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Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Jamessquared, Feb 16, 2013.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    And a further update on the works at Horsted Keynes, now with the track beginning to be relaid through Platform 3.

    http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html for March 3rd.

    Interesting comment on there that dropping the levels by 8" through platform 2 may see that platform used more in normal service. In recent years, it has mainly been used as a through platform (non-stopping) for trains such as dining trains; as a place for dining trains to lay over while other trains pass (such as wedding charters, where the ceremony may be in the platform 2 waiting room and the train has an hour or two layover); for things like brake van rides at galas (where it can be used to access both the mainline and the Ardingly branch); and for trains like demonstration goods to start / terminate their journeys. It has not been used very often for routine passenger use, in part because of a large step from carriage down to the platform occasioned by the historically low platform heights.

    Tom
     
  2. Keelar001

    Keelar001 Member

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  3. Peter Wilde

    Peter Wilde New Member

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    Thanks Tom. Really interesting background!
     
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    From the e-Newsletter:

    Horsted Keynes Update #2: Subterranean Goings On

    The Victorians were really good at infrastructure, but someone must have been having a bad day when they drew the original plans for Horsted Keynes Station.

    Things were going really well for the relaying of platforms 2 and 3 until it was decided to correct the rail height to platform edge height while we had the opportunity. Platform 3 has never been too bad, but with Platform 2 being some eight inches too low, it has always been a case of "Mind the Step" rather than "Mind the Gap"!

    Some have commented that platforms were always lower in the old days, but we now think that the subway wasn't ever subterranean enough to start with and the crown of the three courses of brick work gets in the way of the sleepers! Add also into this equation an old supply pipe for the water columns, old drainage catch pits, and new drainage down the length of each road, and there was a big problem waiting to be solved.

    We can't lower the subway, and raising the platform edges would be very costly and look a bit odd, so another solution has been found which hopefully will do the trick. To take the loading, the sides of the subway crown are being excavated and solid reinforced concrete beams will be cast either side of the crown on top of which the chairs will rest.

    Three metre-square steel slabs already have been laid to protect the crown and spread the load. The two existing brick catch pits had to be demolished to make way for the new structure, but it won't affect drainage as the new pipes--integrated with the now familiar Terram/polythene/Terram sandwich--run away from the subway crown to the existing catch pits, which empty into the cross platform culverts underneath.

    The supply pipe to the water columns is unaffected by all this work, but whether it will be ever used again is a matter for speculation. At the time of writing, ballast is ready to be graded on Platform 3 either side of the subway, and once the concrete slab has hardened, then track laying can begin. Unless other problems are found, Platform 2 will be dealt with in the same way.

    In the photos, you'll appreciate that the catch pits took some demolishing, and in Jon Goff's photo taken the following day, you can see the 20mm thick steel plates set in place on the concrete slab. The rings were for lifting, and they will be ground off.

    By Mike Hopps, Infrastructure Volunteer

    (See also http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html for 24 February, 2 March, 3 March)

    Tom
     
  5. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Also from the e-Newsletter:

    New Museum Accessions: LB&SCR Notice, Battery Torch, More

    At a recent auction, the Bluebell Railway Museum was able to buy two historic Railway-related items.

    Firstly, we purchased the original framed LB&SCR notice dated 1900 from the Signal Box at Sheffield Park. The notice states that there is one signalman and his hours of duty are 10:30 a.m. till 8:00 p.m. both on weekdays and weekends.

    Also, an early battery torch is coming home. It was not made by the Southern Railway but the front is engraved SHEFFIELD PARK. It probably dates from the 1920s or 1930s and was used in the signal box.

    By Tony Hillman

    Other recent museum accessions, which can be seen here, include:
    • The presentation photograph of Schools class "Dulwich", which was given to Dulwich College by the Southern Railway when the loco was named. It is a large framed photograph--over 4' x 2'--and will hang in the Record and Research Centre.
    • A sweet dish showing the Southern Railway Electric Flash logo. Such items would be used on the Southern Electric Pullman services.
    • A sugar bowl of unusually plain and functional design, showing the usual Southern Railway logo.
    http://www.bluebell-railway-museum.co.uk/accessions.htm

    (If he reads this thread, @Maunsell907 may appreciate the first of those!)

