Bluebell Northern Extension - so what's occurring then?

It's all gone very quiet again. I thought I read that there was going to be an update at the AGM regarding funding progress, so was hoping that once that had been communicated there would have been a wider update via the website or the Bluebell e-newsletter.

 

Posted on the Bluebell Yahoo group that the funding gap is now around £570,000, and due to the heavy rainfall in April/Early May work was behind schedule but the NEP team are confident that this can be made up and they are still on target for handing over in March 2013. But bear in mind this is second hand information but I'm sure a fully fleshed out update will be issued soon.

 

Thanks Matt. That would imply that the regular flow of donations (ie without allowing for initiatives such as the Double Donations Dash) is well short of what is needed over the next few months. Presumably there will be something else planned to encourage people to dip into their wallet/purse/swiss bank account?

 

The figure of £570k funding gap was given at the AGM. I don't know how up to date it was but I think fairly close to that date (mid May).

Remember that is funding gap, not remaining funds to be raised. It is possible funds have been coming in but the estimated project cost may have gone up, not least due to the bad weather. So it doesn't necessarily imply that the rate of fundraising has slowed.

One interesting snippet was that though there had been significant donations by "high net worth individuals" (the wealthy, to you and I), more than half the £1.3million raised last year by the trust had been in small donations - which is a testement to the widespread desire amongst nany people to see the project succeed.

It was also stated that the poor weather had delayed the project by several weeks. There was contingency time in the project that meant they were still on track for a handover from the Infrastructure to the Operations department on 18 March 2013, but obviously that is now much tighter. The final tracklaying would probably now be in Sept / Oct rather than Aug / Sept 2012.

There was also a proposed timetable for once the extension is open. The good news is that, at weekends, there is a much longer day allowing a visitor starting from EG to have a viable day out at e.g SP Gardens. The bad news is that it is going to put a lot of pressure on the loco dept, both in terms of extra loco mileage (7 round trips of an 11 mile line at weekends, against the 6 round trips of a 9 mile line at the moment, ignoring dining trains etc) and also crew shifts (which become too long to deal with without splitting shifts, so we'll need more volunteer-days).

The times given were as follows - remember, this is a proposal, not the definitive last word.

“Service 1” 1 train service (most midweeks):

11am / 1.15 / 3.30 ex SP
12am / 2.15 / 4.30 ex EG

This would normally be 1950s Bulleid / Mk 1 stock.

“Service 2” 2 train service (weekends and midweek peak times):

9.30am and then every 75 minutes ex SP until 5pm
10.30 am and then every 75 minutes ex EG until 6pm

Trains cross at HK.

This would normally be one train of 1950s stock and one train of older stock.

It was said that the first train of the day may not run in the winter.

“Service 4” 4 train service (galas):

9.30am ex SP and then every 45 minutes
10:30am ex EG and then every 45 minutes.

Trains cross at SP, HK and KC – this is the most intensive service the railway can run.

General points

There are spare paths in the “Service 1” and “Service 2” timetables for specials (Golden Arrow / Wealden Rambler / Demonstration Goods / Incoming Charters).

There was some reasonable explanation about the reasons for these times, how they connect at EG with mainline services, how they serve the needs of midweek coach / school party traffic etc, marketing efforts being planned to tap into traffic that would originate at EG. It was also stated that on this timetable, evening Golden Arrows would still start and finish at SP, but the train times (e.g. the 6pm departure from EG) meant it would be possible for a passenger to catch the last service train from EG to to join the GA, and then get out at EG before the last half trip back.

Tom

 

Trains cross at SP, KC and EG on Gala days ? Hows that going to work at EG as there is only the one platform or is a Alton style system going to work with a loop outside the station where one train can leave EG as another waits to enter. A loop on the viaduct would be great and something for the photographers.

 

Sorry, typo - meant SP, HK and KC.

Tom

 

Loop on viaduct is not possible I believe.
Due to moving the alignment more central.

 

Now that I think about it I think that is the case.

 

I seem to recall that there's the siding between the viaduct and the cutting (the one that was put in to allow the waste trains to be shunted) - maybe that could be turned into a loop?

Noel

PS: It appears from this photo:

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/epics10/off_viaduct_patrickp_22apr10h.jpg

that the line is not in fact in the center, but rather to one side (unless they have since slewed it into the middle).

 

No, that's going to be removed and the components recovered for use elsewhere on the railway.

To be completely clear: the line north of KC will be operated "one engine in steam". Modern regulations mean the track on the viaduct must be realigned nearer to the centre, so there is no space for a loop there, and the capacity of the S&T team means anything other than one engine in steam can't be delivered if the handover date of March 2013 is to be met.

