Bluebell Railway General Discussion

From the Bluebell e-newsletter:

Tracking Progress at Freshfield
The relaying of 600 feet of track on Freshfield Bank went very much according to plan on the evenings and nights of 5 and 6 June, 2017.

The team started work after the last train on Monday. The weather started showery and ended up as a soak-to-the-skin downpour. The old panels were unbolted, cut into 30 foot lengths to ease handling, and craned to the side.

The existing ballast was then levelled with a laser "dozer". Using tandem Colmar road-railers, each new 60 foot panel was lifted into place, the fishplates then fitted and bolted.

To fit the final panel, we allowed a bit extra in the overall length of track. This was cut back to a few inches too long to allow the correct length to be accurately measured. The final cut could then be made when the last panel was in place, the last set of holes drilled and the fishplates fitted. One ballast drop (60 tons) was carried out using the three ballast hoppers pulled by the diesel. The work was completed by first light Tuesday morning.

There was enough ballast to hold the formation in place with a speed limit for Tuesday's trains. On Tuesday evening, the final ballasting was done, and the tamper sent through. The tamper took out any minor wiggles that were introduced in the relaying process.

The relayed section has had the 10mph limit lifted, although the limit still applies at the foot of the bank towards Sheffield Park at the seven-mile post. Between trains on Thursday, the removed 30-foot panels were brought back to Horsted Keynes and stacked ready for use in OP4.

By Bruce Healey & John Goff

More news, and photos here: http://myemail.constantcontact.com/...ilway.html?soid=1108082818574&aid=0KvyG_t_Pbc

Tom

 

I'm impressed. There can't be many heritage railways that carry out engineering work overnight, rather than on a non-operating day. Was this a contractor job or were the Bluebell's own staff used?

 

I'm impressed as well.
Similar sort of length that is tackled on the network in some midweek relays, maybe a length or 2 shorter.
How long had the panels been out on site beforehand? The grass looks a bit long.

 

(Deleted)

 

The actual night shift was a mix of external contractors, paid PW staff and a few volunteers. Mostly machine work so not too many people needed.

The panels were built at HK and transported to site by the Colmars about 2 weeks before the job (the grass grows quickly down south ). Then the day before the relay we greased up the ends of the new panels; checked the existing fishplates came apart; dug out the beds where the Dozer would drop onto the formation once the first panel was lifted; as well as a few general preparations to make life as easy as possible for the night shift.

 

An impressive feat no matter what the detail is and just illustrates how far the heritage railway movement has progressed in the last 40 years

 

Very impressive achievement indeed! Not the first time track has been laid overnight on a heritage railway though, GWSR did a couple of 24 hour sponsored track listing sessions in the early days. I'm told that when they reached the first curve it was dark and they'd never done one before, so they went straight off the embankment!

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

Jon - Couple of further queries.
Was the relay site subject to an earlier reballast? Or had it had a tip stone and lift?
The ballast showing in the pre relay shot seems rather new and would be likely to be suitable for a blade off and relay with no spoil created.

Just trying to see if a similar scenario could be done on the NYMR.

 

Hi Bryan - have (hopefully) sent you a PM.

 

A detailed report of the recent night-time relaying job is now available on the Bluebell website:
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/inf_news.html

 

Trying not to steal Jon's thunder, but just a quick note that there will be a goods train tomorrow (Saturday) in addition to the normal two-train timetable.

Timetable here: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/GDS2.html

Rostered motive power is 263 on the A service; 847 on the B service; 541 on the Goods Set.

Tom

 

Model Railway weekend this coming weekend, timetable here: http://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/04/Model-Railway-Weekend.pdf

PTI page says Q and H on the full line services, with Captain Baxter and Bluebell top and tailing a vintage rake shuttle between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/

 

A few photos from Model Railway weekend

https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/Bluebellphotosets/Model-Railway-Weekend-June-2017/

 

Nice afternoon at the model weekend Saturday...

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

 

Oh for the H tank in BR black.

 

Tom

 

Where's the 'dislike' button when you need it?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Yuck.
What you meant to say was "oh, for a rake of SECR coaches".
I propose a "two-in, one-out rule", where one loco can be repainted in BR livery for every two repainted into pre-grouping or big four livery. Would include BR standards...

 

Had a great time at the model rail weekend, the top and tailed vintage shuttle was a nice touch (though a shame that the SECR bogies and Maunsells were not in use on the full line services, so the two main services were Mk1s and a couple of tired Bullieds. And where have the Mets gone, I know they have problems with the door handles but I couldn't see them anywhere on site?). Getting to go into the pit under the S15 was a great idea too.

Another thing I noted was the 9F has come down from Horsted Keynes, is it it's time in the works? The O1 looked lovely parked outside, I think the SECR Green is perhaps the most beautiful livery created when new (the H is looking a little tired now, the crest could certainly do with a touch up but sure there are other priorities).

Trains busy but could always get a seat. The Bluebell is always worth a trip.

 

I mean both, I should have added, near the end of its boiler certificate. It's a shame the C Class could not have gone into BR black for its last year. I'm being selfish there as my first railway memories are of waving to the driver of the Hither Green C that went down to shunt Bromley North yard every afternoon. I used to see the H Class if I cycled down to Westerham. I assume you are not suggesting BR Standards should go in pre grouping livery