Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Not sure if it's been mentioned anywhere else... but the Great Northern Director’s Saloon is to visit the Mid Norfolk Railway from May - August (see below link).

http://www.mnr.org.uk/directors-saloon/

 

http://setg.org.uk/?p=105

A little snippet for those who are interested; 3417 received visitors from thew SETG & Bluebell last week; things are looking good for moving the first vehicle into shops by mid-March.

 

Excellent news. Whilst being able to see 3417 on a daily basis at Clapham was nice, that she is getting worked on with the GSM-R being fitted (hopefully) is better than her being a static exhibit in Clapham Yard.

 

From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

"INFRASTRUCTURE REPORT: SLIP NO MORE

River slip isn't slipping any more--well at least we hope not, after propping it up with 16 deep piles and about 70 tons of reinforced concrete.

Quite what we will call "river slip" now, since it is no longer on the move, remains to be seen. Perhaps Lindfield Bank is appropriate. Cause for a competition perhaps?! Hats off to Matt and his team for a job really well done in the face of the sort of unhelpful weather that we have come to expect when doing jobs such as this.

Track-laying went according to plan, with 11 panels laid, and the tamper finished off the job in time for the line to be reopened to traffic for full working on 31 Jan., 2015.

This week has seen the remainder of the cables connected by the Signals & Telecommunications Department, as well as general tidying up, concreting around cable duct chambers, landscaping, and some final ballasting near Holywell Bridge.

The tamper was in action again on 3 Feb., working south from Holywell, and the next day, it was busy north of Horsted Keynes. Next week, the infrastructure gang is moving to Freshfield Bank, where the plan is to relay three 60 foot panels connecting up with the sections previously relaid.

Our usual method of formation improvement--with a terram/polythene sandwich--will be applied before ballasting, levelling, and compacting, and the tamper will be on hand to finish the job afterwards. There is a speed restriction there at the moment, and drivers will be very pleased to see it lifted after we have finished.

By Mike Hopps, Infrastructure Volunteer"

Having been on the footplate of the H class on the first day after the line re-opened (31/1), I have to say it;s a lovely smooth job!

Tom

 

And more from the e-Newsletter - news on the installation of the ex-Clapham Junction Westinghouse L frame at Kingscote, which includes components from the NRM. Initially this will operate the points and signals at Kingscote, but there are sufficient spare levers on the frame to control East Grinstead at some possible point in the future, and also some spare levers for south of Kingscote.

https://files.ctctcdn.com/e0ef1eef101/747e981a-ccf8-49c2-86c4-2f4c6f25c3fc.pdf

Tom

 

What about "Deep Piles Bend"

 

Chalfont corner?

Probably best not to delve too deeply into Roger's Profanisaurus ...

Tom

 

An awesome journal! I well remember "Student Grant" "Student Grant, that's you that is."

 

Apologies if this has been posted elsewhere. I happened to press the BBC 'red button' to watch some 80s music thing the other night (don't ask) and was pleasantly surprised to see a video for a Sheena Easton song "9 to 5 (Morning Train)"which was obviously filmed at the Bluebell. Lots of nice footage (if you can ignore the awful song) including the Adams Radial tank in steam. I think it's still on the 'red button' service and the programme seemed to be on a 30 minute loop.

 

If you find the above a bit hit and miss you'll find the same video on YouTube - that jumpsuit still makes me cringe. .

 

I wonder if she got greasy hands holding that buffer and a burnt hand holding the smokebox handle? (and possibly a tender behind, as well!) That last shot off 488 leaving Horsted looks as though there's no one in the cab! Who was the driver?
Good memories.

 

Hello,
Has been posted before...
Still was the young man staff,volunteer or actor?
Great video!
Nick

 

Looking at the video, I would think that 488 was cold in those scenes and the entire train was pushed by another loco at the rear which managed to stay out of the camera.

Regards

Christoph

 

I think the steam between the frames and the exhaust out of the chimney will answer your suggestion. It appears to be a hot loco she is standing on the front of.

