Bluebell Railway Branch Line Weekend, 13 / 14 May 2017

Visiting engine LNWR Coal Tank, courtesy of the National Trust / Bahamas Locomotive Society / KWVR; plus SE&CR 592, 263, 323, 178; Maunsell Q 541; and Fletcher Jennings "Captain Baxter" from the home fleet.

Timetables:

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/BL1.html

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/BL2.html

Or in easily printable form: http://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Branch-Line-Weekend-Timetables.pdf

More details: http://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/branch-line-event/

 

Last weekend in traffic for both 592 and No.3 'Captain Baxter'

 

Really the end of ticket for Baxter? Thought he only came back into traffic in about 2010, and can't have had too much use at all?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Timetable for both days, with loco and stock allocations and all the shunt notes for those that enjoy watching the shunting:

http://rasalmon.co.uk/bluebell/download/events/2017/Bluebell_Branch_Line_Weekend2017.pdf

Incidentally, in the carriage sets, our normal convention is to list them south --> north.

Tom

 

The PTI page now states that Camelot will work the Q class' diagrams for the duration of the Branch Line Weekend due to a blown superheater element on 30541.

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

 

I see 1054 is down for the following weekend as well, does anyone know how long she is staying for?

 

AFAIK just this weekend and next.

Tom

 

592 failed today-RIP.
847 vice tomorrow

 

Thanks Tom, shame, I am away this weekend and next!

 

Overall, I thought today went very well, despite the unfortunate early end for the C class and consequent cancellation of the 15:00 from SP. The shunting and brakevan rides at Horsted Keynes made for some additional interest between the service trains, as did the running round and other LE moves that only normally occur at SP and EG. From what I could see, there were no ridiculous-sized crowds at the stations, though most of the trains were almost full with a few (most notably the first train from EG, though this is always a popular one) being standing room only; this was probably more related to the trains being shorter than they normally are at other events. I attach a few photos from today:

The Coal Tank at Horsted House Farm on the first train of the day:


Captain Baxter working the 4 wheelers out of East Grinstead:

592 leaving Horsted Keynes on what became its final train before overhaul:

 

An enjoyable day. Managed to have a ride behind 592 on its own before it failed.
Coal Tank on the late running 2.35 pm from Horsted Keynes : -

 

592 failed yes but 847 is not running tomorrow!!

 

Is Baxter going out too? Haven't heard anything of this?

 

Had a lovely day yesterday apart from forgetting my camera so looking forward to see some photos of the gala.

 

Excellent day yesterday, some photos now at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/Bluebellphotosets/Branch-Line-Weekend-May-2017/

A few samples below.

 

The Bluebell got a bit squeezed in my plans for this weekend once Chinnor came up with an amazing diesel gala, the Romney announced its brilliantly bonkers plans and I had to add an extra work shift, but I did get along for the final part of Saturday and it was a reminder that the Bluebell does these Branch Line events so, so well. Seeing Baxter in action on a full-line passenger turn was the absolute highlight. With its very decent long climb, the Bluebell is a line where bigger engines feel at home, and I've had some great runs with Camelot and the S15, but the smaller/older locos on shorter sets are a wonderful sight.

 

For me, shown to perfection in @Paul42's photo above (#11).

For me personally, Saturday afternoon was slightly frustrating, given that I took over the C class when it was declared a failure, so didn't really have anything to do except dispose. But it was more than made up for by Sunday on the Coal Tank - what an absolutely brilliant loco!

A few photos from Sunday here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamessquared/albums/72157683766773876

Tom

 

Any idea which set of stock 1054 will be working on Sunday?

 

According to the PTI page 3 Maunsells and the 100 seater.

 

Thanks. Was hoping for something a little more vintage but at least it's not a rake of Mk.1 stock.