Bluebell 2009 "Modernisation"

That's Network Rail livery isn't it?

 

No - just my really bad attempt at "Improved Engine Green".

Richard

 

73136 out on driver training today. Full length of line being run.

Pete136's photo of 136 standing at Horsted Keynes.

 

What causes those black spots on the buffers – is it where the paint has rubbed off?

 

I assumed the Bluebell was Southern, so what the f is that instanter coupling doing there!???
They'll be expecting the buckeye and centre buffer to be removed next!

 

Grease in the centre, probably to reduce the friction when buffered up and traversing curves or points.

Regards,

Dan

 

Shunting of non-buckeye fitted stock took place during the day and as the loco is not fitted with a screw link coupling, an instanter will suffice I suspect.

 

Spot on Tom!

 

No 'emergency' screw coupling on the loco? I remember the ED guys were quite insistent (and rightly so, this isn't a criticism!) that we didn't lose their coupling a few years ago when it visited us.

 

Bulleid coaches do have buckeye couplers. The Southern & LNER adopted Pullman gangways, buckeyes and retractable buffers early on.
Meanwhile the western & LMS continued with the old fashioned floppy gangway and screw couplings.

 

Correct, Bulleid carriages do have Buckeye, but its by far easier to use an instanter if a short shunting movement is taking place than to buckeye them up and then uncouple the buckeye etc and keep faffing around like that! \/

 

Quite agree Tom.

Even if you have a buckeye on the carriage, chances are it has been put there by something without one, so you'd have to set the carriage buffers in, raise the buckeye and then put it all back again for each move. Fine if you're running a passenger train, but certainly ott for a quick shunting move.

At Swanage we use buckeyes when running trains with the 33/1 (or any visiting 73's) and it can add to the joys of being a shunter at the diesel gala when you're changing locos at each end!

 

Its good exercise!

 

Sure that wasn't what Tangoman Norden said at the time....

 

Tangoman Norden was unfit and out of practice...!

 

pity there wasnt a standard or a rebuilt spamcan in shot that would really look like a thowback to the end of southern steam any chance of the bluebelle arranging a photo shoot putting some suitible engines on a staged shed scene i can think how that would have looked if a 73 xxx and a 80 tank and maybe an ex works rebuild had been parked next to it

 

Now taking bets on which 73 will be the second on Bluebell metals tomorrow!

109, 201 or 235?

\/

 

Presumably 082 doesn't count?

 

Well you could try but I don't think she would get very far, least of all on the Mainline!

 

I don't know, stick her at the top of the Lickey, take the handbrake off, she'd travel miles... ;-)