Bluebell Motive Power

We already have - while I think Steve's hire figure is on the high side (a reasonable bit for the "Gold" course, rather more for the Silver in the NYMR's case), when we did the formal costings a few years back, there was a profit but the most profitable percentage wise was effectively a Footplate Ride - or the Bronze Course (Tin in a Diesel - better view of the track - apparently!) and you can sell a lot more - so that is the majority of what we do on the NYMR now. The "opportunity cost" if you end up cancelling service trains or having them run diesel hauled in order to supply a loco for a dedicated course is likely to be even higher. (Life tends to mean that any shortfall in motive power always seems to co-inside with long planned Footplate Awareness Courses!)

Steve is spot on to highlight that you mustn't undervalue your volunteers by not costing the value of their time - how often is volunteer time costed into such unusual activities as filming obs - or even for some "normal" activities like running on the mainline?

Steven

 

Steven, I know that what you would wish to pay for a steam loco and what I feel a days use ought to be costed at are a bit different! Hire fees are naturally confidential between parties but even a small industrial can command £350/day so the hire of a main line loco is going to be quite a bit higher than that for obvious reasons and a number of railways go for the bigger locos to be more attractive. Even if the loco is your own and not being hired in, the end result in terms of true cost is not going to be significantly different so the costing structure should be similar.

 

The latest Bulleid Express includes an appeal leaflet for a new inner firebox for 21C123. This will cost £ 199,900.
In Bulleid Express it states " it is unlikely that the Bluebell Railway will finance all the cost of a future overhaul and there is a policy that locomotives with a good financial backup will be considered for a more rapid overhaul. If the Society can assist with financing the inner firebox renewal there is a possibility that the engine might return to traffic for her 75th birthday in 2021.

 

While I realise that it's four weeks away - can anyone suggest what could/should be running during the half term two train running?
Thanks in advance .

 

The S15 is the most likely on the A set, with something smaller such as the E4 or H on the B set. Although the Q might be running by then.

 

Updated on bluebell railway News.

'Camelot' boiler back at Sheffield park and putting in on frames. The return of the boiler from LNWR Heritage, Crewe, earlier yesterday brings the return to service of this, the only surviving BR(S) "Standard Arthur", a step closer.

 

More updates

Q class
https://www.facebook.com/bluebelllocogroup?ref=stream

And

Camelot
https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-73082-Camelot-Locomotive-Society/381518251989806

 

From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

"LOCO NEWS: BOILER'S BACK

With the engineering works in full swing at Lindfield Woods and the line being closed to enable these works to take place, from an operational perspective, it has been very quiet for the locomotive department.

Our operational fleet has been undergoing boiler washouts, maintenance of the fireboxes, and other maintenance requirements. With the advent of the recent cold weather, they have all been placed inside the running shed to help protect them from the frost.

Inside the loco works 90% of the broken stays on C class No. 592 have now been removed and drilling/tapping of the platework has begun. The Maunsell Locomotive Society continues to work on Schools class No. 928 "Stowe's" boiler, with the throat plate jig now in place and nearly all the old stays removed. We are in discussion with companies to make the new throat plate and also roll the firebox outer wrapper sections to the correct radius.

Q class No. 541 is in the closing stages of completion now, with 90% of the painting complete, the smokebox complete, lubrication pipework installed, and weighing/setting of the ride height done. Items to complete include machining and fitting the main steam pipes, the remaining pipework/fitting, and, of course, the all-important final steam test and trial running under its own power.

The highlight of the month, though, is the return and placement into frames of No. 73082 "Camelot's" boiler, which arrived from LNWR-Crewe on the 19 Jan., 2015 and was placed in frames the same day using a crane (which also lifted P class No. 27's frames onto a stand). Once the Q class is complete, attention will turn to "Camelot" and final assembly of this useful and reliable locomotive.

By Christopher Hunford, Locomotive Director"

 

According to the latest Maunsell News the MLS are aiming to have the overhaul of Stowe completed by the end of 2016.

 

^^Yeah, right. The contractors are still cutting large chunks off the boiler.^^

 

Just noticed on the Public Train Information page of the website that 541 is listed as being in service on 7th and 8th Feb - good news I think!

Steve B

 

30541 sat outside today looking very nearly complete-just missing a dome cover and numberplate from what I could see. Haze at the chimney so guessing she was either test steamed in the last few days or being warmed ready to be steamed...


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Looking forward to seeing it in two months' time when we move back to Sussex. Please don't break if before then!

 

Looking forward to seeing the Q on a charter in a few month's time!

 

When I was there on Saturday 31st of January I saw that there was some work going on standard 4 tank 80151 and with 541 being out shopped soon it's looking promising will be good to have the bluebells most reliable loco out in the coming years.

 

Noticed on the Bluebell's facebook page that 541 isn't quite ready yet, so not in service next weekend.

Steve B

 

Stepney has re appeared from her repaint. Nice to see her back in her proper livery. https://www.flickr.com/photos/keith_duke/sets/72157650196370059/

 

isnt it wonderful how the kids want to see Stepney, albeit not with the paint job finished.... surely this should mean something to the Bluebell management that Stepney is a crowd puller and worth spending some time and money on doing a proper thorough overhaul? if the IOWSR can do wonders with Newport and Freshwater then surely the Bluebell can do the same?!
cheers,
julian

 

I wonder how much of that is to do with the TTTE link though?

 

and jolly good for Thomas and the books! anything that gets the youngsters interested must be good!
Stepney has a whole book devoted to him, and a quick search on youtube shows how popular he is from the Thomas TV series.
Stepney is a crowd puller, and the Bluebell's own website acknowledges this with the 'Stepney fan club' etc. he now deserves a bit of money spent on him apart from paint!
cheers,
julian