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Bluebell Diesels

Discussion in 'Diesel & Electric Traction' started by stephenvane, Jan 26, 2012.

  1. Crazy Train29

    Crazy Train29 New Member

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    Dont see the problem with having a couple of diesels on the bluebell. the 08 is ideal for quick shunting as you just start it up rather than having to light up a steam loco. And using diesels on the odd service train wouldnt be a bad idea either, say in the off peak months or the last train of the day. it would certainly take some pressure off the steam fleet and the maintenance people as I know they are short on locos (hence why hosking's 9F is being hired in ). A class 20 or a 37 would fit in well at the BB or if not the DEMU could do the job. Had a ride on MHRs hampshire unit last year was great fun!! As for charters, no doubt they will be jam packed, whatevers on the front.
     
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    By what criteria? Certainly neither were 'native' to the area. On that score a BRCW Type 3 (Class33) or BR/AEI/Sulzer Type 2 (Class 24) would be better, and probably less disturbing to the neighbours! :)
     
  3. Crazy Train29

    Crazy Train29 New Member

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    "Certainly neither were 'native' to the area. On that score a BRCW Type 3 (Class33) or BR/AEI/Sulzer Type 2 (Class 24) would be better"

    True Martin true. Mind you there isnt many class 24s about (Maybe GWSR would sell theirs as they have too many diesels lol) and I dont think there is many 33s about either although I may be wrong about this as I prefer steam and do not follow diesels except for 52s and 55's. But there are loads of 37s and 20s about. ok they werent native to the area but they are ideal for the job

    "and probably less disturbing to the neighbours!"

    Nah. nothing beats the growl of a 37 engine to wake up the neighbourhood. Grrrr!! :rofl:
     
  4. Christopher125

    Christopher125 Part of the furniture

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    According to wikipedia 26 Cromptons are preserved, the same number as preserved 20's... which i must admit comes as a surprise to me too.

    Chris
     
  5. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

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    And there are a few Cromptons that could move homes, while staying in the same ownership....
     
  6. stephenvane

    stephenvane Member

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    Yes there are 26 class 33s preserved, so it wouldn't be too hard to get hold of one if the Bluebell wanted one.

    But why would they want one? The general public visit the Bluebell expecting a ride on a steam train, not a diesel. The Bluebell will always have a use for a couple of small diesels for shunting and engineering trains, but I can't ever see them ever having a need for bigger diesels to run passener trains.
     
  7. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Being a part owner of a particularly loud 37 (and formerly part owner of a 20) I know just how much the neighbours can appreciate them at times ...
     
  8. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    It was all a touch hypothetical I think ...
     
  9. Steve1015

    Steve1015 Member

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    Am sure that if the BB did a business case and it proved that they could make/save money by
    having a diesel they will get one. Like wise if they could make a case of having a diesel gala, using their mainline connection to bring guests in, making a profit am sure you will see that happen too.

    There is a market for diesel traction and am sure that the BB will have noticed this and will act accordingly. I just hope they dont have their heads in the sand unlike others affiliated with the BB.
     
  10. michaelh

    michaelh Part of the furniture

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    The diesel people have this odd delusion that the general public share their thoughts - they refuse to accept that the paying public want steam. There seems to be an underlying suggestion that if only the general public travelled behind them with windows open and arms flailing up and down, they would be converted into diesel freaks!
     
  11. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    A lovely piece of stereotyping that belongs with the one about all steam fans being dysfunctional losers who still live with their parents and all photographers being freeloaders.
     
  12. Steve1015

    Steve1015 Member

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    Never heard of that one.....you must be from a different planet from the rest of us then...
     
  13. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    In terms of having diesels haul main passenger services, from my experience I can only give two examples from what I have witnessed why it may not work. At a K&ESR gala a number of years ago I was at Northiam Station and the Hastings DEMU was preparing to depart. However there were very few people getting on the train and in fact a lot of them actually stood in the pouring down rain for about 20 minutes waiting for the steam hauled service rather than get on the DEMU. Then last year when I visited the Llangollen Rly on the Saturday and it was a two train service, one by Foxcote Manor and the other a diesel railcar. The carriages were packed with people riding behind Foxcote Manor, however on the railcar there were literally about 5 people riding on it. In my humble opinion the public turn up at preserved railways expecting a ride behind a steam loco and certainly not diesel power. Every form of railway traction deserves it's place to be preserved but, in terms of main public services, steam hauled trains is generally what the public want to have.
     
  14. Hampshire Unit

    Hampshire Unit Well-Known Member Friend

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    You should try living with a Hampshire Unit at the bottom of the garden! The fug and smell this morning when 1125 was fired up at -3 degrees (to cover for a failed Bulleid) was something to behold! (And it upset my Chickens)
     
  15. twr12

    twr12 Well-Known Member

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    Er, I know quite a few diesel cranks who seem to believe Preserved Railways exist for nothing else than Diesel Galas and running days. They will not accept that 90% of the passenger on Preserved Railways are there to ride behind a steam engine.
     
  16. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    ... and I know a lot that don't. Our group fully realises that the host railway is a steam operation and most of them also work on the railway in other departments other than the diesel group.
     
  17. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    It looks like a class 66 will be the first loco to work through from the national network through to Horsted Keynes! The latest Bluebell e-newsletter (and the website) informs us that "Once track is in place, the remaining capping material can be moved south to Horsted Keynes for construction of the turning facility. This is likely to involve the use of a hired-in train similar to the one used for waste removal to undertake the work quickly and efficiently."
     
  18. Linesidephotos

    Linesidephotos Member

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    Your very ready to critise 1125 thank yourself your lucky you dont have a Steam Shed at the bottom of your garden !!. If 1125 had more work then it wouldnt be fuggy .. it certainly is as clean as anything when she has warmed up and running.
     
  19. pete2hogs

    pete2hogs Member

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    I like steam _and_ diesel and have travelled considerable distances to travel behind particular diesels. But they are not popular with the general public, by which I mean those with no railway enthusiast in the family. The Bluebell is unusual in several ways, and I can't see why it would need to add a mainline diesel to its attractions. It would be worse if they had a couple and didn't use them.
     
  20. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Good points. Many enthusiasts don't see beyond their own interests and are quite intransigent in their views. If the public craved for diesel haulage on heritage lines then we would see far more diesels in use on scheduled services. It is difficult to make direct comparisons but I wonder how the mainly diesel MNR compares passenger journey wise with mainly steam heritage lines of similar length.
     

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