Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Update on the What's New page, with photos, of the latest stage in the track relaying: 5/8 mile of track has been laid and the line is now re-connected between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes - the next steps are adding about 1000 tons of ballast, as well as some repairs to the footpath and fencing at Tremains Crossing.

Also an interesting new acquisition for the museum - a bridge plaque from Dulwich, featuring the coats of arms of the LBSCR and Edward Alleyn, a Shakespearean actor who begun acquiring land that in time became the Dulwich Estate.

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html for 30 January.

Tom

 

A few more photos of the track relaying work on the "What's new page". Interesting that one of the rails removed has the marks "DOWLAIS STEEL - IX-1903 LB&SCRy" rolled into it - 115 years old. The assumption is that this dates from when the initial 70lb/yard rails were relaid with 96lbs/yard at that time.

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html for 1st February

Tom

 

The CCT has now had it's frame gritblasted out in the yard and awaits returning to the shed, here it looks a bit forelorn outside. There is a shunt due next week which will hopefully see it return inside so that we can crack on with it's restoration. Meanwhile one of the team has been busy repairing the North End doors and re-making the South End doors so that these will soon be ready for fitting

David R

 

Meanwhile whilst the CCT was being gritblasted, it's place in the shed has been taken by a wagon. It's had some planks replaced and a complete repaint and varnish so that it can take it's place in the demonstration Goods Train

David R

 

Rostering 847 for the Sulky Service this month is a bit disappointing, even 541 would at least be nearer to 1958 in terms of livery. Any plans for a different allocation in March?

 

Has it ever occurred to the powers that be at the Bluebell that sending red bills in window envelopes to people who have not got around to renewing their membership does not win friends and influence people? It's a membership organisation, not a ruddy utility, and this kind of behaviour is unlikely to encourage repeat subscriptions.

 

Regardless of the livery question, according to Klaus Marx's encylopaedic book Lewes and East Grinstead Railway, one Q, No. 30540, did work over the line in the Sulky Service period.. The most widely-used classes, however, were Standard 4MT tanks - one of which, of course worked the final train. 80151 would have been the ideal engine as it did work over the line between 1956 and 1958, but we'll have to wait a few months longer for that. E4s also appeared as did 2 C class 0-6-0s, but we won't be seeing 473 or 592 any time soon, sadly.

So I agree - 30541 would be the most suitable loco from the current working fleet. Still, let's see what the Bluebell has up its sleeve for March. Twenty years ago, a 2-6-4T, no. 80080, was hired in for the commemorations. Who knows what might turn up next month?

 

On the CCT all 4 pairs of side doors (i.e. 8 doors in total) will have to be newly made. Today we made a start with cutting the 3/4" by 18mm groove requied in one piece of hard wood for each of the 8 doors using a router - as the wood is over 6 ft long and there are 8 pieces, anyone familiar with a router will know that we made a lot of mess and a lot of noise (ear protection compulsory).

Pictures show the timber for the inside of the new side doors and the pieces of wood with their routed groove (the white piece on top is another part of the van that we made a few weeks ago)

David R

 

Just a quick reminder of how the CCT looked before we dismantled it

David R

 

thanks John; I have a copy of that book and indeed there was a variety of motive power during the period. I also have a much slimmer Historical Album from 1979 with a selection of photos. It all seemed so different (and less optimistic) back then to today's situation; and 2018 is very much an occasion to celebrate!

 

The nearest to an ideal "sulky" carriage to accompany a Standard 4 tank would be LBSCR brake 4168 from the Isle of Wight, but somehow I can't see that happening, particularly as it's currently in works for a re varnish!

 

And it's air brake only

 

Just started on Quest freeview channel 37 Trainspotting program with Iron Maidens Bruce Dickinson at the Bluebell Railway.

 

Very disappointing, hardly anything about the bluebell, more about Peak Rail & the Channel Tunnel than the bluebell.

 

Southern Railway No.1456 Bulleid Open Third, under overhaul at the Midhants : -



Stowe's firebox also at the Midhants : -



Both photos taken on Sunday.

