Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I know it is still a long way in the future, but for those who like to plan their autumn, visitors for "Giants of Steam", 12/13/14 October:

• Gresley A4 Pacific No. 60009 “Union of South Africa” (courtesy of the Cameron Trust)
• LNER Thompson Class B1 No. 61306 “Mayflower” (courtesy of David Buck)

Neither has visited the railway before.

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/autumn-steam-gala/

(A weekend for @S.A.C. Martin ...)

Tom

 

All this and the Harveys brewery tent at Horsted Keynes, looks like my wife will be driving home again.

 

Really looking forward to that.? I had a feeling the loco that would end up hauling the rail tour on 27th October from Sheffield Park would be a guest. Me and my Grandad are booked on that as well.

 

Meanwhile, coming back to this weekend, there is a demonstration goods running on Sunday (not Saturday, as is more usual).

Loco is listed as 30541.

Times as follows:

SP dep 9.30 HK arr 9.45 light engine

HK dep 9.55 KC arr 10.10
Shunt goods to swap ends with brake van.

KC dep 10.35 HK arr 10.55 dep 11.50 SP arr 12.10
Shunt goods to swap ends with brake van

SP dep 1.00 HK arr 1.20
Berth goods set

HK dep 2.10 SP arr 2.35 light engine

Loco becomes Wealden Rambler engine, departing 3.30

Tom

 

Alongside 73082, 80151, 847 and 541 I'm guessing?

 

Three of them I'm sure; not sure if 80151 would be ready by then.

To run at full capacity, you need four locos, with trains passing at each of SP, HK and KC. So five (say the two visitors, 847, 73082 and 541) is enough, with 541 as a spare. Any more and you are into the realms of double-heading (which seems to divide opinion as to its desirability) or swapping round, which decreases the mileage each loco runs (which also divides opinion particularly if a visitor thereby ends up running less than it could).

Of course, you can have fun with the timetable as at Branchline weekend, but you still ultimately can only have three trains in motion at any one time, because there are only three sections. The double-ended timetable of Branchline weekend was a lot of operational fun, but in recent years GoS has been a more straight up and down sort of affair.

Tom

 

This popped up today (from Tim's Video Channel):
"A Driver's Eye View From Sheffield Park to East Grinstead" in HD, with no annoying music, but a noticeable 'clunk' from a loco I can't identify.


At just over 40mins, you may want to grab a cuppa first. Enjoy!

 

Thanks for the info It's a shame really but I guess if it doesn't fit in with the rolling stock it's pretty far down on the list of restoration.Was kind of hoping to see it behind Great Western Railway 813 when it came to the railway.Can remember the brake van being used as Toad the brake van from Thomas and Friends a very long time ago though

 

The latest video by John Harwood showing clearly the scale of the work involved at HK for OP4:



The levelled area in the foreground is in readiness for the steelwork of the 2-storey Heritage Skills Centre, which is due to be put up next month.
The huge declivity beyond is all ground which needs to be brought up to height to enable road access to the yard beyond. this work consists alternately of compacted layers of fill and Geotex, raising the ground level by around 30ft at its maximum. The amount of plant visible shows the scale of the challenge, and all credit to Infrastructure for their tireless work on yet another major project. Its like a mini-Imberhorne, only in reverse!

 

Have just seen the photos of John Sandys latest visit and see that a walkway has been made alongside the loco shed at Sheffield Park. Is this part of the ASH project with a loco going in the cattle Dock for display?

 

I believe it is to enable the Wealden Rambler carriages to be serviced by the catering staff. Because the entrance to the shed has been raised (for wheelchair access), it needed access at the same level for any trolleys that the catering staff needed for loading the WR set.

Tom

 

Thanks again Tom. I did wonder if there was also an operational reason for it, as I knew the Wealden Rambler set is normally stabled there.

 

Interesting article in this months Railway Magazine says Julie Jones has been appointed as the Bluebells new general manager, and takes up her new role on August 6th

 

There's also the press release on the Bluebell web site dated June 15th - http://bluebell-railway.co.uk/download/press/Bluebell_release_New_GM_Jun18.pdf

 

Quick note that there is a demonstration goods train running this Saturday, motive power should be 541.

Timetable as follows:



Public timetable is service 2, with 847 and 65 doing the honours.

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/visiting-the-railway/timetables/
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/index.html

Tom

 

Received my latest issue of Bluebell News. Some interesting plans for next year should they come to fruition.

The visit of Tornado is currently scheduled for Easter next year.

The Branch Line Gala should have a Pre Grouping Southern feel

And a large named LMS loco is a possibilty for Giants of Steam in 2019.

 

Glad you turn first to the Loco report

Tom

 

Mine arrived today as well. Sounds exciting. The potential visitors which would fit this theme would be W24, 30120, 30587, 32678 and W11. Given the Terriers have already visited in the past, this leaves the O2, the T9 or the well tank. Any of these would be very popular, I'm sure.

 

I have have done and noticed a certain members photographs in that section as well .

I still need to pay a visit at somepoint prior to Giants.

As for John's post. It would be nice to see the T9 back again. I'd be quite happy to see the Well Tank as though.

 

Anyone who wants to ride behind 60009 at Giants has to book a ticket for a round trip. https://bluebell.vticket.co.uk/product.php/76/giants-of-steam-autumn-gala-seated-behind-the-loco