Bluebell Railway General Discussion

As David says, she suffered a failure of a BR-era repair to her left hand cylinder which has left her restricted to light duties. There are investigations of production of a replacement cylinder block, probably in conjunction with that produced for No. 27 but that is likely to be some way away.

Incidentally, for anyone wishing to keep up with the restoration of No. 27, the project has its own blog, generally updated weekly: http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk

Tom

 

A couple of updates about Operation Undercover 4, from the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

"OP4 UPDATE I: READY TO AWARD CONTRACT, WORK TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER

OP4 Steering Group Chair Dick Fearn recently updated PLC Directors and Society Trustees on the OP4 project, a very important project to help protect carriage stock awaiting restoration from the elements.

OP4 is a phased project, with Phase 1 being site clearance and enabling works, and Phase 2, the erection of the supporting structure and roof.

The site clearance has been a bigger task than initially contemplated, but the site now looks better for it, and the work is nearly complete. A legacy received by the PLC, monies from the Trust, and the overwhelming contribution from the Cash for Cover (C4C) Appeal means that financial resources will be in place to complete Phases 1 and 2 at a total cost of just less than £500,000, including some contingencies.

Therefore, we are ready to award the fixed price contract to Robert Stevenson, a company very experienced in erecting structures of this type. It is hoped that work will commence early in October and that impact on day-to-day Carriage & Wagon Department operations, including access to the inspection pit, is minimised.

Additional monies raised by C4C means that steel fabrication for attached buildings--a mess room, offices, etc.--will be included in the work.

It was confirmed that OP4 is not intended to be used for the covering of coach stock presently in service, which would in any event be precluded until full pointwork and connection to the existing track is completed.

The remaining phases--which will include adding cladding/walls, a parts storage shed, mess room, offices, doors, full linkage to the track system, and probably an enhanced power supply for the Horsted Keynes site--are still to be finally costed and, more importantly, funded.

This additional work and its costs are being looked at as a priority. However, it was recognised that whilst the contractor is on site, adding cladding/walls will be more easily achieved if funds are available.

By Roger Garman, Communications Director"


"OP4 UPDATE II: TEMPORARY OFFICES, TRIM SHOP INSTALLED

Things are progressing steadily on the OP4 Project, and the Infrastructure Team has now turned its attention to the top end of the yard next to the existing carriage shed.

Recent jobs have included casting concrete bases for the temporary Carriage & Wagon office and Trim Shop cabins, which were finally delivered last Tuesday. The positioning of the cabins made it easy for delivery, and once they were linked together, a pre-fab staircase was assembled for access to the office that is over the temporary trim shop.

One old, large wooden building on the site has already been dismantled (some of it fell down!) and disposed of. Once the new office is in use, the old office building will be demolished as well, along with other now redundant buildings and sheds.

The existing Trim Shop is still in quite good condition, so that will be refurbished and recycled for another use. The Electrical Department was due to connect up the cabins this week, and concrete plinths have now been cast to provide step access to outside doors and the base of the staircase.

Other recent infrastructure work includes renewing old fencing at the end of the washout pit road at Sheffield Park, now that all the fencing is finished at the Imberhorne tip site.

By Mike Hopps"

 

Now that the summer is over, how did the growth in the 'plastic-sided cutting' make out? I keep hoping to see photos on the web site but the snapper seems to avoid that area. Perhaps I missed one though. Any views much appreciated, thanks.

 

I haven't seen a recent photo - TBH it's not an area favoured by photographers, as it is out of bounds for lineside and the best view - from the northern bridge looking towards East Grinstead - normally has tender-first locos. John Sandys on Flickr is one of a fairly small number of photographers who seems to regularly go there, but even he doesn't seem to have been recently.

Anyway, having been through thirteen times in each direction last week (mostly, to be fair, concentrating on things other than vegetation) my impression is that the Eastern side is significantly grown over, to the extent that it is getting hard to see any evidence of plastic sheeting - at least from rail level. The Western side is still more obviously a patchwork of green and black, though becoming greener each year.

@jonpbowers may have some recent photos.

Tom

 

From the e-Newsletter:

SHEFFIELD PARK PORCH TRANSFORMATION BEGINS

As previously reported, following receipt of a generous donation, the Friends of Sheffield Park (FOSP) have been able to proceed with plans for restoration of the entrance porch to the station, to reproduce the original condition, featuring turned decorative mullion roof supports glazed with floral patterned stained glass panels.

The new timber structure was machined and trial-assembled at our carpenter's premises in July, and following a most productive site meeting involving all key parties, we were then able to let the order for the stained glass. The glass supplier had done research using available photographs of the original porch to design the patterns and the remaining original stained glass toplights were used to guide us as to the colours.

It was impractical to work on the porch during the peak running season but, with the cooperation of the Operations Department, we were able to close the main Booking Hall entrance for one week in late September to execute Phase 1 of the restoration. The exacting nature of this stage meant that we employed a building contractor to assist the carpenter.

