24 Stamford

Just a quick question about the Bluebell's elusive Avonside. There are very few photos of it on the web, and from the ones I can find, it appears to be missing its middle wheelset. Is said wheelset in storage away from the locomotive, or will a new one need to be manafactured?

 

I have a feeling that this one went to the Rutland Railway Museum though I stand to be corrected on that.

Regards
Chris:

 

Well, the whole locomotive's at the Rutland Railway Museum now, if I remember. I think there was something in the past year or so that mentioned it was moved on site from the old station it was stored at previously. It's a shame, as it's a fairly practical engine for the Rutland, but it's not going to see the inside of a workshop for a few years to come. Would the bluebell gain anything by selling it to progress Operation Undercover, East Grinstead or any other project they have ongoing?

 

She is indeed at the Rutland Railway Museum. A photo on their website shows her with the centre wheelset missing, though AFAIK she was complete when she went there many years ago. The Bluebell site (admittedly written quite a long time ago I suspect) says:

(my emphasis);

Whereas the Rutland Museum website says:

Again, my emphasis. I'd suggest the Rutland Museum website is more likely up-to-date.

As for should she be sold: my view is yes, though maybe wait until the market is more propitious. It is pretty clear that that the loco doesn't really fit the Bluebell collection policy, as outlined in both the existing and the draft consultation of the new Long Term Plan.

That said, I should note:

1) I am not a director or trustee or in any other position of power, so don't take that as official policy: it is simply the view of one Bluebell member
2) The loco came a long time ago, and for all I know, there could be some covenant on it such that it can't be disposed of by the Bluebell. I'm not saying that is definitely the case, simply that such covenants aren't unknown (for example, the Dukedog I believe has just such a covenant meaning that the Bluebell can't dispose of it, even if it wanted to).

Tom

 

I too am a member of the bluebell, although it's not exactly "local" to me. If they feel that it doesn't fit in due to its industrial heritage, then surely one of the big industrial places (Tanfield, Foxfield, Rutland etc) would be willing to accept it. Or alternatively, they could get it restored offsite and then use it for steam-shunting. They've previously been switching between the NLR dock tank and Normandy, but a) Stamford would be a nice change, and b) being industrial, it seems fairly likely to have a suitable tractive effort. But what do I know? I've only visited the Bluebell once, and I learn a different revelation from the website every day. I'm not exactly the font of all knowledge for their rolling stock.

 

Stamford is an engine that is very dear to me, so in recent years I have tried to keep up with her. The current condition is as follows. The middle wheelset is missing because it was found that the axlebox(es) were cracked/broken (a problem with Avonsides and due to negotiating too tighter curves I believe). The hornguides were removed on one side to make a jig so that the boxes could be weld repaired, hence the reason why the wheelset has never been refitted. All tyres are thin but there is a spare set of wheels from sister loco Hartington. The boiler did have a new steel inner box fitted not long before the loco was retired but I understand that corrosion has set in and the box may need to be removed to deal with that. I believe the front tubeplate needs replacing and the smokebox was removed and a new fabrication started. The tank is rotten. All platework is pretty rough, I did stand on the footplate a couple of years ago but only just!
Having said all this, she is complete, she is unique and would indeed IMHO make a nice shunting loco for the Bluebell. I also have another idea that I believe she is perfect for and would make her a very unique loco!
I also understand that Rocks By Rail would love to restore her but that will require BIG money and therefore grants would need to be sought and in order to qualify, they need to own her. I think RBR have quite enough projects to last them a few years so it might be better for Bluebell to take her back and seek grants themselves and put the work out. It would be really great to see her back at Cottesmore sometime hauling the rake of mineral wagons, just like she did for so many years at Pilton.

 

Thought you might be interested in this, taken long ago at Sheffield Park (?very early 1970s) when the Bluebell had started to overhaul her as Tom has described above. Circumstances changed - other more needed locos took priority and eventually she left as others have described.



Steve B