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Bluebell Northern Extension - so what's occurring then?

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by domeyhead, Feb 17, 2012.

  1. 46118

    46118 Part of the furniture

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    Images from JS and RP today indicate that the cutting is now clear of waste.

    The next few days of decent weather should see significant progress.

    46118
     
  2. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    Wonderful news! After all these years! (And I'm just a distant looker-on - I can only imagine how excited Bluebell people are!)

    So shall we start a poll on the 'Golden Spike' day? :)

    Noel
     
  3. Pesmo

    Pesmo Member

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    Fantastic news, yep the photo's suggest the last obstruction has gone.
     
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Here are the photos, for everyone wondering - also some views of the continuing construction of the water tower at EG:

    NEP Photo Update, Thurs, 14/02/13 - a set on Flickr

    The water crane will be fabricated elsewhere on the railway and will be a simple six inch pipe with U-bend at the top and a bag; it won't swing like the genuine LBSC ones elsewhere.

    Tom
     
  5. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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  6. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

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  7. cct man

    cct man Part of the furniture

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    I understand that the class 33 failed the guageing trials and that it can only go one way.

    Is this just hearsay or is there any truth in it?

    Thanks in advance and I stand to be corrected.

    Best regards
    Chris:
     
  8. seawright

    seawright New Member

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    So water tower and water closets at EG but wasn't there also talk about converting a coach as a snackbar/cafe? Will it be bogieless? If not where will they put it? It can't foul the run-around loop which only leaves the cripple siding but that would be difficult for public access.
     
  9. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Had apparently made it to HK by yesterday, so if there were any problems I assume they were quickly sorted out.

    Tom
     
  10. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    The original (2007) planning application showed it to be 33m between the toe of the point and the front face of the buffer stop - long enough for two medium locos to run round coupled together. I suspect that may have been slightly shortened in practice, since that original plan shows a tandem point at the south end, where in fact there are two separate conventional points, which would take up a bit more length.

    Tom
     
  11. M59137

    M59137 Well-Known Member

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    Thanks for the info Tom.
     
  12. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Will stay on its bogies, I believe on a standalone piece of track adjacent to the north end head-shunt. The vehicle in question is this one: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/wn-2012d/35419_martinl0134_24oct12.jpg (not my photo).

    Tom
     
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Yes, it's the latest in rail vehicle retardation technology. Specially designed to stop locos descending the 1:60 from Imberhorne messing up the front of the local supermarket, which would leave the chairman and EG stationmaster with some explaining to do back at his day job :) [sup]*[/sup]

    [sup]*[/sup] For the uninitiated, the BRPS chairman has quite a senior role at Sainsburys.

    Tom
     
  14. Kinghambranch

    Kinghambranch Well-Known Member

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    Ah yes, the supermarket ready-meal meat counter and all its joys: "eyaw, eyaw, e-always calls me that" and that other favourite, "A horse, a horse, my kingdom for a horse" etc etc. Sorry, too much wine on Valentines Night!
    Well done to the Bluebell btw, I visited back in August and will definitely do my utmost to visit again this year, but this time by rail all the way!
     
  15. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Two interesting photos from John Sandys, showing the same digger and group of workers from each bridge - illustrates that despite the curve, it will just be possible to see the whole length of the cutting from one end or the other, but you can't see right through from either end.

    From the north, looking south: South of the Occupation Bridge, showing the loading and movement of ballast down to the track preparation area in the Cutting. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
    From the south, looking north: The same workforce in the Cutting viewed from Imberhorne Lane for the first time. | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

    The whole set for the day: NEP Photo Update, Fri, 15/02/13 - a set on Flickr

    Tom
     
  16. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    A really fascinating new film about the project, presented once again by Nick Owen. In it, Chris White answers a lot of questions about the work in the cutting, and there are also filmed shots from within the cutting showing views that haven't been seen before. The current gap between the two railheads is given as 110 metres. Looking at the shots, it was probably filmed about a week or so ago.

    [YOUTUBE]JA71h2XPplw[/YOUTUBE]

    Finally, watch out for another signalling mini-milestone this weekend :)

    Tom
     
  17. Christoph

    Christoph New Member

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    I have to say that I like those professionally made videos. However, while watching it, I started to wonder when the the feeling of the anti-climax will set in, when the "yeah, we've done it" will be overpowered by the "what shall we do now?".

    Christoph
     
  18. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    That answer is easy, overhaul the Adams Radial Tank. :smile:
     
  19. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Anecdotally, one or two of the NEP volunteers are muttering about Ardingly, while they have the groups still assembled and the knowledge and kills are fresh in people's minds.

    That said, the BRPS Chairman, no less, has called for a period of consolidation. There is lots of work that needs doing round the railway:

    - Tidying up at SP (we are currently raising about £40k to reinstate the platform canopy on the down platform, and are a bit past half way to that target);
    - Relaying on Freshfield bank (hard to do properly I would have thought unless - unlike us in previous years but like many other lines - we have a "winter shut down" for six weeks in the new year to allow a really thorough job to be done on the drainage, which is the source of a lot of problems in that area).
    - Developing the motive power situation to cope with a longer line and possibly heavier trains (though the "big" engine situation is starting to look a bit more healthy though from later this year and into next year).

    Then there is "Operation Undercover 4", the 24 carriage storage shed at Horsted Keynes that is a vital part of conserving in dry conditions the unrestored carriages currently in the back sidings at HK. Planning permission exists for that, and at a guess I would say that will be the next really major (£1m +) fundraising drive.

    There is the proposed resignalling at Kingscote / EG to bring all the functions into the North Box; in what I think will be a preservation first, that will be controlled with a 47 lever Westinghouse "L" frame, previously part of the frame at Clapham Junction B Signalbox.

    Then there are the proposed projects in the long term plan, including re-instating the north signalbox at SP; moving the footbridge to its original position north of the station building rather than south.

    There's erection of the Billingshurst signalbox at EG, with whatever use it takes.

    Eventually we'll have to provide a more substantial building at EG, but we will probably wait to see how traffic develops. Now that Network Rail have built a new mainline station at EG, I'd have thought any ideas for a joint station are now firmly parked, but that is just my opinion.

    Then obviously the normal run of C&W and Loco restorations: Maunsell restriction 0 3rd; Maunsell restaurant car; the LCDR 5 compartment 3rd; the Stroudley 3rd brake; the Stroudley 3rd; the LBSC Milk Van; Loco restorations including Beachy Head, 27, 73082, 847, 84030, not to mention development of the loco works to increase capacity...

    The next AGM will debate the next version of the long term plan, which will set the tone for the next ten years work or so.

    Finally, though nothing is official, but I wouldn't be surprised if at least one or two of the directors and trustees decided that EG marks a suitable culmination and they would like a quieter and less stressful life; if so, I'd have thought we would probably have a few changes in the people running the railway on both the PLC and the BRPS side.

    So I don't think there will be a feeling of anti-climax, but the problems to be solved will be different!

    Tom
     
  20. steamdream

    steamdream Member

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    Very clear ,explicit ,interesting reply but, about rebuilding Ardingly line , would it not be possible to put this exciting project in the hand of an independant group or society like the Rother Valley rly who is rebuilding their bit of line for, eventually,to join with the KESR???
    kindest regards
    Noel
     

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