The Bluebell Explorer 09/11/2013

Were they as nippy propelling, from videos I have seen they went well in reverse but not sure re 60s.

 

Just on the tour itself, has anyone received tickets yet? Nothing come through here.

 

I'd like to know which leg is coming first, UCK or EGR. The ECS move from STL WCR to VIC is up on RTT as is the evening ECS VIC > STL

 

Based on the actual times on the RTC website it has to be EGR first.

 

RTC are saying its 14.50 arrive and 15.00 depart from Uckfield.

 

Three and a half hours Uckfield to Victoria? What are we going via. Dover or something?

 

It's 17.13 into Victoria

 

VIC IS 17:13, so thats two hours and 13 minutes.

 

Even so that seems excessive

 

Seats? SEATS? I often had to pay to STAND in the brake on some commuter services.

 

The style of the routing is a bit like some of the railtours we had in the 1960s Al!

Enjoy it.

 

Right
It is VIC > EGR > Oxted > UCK > VIC in that order. Note the Reversing movement is at Oxted, not Hurst Green.

Times are all up on RTT.

 

Links to the times

Out - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53380/2013/11/09/advanced
Return - http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/U53381/2013/11/09/advanced

 

Well this wasn't as planned?! Thrown a spanner in the works have they? Times now up on Uksteam.info; http://www.uksteam.info/tours/t13/t1109b.htm

 

With the original plan there would have been insufficient time to serve the meals on the return to those in dining ( Note : The Steam Dreams trip returned via the Surrey Hills). It will be easier for the Bluebell since it will be the first down train that day, passing the first up at Kingscote ?

 

Bluebell revised timetable here

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/november-timetable-changes/

 

Are there any intermediate times available for the tour on the Bluebell ? Does it sop at HK etc ?
The revised Bluebell timetable doesn't show the railtour.

 

Need to wait for the STN, which won't come out until Friday.

My understanding is that last week's tour hadn't been planned to stop at HK, but a stop was put in to allow passengers longer to stretch their legs / get a meal given the very limited time at SP. This tour has rather longer, so I would imagine the plan would be non-stop (as much as crossing service trains allows).

Looking at the Bluebell timetable, eight minutes for our first "up" train at Kingscote (which doesn't normally stop there) is clearly to allow a bit of flexibility in crossing the charter. Experience from last week seems to indicate at least 5 minutes to get a charter from EG Sidings onto the Bluebell, and then probably about six or seven more to get to Kingscote; so that implies an arrival at Kingscote at 10:22-ish even if it runs on time from NR. That probably gives about 10:35ish at HK, assuming no stop at Kingscote. So an 11:00 am arrival at SP is pretty conservative unless there is a about seven or eight minutes stop at HK, which isn't needed for pathing.

For the return service, a 12:20 departure ex-SP gives an arrival about 12:35 at HK, about 12:48 - 12:50 at Kingscote assuming no stop at HK. Again, the down Bluebell service train has a big long wait at Kingscote (22 minutes!) which I guess is to allow a bit of flexibility on running times of the charter.

There should also be a Bluebell Wealden Rambler, but that is likely to be in the afternoon, so not conflict with the charter.

Tom