Bluebell Railway General Discussion

The latest update on the VCR webpage shows that 2 of the LBSCR grounded bodies at Pagham Beach Estate have been acquired by the Bluebell. If true, then brilliant!
Does anyone know anything about this?

 

Whats VCR?

 

http://www.vintagecarriagestrust.org/surveystatus.asp It is a very useful register.

 

Vintage carriage register - http://www.cs.vintagecarriagestrust.org/se/search.asp

The discussion elsewhere is that the railway hasn't acquired any LBSCR bodies from there. There is an ex-SER 1st class body that came to the railway in 2010 that originated at Pagham.

From asking round, it isn't clear exactly which stop blocks are being referred to - possibly one removed when the first C&W shed was erected many years ago? In any case, such things are considered valuable and therefore are normally retained for use elsewhere on the railway unless for any reason they have been damaged beyond repair. So probably still exist, but I couldn't say where. In the absence of more detailed information, it's hard to be more definitive.

Tom

 

From the Blog: What's New section of the .co.uk site -

"2018 is the 60th anniversary of the (second) line closure, the start of two years of 60th Anniversary events. To start this off, we are replicating the "Sulky Service" on 10-18, 24-25 February, 3-4, 10-11 and 17-18 March. This is a four-train service with timings closely following those of the 1958 pre-closure timetable. Since we run trains more slowly, it works well with the Sheffield Park departure times approximating those originally from Lewes. On 16 March we will commemorate and re-create the last passenger service to depart south from East Grinstead.
23-25 March - Diesel Gala
Steam-hauled services run daily between 30 March and 30 September
18-19 May - Branch Line Gala
11-12 August - Steam through the Ages
12-14 October - Autumn Gala"

 

That would have been my thoughts as well Tom.
Stop blocks are always in demand.
Thanks again.

 

It will be interesting to find out what will be working the "sulky service" trains and the 16th March special. A Standard 4MT tank would be the obvious class of loco to use, but from what I have read elsewhere, 80151 isn't likely to be ready until later in the year.

 

Yes it will be interesting given 80064 is awaiting overhaul, 80151 is not likely to be completed in time and 80100 is yet to be restored. Maybe a Standard 4 tank is being brought in to recreate it? 80080 visited for the 40th Anniversary in 1998.

Steam Railway are saying the Bluebell are eying up 813 from the SVR as a guest for the Branch Line Weekemd

 

what do you think? try reading my post. The fact that the BRPS is parading wild animals which are not suited to captivity and the UK climate (and the inadequate husbandry they suffer) at a Christmas event; I've had no reply from my email BTW

if you really want to know how the reindeer come here watch this

 

Are they!? Where does it say this?

Sent from my Moto G (4) using Tapatalk

 

I think that you have completely misunderstood the original post. It was referring to some wild fallow deer that were encountered whilst on a track walk..!!

 

With the exception of three Forest Reindeer at the Highland Wildlife Park, all reindeer in the UK are of the domesticated form and all but the Cairngorm and Glenlivet herds are zoo or farm bred.

 

Excellent news - some good opportunities there to head down south. I assume 'steam through the ages' will be the best chance to see pre-grouping sets?

 

Keep an eye on the PTI page - one or other of the vintage sets is always in use at weekends whenever service 2 is running, which is most of the year.

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

Tom

 

I don't want this to go too far as it's not what this forum's for; it was actually prompted by another unrelated event not the Track Trek (where we saw deer in their natural wild habitat and it was wonderful), I just sent a general email via the BR website asking where I might raise the Reindeer issue and having not got a reply I asked here. There is an active campaign at the moment from several animal welfare organisations about having reindeer at public events (probably aimed at the big Bluewater type places). There seems to be some evidence that the animals' welfare is compromised by being brought to these type of events (and indeed the UK at all) and a general wish to see the whole idea rethought, that's all

Thanks

 

I don't think the BRPS are doing anything of the sort actually!!!

 

Fallow deer roam far and wide over the weald. On the Brighton Mainline, a few miles west of and roughly parallel with the Bluebell's Sharpthorne Tunnel, they're a frequent sight at the northern end of Balcombe Tunnel, (rather too) often between the running lines and the fences supposed to keep them off the big railway.

 

Indeed lots of Fallow Deer on and around the Spa at High Rocks in Broadwater Forest including a white Buck with fine spread of Antlers, you see them most days. Once the leader goes across in front of you the rest of the herd follow regardless but at 25mph no one has hit any as yet. Unlike Ashdown Forest nearby where road vehicle/ deer collisions occur almost daily, the A26 being especially bad.

 

Never once saw any at High Rocks (I used to climb there, the western end could be treacherously slippery), but did used to see plenty of game birds, plus birds of prey and passed many a happy hour watching the 'Thumpers' growling to and fro along the (now Spa Valley) line. It was a long time ago!

 

There used to be a lot of game birds in Tunbridge wells high street a few years ago, especially after about 10.00pm.....