Bluebell Railway End of Southern Steam event, 7 - 9 July 2017

Quick plug for this event, featuring visiting loco 34092 "City of Wells".

Timetable here:

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

Tom

 

Details of the carriage sets are available on http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/index.html

Will the Pullman carriages in Set B be for first class ticket holders like it was at GoS?

 

It's probably worth noting that the 6:25pm, 8:00pm and 10:00pm on Friday and the 7:30pm and 9:30pm on Saturday are not public service trains. Plus the 1:00pm and 3:35pm on Sunday may either be not in public service or have limited seating.

 

City of Wells has arrived:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=243819569448994&set=p.243819569448994&type=3&theater

(Not my photo)

Tom

 

The PTI has been updated and the Pullman carriages are not in use Friday & Saturday apart from the evening Golden Arrows.

 

Those who can't attend this event it seems 34092 is running every Saturday and Sunday in July.

 

Does anyone know anything about the goods workings at the event? Are they full goods trains or brake van only? If brake van only are they available for rides?

 

Full goods trains. Only one brake van, so it swaps ends at Kingscote and Sheffield Park as required with the necessary shunting. Brake Van rides not available.

Also just to note that apart from 30541, 34092 and 73082, D4106 (newly repainted in BR Green) will be station pilot at Sheffield Park.

Tom

 

With the O1 also back in traffic from the 15th

 

The PTI page was updated a few days ago, and now shows some changes to the stock rakes being used, notably that 34092 will now work the 6 coach green rake on Friday and Saturday, while the Q will use the Southern non-corridor and Maunsell set. The 7 coach combined Pullman and WR set planned for 34092 will now only be in use for the Saturday night Golden Arrow and on Sunday, when it is paired with 30541.

Update: 73082 now swapped diagrams with 30541 for Sunday and therefore working the GA/WR combined set, which is also, as @Funnell mentioned, not in public service (it's listed as "GL" on the PTI page and does not appear on the public timetable accesible on the events page).

 

Is 30541 fixed now? I saw that it was failed last weekend.

 

As far as I am aware, though I haven't been down for a couple of weekends. It had a sticking drain cock valve which required attention after the model railway weekend (and so 73082 substituted), but nothing major.

Tom

 

Can anyone explain why the fare for Sunday is £25, six quid more than the normal fare, when the timetable appears to be pretty much the same as a normal weekend?

 

30541 was on the service train today, with the 01 on a loaded test run to East Grinstead. Seen passing through Imberhorne cutting, while working with the lineside clearance gang.

 

Can anyone please advise directions that locos face???
TIA
Neale

 

30541, 73082 and 34092 all face north (smokebox leading SP to EG).

Tom

 

All the steam locomotives involved in the gala face north towards East Grinstead.

 

Generally at the Bluebell it's easier to assume they face EG. Not very many which don't, and hardly ever a visitor.

 

Visited this morning and stuck around until just after 14:00hrs, both the trains and the stations looked very empty but hopefully attendance will pick up over the weekend. City of Wells looked and sounded fantastic, and is a credit to all who are involved in maintaining her. Camelot performed well as ever, and the Q class seemed to be coping effectively despite the recent withdrawal for maintanence. Some photos from my visit are below, with a video to follow...

 

Does anyone know why, please, "City Of Wells " was taken off the 18:25 at Horsted Keynes this evening and, more to the point if there is a problem will she be running tomorrow?