Firstly, the roof structure (which is original) was supported on suitable props, while the lower timber structure was completely removed. Then some remedial work to the brick and masonry support wall on the north side was undertaken, to re-level it with the south wall and to repoint the brickwork.

Then the roof structure was slowly and carefully jacked up by approximately two inches to counter the effects of about 130 years of settlement. This allowed the new structure to be installed as far as possible square and level (although the eagle-eyed will be able to see that the finished structure is not completely symmetrical; this is of course a part of the character of historic structures!)

Finally, a visit from the glazier with the first two new stained glass panels saw a trial fitting successfully accomplished, proving the method which had been suggested by the carpenter. The remaining panels can now be made with confidence, and we anticipate fitting them in the next few weeks, after FOSP volunteers have painted the new timberwork.

The new porch is taking shape and is already drawing much favourable comment. Once finished it will provide a considerable enhancement to the appearance of the station and provide a worthy greeting sight to the many visitors that pass through Sheffield Park station.

By Charles Melton

 

I made a point of looking at the cutting when I passed through behind 847 on Saturday. I did take a few shots from on board but not had time to look at the results yet so will endeavour to put that right tonight and if there is anything half passable / useful, I'll post them here.

From what I could see, the buddleia is loving it as is the wild grass. I did notice that it would appear that there is still visible evidence of its murky past. I didn't see but has the membrane split in a few places? I only picked this up as I overheard someone in the seat next to me say, "and there's some of the old rubbish!"

 

I didn't get a picture, but when I took my son in the summer, there was definitely a patch where the membrane seems to be absent and there was a lot of rubbish visible. It was the only negative in an otherwise very enjoyable day

 

Michael Portillo visits Bluebell Railway for afternoon of filming

http://www.eastgrinsteadcourier.co....bell-Railway/story-27991900-detail/story.html

David R

 

Some of the photos I took of the cutting. The vegetation is really taking hold and it won't be too long before the membrane and what lies beneath will be hidden.

This was my first visit for approximately 3 decades and wow what a job they've done with the breakthrough to East Grinstead yet still Horstead Keynes remains the time capsule of the rural junction station. Very impressed with the line and my son is now totally transfixed with Stepney. You can be assured that it won't be another 3 decades before I return again.

 

It certainly was used in the 'Wind in the Willows' film (the driver of the C class got hooked on it, IIRC). However I was always understood that the TPO apparatus was installed to allow demonstration TPO pick ups when the TPO carriage was first restored?

 

I'm not 100% sure about the latter point: the Bluebell does have a TPO vehicle (this one: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/tpo_4922.html), but I wasn't aware that it was of the type that could pick up mail bags while moving.

Tom

 

A quick note to say that as from next weekend, for an experimental period, the vintage and non-vintage trains will swap on our service 2 timetable (which is the main weekend and peak midweek timetable).

Train times will be unaffected, but it means that the smaller engine / vintage carriages will now be on the 09:45 / 12:15 / 14;45 / 17.15SO services from Sheffield Park, and the larger engine / more modern carriages will be on the 11:00 / 13:30 / 16:00 service.

Tom

 

Feel like you could run a railway? The Bluebell is looking for a paid General Manager.

See http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/recruit/index.html

Tom

 

There should be no shortage of candidates on NP, seeing as we seem to be able to point out every railways failings and have plentiful opinions on the correct solutions.

 

No mention of the need to be able to herd cats?

 

I believe it was built to the same diagram as 4920 we have on the NVR. If this is the case then it would not have provisions for exchange apparatus. I'm not at home at present so wouldn't be able to check

 

Further to my previous post, I believe they are of the same diagram (And the only surviving Southern POS's still in existence).

On another matter, I'm hoping to get down during the Giants of Steam gala. It will be the first time I've been down since the East Grinstead opening and the Woodpax site was acquired. Is there any access to the storage sheds at SP, or is it likely anything of interest in there will be in operation over the weekend anyway?

Thanks,

Chris

 

There is no public access to the storage shed at Sheffield Park.

As for carriages, I think just about every operational carriage will be in service except the Mets and 4 wheelers (and possibly not the LSWR brake 3rd). That includes the Maunsells and pre-grouping bogie carriages in one set; the Bulleids split between two other sets; and the operational Pullmans split between sets. The GNR Director's saloon will also be in traffic, but I am not sure on which set (presumably whichever set doesn't have a Pullman in it), and I assume the LNWR Obo will also be in traffic. Anything in traffic is available without reservation, though the Pullmans and GNR saloon are for first class ticket holders; and the LNWR Obo normally requires a small supplement, or free to First Class.

For carriages under repair, it is traditional at Galas to have guided tours of the C&W Workshop, and I can't imagine this will be any different. (The .com website says "carriage shed tours" for Horsted Keynes, but I assume that means the workshop tours). Currently in the workshop I believe are three four wheelers in various states of overhaul (one LCDR, two LBSCR); a Bulleid CK and a Maunsell amongst others.

Tom

 

Hi Tom,

Thanks very much for confirming this.

I understand from various other posts that the LSWR brake doesn't see much use. Is this simply because of livery or any other operational reasons?

Chris