 

Loco roster published up to the end of March. 847 will continue to sulk until the commemoration of 15th-17th March when it will share the honours with 30541. NO visiting 4MT tank for the commemoration but hopefully we'll be able to enjoy 80151 in action before too long

 

The CCT has returned to the shed following a shunt on Thursday. Work can now start with rust treating the metalwork (the black areas indicate parts of the frame already treated) and then on painting the frame.

Saturday also saw the final west side roof boards prepared (the bottom roof board had been left off pending heat being applied to the side door hinges to remove them).

David R

 

Realised I haven't updated this thread for a little while.

Firstly, a reminder that as part of the celebrations(?) of the 1958 line closure, the current timetable - based on the "Sulky Service" is running. This will culminate on the weekend of 17/18 March when visitors born in 1958 will be able to travel at 1958 fares (4/-, or 20p). There is also the opportunity for rare track, as follows:

On Saturday (17 March) there will be a particularly special event, for the first time since 1958 timetabled down trains will depart south of Sheffield Park and recreate up trains arriving as if from Lewes. The 10:28, 12:28 and 2:28 departures from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park will be extended towards Newick, departing from Sheffield Park, Platform 1 at 11:13, 1:13 and 3:13. The 11:30, 1:30 and 3:30 from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead will start from Newick (Siding) at 11:23, 1:23 and 3:23 and arriving at Platform 1, two minutes later.

Please note that passengers will NOT be permitted to alight or join trains in the Newick Siding.

At Sheffield Park there will be brake van rides on Saturday, on a first come first serve basis.

See https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/diamond-anniversary/


Next, on the track relaying - the major work done during January has been bought back into use; that amounted to 50 chains (5/8 mile) starting at Monteswood Lane bridge and running north through Tremains Crossing and towards Lindfield Wood.

Trains are now running at weekends, but in the midweek period, the infrastructure team have moved on and are replacing more track north of Lindfield Wood. I believe the starting point is at the northern end of what was relaid last winter, and carrying on for about 250 yards to Caseford Bridge, where the HK up outer distant is located.

(see http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/map_grad.html)

Finally, the following was in the e-Newsletter at the weekend, covering the overhaul and wheelchair conversion of Pullman Car 54:

"A lot has happened on the underframe of Car 54 since its body was removed. One of the first jobs was to grit blast it using the newly acquired blaster, which helped us to assess the condition of the underframe more easily.

A convenient window in the paint shop allowed the cleaned frame to be shunted inside the shed over the Christmas period where a "paint brush army" descended upon it to paint most of it to black gloss.

Four of the main gusset plates had suffered from rust build-up underneath and as a result had "blown". These plates have now been replaced. This job was made a little awkward by having to reverse-engineer the holes in the new plates from the pre-existing holes in the underframe.

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We also have replaced all of the cross bracing that runs along the underframe. This work proved to be trickier than first thought as we had to work out how the braces were tensioned when the carriage was first built. The method we used in the end was to rivet the centre of each strap and heat the middle of it to a red heat. While the strap was still hot the other end was tack welded. On cooling there was a surprising amount of tension in the brac

Members of our Tuesday and Thursday volunteer gangs have been doing sterling work constructing the hardwood battery boxes and producing the many metal fittings which are needed for them. It has been noted that the ability of our volunteers to make things straight and with holes in the right place far exceeds the efforts of their Claytons counterparts of the period!

What we have of the hand brake assembly has been found, overhauled, and refitted because it is much easier while the carriage body is still off the underframe."
​

Tom

 

Thank you for that Tom. It's good to see progress moving on with car 54 so rapidly, and really looking forward to the day when we can ride and dine in it.
The unusual experience of approaching SP from the south will be well worth a visit.

 

Yes, will be interesting. I haven't seen any operational notices for that weekend, but my assumption is that we will have to have a turnover engine - i.e. one loco will arrive from East Grinstead and run through to "Newick", and a second engine will then couple on the north end of the set to run back to Sheffield Park and points north, releasing the first engine.

(for example, the 10.28 departure from EG arrives at SP at 11.10. Depart 11.13, arrive Newick Siding at say 11.15. Gives 8 minutes for another engine to couple on the other end, depart 11.23, arrive Sheffield Park 11.25, depart 11.30).

Tom