Bluebell Railway General Discussion

The GLTW was established principally as a marketing organisation.

Paul H

 

With mixed results. I would just reassure people that far more contact happens than many would think. It just isn't shouted from the rooftops because it doesn't need to be.

 

Absolutely; it really would surprise people who think that we're all deadly rivals!

 

I think a lot of the tribalism that you get between different railways on fora like this (thankfully less than there used to be some years back) disguises the fact that there are close relationships between railways at a technical level. I can think, just from a loco point of view, of recent technical collaboration between the Bluebell, MHR, KESR, IoW, Severn Valley etc just off the top of my head, and I am sure there are other examples, as well as with loco owning groups, not to mention working relationships between other departments and their colleagues on other railways.

I always consider that at a commercial level, our competitors are not the MHR or the Swanage or the KESR, but the beach, shopping centres and other leisure attractions that people might visit rather than us. One necessary condition that a railway like the Bluebell remains healthy in the long term is that other railways also remain healthy, guaranteeing a certain critical mass in skills and specialist supplies. To take one example: imagine that there was only a single heritage railway in the country. It would undoubtedly be "number one", until such time as it started to struggle to acquire good lump coal!

Tom

 

There's also the NYMR: 'Stowe' and 'Repton' have recently benefited from joint ordering of major boiler components.

 

I believe the MHR boiler shop is currently undertaking some contract work for the boiler off Stowe.

I really hope to see all 3 remaining schools locos in steam together in the near future; what a sight that would be.

 

How long has Cheltenham got left?

One could imagine quite a cool NYMR / MHR / Bluebell get together (at ruinous expense in transport costs...) with 925, 926 and 928, along with 847, 825 and 499/506 ...

Tom

 

Cheltenham returned to steam in 2012 so approx 6 years left in ticket.

What a gala that would be but even better if 777 & 850 could be added to the line up.

 

Thanks - so (returning to reality) a Schools triple bill could at least be feasible...

Tom

 

Now, there's a dream! They'd look great at Swanage, too!

John

 

I think the NYMR are hoping to have 30926 back for the 2017 season. It was hoped to have it finished by the back end of this year at one time, but that now seems very unlikely.

 

2018 would be the 150th anniversary of Maunsell's birth - sounds like it could be feasible to have five or six locos in steam together, given the necessary financial input for travel costs. (Three schools, Q, S15 and maybe one of the Swanage moguls). There have been occasions in preservation with three Maunsell engines in steam together, but not I believe more than three.

Tom

 

Closest I think was the 2013 Spring Gala at the MHR. 925, 850 and 777 all in steam but I don't think 31806 took part (at least I don't have a record of it that I can find). 825 and 777 had been booked for Autumn 2012, which did feature 925, 850 and 31806 but alas neither made it.

 

Be careful now, that's getting dangerously close to a "wouldn't it be nice" scenario.

 

Yes, but wouldn't it be nice

GoS last year, with two visiting engines, was by all accounts a good commercial success (*) even allowing for the transport and hire costs. A five engine Maunsell gala - say three from the home fleet, and two visitors - would be a pretty spectacular way to mark Maunsell's anniversary, and in broad brush terms, should have similar costs. With only four paths available on the railway, you only need four engines for the main service in a gala: five allows you to ring the changes a bit, but any more starts to under-utilise engines, which isn't especially popular. Five seems to me to be about the optimum, with a sixth small engine as station pilot at SP and maybe a seventh doing brake van rides at HK to add a bit to the show.

(*) Not to mention that various fund-raising groups also had a very successful weekend, which isn't necessarily obvious from the direct event income / expenditure figures, but is an important part of the benefit of having galas now and again.

Tom

 

So would you have 2no Schools to get the trio or 777 to get an Arthur present?

 

Personally, I'd go with variety over quantity - so the latter ...

Tom

 

Agree but it would be a shame not to also have Nellie present to really complete the set.

 

Yes, but I'm trying to stay at least grounded in what might be possible in 2018 - would that include the LN?

Don't think she has visited the Bluebell, mind...

Being serious, it does look like there should be a decent number and variety of Maunsell engines running somewhere or other in 2018 - I assume Swanage will have one or two Moguls running as well.

Tom

 

Am I allowed to mention 777 + 31806 (+ 34053) at the forthcoming GCR gala?