Bluebell Railway General Discussion

It's great to see Stepney back in her proper livery, I'd forgotten just how striking it actually is

 

Indeed - I use to think that SECR livery was the epitome of ornate, but seeing Stepney up close, if anything it is even more ornate!

Much as I like Birch Grove in her current guise, it would be nice (and prototypically accurate) to see her in Stroudley livery for a change, though I suspect the preference is probably for Umber so as to show a range of liveries. And I'd certainly hope that, when Fenchurch is next restored, she emerges in Stroudley livery, Terrier 150 and all that...

Tom

 

Splendid job and it isn't black.

 

I think Fenchurch would be best returned to it A1x condition rather than the current A1 and a half. The marsh type boiler and vacuum gear make the old thing a bit of a half way house.
If Bluebell wants an 1872 condition terrier, perhaps it would be better as a new build?

 

I suspect the next restoration of Fenchurch will still be an A1 / A1x hybrid(*). Though conceivably, at some point in the future, a new boiler will be required and that might be the point to do a new "Stroudley" boiler, at which point (vac brakes aside) you could really back date one of them - Fenchurch being the logical and historical choice to revert to A1 form, since Stepney is now better known as an A1x.

Just my personal opinion, as always.

(*) One or two of the Terriers did run in a kind of hybrid A1 /A1x style, with Marsh boilers but sandboxes above the splashers, notably IWCR No 11 and old No. 70, both now preserved. In both cases they had been sold on from the LBSCR to smaller railways and when they received Marsh boilers, they had the bare minimum of other changes.

Tom

 

Quick note that this weekend, 13/14 June will be an Open Day at Atlantic House. Come along and see latest progress on "Beachy Head"

Details here: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/locos/atlantic/open.html

Normal Service 2 timetable in operation, i.e. 7 round trips Saturday and 6 on Sunday. Loco roster says 847 and 592 on the service trains, with 592 hauling the Edwardian set (Birdcage / 100 seater / Brighton 1st / LSWR brake).

Tom

 

Again, just a personal opinion, but I've always been a bit saddened by the rebuild of Fenchurch into it's present form. I'm not saying that it shouldn't have been done,- it's not mine and I don't pay the bills! But it seems to me that the way it is now doesn't really fit with the history of the loco. In it's earlier days on the Bluebell there was at least a recognition of its long private owner life at Newhaven (albeit mainly only on the west side) and I kind of liked that. The Terriers had a long an varied history, and much as I really like the pre-group liveries, and even the plainer Southern and BR liveries, I think that it is good to remember the other industrial and independent railway part of their careers as well, and Fenchurch has a unique claim to fame in that respect. Did it ever carry Marsh umber livery in LBSC days, or had it already been sold to Newhaven Harbour?

Steve B

 

No; nor was she ever numbered 672 ...

A reference I have suggests the following:

Sold to Newhaven Harbour Co. for £350.

Seen at Brighton in 1898 on its way to Newhaven in Stroudley passenger livery, still named but with the number plates removed, and also the air brakes and passenger communication device removed; Battersea shed code still visible on the valence.

Worked on construction of the new Harbour and other Harbour duties up to 1904, presumably still in Stroudley livery.

Entered Brighton works in early 1904, where she got her big cylinders; livery uncertain (but if it had been a Marsh livery, it would have been goods green in any case). Most likely, the livery was black.

Shopped again at Brighton in 1910, at which point the shed code was changed to "N". Livery black with red lining, name painted in yellow. This may have been the livery from 1904 - it isn't clear from the reference I have.

Shopped again in 1913 and received a Marsh boiler, thus becoming an A1x. The other A1x features were also present, i.e. sandboxes below the running plate, cast iron brake shoes, circular smokebox.

Shopped again in 1917, at which point she lost her name, but regained the air brakes. Livery unlined black.

Shopped again in 1922, at which point she gained the "Newhaven Harbour Company" lettering on the tanks.

Shopped again in 1927, at which point she was painted in Southern Goods Black livery, numbered Southern B636 on the tanks. (Newhaven Harbour Co. was absorbed into the Southern Railway in 1926). B636 was the lowest vacant number in the Terrier series, which was why she was ultimately 32636, not 32672.

Shopped again in 1929, kept the same livery and number. At some point between 1927 and 1936, she gained vacuum brakes in addition to the air brakes, so it may have been at this overhaul.

Shopped again at Eastleigh in late 1935 / early 1936, renumbered 2636 using a supply of ex-LBSCR Gilt numerals.

Tom

 

I too was a bit saddened by the rebuild and renumber. The current smokebox,sandboxes and chimney are fine pieces of work. But in my opinion, it was a shame to have had to remove the marsh smokebox saddle and the sandboxes from below the running plate at the front of the loco. Those parts which may well have been on the engine since 1913.

 

Any update about Giants of Steam? What visitors locomotives?

 

Nothing definitive is in the public domain as far as I know.

Tom

 

Which means that you do know... C'mon, tell us!

 

'fraid not! I think anyone who has followed more or less any gala thread on NatPres will realise that if you announce early, you cause disappointment when the planned visitor turns out not to be available several months later. And if you announce late, you cause disappointment because people say they can't pre-plan... So wait and see until there is any official announcement. In the meantime, there is still the Summer Festival (25 July - 9 August) incorporating the Vintage Transport Weekend (8/9 August) to go first.

Tom

 

Well, worth a try. if the lineups impressive enough I might be able to persuade dad to take me, as we're going home from holiday in the rare the day before. He's not too keen on staying an extra night unless it's unmissable!

 

Home fleet of 541,1638,847 and 73082 will do fine for GoS!

 

I think I reading magazine anywhere Isle of Wight LSWR O2 visitors.

Well wait and see.

 

73082 will be pushing it for this year...let alone GOS!!

 

Think that might be pushing it as a "Giant of Steam", TBH.

Mind you, I've seen Giants of Steam events starring the O1, C, Dukedog or E4 so rule nothing out...

 

Calbourne has been announced as visiting in Island Rail News, but no specific date given, as I recall.

As D7076 says, we should have 541, 847, 73082 and hopefully still 1638, plus anything extra that may be hired. Stick Baxter on brake van rides at HK and 323 on Sheffield Park pilot and that will do for me. We only have four available paths anyway, so anything extra means that things start not to get utilised, or you have slightly overkill double-headers, both of which are perennial complaints at other railways' galas!

Tom

 

I've been away from NatPres for a while and it's so nice to see Tom's always chirpy and positive take on matters Bluebell back at the top of the forum that I'm sure most visitors habitually hit first. No griping, bitching, backstabbing, politics and public airing of dirty laundry. Just upbeat factual news coming from somebody who has the best interests of their railway at heart, putting that before his own ego.

Now that a certain topic has been thankfully buried at the bottom of the forum for the squabblees to carry on shouting their opinions, I will probably come back a bit more often again. I know that realistically it's going to be ages until the Bluebell can seriously look at the Ardingly branch, but I hope Tom is still around to keep this forum informed on that in due course, in his inimitable way.

Any chance the Broadway Station bunfight thread can take a leaf out of Tom's book?