Bluebell Motive Power

Q is now on the loco roster.Every day from 20/4 -30/4.

 

And 592 is rostered too, which has been out of action for a while. Tempted to go down on the 26th, which has 30541, 592, 323, 263 all in steam (only the first 2 on public services).

 

More news Schools No 928 'Stowe'
https://m.facebook.com/pages/V-Class-928-Stowe/541470399255215

 

The condition of cutting and line is a credit to whose who maintain them. A Loco in good fettle and handled in exemplary manner , no blowing off or steam leaks and only small puffs of smoke as coal added. Still cannot get used to those blood and custard coaches though, I prefer green. Still a good deal for the owner of those Mk1s, good luck to him.
Brian

 

And 73082 CAMELOT TOO https://m.facebook.com/profile.php?id=381518251989806&refid=17&_ft_&__tn__=C

 

What's the story with these MK1's? News that I must've missed...

 

Excellent! Nice to have another Fowler 4f back in working order

 

If only someone could invent a time machine! What a marvellous day out that must have been. The Midhurst branches were among the most attractive in West Sussex. I've seen pictures of that trip in some of my (many) books on Southern steam but never heard an accounts from anyone who travelled on it - certainly I have not come across anyone mentioning the fast run up the Brighton Main Line behind 35007. It was recorded by a photographer at Littlehampton, as this was pretty rare, but it looks like few cameramen were out for the final leg of the journey.

Still, gong back (or rather, forward) to 2015, to have 30541 back in action a few miles further east, albeit running at a more sedate speed, will be most welcome.

 

I fully agree re 541

Apologies for thread drift but it reminds me Dad used SCATS at Billingshurst and I used to sneak onto the footbridge to watch the trains. Non stop Bognor/Portsmouth 4CORs and Stoppers were BILS and HALs. If lucky I saw the Hornby's on Chi Yard Freights and the Midhurst later Petworth only goods. ( An 09 in the last years) You could look into the Box and stand next to some splendid down Co Acting tall signals. I used to help my uncle offload Fertilizer in bags from Box Vans at Petworth in its last years.

Still have an Aunt who tells the story if she missed the morning train from Pulborough to Chichester for her High School (Pre electric days so few trains then ) had to go via Midhurst so did not get into School till Lunch Time. Punishment for being late was the 6 hard swings of a leather strap across the Palms. She must be one a the few still alive who travelled the Midhurst to Chichester Line as a Passenger, it closed in the thirties.

Brian

 

To be a proper Fowler 4F doesn't it need to be altered to have grotty axleboxes and inadequate valve events?

 

West Sussex (i.e. west of the Brighton Main Line) is an area I particularly associate with the Qs. They often feature in pictures of the Horsham-Guildford and Midhurst lines. 30541 had spells at both Three Bridges and Guildford sheds, although it was also allcoated to both Bournemouth and Stewarts Lane. The excellent and long out-of-print "Bluebell Steam in Retrospect" book includes a picture of it on an Oxted Line working at Sanderstead, so it (and presumably others in the class) did visit areas you do not primarily associate the class with. I wonder whether (30)541 will break new ground for the class in terms of guest engine appearances. I can't recall MLS locos going anywhere away from the Bluebell (unless you count 1618's tender) but being an unique engine, evne though it doesn't have the glamour appeal of a Bulleid, I would guess that there may be some interest in borrowing it. Still, I'm jumping the gun here - let's see it working on the Bluebell first!

 

One Bluebell loco that is likely to be visiting other railways, once it returns is 73082 .

 

I've always felt that plum and custard is the only authentic Mk.1 livery which goes with whatever is pulling them. Maroon is too drab for my tastes unless in ex-works condition, BR(S) green looks boring on such slab sided vehicles, WR chocolate and cream looks silly outside the Western Region, blue and grey is too clinical, and the various 'modern' liveries don't suit such an old-fashioned design. For me it's not so much that the plum and custard Mk. 1s don't suit the Bluebell's fleet as that the presence of stock in those colours on the line is taking a bit of getting used to.

 

Hi.
I was on the shovel with the Loco Director driving.
The Q has been sat in the shed while I have gone from Cleaner to Driver.
It was fun relearning the engine.
You won't see it on six coaches often, for several reasons.
As Tom can elaborate on, the vid shows it about a mile into four miles of a 1in75 climb.
It sits on about 190 psi with an injector on constantly.
This thing is LOUD!
I had a hand in valve setting which was a challenge, it's about the best we can get.
I expect it to get lumpier with wear over time.
I'm not familiar with Fowler 4F's but I can tell you 30541 has W type boxes 'cos I fitted 'em. They are quite beefy.

Russ.

 

From the Bluebell e-Newslatter:

LOCO UPDATE: DAILY RUNNING WELL UNDERWAY

Bluebell News has just landed on doormats, but since I wrote my article for the latest issue, a lot has happened, so I'm putting pen to paper for the eNewsletter.

As I write, two visiting Deltic Locomotives--D9009 "Alycidon" and No. 55019 "Royal Highland Fusilier"--have arrived at Sheffield Park after their gauging run from East Grinstead. Thursday, 16 April, 2015 will see their maintenance exams completed before the Diesel Gala event begins on Friday.

I'm pleased to say repairs have been completed to C class No. 592, which has now returned to traffic. Q class No. 30541 successfully underwent two days of testing last week using four-coach and six-coach trains. Apart from a minor issue with the regulator valve, the Q class has been released to traffic.

Inside the Works, "Stowe's" boiler is now laying on its side, allowing us to drill out and remove the crown stays; off site, the new throat plate is being manufactured. P class No. 323 "Bluebell" has entered the Works for some firebox repairs and maintenance work. Once that job is completed, E4 No. 473 will enter the Works for a piston and valve exam.

No. 73082 "Camelot" is progressing, with the ashpan complete, smokebox in place, and fittings being bolted to the boiler. The springs shortly will be fitted to the chassis, and then the boiler, complete with ashpan, will be lowered back into the frames. At this point the lagging and cladding will be added along with the remaining fittings, etc. Unlike Southern engines, nearly everything on a BR Standard hangs off the boiler.

Off-site work continues on the O1 boiler at Flour Mill, with copper welding in progress. A recent visit noted that the new sling stays and crown girders are complete, and once the copper welding is done, the boiler repair will move into its final stages.

The daily running season is now well underway, with the services being powered by the S15, U class and H class. The U class is in its final year of service; it has just completed 50,000 miles since its last overhaul!

By Chris Hunford, Locomotive Director

 

As I understand it someone is building up a rake of MK1s - and once they are restored he is letting the Bluebell have them on loan for a very good price. The only restrictions he has placed on their use is that once or twice a year he gets the chance to run them as a set on a private charter and they MUST stay in 'blood & Custard' / Crimson & Cream. Subsequently the Bluebell have decided to repaint a number of their own coaches to match - when it comes back from overhaul RMB 1818 will get the C & C colour scheme for example, despite it being completely un-authentic for a RMB.

 

Good to see the C out on the Golden Arrow today. The Q had it's dome cover off and staff were working on the regulator valve by the looks of things. Exciting to see the Atlantic on all its wheels now too.