and therefore never contributed to the railway in any way) due to living too far away. Only having enough £££ to justify day trips rather than paying for accommodation, I've worked out that by the time I arrived on the railway after the bus connection there isn't enough time to enjoy a "proper day" before heading back.

When the railway gets back to East Grinstead, I will be able to get there with enough time and very much intend to visit. What I wonder is how many people (up north or otherwise) are in the same boat? As an enthusiast prepared to travel long distances by rail for galas, I know I'm not representing the majority of Bluebell's customer base, but perhaps its not a case of asking who wants to go to East Grinstead, but more who wants to come from East Grinstead.

Kingscote may be very nice, but I can't judge until I can get there from EG

 

Are you related to Jeremy Clarkson?!

 

Me when I do a return day trip from York.

Then you arrive at EG just in time to see the connecting bus to Kingscote disappearing round the corner.
Or it did on the 2 occasions I have done this.
Having the train actually in EG would then grant me the pleasure of missing an extended stay in EG.

 

EG is not a bad town: the trick for the Town Council and local traders will be to persuade people to get off, and that, if they do a ten minute walk, there is a very attractive small town to explore. The situation is rather similar, I'd suggest, to the SVR at Bridgnorth: the town is worth a stop for lunch or a coffee, but you have to be convinced of that rather than just get a train straight back.

But as others have pointed out: the real advantage of the Bluebell going to EG is not as a destination, but a starting point. Provided we get the timetable right (which may take a year or two; don't expect day 1 to be the final solution) then things like a day trip to Sheffield Park Gardens become viable. With Thameslink providing cross-London journeys more easily than the tube, the railway becomes a viable day-trip from places as far away as Bedford, especially if Southern can be prevailed upon to use spare weekend capacity by offering cheap through fares.

As for Kingscote: it is not a natural terminus and certainly isn't ideal as such. However, once we are through to EG, then Kingscote can revert to what is its true role: as a sleepy country passing station. To this end, and to provide a reason for people to break their journey there if they so desire, the goods yard is being re-constructed to something close to its original form. Fairly soon, the wooden rails will be re-instated on the cattle dock to return that to original condition. There is a 4 1/2ton ex-LBSCR crane (from Singleton) that will be erected; the goods shed (ex Horsted Keynes, from the site where the C&W workshop now is) will have interpretative displays about goods working; and a coal office and weigh office will be constructed, using bricks salvaged from an LBSCR workers cottage that was recently dismantled at Haywards Heath (been there, got the calloused hands...)

Tom (Unofficial founder member of the Bluebell rapid rebuttal squad...)

 

There's are a fair few things to do in East Grinstead. A bowling alley and cinema in one and some great shops and places to eat or drink and you can visit Standen Gardens which is I think part of the 473 bus route used by the Bluebell.

More than can be said than Haywards Heath (sadly) which only has Borde Hill Gardens and if you fancy a bit of a walk in the summer Beech Hurst Gardens which is home to a miniature railway run by the Sussex Miniature Locomotive Society which is celebrating its 60th Anniversary this year.

 

ROTFL!

Patrick

 

Heritage railways need to adapt some of their stations to allow for e.g. loco and carriage works and appropriate sidings, but it's always a bonus if at least one station can be left as a quiet sleepy spot. Having lived in Sussex from 1979 until last month, the Bluebell has been a line for which I have always had a great deal of affection, but I must say, when thinking of Hampton Loade on the SVR or Stogumber on the WSR, I have felt the Bluebell has rather missed out, and have been looking forward to the day when Kingscote can fulfil its "sleepy station " role. Even now, if you get off and hang around in between trains the atmosphere is great - it really is out in the sticks - but once EG is reached it will be even better.

 

Yes but you'd have to go round it twice to even up the flange wear, which would leave the engine the same way round again...

;-)

 

Good point John. The intermediate stations are always the best place to get off and (hopefully) have a cuppa and watch the world go by for an hour. I'd like to add Corfe Castle to your list now that the line is gradually advancing, and of course Medstead and Four Marks on the Mid Hants. Perhaps Bodiam is soon to get that accolade too?

 

Medstead and Corfe Castle are two of my favourite stations and it will be really nice when Kingscote is something similar. I followed the waste train on Thursday as I wanted to get a video before they were no more. It starts with the incoming empties through Dormans then clips from East Grinstead, Hill Place and Imberhorne. I have included a clip I took from Hill Place back in March this year and you can clearly see how much has gone in that time! It is on Youtube...

Bluebell Railway Waste by Rail Trains Thursday 1st December 2011 - YouTube

and a couple of photos...

Class 66 no.66722 'Sir Edward Watkins' | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
Imberhorne Cutting on the Bluebell Railway | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

Couldn't agree more with this and previous posts like it. Kingscote has great potential just to be what it was always intended to be. I've always appreciated Horsted Keynes for much the same reason, as being a much larger "important" intermediate station (and a junction as well) the atmosphere is less damaged by the inevitable additions needed to run an independent railway, and the care which has been given in its presentation is excellent.

My favourite intermediate station for getting off at and enjoying the peace and quiet, great views and walks, and unprecedented views of arriving and departing trains has to be the Ffestiniog's Dduallt - but don't all turn up together or you'll spoil it!

Steve B

 

Could you explain this please?
As the amount of flange wear on a short slow run around a triangle would be minimal.

To me the equalisation of flange wear would be from running up and down the line in normal traffic and wearing down one side more than the other as the line will have more curves in one direction than the other.

 

Ploughman, I guess you didn't see the the smiley ?