Bluebell Railway General Discussion

It's out now and then, but not as often as the other vintage carriages it seems. I suspect it is a mixture of livery and relatively low seating capacity. Shame really, as IMHO it is the finest carriage on the railway

Tom

 

Thanks @Shaggy for those photos and to others who replied. I suppose the buddleia will help grip the banking together and help prevent erosion or slips. However ISTR that the banking was sown with wild flower plants and I don't see much of that appearing, if so. The buddleia will bring the butterflies though, so that will enhance the ambience. As the scenic qualities are a Bluebell draw, the opposite would be - well - the opposite!

 

Tom,

Is this new system in force? Neither the Bluebell Loco roster nor "services for the coming week" indicate any change. From what you are saying , it should be in force during this week.

Thanks

 

As far as I am aware, it is in force from now. According to the traffic notice, midweek during half term (i.e. this week!) should see the Mets and two four wheelers on set A (9.45 / 12.15 / 2.45 departures ex-SP) and a six coach Bulleid / Mark 1 set on Set B (11.00 / 1.30 / 4.00 departures ex-SP).

Tom

 

Thanks Tom.

 

Excellent, paying my first visit on Friday, looking forward to it. Quick question, I believe you're allowed to visit the engine sheds to see the locos not in use, but are carriages not in use available to see?

 

You can indeed walk round the engine shed, though some out-of-traffic engines are elsewhere, notably at HK as well.

Carriages are slightly trickier, as there is no public access to to either the SP Carriage shed (for operational carriages) or the back sidings at HK, where most of the "to be restored" carriages live. There is a viewing area in the C&W works which gives a fairly good view of what is under restoration at the moment.

Are you hanging around for Giants of Steam at the weekend?- there are Workshop tours of the C&W planned at 12.25 and 1.55 each day.

Tom

 

Hello, Good so see Go Compare using the Bluebell for a TV Advert!

Nick

 

Four of the best Engish railway journeys

Bluebell get a mention

http://travel.aol.co.uk/2015/11/06/englands-best-railway-journeys/

David R

 

Note that for the next two weekends (14/15 and 21/22 November) there will be engineering works north of HK, so the service will be restricted to SP - HK. I've heard rumours of Bluebell + Mets which should be fun, but that isn't confirmed, though Bluebell is listed as the service engine for those weekends. 592 (A), 541 (B) and 263 (Dining trains) handle the service for the other weekends we are running on the whole line.

Normal 2-train service tomorrow and the weekend of 28/29 November, after which the Santa season starts.

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/november-timetable/

Tom

 

From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

S&T UPDATE: SIGNAL IMPROVEMENTS

The two iconic wooden LB&SCR signals at the North end of Sheffield Park platforms are planned to be replaced in the New Year, and the opportunity is to be taken to locate them 30 yards towards Horsted Keynes.

The new position has been authorised by the Operational Safety Review Group. It will facilitate the long-term aspirations of extending the platforms. The details of the work are at present being discussed with the civil engineer who will provide the bases. The finer details of height, alignment, and the appearance to the driver will be reviewed with a formal meeting of a Signal Sighting Committee.

Representatives of the committee from the Footplate and Operations departments will be given the opportunity to suggest improvements, and when all have agreed, they will approve the arrangements. It is intended that the new signals will look to the untrained eye the same as they are today, albeit in the revised position and of course with a fresh coat of paint.

The impressive Down Home bracket signal also requires major repairs. The structure requires a detailed survey to confirm the extent of the work, and to facilitate this, it is intended to have it fitted out with scaffolding. It is possible that the structure will require total replacement, but whatever the extent of the work, the signals will have to be taken out of work and replaced by a temporary signalling arrangement.

It is part of the strategy to keep this interim arrangement in use for as short a time as possible.

By Brian Hymas

 

So by the looks of it they'll end up closer to the end of the loop rather than on / near the platforms. Makes a lot of sense.

 

Yes, particularly as I noticed that the only way for Bittern's train to fit in the platform at Sheffield Park was for Bittern to be a few meters past the home signal.

 

The revised position will be where they need to be as and when the platforms get extended (as per the LTP). That in turn will make operation of seven coach trains easier but, possibly more significantly, means that with a six-coach train, both the carriages and loco will be on the platform, which will make it easier for passengers to see the engine whilst waiting at SP. At the moment, the engine is well and truly off the end of the platform with a 6 coach train, and there is no possibility of welcoming people onto the footplate at SP, nor of people having a photo adjacent to the engine, if you have a full-length train.

Tom

 

The TPO working on the Bluebell pre dates the wind in the willows filming by 20 odd years and the SR versions didn't have the bag catching device. Flibbit

 

Does this mean that, in the long term, the ground level fenced viewing areas at the London end of SP will disappear?

 

I haven't seen a plan but if the platforms are eventually extended about a carriage length north, then it can only be into that viewing space on each side. Of course, you will still be able to get basically the same view of arriving and departing trains, but it will by standing on the platform rather than on the ground. (Subject also to the precise location of the putative reinstated north signal box as well).

Tom

 

Here's a thought: which of the two 'Greenwich Meridian' signs at the north end of SP is in the right place?

 

I've always thought it the one which is off the platform personally, with the one on the platform more of a thing for the punters, but that's just my summation

 

Back when I volunteered on the Bluebell in the late 60's early 70's there was, to my knowledge, only one sign, and that was off the end of the platform, so I suspect that your summation is probably right.

Steve B