Bluebell Railway Diesel Gala March 31st-April 2nd 2017

This page for those looking - the timetable is a download at the bottom of the page:

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/diesel-weekend/

Tom

 

From the Bluebell "What's New" page:

"Unfortunately we have learned that the NRM's class 37 will not now be available for the 31 March - 2 April Diesel Gala due to some issues with its braking system. Obviously this is disappointing news but we are working hard to try to secure an alternative visitor, to work alongside 50035 'Ark Royal' and 50049 'Defiance'."

Tom

 

Stick a diesel outline on the S15. Nobody will notice.

 

The weekly train information page is showing 20205 and 20189 as the replacements for D6700. Anyone got any information on this yet?

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

 

I believe that is the case.

Tom

 

I was at SP today and the charming young lady in the office told me that they were indeed the replacements fro D6700.

 

The 50s move to East Grinstead from the SVR tomorrow

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/R00232/2017/03/29/advanced

Can anyone confirm if, as I suspect, the 20s are to be picked up during the stop in Willesden?

 

The 20s are hauling the 50s from Kidderminster. They arrived from the Midland Railway Centre today.

 

Ah thanks for that, for some reason I thought they were at Wembley.

 

Only one 50 just gone through Kensington Olympia

 

Only one 50 just gone through Kensington Olympia

 

50035 now not attending owing to being failed with a brake fault at Kidderminster.

 

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O85102/2017/03/30/advanced

This has just appeared on RTT...rumours are that it's a pair of 73/1s to replace 50035.

Edit: Now confirmed as 73107 and 73119 on the what's new page (http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html), with them replacing 50035 on its diagram, apart from the 12 coach double header, which will now be "re-jigged".

 

Now confirmed on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/bluebellrailway

"Sadly 50035 has been withdrawn from our 31 March - 2 April Diesel Gala due to a brake problem, notwithstanding sterling efforts to get it working overnight.
Stepping in to the breach, we say a huge "thank you" to our friends at GBRf who will be supplying us with two Class 73s in the shape of 73107 and 73119, which will join our resident 09018 (on a brake-van turn) and Sentinel shunter 'Skippy' for "Driver for a Fiver" experiences at Horsted Keynes. To be able to obtain replacement locomotives, albeit ones which have visited us before, at such short notice, is a fantastic achievement.

The timetable will remain as published, but with the 20s replacing D6700 and the 73s replacing 50035, except for the final 12-coach double-header each day, which will now be re-jigged."

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/file/296/diesel-gala-timetable-final.pdf

Tom

 

here she is

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jumbojet1/33340121140/in/photolist-SN9QsQ/lightbox/

dave

 

Is that the first movement through Platform 3 at Horsted this year?

Tom

 

yes i believe it was

 

Latest timetable and loco allocations here - the timetable is as previously published, but now with the correct allocations following the last minute loco changes.

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/file/306/diesel-gala-timetable.pdf

Tom

 

Was very quiet at the line yesterday, hope it picks up over the weekend

https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.co...tion/Bluebell-Railway-Diesel-Gala-March-2017/

 

Excellent event many thanks! took me a while to work out the positioning of the 20's (cab to cab) but watching the beerex at SP it looked like only one had VB. The 12 coach mega formation on Saturday really put the locos through their paces (with minimal assistance from the rear) must have been a logistical nightmare but it all worked out on the day.

Despite having visited before the 73's were in a rare formation not just acting as brake translators like last year; and they did a sterling job.

Had a day off on my bike today but was very lucky to catch the down 20+20+50 at West Hoathly

thanks again!