Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Thank you for the information Tom and to answers so fast as well Do you think it will be ready by the Summer season?

 

I can't see it being ready by the summer; there is considerable boiler work to do.

No. 65 should be outshopped in the spring, and there is - touch wood - the very real possibility of having five SECR locos in traffic simultaneously for a short period in the late spring, before 592 is withdrawn in mid May. Usual caveats apply.

Tom

 

It would be a fine sight to see 5 out of 6 SECR engines. The Bluebell could call it the Ashford weekend. It's a shame there are no Brighton locomotive running at the minute though.

Andrew

 

Indeed. This ought to cause the Bluebell furiously to think.

PH

 

80151 is on the comeback trail...

 

From The Bluebell newsletter : -

Now to 2017 ... during Spring we hold our Diesel Gala (31 March to 2 April), which this year features two class 50s and a still to be confirmed class 37. Our own class 09 also will be in operation.

The biggest event of the year then happens when we host "Flying Scotsman" for seven days during Easter (13-19 April). There's already great excitement, and many volunteers are looking forward to being on duty during its visit. Detailed planning is already underway, and I urge everyone to see this iconic loco on our Railway for yourself. Keep an eye on our website for information about timetables and fares, and hopefully you can take part in what promises to be one of our highest profile events since the re-opening to East Grinstead.

Still in spring, our smaller locos will grab the headlines when we stage our Branch Line Weekend (13-15 May), with the aim of having our five South Eastern & Chatham locos in service, joined by visiting LNWR coal tank No. 1054.

This Summer we'll mark the 50th anniversary of the end of Southern steam (9 July, 1967) with a three-day event to commemorate this significant milestone. In addition to "Blackmoor Vale" and "Camelot", how many of you are aware that we have two other locos that were still operating during summer 1967: USA tank No. 30064 and standard tank No. 80151? Unfortunately, only "Camelot" will be in traffic at the event, joined by visiting un-rebuilt Bulleid Pacific No. 34092 "City of Wells".

 

Great news about 1054 and 34092 visiting. I wonder what's lined up for Giants/Autumn Gala. Looks like a great 2017 in store for the line (I also see a new addition to events in the form of a Lego weekend which is not something I've heard of on a railway).

 

Well done Bluebell, looks like another fine year on the books. Personally I only really held any sort of affection for two gronks, Deltics and 37s, kerching!! hope the latter arrives. Missed Tornado but I s'pose FS will do

 

Not to mention 34059 ...

These things go in phases. In the meantime, I'm glad we have so many Ashford products available at the moment.

Tom

 

Paul - I've adjusted the highlight for you

Actually, I'm very interested to see 1054, having never seen it before, and hope I get rostered for a day on it - but I'm equally excited to see all the SECR locos together, and 65 will be like reuniting with an old acquaintance. Either way, that's looking like the star event for me this year.

Tom

 

Hopefully not just thinking, but some actual restoration.
Ignoring the SR and BR locos built at Brighton mentioned by others (none of which are from the Brighton design tradition) there is the Atlantic - despite the decision to paint it in boring old black (sounds more attractive if called LNWR livery, but definitely Crewe not Brighton).
I appreciated the un-split infinitive .

 

It looks like a great year in store for any enthusiast living in the south of England, with the Bluebell adding some very worthwhile events to the already announced commemorations of the end of Southern steam events on other heritage lines as well as some exciting developments on the main line. I'm pleased to see the return of the Branch Line weekend and that a second attempt is being made to bring 1054 down for a visit.

Also delighted that 34092 is visiting both the Bluebell and Swanage this year. I recall seeing it at the Worth Valley on its return to steam in 1981. It has been one of my favourite engines ever since. Unless my memory is playing tricks on me, I think it will be the first "Flat Top" to be seen in East Grinstead since the 1960s.

 

SR BTK 3680 - underframe

I have received a very comprehensive visit report listing rolling stock located at the Bluebell Railway in October. With regard to Coaching Stock only one item was not recorded. This was the chassis/underframe of SR BTK 3680 http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/CarriageInfo.asp?Ref=3206 When last reported in April 2015 it was being used as a resting place for a new overhead crane at Horsted Keynes. This chassis has had a rather charmed life in recent years having, it would appear, been earmarked for scrapping but continuing to find a temporary use. Has it now been scrapped, was it overlooked on the visit or has it left the railway for a new home?

 

Looks like the End of SR steam event will also be on the weekend of the 8th/9th, so be interesting to see how it fares up against the Mid Hants event

 

It also clashes with Duxford Flying Legends and the Headcorn Battle of Britain airshow.......decisions decisions

 

While I don't know the details - if it is based around the same concept as the annual Lego show that takes place at Steam in Swindon then it should be good.

For those tempted to dismiss it as 'just a kids toy' I urge you to reconsider - some of the things that have been seen at Swindon over the years are amazing. Just do an internet image search for "Great Western Lego Show Swindon" to see what I mean

https://www.google.co.uk/search?cli....5.0....0...1c.1.64.img..0.11.276.NEsK5NobItw

 

If you are going to have an event tied to a significant anniversary, not much chance of avoiding a clash! Hopefully there will be enough custom to make both events a success.

Tom

 

Not necessarily - as I recall all the lines doing GWR175 coordinated so that they didn't clash with each other, must be that Swindon planning and organisation I guess, Southern just rush in and build a whole load of Pacific's, ahem, sorry, hold galas.

 

Slight difference though between commemorating a year-long anniversary and an event that happened on a specific day 50 years ago.

Anyway, with GWR galas - they all look the same to me ... (That's 15-all, I think )

Tom