Bluebell Motive Power

Not quite true - there is 3360 (the wheelchair accessible saloon) in SECR livery. I believe that, when it needs a repaint, 114 (the LCDR brake, currently in varnished teak) may be bought forward two decades into SECR livery, and there is a third LCDR coach making rapid progress that will also be outshopped in SECR livery. So fairly soon there will be three carriages to match.

I must admit, from photos I have seen, a P in Maunsell livery would look good. I guess one issue is any hope of matching carriages and loco liveries: the SR carriage set is always going to be the preserve of larger engines. (Even if, in many years, we got a complete birdcage trio set, it would be beyond the capacity of a P class on its own, though well within the capacity of C / H / O1). On the current line, a P is limited to about 60 tons or so, so a max of two bogie carriages, but should be able to manage five or six 4-wheelers. Which points to keeping them in pre-group liveries, I'd have thought.

Of the pre-grouping engines, I'd have thought the E4 has the most chance of regularly ringing the changes on liveries, as it is quite powerful (so could take worthwhile loads from BR, Maunsell or pre-group carriages) and is Bluebell-owned, so no issues of accommodating the owner's wishes. Indeed, it has been in Umber, BR black and Maunsell green in the last ten years or so. Would look good in the Stroudley livery it carried when first built!

Tom

 

Does anyone from the BB know when 92212 is leaving. I heard its due to leave this coming week.

Cheers

 

You sure ?, ask most people about the Railway Children and Orange Panniers in Yorkshire is probably more in the memory.

The Bluebell has Southern and earlier stock so can pull off pre BR liveries quite authentically, I suspect BR livery reigns on a few lines because they think something in Lancashire & Yorkshire livery look rather out of place hauling maroon mk1's.

I don't dislike earlier liveries, but feel they need a suitable train in tow to make the scene work.

 

It would be nice to have a P in Maunsell livery since with the E4 they could handle the Southern Set ( 323 and the E4 managed it at the opening gala).

 

So, were Railways only invented in 1948, and are all the Bluebell's stock and stations BR condition - aren't they?

Photo Charters may be just about the only things that pictures appear of in Railway magazines, but actually some railways operate trains for fare paying passengers too........

(Tin hat on - and I am actually out of the country at the moment, so you may need cruise missiles to get me!)

Steven

 

So why make such a provocative/sarcastic remark then?

 

Well said! I'm sick of seeing photo charter pictures. I think counted at least 10 in the last issue of "Steam Railway". They are "artificial" trains in my books, and while I strongly support anyone's freedom to run such trains if they want, I think that their publication in any magazine is akin to allowing an athlete who has taken performance-enhancing drugs to be allowed to win a prize. I would NEVER go on a photo charter on principle.

 

Not strictly true, we've had some superb non-BR era charters on the Bluebell in recent years. 1638 paired with 3 Maunsell carriages & a PMV, also 1638 with SR wagons, Met loco no.1 with the Mets and 178 paired on a mixed train of Four Wheelers and vintage wagons. What I would say though is that it's very noticeable that a BR era charter is more often than not fully packed with photters whereas a non BR era charter is , whilst reasonably attended, not as popular. For my Dad and I whilst we far prefer BR era liveries as long as it's an authentic train combination we don't mind. In terms of livery changes the one loco that is always talked/debated about on charters is the H class and the thought of just when are we gonna finally see that loco put in BR livery. It's increasingly frustrating in particular as 263 is regularly matched with the Wealden Rambler set and the potential of a lined black H with the 3 blood & custard Mk1's would make a seriously tasty combination.

At the end of the day photo charters regularly appear in the press because they try as near as possible to recreate an historically correct loco/rolling stock combination that you just don't often get during normal operating days or at times even at gala events. Personally my Dad and I haven't done much lineside photting at the Bluebell this year as , with the exception of the 9F on Mk1's/Bulleids or 1638 with olive green stock, it's been generally a combination of Pre-Grouping liveried locos hauling BR Mk1, Bulleid or Maunsell carriages and we just cannot get interesting in seeing that, especially when it's been two P's double-heading chimney to chimney.

 

Why would anyone want to paint this
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14730981@N08/9129156273/
like this?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/60854097@N06/5635023723/

 

Good question

Tom

 

Nostalgia.

 

Just make sure it doesn't join an increasing number like this: http://www.flickr.com/photos/264580...crj-dU7iUs-dU7f5f-dU7ieW-dU7d1Y-dU7g7N-e6QxPs

 

Yes please!! A lined black H with a layer of grime paired with blood & custards or Bulleid carriages would make a lovely combination. A great potential recreation of a 1960's Westerham Branch service.

 

Pfft, it's not what it used to be...

 

On a different note, just reading the new edition of Bluebell News and it says Stowe's overhaul has now started and that the MLS hope to have the boiler lifted around the end of the year. Crewe works are interested in undertaking the work required to speed up the loco's overhaul. Of course this is all dependent on funds being raised but very good news indeed to read that Stowe's return could be sooner than expected.

 

Beats me. Hard to think of a livery I like less than that godawful lined BR black. Even plain black has style, that has nothing. Its a shame the authenticity bigots prevent lines going the reverse way and painting the coaches they have available with the liveries that would be correct for the locos and the lines... To my mind its no worse to paint coaches the wrong colour than it is to mix up inappropriate combinations.

 

When you get the 9F for example out then, at least Mk1's look OK, a Mk1 looking like a comedy SECR coach just looks crap full stop and goes with nothing.

It's one thing having different liveries so long as they carried them, but painting stock in colours that never happened, it just stops being a heritage railway then, I mean what part of a bygone era is a Red 8F supposed to represent ?, may as well fit it with loudspeakers blasting out the theme to Thomas the Tank Engine

 

Have not received Bluebell News yet but the MLS have previously estimated £ 250,000 for the boiler but did not state if this was based on in house or contract overhaul.

 

As I understand, she needs a new inner firebox. Quite a lot of work has gone on over the last few months to remove tubes, backhead fittings etc preparatory to the boiler lift.

Tom

 

Sadly the "Paint it Black Brigade" have strong support from the Magazines