    Tom
     
  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    More updates on the track relaying at Platform 3 of Horsted Keynes, with rails now laid at the north end of the platform and in position over the subway, awaiting final casting of the concrete surface:

    http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html#7mar17 - photos and description at 7 March and 6 March.

    Tom
     
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  7. Rosedale

    Rosedale Member

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    The other week on a visit to HK I noticed that the LNWR semi-Royal saloon had returned from Isfield, missing a door and looking very sorry for itself. I assume that it has changed hands. Is it now back for good, or only passing through?
     
  8. Matt35027

    Matt35027 Well-Known Member

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    I came across this photo last month and thought it looked like the Semi-Royal https://www.flickr.com/photos/132926912@N05/32864839005/in/dateposted/ I wondered why it was there. I believe there was filming on the line in January or February, so maybe it was for that. But as it has now moved to HK I'm wondering if it has been brought in temporarily to rejoin the Golden Arrow in place of Pullman car Lillian that was withdrawn in 2015.
     
  9. Rosedale

    Rosedale Member

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    I was there when the crew were trying to make the station look American for the forthcoming Cumberbatch film about Thomas Edison. I didn't see the repainted side, but the side which was still in LNWR livery was very faded and one of the doors had been boarded up.
     
  10. Funnell

    Funnell New Member

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    No, we have Mk1 3064 'Ashdown' for that role currently!! I believe it was purely for filming purposes.
     
  11. Matt35027

    Matt35027 Well-Known Member

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    I'm sure I remember reading in either Blue News, or possibly on the Yahoo group that there was a degree of dissatisfaction with using a BR Mk 1, as it isn't as 'upmarket' as a Pullman. I thought perhaps the Semi-Royal would fit the bill. But if it's only back for filming work, then that's fair enough.
     
  12. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    Pity it can't be kept at the Bluebell until May when the Coal Tank pays a visit for the Branch Line weekend? It would make for a slightly longer, if rather unusual L&NWR train for the visiting L&NWR loco to haul.
     
  13. Nimbus

    Nimbus New Member

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    The Coal Tank has hauled a three coach train of LNWR "Royal" coaches before, at Rainhill in 1980!
    LM0183.JPG
     
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  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Latest infrastructure update on progress through platform 3 at Horsted Keynes - there is a particularly striking photo of how much the new track has been lowered relative to the old track still in situ on platform 2. The cast iron pipe visible in one photo is the (disused) water supply to the north end water cranes, making an "up and over" movement above the subway.

    http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html for March 10th.

    Also from 8 March, the newly outshopped elephant van.

    Tom
     
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  15. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    First a picture of the Elephant Van, followed by 2 of S2531 - replacement wooden hoops ready to be fitted and a view of the roof hoops being refurbished - once this is complete (in the next week or two) we will turn to repairing the roof boards before refitting them.

    David R
     

    Attached Files:

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  16. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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  17. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Good to see the detail of the relay work.
     
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  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Yes, it's been interesting to watch. I for one hadn't been aware of just how tight the clearance over the subway roof was before this winter. I wonder how much clearance there is at Kingscote?

    My understanding is that the first public trains through platforms 2/3 will be at the diesel gala at the end of March (leaving the longest possible time for the concrete to cure); after which we will go back to a two train timetable for normal services with trains crossing at Horsted Keynes - so far this year we have only run a single train service at weekends; and when there has been a daytime dining train / Wealden Rambler, it has crossed the service train at Kingscote.

    Tom
     
  19. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Another update and photos of the ongoing track works at Horsted Keynes here: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html for March 23

    Also, hard to believe, but yesterday was the fourth anniversary of the opening of the extension to East Grinstead! Where did the time go?

    Tom
     
  20. MellishR

    MellishR Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    Tell me about it. I took a friend on the first through train from London to the Bluebell, 28-3-2013, and she died in 2015.
     

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