Flying Scotsman at the Bluebell Railway: 13 - 19 April 2017

Updated my gallery with photos from Tuesday and Wednesday - https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/Bluebellphotosets/Flying-Scotsman-Flying-South-April-2017/

 

Also now got a video up

 

I spent two days at the railway (Saturday and Monday), I must congratulate everyone at the railway for the excellent organisation of this event. The whole process of parking, getting through the ticket booths, to boarding the FS trains (I rode on the 10am on Saturday) all ran very smoothly and professionally, and the staff very enthusiastic. 60103 is a credit to Ian Riley's company, immaculately turned out and so far as I could tell, spot on in its performance. I spent quite a bit of time on the lineside, over the two days my Dad and I had to speak to a total of 9 people trespassing, but all of them were good enough to move elsewhere. What we did notice was the large number of non-enthusiasts gathering at foot crossing, fields and on bridges (locations where I've never seen people before) just to see Flying Scotsman, I never imagined just how popular she is among 'normal' people.

The weather didn't quite play ball, the sun managed to go in almost every time a train was due, but for the 3:30 Flying Scotsman service on Monday the light was right for this photo

Flying Scotsman at the Bluebell - 17/04/2017 by Matthew Nightingale, on Flickr

The rest of my album is here https://www.flickr.com/photos/spinner673/albums/72157679335206254

Well done, Bluebell

 

Deleted

 

My footage from yesterday.

James

 

My version of the events yesterday. The soundtrack after Scotsman passes under the bridge near Horsted House Farm is pretty tasty, if I may say so myself.

 

592 and 847 were on the service trains today, seen at Black Hut, south of the tunnel while working with the lineside clearance gang.

 

Thanks. Can I say thanks to you guys for the work you do on the linesides, which to my eyes are looking better and better, and obvious in many of the Flying Scotsman photos. We've even got bluebells out now as well

Tom

 

Tom
Glad to know our efforts are appreciated! I'll pass your comment on to the gang.

 

My footage from the final day of proceedings on Wednesday. Credit to the Bluebell Railway for putting together a brilliant event!

Enjoy!

 

My video from Monday and Tuesday morning, photos to follow...

 

Lots more photos here:

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html

According to a press release linked from there, there were just shy of 20,000 passengers for the week, including about 8,700 behind Flying Scotsman.

Tom

 

For the question being asked about locomotive use, the updated roster shows 73082 not in use until Monday

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/loco_roster.html

I also note 847 has a Goods working booked for the 29th

 

Some photos... https://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/albums/72157680262337582

 

I had a most enjoyable Easter weekend at the Bluebell, there a lot of other preserved line of equal measure but for me the Bluebell always seem to go that extra bit more, I always seems to be that bit more enthusiastic when I visit there.

 

Looking at the passenger numbers that Tom has put up on here. The Bluebell should of made a few quid over Scotman's visit.

 

Note however that the "few quid" will also be inclusive of sales stock and ancillary services such as catering hence won't be solely the product of fares income. To that extent the railway's own offerings will be as critical a component of the income as the trip behind Flying Scotsman hence the importance of the Sales / Marketing teams for those heritage lines privileged to receive a Flying Scotsman visit.

 

Very kind of you to say.

Now the dust has settled: by my reckoning, we did a shade under 2,000 loco miles over the seven days, without accounting for the mileage racked up at Horsted Keynes by 541 on brake van rides or any mileage attributed to the two Sheffield Park pilot engines: I suspect that will push the total beyond 2,000 miles, the vast majority done by Camelot, Flying Scotsman and the S15.

Just in the loco department, we had I think 198 rostered turns over the week: goodness knows how many there were in total across the railway. One of the loco department and her partner cooked bacon rolls for everyone every day, with 168 provided: there must be a few people on diets! Unusually for us (certainly the first time in my memory) we kept all six engines in steam for the entire week, with a volunteer overnight preparation crew rostered each day. As loco crew, book ons were thus shortly before off-shed times, with the loco already prepared and in steam.

Tom

 

The other factor often missed is that the various support groups tend to do well both with fundraising and awareness at galas.

Tom

 

Footage of the home fleet in action during the event on Wednesday.