Bluebell Railway Edwardian Weekend

... is this coming weekend, 22/23 June.

Timetable is a three train timetable, with our normal weekend service departure times, but in addition an extra train interpolated leaving SP at 10:20 and then running in the spare path.

Motive power should be:

1638 on the 09:45 / 12:15 / 2:45 / 5:15 ex SP
323 on the 10:20 / 12:50 / 3:20 ex SP
178 and 263 on the 11:00 / 1:30 / 4:00 ex SP

In addition, Stepney will be running brake van rides at HK.

Don't know what the coaching stock will be, but assume Mets, 4 wheelers, birdcages, Obos and LSWR brake thirds will be to the fore. If I had to take a stab, I'd assume Maunsells and SR pre-grouping stock behind 1638; Mets and 4 wheelers behind 178/263 and maybe Obo + LSWR coach behind 323, but I could be wildly wrong.

More details of the additional attractions, which inlcude a vintage fairground, here:

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/edwardian-weekend/

Tom

 

Could be they put the four wheelers with the brake 3rd and stick the Obo on the Mets. Again nothing certain but seen it done before on weekends such as this.

 

Yes, possibly. Another option is putting the 4 wheelers with the Obo giving a high capacity train within the weight limit for a single P; then you'd run the Mets, LSWR brake 3rd and the GN saloon together; that way the three trains are at least all vaguely the same capacity, rather than having one train with much lower capacity which always causes problems at galas. Anyway, we'll know in a cople of days when the STN comes out.

Tom

 

Is 592 definitely out of the running for the weekend? It's on the Public Train Information page but still no info on the sets

 

Haven't seen any definite info that she is back. She'd need a test trip anyway, so if that hasn't happened by tomorrow or Friday, I'd say it is unlikely.

With regard sets - I doubt we'd want to run Mark 1s / Bulleids at the Edwardian Weekend, (!) so perm three trains from the Maunsells, Birdcage, 100 seater, LBSC 1st, LSWR 3rd, the three 4 wheelers, the GN Saloon, the Obo and the Mets; keep the sets within the capacity of the U-Boat, H+P and P; and try to keep the capacity of each train vaguley balanced. There are not many different solutions to that problem! If the C is available, it allows a few more coaches to be added to the mix, but apart from the two Pullmans, there's not much else that is actually available and suitable!

Tom

 

Cheers - was more thinking of 592 as a replacement for 1638, if available, as 1638 isn't Edwardian either. Mostly looking forward to seeing 178 as on both previous occasions it's been due to operate but hasn't

 

I think if you leave 1638 out, however you perm the remaining locos and stock, you can't pull all the coaches on three trains. (For example: 592+178 on the 6 coach Southern set; H on the Mets + 4 wheelers, leaves the Obo + GN saloon + LSWR 3rd which is beyond the capacity of a single P class). Running a two train service with all those coaches and (for example) C+P and H+P is beyond the platform capacity at Sheffield Park, especially with non-corridor coaches.

If 592 is available, I'd assume it would either deputise for Bluebell, or run double-headed, or be in light steam somewhere; in other words, the plan will assume it is not available, and if by chance it is ready, it will be a bonus, not an integral part of the plan.

Tom

 

Public Train Information page was updated on 14th June about the same time as 592s return was put back,Loco roster was updated a day later and hopefully is correct.

 

The loco workings I originally quoted are from the STN so should be right, tjough occasionslly such things change. News today of 592 is positive, but I can't see her being back this weekend.

Tom

 

From the Bluebell FB page...

Train A - Birdcage, 100 seater, LBSC first, Maunsells (hauled by 1638)
Train B - Mets, GN Saloon, Obo (hauled by 178 and 263)
Train C - 4 wheelers, LSWR brake (hauled by 323)

Timetable at http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/events/e-pic/publicity/ew2013_tt.gif

 

What's 55 Stepney doing on Saturday? Going light engine to Horsted Keynes in the morning and returning late afternoon;

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/ew.html

 

Brake van rides (in the Queen Mary) along the Ardingly line.

Tom

 

For the nerds (and because I built a spreadsheet to calculate all this as I was getting tired of trying to work it all out by hand):

Train A - 347 seats (50 * 1st; 297 * 3rd) for 182 tons (and about 335 feet long; I think our platforms are probably a bit under 400 feet at SP. The length quoted doesn't include buffers between coaches, so add about 15 feet to that quoted).

Train B - 320 seats (68 * 1st; 252 * 3rd) for 137 tons, 263 feet long

Train C - 116 seats (24 * 1st; 88 * 3rd; 4 * wheelchair) for about 60 tons, 136 feet in length.

Tom

 

Ah! Fantastic, didn't see these advertised at all - any reason why Saturday only? Is it private charter or are general public allowed too?

 

The traffic notice just says "run brake van rides" but I can't imagine they would be anything other than open to the public. No idea I'm afraid about why they are only happening on Saturday.

Tom

 

While I didn't go to this its seems someone from my old school did. She works as one of the Silver Service Catering Assistants and seemed to enjoy her weekend working in her Edwardian clothes.

 

Fantastic weekend, please please do it again!

Photos are up here - http://www.national-preservation.com/threads/bluebell-railway-edwardian-weekend.77012/