As for the last scene with the supposedly driverless loco, if you advance it a few frames at a time you can see a member of the footplate crew standing at the back of the cab against the bunker trying to keep out of shot. They look much older than the young male star of the video which makes me think he was an actor playing out the role, with a bluebell crew member managing the loco.

 

When this video was last discussed a few months ago, I seem to recall that the consensus was that all the extras were Bluebell volunteers.

Tom

 

Not my video (though my arm is visible at times, exchanging tokens from 847...), but this was the Bluebell on Sunday, with a four train service: 847 and 263 on service trains, 1638 on the Lunchtime Arrow and B473 on a late afternoon Wealden Rambler. The two train service continues this week (half term) with 847 (A) and 263 (B) doing the honours - Kids for a Quid applies (http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/kids-for-a-quid/).



Meanwhile, this was the view today (again, not my photo - one from John Sandys) in the C&W works with what looks like a mini-production line of Victorian carriages:

Carriage Works by John Sandys, on Flickr

Furthest away is 3188, the LCDR five compartment 3rd. In the middle is 949, the Stroudley Brake 3rd, nearing the end of what seems like a mammoth restoration from a very derelict starting point. Nearest the camera is 328, the Stroudley 5 compartment 3rd.

Tom

 

From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

"ANNOUNCING TRACK TREK 2015

"Have you ever wanted to walk through Sharpthorne Tunnel? Now is your chance! This year's Track Trek will take place on the evening of 24 May, 2015, going from Kingscote to Horsted Keynes. Led by Roy Watts and Dick Fearn, it will start just after 5:30 p.m.

By showing a sponsorship form, walkers can use either the 4 p.m. from Sheffield Park/4:17 p.m. from Horsted Keynes or the 5 p.m. from East Grinstead to get to Kingscote. Parking is not permitted at that station, but participants may be dropped off and collected, and bicycles can be parked there.

After all walkers have finished, a free train from Horsted Keynes will return walkers to Kingscote, East Grinstead, and non-stop to Sheffield Park.

The 4.5-mile walk includes 731 yards through Sharpthorne Tunnel, the longest tunnel in preservation. It can be damp, so appropriate clothing and stout footwear is required. The tunnel will be illuminated, but Trekkers should carry a torch.

We hope you will take this unique opportunity to trek through an exciting part of the Permanent Way--and raise lots of money through sponsorship! Funds raised will be equally split between the Keep Up The Pressure and Cash for Cover appeals.

Because it will cost more than previous treks to stage this one--including running a special train and lighting the tunnel--the minimum expected sponsorship is £25 per person and £40 for a couple or family (up to three children between 7 and 16).

If space permits, it will be possible to turn up on the day, but numbers are limited, so pre-registration is advised by e-mailing tracktrek@bluebell-railway.co.uk with the names of the members of your party. Please indicate which members are children.

You can download a sponsorship form with additional information at tinyurl.com/track-trek. You also can set up your own sponsorship from at this JustGiving page.

Whether your interest is in carriages or locos, we hope to see you at this event!

By Roger Kelly, Fundraising Director

 

I have just been reading a most interesting book called Weald of Kent and Sussex, written by a certain Shelia Kaye-Smith and published in 1953. The author visited East Grinstead by rail and over 60 years on, her comments are fascinating. She didn't hold out much hope for the future of the Three Bridges and Tunbridge Wells line as "both are more easily reached by road" but she expressed confidence that "no doubt East Grinstead will be left in communication with London and with Lewes." Interesting that she was right about the closure of the Three Bridges- East Grinstead-Tunbridge Wells line, but that the Lewes line did succmb - and was the first line from EG so to do. Mind you, perhaps in about 2045 her statement might be true again when the Bluebell finally completes its Southern extension !

 

I gather that the Bluebell has been awarded an Arts Council grant. Any details?

 

From here:

http://www.artscouncil.org.uk/news/...ouncil-england-invest-more-31million-museums/

Bluebell Railway, £84,150

Bluebell Railway will transform one of its vintage railway carriages to become a place where visitors, particularly children and young people, can learn more about the railway's history in a fun environment.

Regards,

Dan