If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Jamessquared, Feb 16, 2013.

  1. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 28, 2008
    Messages:
    1,284
    Likes Received:
    584
    Due to stay until late October according to https://twitter.com/bluebellrailway/status/1425048138205831182
     
    Johnme101 and Dan Hill like this.
  2. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,576
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    6046 arrived earlier today and been reunited with its tender going by pictures on the Bluebell's various Social Media channels. They also say to keep an eye out for plans for the loco soon.
     
  3. D1002

    D1002 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 25, 2011
    Messages:
    8,658
    Likes Received:
    6,415
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Enfield
    For the benefit of those who don’t do Facebook:
    FDA88C13-AE72-4B91-961D-4C4719C8DFD8.png A8C1189E-8B75-4B1C-9C95-893E1FADFD33.png
     
    Dan Hill, Bluenosejohn and Johnme101 like this.
  4. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Have you told the footplate department that you’re well acquainted with 6046, Tom? ;)
     
  5. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,422
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Well, if sitting and watching others get on with it counts as well acquainted!

    I was just counting the number of dog clamps on the smoke box and thinking "deep joy". Still, variety is interesting.

    Tom
     
    andrewshimmin and green five like this.
  6. Jon Pegler

    Jon Pegler New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 30, 2014
    Messages:
    42
    Likes Received:
    30
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    No problem if it still retains it's Master Mechanics front end - SC ?
    Probably not if it's in the UK
     
  7. Cosmo Bonsor

    Cosmo Bonsor Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2014
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    500
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    We or rather the Firemen check inside the smokebox at the start and end of each turn.
     
  8. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    21,065
    Likes Received:
    20,773
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I'm sure that the Railway knows what it is doing and why but the loco is very much a 'marmite' engine and that's not just in the eyes of photographers and enthusiasts.

    It will be interesting to discover what the loco crews think of it not to mention those who will be keeping it running.
     
    andrewshimmin likes this.
  9. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,222
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It will certainly be interesting, you will either love it, or hate it, has the Bluebell had an S160 before? very powerful engines, and very loud, when working hard, but for the crew quite rough riding, but they were originally built as Throw away engines, to operate over the bomb damaged railways of war torn Europe, in the aftermath of the second world war. not expected to have long lives.
     
  10. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2019
    Messages:
    850
    Likes Received:
    626
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Croydon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Can confirm 6046 is the first S160 on the Bluebell's metals
     
  11. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2009
    Messages:
    979
    Likes Received:
    1,470
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Nottinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Well at least if the crews don't like it, they only have to put up with it until October. If they do like it, it's a nice extra loco to tick off as having worked!
     
    jnc likes this.
  12. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,222
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I can only describe my experience from when the MHR had 701, the ride was livily, you got bounced up and down, and side to side, all at the same time, The engine did steam well, very well, and as long as you were on top of it, it was quite an easy engine to fire, but saying that, some firemen couldn't get the nack , personally, when i had her, she seemed to steam ok, I found that having a fire quite deep around the edges of the box, and thin in the middle worked best, like a birds nest is the best way to describe it, with the dampers on first notch
     
    jnc and green five like this.
  13. lil Bear

    lil Bear Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Dec 11, 2006
    Messages:
    6,122
    Likes Received:
    1,655
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Railway Technician
    Location:
    8C / 5D / 27C / 71B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    S160s aren’t that bad riders if you’re track is good. Keep the back corners full and treat her like a Bulleid, just remember the grate is shallower.

    6046 was performing the best she ever has done last year following Rob Alcock’s mods to the front end. Not as strong as 5197, but steams like a witch and found our 1in45 bank a doddle with 7x on. So Bluebell should be child’s play to her.
     
    3ABescot, Paul Grant and martin1656 like this.
  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,422
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The August issue of The Bluebell Times contains details of the appointment of a new Chairman and Locomotive Engineering Director, as well as a round-up of news from around the railway.

    In issue 23:
    • A wartime locomotive icon hired for the summer season
    • Two visitors announced for “Giants of Steam”
    • An update on progress with the Heritage Skills Centre
    • More photos of the line on the eve of preservation in 1959
    And much, much more.

    https://www.bluebell-railway.com/bluebell-times/

    Tom
     
    Johnme101, A1X 32670, PaulB and 2 others like this.
  15. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,158
    Likes Received:
    1,158
    Occupation:
    Insurance
    Location:
    Good Old Sussex by the Sea
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Very interesting comments from Geoff Mee IMHO
     
  16. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
    14,900
    Likes Received:
    12,241
    @Jamessquared any idea if the EG book shop is accepting donations…? Might have some bits in good nick I could drop in at some point.

    Simon
     
  17. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,422
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes they are. I believe mainly transport related. They can be dropped off at the ticket office.

    Thanks

    Tom
     
  18. goldfish

    goldfish Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Jan 13, 2009
    Messages:
    14,900
    Likes Received:
    12,241
    Would only be specifically railway books, so that should be fine. Thanks for letting me know, hope to make a trip soon.

    Simon
     
    Jamessquared likes this.
  19. ruddingtonrsh56

    ruddingtonrsh56 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 14, 2009
    Messages:
    979
    Likes Received:
    1,470
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Nottinghamshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Interesting that 6046 is stated as visiting the railway til Early November and yet has not been named a participant at the Giants of Steam Gala in October. Any particular reason for that? On sheer size it's more of a Giant than any of the home fleet listed as taking part...?
     
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,422
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I don't think I'd read too much into it - probably just that the article about Clan Line / Cheltenham was prepared earlier than 6046 was confirmed to be visiting, which was very late relative to the copy deadline for Bluebell Times.

    Tom
     
    Dan Hill likes this.

Share This Page