Bluebell Diesel Service

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/diesel-service/

Seems a sensible move under the circumstances....Hope it is well patronised and they make a few bucks too.

 

It's a case of which is the better option.... (a) close the railway completely until the track and point renewal between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes is completed; (b) operate services using buses; (c) operate a train service over the available track between Horsted Keynes and East Grinstead using one of those diesel thingies. Chris

 

Proving yet again that diesel traction has its uses - it's just a case of finding it. If the Bluebell can succeed in that task then I'm sure most other heritage lines can also do it irrespective of whether they have "steam" in the line title or not.

 

Shame it's proposed to use a BR blue class 101, I don't mind diesels on the bluebell but would prefer something more authentic for the area. I'm someone will point out the 101s probably ran to Gatwick on occasion. But they're still not Southern!

The Hastings unit would have been great, particularly as Hastings diesels Ltd seem to have been rather absent from the main line this year and probably could do with a bob or two. But what about the poor old 4vep? I pass it daily on my commute past Clapham yard and the fact it's sat in the same place for five months suggests its being forgotten. Couldn't the Bluebell run this proposed diesel service push-pull with the 33 that's currently on the Bluebell, as has been done at various Swanage & Mid Hants diesel galas?

 

No. The reason for the diesel is because of the engineering works taking place on Freshfield Bank and at the station throat at HK; the 33 will be fully occupied supporting those services.

Tom

 

Ah but you can't have too many 33s...and there's a few more around.

 

From a passengers viewpoint the 101 units have the advantage of being able to see where you are going. Thumpers and Hasting slim jims might be more appropriate region wise but you might as well be in an EMU. I also doubt a Hastings visited Bluebell in BR days. Not necessarily 101s but DMUs did get to redhill from Reading

I suport the pragmatic approach taken

 

I am sure some one who has a keen interest in the Reading-Guildford- Redhill-Gatwick/Tonbridge route can give more details. But my recollection is that from the late 1970's until the Turbo era Mechanical DMU's predominated. There being certain Class 101 units dedicated to the service by virtue of having had seats replaced with luggage stacks. Class 119 sets were also regulars.

 

The Reading-Gatwick service commenced in May 1979 diagrammed for Reading based class 119s which had the TS and DMBC vehicles adapted to carry luggage. Class 117s regularly covered turns on this and the Reading-Tonbridge services. Later on, class 101s were also allocated to Reading and these could also be found covering diagrams until classes 165 and 166 took over in November 1992.

John

 

The event page has been updated with the times of the DMU and the bus replacement to Sheffield Park