Bluebell Railway General Discussion

A quick note to say that Kingscote station is now able to sell travel tickets again following a successful application to change planning conditions which were activated following the railway’s arrival in East Grinstead.

The railway had been unable to issue tickets at KC since the station ceased to be the Bluebell’s northern terminus in March 2013, under conditions imposed when permission was first granted for the Northern extension in the 1980s. Last Spring Mid- Sussex District Council permitted the Well House kiosk to reopen, and now the booking office too is back in business. Access to the station is still restricted: only passengers arriving on foot, by cycle, by bus or taxi plus holders of Disabled badges may start their journeys at Kingscote. As there is no public car parking, motorists wishing to travel should continue to use our other stations.

Tom

 

Given that Roy Watts transferred to East Grinstead on re-opening, who is SM at Kingscote these days?

Kind regards

Robin White

 

I remember Bittern doing a few trips on the Brighton Line in BR livery but she was scheduled for a SD in 2011 and not long after being listed was replaced by 70000 when it was announced that she would become 4492 that year after the valances were added. But I guess the clearances are tighter on the South Croydon to East Grinstead section than they are towards Brighton so that would probably stop both 60007/60009 (non valanced A4's) and 4464 (valanced A4) heading towards East Grinstead (but could be alright for the Brighton Line unless something's been done since 44464 last went down there?.

As for the B1's, wasn't one listed (61264 I think) for the Top and Tail back in November but replaced by 44932. What about a Jubilee? Like B1's were seen on excursions in Sussex in BR days and 5690 visited the Bluebell 10 years ago this October.

 

Further enquiries indicate that it is likely to be 847 and 1638 on the service trains and 323 on the shunt duty. As the Mets are still away, I imagine the second service set will be the Maunsells and pre-group bogie coaches.

Tom

 

Many thanks Tom, I visited last Thursday July 31st, and had a trip behind 1638 and Tornado, it was good to see 473 out on test too...
Had an excellent day !!

 

Is Lord Nelson able to pay a visit, or is it out of mainline ticket?

 

I think its mainline ticket has expired (it hasn't run on the mainline since she moved to Ropley (apart from the Eastleigh 100 celebrations) plus only has a bout 2 years in service before her 10 yearly is due.

 

Tom, is your webmaster on his hols, no news update since 22nd July.

 

As I understand, there has been some big sporting jamboree in Scotland for the last two weeks that he has been professionally involved in, hence no updates.

Tom

 

Presumably if occasion demanded, she could be towed dead or in light steam even without a current mainline certificate - as happened recently to 34105 from the MHR.

Tom

 

Mr Salmon won gold in the long jump and bronze in the tea drinking

 

34105? Judging by the state I last saw Swanage in that would have been a sight!

I think you mean 34016?

With regards to Nellie. She was removed from the mainline when her brick arch dropped. AFAIK, all the mainline gubbins was subsequently removed but as you say, subject to the usual ultrasonic tests there is no reason she couldn't be towed.

 

My mistake ...

Tom

 

Glad you enjoyed yourself!

Just a quick note to say that this weekend is the vintage transport weekend - the service is normal Service 2, but there is an additional 5.15pm up / 6.15pm down on both Saturday and Sunday. Set A is the Mark 1 / Bulleid set, but strengthened to seven coaches (251 tons - as it was when Tornado was here) so presumably a bit of noise from 847 going up the hill! Set B is the Maunsell / pre-group bogie coaches, behind 1638. Pilot engine is 323.

Apart from the trains, there will be vintage vehicles and traction engines in the field at HK. See http://www.bluebell-railway.com/east-grinstead-festival/saturday-9th-august/ and http://www.bluebell-railway.com/east-grinstead-festival/sunday-10th-august/

Tom

 

Still, it's not like anything much has happened in the last few weeks. It's as well we didn't have Tornado visiting, a couple of weekend events, the reopening of Kingscote to ticket selling, a certain E4 re-entering the fray, the Mets going to London by rail, L.150 bidding farewell...

His email inbox has probably exploded!

 

Perhaps he needs a holiday stand-in deputy webmaster.

 

A question; in the old days there used to be an early service HK-SP to get the coaching stock down, has this all stopped (even ECS) since Project Undercover & is the stock kept at SP overnight?

 

Yes, the service trains are now stored at Sheffirld Park. Generally the Pullmans are in the carriage shed C road (the one nearest the platform, which is shorter than the other two and more convenient for the catering staff); the generally vintage stock that will form the B service is in one of the other two carriage shed roads, and the more modern A set is normally stored overnight either in the platform or, if both platforms are needed, as on a Saturday evening, in the Newick siding.

There are still ECS moves as the sets periodically need taking to and from HK, since all maintenance still takes place there - Sheffield Park is strictly for storage only. Generally, those moves would be on Thursdays as required.

The use of the SP shed is one reason we roster a regular weekend pilot duty, since it saves a lot of complication in shunting and saves time for the crews of the service engines. It also forms a integral part of the training programme - in part, replacing a duty that was lost when we stopped doing the half-trip in the morning to HK to fetch the stock!

Tom

 

Spent a lovely summer afternoon at the railway this week, my video:

 

263 was the pilot engine today. After the first round trip of the "A" set, the Great Northern Director's Saloon was added to the train to serve light refreshments. Here, the loco and carriage are waiting to perform the attaching manoeuvre. If I've read the shunt notes correctly, the GNR saloon will also be out tomorrow, but attached to set B.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamessquared/14682384189/in/photostream/lightbox/

(NB photo taken from an area out-of-bounds to holders of line side photographic passes).

Tom