Bluebell Branchline Gala

This event is to take place this coming weekend, 12th-13th March. Unfortunately the weather forecast is non too brilliant but it looks like being a good gala for all that.

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/branch-line-weekend/

Regards

 

Will there be a timetable published on the web site for this event? I'm referring to a public, "when the trains run" type timetable, not a WTT, before anyone asks.

 

I asked in office at SP on Tuesday during a brief break in the charter with 178 and was told a timetable might not be available until Friday afternoon.

 

Past experience of Bluebell galas suggests that no timetable will be available (not even one just showing departure times) unless you pay for it.

 

I should be going though not sure when. Sunday probably. Fingers crossed 323 makes it. Be nice to see her and 178 together. Also hope to get some in steam photos of 9017 as this is a loco I don't have many pictures of.

 

According to the Bluebell's Facebook moderator it's now unlikely there will even be an event guide, but timetable information will be available for free once it is finalised. Unfortunately they won't know until tomorrow if all seven planned locos are going to steam and if not there may have to be last minute changes to the timetable.

 

That's not so great! So what has happened?

Regards

 

This was posted on the Bluebell website the other day...

The first train of the day is a mixed train (of low seating capacity) leaving Sheffield Park at 10.00, and the first service to depart from Horsted Keynes is at 10.25. The first departure from Kingscote is at 11.13. Trains operate roughly every 35 minutes in each direction for the remainder of the day, with the last trains of the day being 5.03 from Kingscote to Sheffield Park, or 5.05 from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes only (with an immediate return to Sheffield Park on a different train).

Free guided tours of the carriage works will take place at 12.45, 1.20, 1.55 and 2.30 each day.

So even if the locos change etc I would guess the times and frequency of the trains would be roughly be the same.

 

Is the 11.13 off Kingscote the mixed train? The timings would seem to suggest that. This means that anyone arriving on the first 473 bus (10.10 from East Grinstead) will be faced with nearly an hour's wait before the first train and then may not be able to get a seat anyway!

 

No. The 11.13am departure from Kingscote comprises the four (4) Metropolitan coaches and I am the rostered Guard on Saturday. The train is scheduled to arrive at Kingscote at 10.38am.

Chris

 

Bluebell Website has updated details about the gala and 323.

323 had a successful test run earlier today but will only be steaming around Sheffield Park sadly (a bit like 178 last year when it was in light steam around Sheffield Park on the Sunday of last years event) . The reason the timetables been changed it seems was to do with availability of 323 and further details will be available on arrival at the line though the first and last trains appear to be the same. Also all coaches in service are pre BR which should be interesting.

 

Another update. A timetable is available to download from the Bluebell website.

 

I was on the lineside today between Horsted Keynes and Freshfield Bank. The day started lovely but the sun went around 12.30 and never came back! Got quiet cold and dark by late afternoon, then started raining as I walked back! As fotopic still seems to be offline I have put a few on Flickr...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/

or

http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/sets/72157625837565356/

 

Me and my Dad did some photting along Holywell until around 2pm when the light started to deteriorate. Got some good photos of the P on the mixed train, the E4 and Dukedog. But disappointing that there was no SR goods train which was advertised on the website and the timetable seem to go to pot fairly quickly after the first train of the day. As a gala on the whole I thought it was good level par effort. However with no visiting locos and compared to previous year's it was a little underwhelming.

 

Unfortunatly the first train 'Down' train departing Kingscote had to stop to deal with a lineside fire near to Deans Crossing. Then when we got going again we encountered a faulty signal on the approach to Horsted Keynes which meant a further delay.

Chris

 

Just got back from today. Not that many people about for though . The only packed train I saw was 592s last round trip of the day with 55 coupled to it and most of those were in the OBO.

323 looks stunning its Bluebell Blue but only saw it running about Sheffield Park once. When I got to Sheffield Park the third time they were going to put her back in the works as there still needs a bit to do on it. Baxter had a few runs up and down the station as well and shunted 34059 from the shed to the wash out pit. I did however overhear a member of the workshop staff saying it could barely handle the shunt.

The weather hasn't been to bad only a few spots of drizzle a few times but nothing major.

I must say I had slight Deja Vu seeing as at Last Years Branch Line Gala on the Sunday 178 was waiting in steam in the shed when I arrived and the same thing happened today with 323. Also at last years 178 had a little run about at Sheffield Park like 323 was doing this weekend.

Platform 2 at Sheffield Park looks amazing as well.

 

Here's a link to my images for the day. http://s818.photobucket.com/albums/...ell Railway BranchLine Weekend 13 March 2011/

 

Both parts of my video from Saturday are on Youtube now...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROHDrYKrxdg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpDU-GEjKUc