It is possible that a future re-signalling would put signals at EG, allowing trains to cross there (though, with only one platform, it wouldn't be possible for two passenger trains to cross in any case; though hypothetically it would allow a passenger train to cross a goods; or an incoming / outgoing charter to arrive from / depart to the mainline while a passenger train was stopped at EG station platform). However, this is a task for a long way in the future, probably coupled with moving the signal box at KC to the existing, but empty, north box.

Tom

 

Thanks for this very helpful update, Tom. The timetable for the extension is certainly going to result in a longer operating day when "Service 2" will be in use. I had been wondering whether the Golden arrow might start at EG bearing in mind the easier availability of overnight accomodation in the town for those not wishing to drive home, but you've explained why this option is not being pursued (and the eminently sensible alternative).

Speaking with my "photographer's hat" on, I'm please to see that there will once again be a later afternoon departure from SP. I missed the old 4.47, which was the best train to photograph when a north facing engine (i.e. the majority of the Bluebell fleet) was in use.

Obviously still a long way to go before the first trains are running, but it's good that even allowing for the wet spell in April and early May that all still seems on course for the opeining next March. Best wishes to all concerned in raising the remaining cash to see the job done.

 

That train went a couple of years ago (along with the balancing 11:17 down service from HK). Taken together they added 20 loco miles per day for essentially no passenger utility for passengers staring at SP (as the overwhelming majority do).

What is going to be interesting next year is the increase in pressure on the loco department (well, I would say that, wouldn't I!) By my calculation, we are looking at, on a typical weekend, 40% increase in loco miles (from 298 to 418 miles per weekend to run two service trains each day, Saturday Wealden Rambler, Saturday evening and Sunday lunchtime Golden Arrow). We also require a staffing increase from 37 to 45 volunteer-days per weekend (ignoring grade) just in the loco department, on account of the longer shifts meaning some turns will need to be split into early and late shifts. I hope the increase in passenger journeys is sufficient to allow a big increase in loco works expenditure; otherwise we are going to have some interesting issues with loco availability...

Tom

 

Thanks for the details Tom, it actually sounds quite worrying about the extra pressure that the new services are going to be put on the loco dept. Is it safe to say that there's more than a good chance we could see both 80151 and 80064 enter the works for potentially a "quick" overhaul to relieve some pressure on the locos?

 

David, you'd have to pose that question to Lewis! Though remember neither 80151 nor 80064 are Bluebell-owned locos, so I guess would probably need to come with some of their own money. Whereas 80100 is a Bluebell loco, but currently in Barry condition... Also, as has been discussed before on the "Bluebell motive power" thread; which locos you put through the works is kind of a secondary question: what really matters is how many you can do per year. Expressing a preference to fast track Loco A or Loco B doesn't help if, in doing so, you set back the restoration of Locos C or D...

That said, the large loco situation doesn't look too grim at the moment - by time we need them next year, we'll have 541 and 847 back in service, and 73082 and perhaps 34059 maybe a year later. But it is whether we can cope with 40% more loco mileage, year after year that is more of an issue. As I say, I hope there is a major increase in revenue that allows a step-change in loco works throughput.

Tom

 

It will take a while for things to "bed down" and to identify if any trains are little better than ECS workings. The big change once EG is reached will be that until now, the Bluebell has essentially run FROM Sheffield Park TO Horsted Keynes or more recently, Kingscote, with the vast majority of journeys beginning at the southern end of the line. Although there are parking issues at EG, there is the link with Network Rail and the wider issue that for anyone coming to visit the line from London (or indeed, anywhere north of EG), it makes little sense to carry on down the A22 and A275 and start the journey at SP. Also, SP (with the gardens nearby) makes a good destination point. Hopefully, the extra traffic generated starting at EG will generate sufficient revenue to enable the loco and C&W budgets to be stepped up and justify the extra mileage. Only time will tell.

 

I wonder how much earlier loco crews wil need to sign on to allow for the extra time needed to run light engine from SP to EG? I also take a rake of stock will be stabled at EG?

 

No stock at EG and no light engine moves - the first service is 09:30 ex SP, returning at 10:30 from EG. I'd estimate a 5.00am book on but that is still to be confirmed.

Tom

 

Ouch! That's dedication.

 

Not unusual on heritage railways. Someone has to light up the locos every morning.

 

As a matter of interest,what parking is there within easy walking distance of EG station? I seem to recall finding a free space in a road to the west of the station(accessible via the footbridge) however most people probably couldnt be bothered with that. I am sure Sainsburys will not want or tolerate rail passengers clogging up their car park! Are there other good car parks near the station?

Regarding people arriving by Southern,the situation with the MHR at Alton is not very encouraging as an example. I doubt if more than a couple of dozen per day arrive that way,although a reason for this could be that through bookings were abolished many years ago. I guess a lot will depend on how through booking is promoted and publicised. Presumably this has been or is already being discussed with Southern?