Bluebell Railway General Discussion

The height restriction to both Leeman Road bridges has been reduced fairly recently in order to combat vehicles getting wedged under them. This seems to be largely successful, aided by some very conspicuous illuminated signs which flash a warning to "out of gauge" vehicles as they approach. You are right in that the clearance is more generous than indicated but seemingly with good reason

Peter

 

I'm about to do the PTS course on Saturday for the first time I don't know what to expect.

 

I've taken two so far. They're not daunting. The people giving the course explained things clearly - mainly general safety issues and the related terminology ("On or near the Line", "Cess", "Six foot", etc.) Obviously, there are also some specific Bluebell-related issues to mention such as no lineside access north of Kingscote due to the narrow section and Sharpthorne Tunnel is out of bounds. On both occasions I have attended so far, everyone passed.

I hope this helps

 

I remember years ago doing a London Underground track accustomed course (their version of PTS), and during the lunch break a chap who had never done it before asked what to expect during the exam. My response was somewhat dismissive, along the lines of "only a complete idiot could fail it". Well you can see where this is going, he did fail it, and I was so relieved that the examiner held him back for a chat at the end so I could make a hasty escape!

Some people just aren't cut out for working trackside I'm afraid; hopefully you are not one of those. But if these courses don't weed out such people, who are a danger to themselves and others, then they are not doing their job.

(I should add, the Bluebell's PTS course I have no personal experience of.)

 

As a much younger person I couldn't understand why people needed to be trained in such things as safety awareness. That is, until I took my late Father-in-law to Bickershaw colliery to photograph steam locos (he was interested in photography but not railways.) His lack of awareness of what was happening around him was an eye-opener to me. He would stand in the four foot, ignorant of a train coming towards him from behind and cross in front of an approaching train. I was relieved when we eventually left. It's not as if he wasn't intelligent, as a reasonably high ranking civil servant. Since then, I've understood the necessity of telling people and, above all, making sure that they understand, even for simple things.

 

It does thank you John

 

The frightening thing is some people are like that on the roads as well

 

Tonight's issue of the e-Newsletter available here: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/...ilway.html?soid=1108082818574&aid=vpwb5G9-xJw

Included:

- BRPS AGM round up
- An Ops perspective on the Flying Scotsman Flying South event
- Photos and videos from the Branch Line weekend
- News of further track replacement on Freshfield Bank to take place in June
- Latest developments in the ASH project
- Progress on Sir Achie's firebox
- C&W restoration work on the Camelot Society CCT
- Three paid job opportunities in the C&W
- Update on the new canopy project at Sheffield Park

So plenty going on.

Tom

 

Know of anythings happening to the whats new page?

 

Richard is particularly busy at this time of the year with, work, singing at and attending the BBC proms and his various activities at the Bluebell including C & W, the Trust and the website.

He posted the following reply to this very question on the Yahoo group:
"I've been updating loads of other pages, and would have finished a blog update this morning except I had to stop and go away for the weekend.
For regular news updates I'm afraid you'll increasing have to rely on Facebook and the fortnightly e-newsletter. I've an Atlantic update and four p-way updates pending."

Dave

 

Thank you

 

The news famine is over!! Some interesting website developments appear to be afoot at SP...
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html

 

It was nice to see some of the Bluebell rolling stock on the big screen today. I went to see the Wonder Woman film this afternoon and the carriages and loco 592 featured briefly at Kings Cross. There was also another loco pulling out of the station alongside 592 but it must have been CGI. It all looked rather good as Kings Cross was decked out in S & E.C.R. signs and branding. The film is set during WWI.
Cracking film. Gal Galdot is superb as Wonder Woman.




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An infrastructure update covering the last month or so of work, primarily covering work on OP4 (the Horsted Keynes carriage shed).

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/inf_news.html

Tom

 

Tom.
From the wording of the update about spreading the material using "the laser dozer".
Do I get the impression that the Laser Dozer is actually a piece of equiment owned by the Bluebell or is it, as I would have thought, be hired in on an as and when basis?
Is there a list anywhere of all the plant in use on the BB? Not just rail mounted stuff.

 

Pretty certain it would be on hire (looks to be from L&W, who have worked extensively with the railway).

Not sure if there is an available plant list - @jonpbowers might know better than me, but I think most such plant is hired as needed. Rail vehicles used for infrastructure purposes (rather than as heritage vehicles - primarily ballast wagons and various other special use wagons) are listed in the wagon stock list on line - a few vehicles are held for both purposes, notably goods brake vans.

Tom

 

Tom is quite right in that most plant is hired as required. There are usually a couple of items on site at any one time but these are swapped around as and when they are needed for L&W's mainline jobs and supplemented for periods of major works on the Bluebell. As far as a plant list is concerned, a fair proportion of the items here: http://www.lwcontractors.co.uk/plant-list/ have been used on our jobs at one point or another.

Jon

 

S2531S CCT Update

The North End doors are off and the roof is going back on

David R

 

Tom / Jon Thanks for the replies.
I thought that would be the case with the Dozer etc.

 

I have found this short documentary about the making of the new Wonder Woman film which features 592 in action at Kings Cross. If you do not want to watch the whole programme skip to 9 minutes 49 seconds and watch from there to see the railway parts: