Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Great to see things are happening on Fenchurch - hopefully she may be in steam for her 150th Birthday!

 

The railway released its loco roster for 19th May-10th June.
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/locomotive-roster/

A reminder for those interested this is 263s last season before withdrawal for overhaul and also a possible last for 847 depending whether it can be coaxed till the expiry of its ten-year ticket in 2023 or not.

 

Presumably also depending whether the replacement (which I assume is 34059) is ready for the end of the year?

 

847 was really used somewhat in reserve last year: with 73082, 80151 and 541 available, it was only needed sparingly. I suspect it can continue in that vein for a while yet: obviously keeping it in traffic does have a cost of putting it through an annual exam etc. It was a good loco for the East Grinstead Santas since, with an all-day duty with hours of steam heating and repeated cold starts away from HK, the big water capacity was useful. I think last year many of its days in traffic were on that duty.

263 entered traffic in 2012. Having had a substantial boiler overhaul at that time, and just come off a large intermediate mechanical overhaul, I think it would be disappointing if it didn't go right through into the first half of 2022. If 2022 reverts somewhat to normality, Branch Line Gala that year may be its swan song. I'm not privy to any inside information, but the fact that it just had a lot of mechanical work done and the good condition of the boiler suggests to me that it might be a candidate for a rapid turnaround for a new ticket in 2022, in preference to No. 592.

Tom

 

With just days to go until we reopen, May’s issue of The Bluebell Times comes as we make our final preparations to welcome visitors back from Thursday 20 May.

Issue 20 also includes news from the Society and updates from across the Railway.

In issue 20:

• News of Fenchurch’s overhaul as our oldest locomotive approaches its 150th birthday
• The pressure to maintain our carriage fleet
• Update on plans for our 60+1 anniversary
• The launch of our new Kingscote virtual tour
• Five minutes with a former naval pilot now kept busy at Horsted Keynes
• An original song celebrating the rhythm of our locomotives
• And much, much more

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/bluebell-times/

Tom

 

Is that one of Mr Wainwright's coaches behind Mr Stroudley's engine on the front cover? Standards clearly being maintained!

 

It would be a rare issue that didn't feature something of his!

Tom

 

..... even if you occasionally have to look beyond the title page, Eh, Tom?

One thing during the preservation era that's been notable is how much better considered are Mr.Wainwright's P class, these days. You have to wonder if, during their "working lives", it was just a case of 'em quietly beavering away, tucked away from the limelight, with any lingering expressed doubts dating right back to their originally intended (urban) P-P workings, which were largely rendered redundant by 3rd rail before WWII.

 

I refute that accusation of bias. I just had a look at the "cover star" for all twenty issues, and it as follows.

Wainwright P No. 178 - 7 appearances
Stroudley A1x No. 55 - 3
Riddles 5MT No. 73082 - 3
Stirling / Wainwright O1 No. 65 - 2
Wainwright H No.263 - 2
Wainwright P No. 323 - 1
Wainwright E No. 516 - 1
Stroudley A1 No. 672 - 1
Maunsell S15 No. 847 - 1
Riddles 4MT No. 80151 - 1
Riddles 9F No. 92240 - 1
Gresley A3 No. 60103 - 1

Anyone who perceives the slightest bias towards Wainwright locos must have sharper eyes than me

Certainly agree with you on P tanks - much under rated, and far more user-friendly than a Terrier. I think they were probably just a bit small for the standards of 1910, with train weights being well in advance of what pertained ca. 1872. The history is quite interesting, being introduced at the same time as rail motors and a number of comparative trials running to see which was preferred for that type of traffic. Unlike the rail motors, they found another niche which gave them long and productive lives.

Hmmm ... maybe a "closer look at ..." next month ought to be on the P tanks ...

Tom

 

Your choice of words, my dear chap, not mine. I'd have gone with nothing stronger than "a penchant"!

Their introduction, contemporaneous with that of the first 'railmotor' era certainly would bear further analysis. When you consider the competition which spurred their development was the urban electric tram, I've often suspected improved frequency of services drove any increase in passenger numbers beyond the capacity of railmotors or ultra-light P-P.

 

You did make mention of the Premier Lines DX goods engines earlier in the week on another thread so there is still hope! Perhaps the North London Tank will be soon making an appearance as the 'cover star'.....

 

Tom, have you ever been on an IOW Terrier?
Freshwater is loads better than either of ours.
There was never the time or enthusiasm to do a proper 'tune up' on 672. I would really have liked to have done it.
Other than the steam reverser, there's not a lot in it between the two types. I suppose you can say a Terrier is somewhat cramped especially if it has air and vac.
Ps are a bit under powered by comparison. I like both and Martello was nice to get a go on too.

 

No, only our two. Fenchurch always struck me as a pig to prepare with that fiddly fire hole door, and the injectors were fiddly and fast, unlike the Chatham ones. Hence the comment about being user friendly.

That said, being self-reflective, there is inevitably an element of liking the locos you really cut your teeth on. Fenchurch had gone when I was still quite green, I might like it more next time round. (By the same token I’d like to see the Dukedog back, because I hardly went on it last time round).

Tom

 

What would it take mechanically for a tune up like you mention? I’ve seen people mention the difference between locos of the same class but never really understood what it is that makes the difference. I know with Stepney the difference is that it’s just knackered!


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Just caught the Q class leaving East Grinstead with a 'ghost train' prior to reopening on one of the excellent new webcams the Bluebell has set up: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/webcams/

 

Tom, I'll concede the firehole door and injector points. As a Driver they are SEP!
You do have a fondness for engines you started your carreer with.
Dan, it's a long time ago now but IIRC the firebars on 672 are a lot closer together than Freshwater's meaning you needed to run with a consistently thin fire, less room for error.
There were differences in the smokebox too, blast pipe height etc. The inner fire box which is steel could have been a better shape with more rounded corners. It is getting a new one as part of its overhaul.
I can't remember the size of Freshwater's cylinders but 672's are 14" which I think is too big. The sweet spot seems to be 13" on a Terrier.
I was involved in the last overhaul of Fenchurch, that too gives you a fondness for an engine as does driving and firing it abroad, though I did valve setting and other stuff to 323 and 178.

 

For anyone interested, ghost trains run today until Wednesday.

Departures 10am / 12:15 / 2.30 from Sheffield Park; and 10:55 / 1:10 / 3:30 from East Grinstead. Normal section times and statin times to work the timetable out from there. (2 minutes and 1 minute stop at HK and KC respectively in each direction).

There are cameras at Sheffield Park Platform 1 and platform 2 (both looking north); Kingscote from the signal box looking south and looking north; East Grinstead from the south of the run round loop looking south (over the viaduct); from the same place looking north (back towards the station) and on the buffers at the very north end of East Grinstead, looking south. Nothing at Horsted Keynes, I suspect there is insufficient band width.

Tom

 

The webcams are a very good idea as already been proven since the Reopening period in August. The newly placed ones are great. Took a screenshot of the Q this afternoon. Nice to see trains back again.

 

Is Fenchurch's new firebox going to be steel again or are you reverting back to copper?

Peter

 

Really interesting, thanks! Wonder what size the cylinders will be bored to if they end up using the new set this time?


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