Bluebell Railway General Discussion

It can't be 80104. As a engine I seen regularly, thus learn a little of her history. I was under the impression 80104 was never a Southern Region locomotive, being located to the LT&SR routes before buggering off to the WR and later the Cambrian. So unless she got borrowed, the photo is under the wrong number.

 

I think that you will find that this turn was used regularly as a running in turn for ex-works locos from Brighton Works. Presumably in this instance 80104 is brand new and running in before dispatch to its intended LT&SR home. There is a photo of sister 80105 leaving West Hoathly on a similar turn in Klaus Marx's excellent "Illustrated History of the Lewes & East Grinstead Railway"

Peter

 

I think the proximity to Brighton, coupled with the status as an avoiding line for the mainline, meant the variety of locos seen on the line pre-preservation was considerable. Atlantics (of both the H1 and H2 variety) were certainly common visitors. I found out today that even WD 2-8-0s sometimes worked over the line. I'll have to look through in detail of Klaus Marx' book, but I wouldn't be surprised if there were 40-odd different classes having been spotted on the line.

Tom

 

oh ok. that makes sense now

 

It's definitely 80104 although you can't really tell from the upload a few pages back.

The caption says the loco was recently to traffic and the picture is dated 22nd April 1955 and says it wasn't a Southern Region loco long as by June 1955 it was allocated to Plaistow. I've also seen the picture of 80105 at West Hoathly as mentioned by Peter.

 

The 80105 picture is dated 30th April 1955.

Peter

 

This might be the one you were thinking of, and showing that the practice went a fair way back- Sid Nash's view from 24th September 1951, 80016 ex-works on the 3.35pm service, running South from Cinder Hill towards Barcombe:

 

Responding to my own post ... From Klaus Marx' book, there are at least 50 types of steam loco recorded in use on the line pre-preservation. In addition the contractors locos; various types stored out of service at Horsted Keynes in the Billinton / Marsh era; and various diesels.

They range from the Stroudley 2-4-0T motor-equipped Terrier conversions ('Boxhill' and 'Beulah') through to Atlantics, Austerity 2-8-0s and Bulleid pacifics. The Leader even gets a look in, recorded taking water from a garden hose (!) at Sheffield Park.

There's a few interesting types in here. Elderly Stirling 4-4-0s were frequent visitors right at the end of their lives, there's an account of one in Marx spending 15 minutes for a blow-up at West Hoathly. The more modern Wainwright 4-4-0s were also reasonably common, especially the E1s. E class No. 516 is amongst those recorded. The H1 and H2 Atlantics were in use through much of their lives. The Austerity 2-8-0s even had a passenger duty for a few months during the summer of 1949, hauling an Eastbourne - London Bridge via Haywards Heath and East Grinstead service; apparently the only Austerity-hauled passenger turn on the Southern Region into London. BR Standards were rare, with the exception of the 80xxx tanks; the solitary record of a 76xxx 2-6-0 is from after closure.

(To answer a question from another thread: seemingly no Black 5s, though they were permitted, as were Britannias).

Tom

 

The Leader ran short of steam, I believe at Sheffield Park. Didn't know about a Standard 4 Mogul or WD 2-8-0's though, although I do own the Klaus Marx Lewes to East Grinstead Railway book but don't think I've fully read it yet.

 

Popped down to the railway again today to pick up an EFE O2 model from the shop and have a ride. The Class 33 was back in the yard being worked on with the S160 next to it (has it had attention from the cleaners as it looked shinier than photos from earlier this week?).

The day's bonus feature though was the historic lorries on the A22 and steam lorry spotted passing through Danehill on the way down. Then, walking back to the car at Sheffield Park I thought I spied a traction engine heading South on the A275. After we left a steam roller, two tractors and the Garrett traction engine "Olive" passed us in convoy. Sometimes it's the unexpected things that make the day special.

Regards,

Dan

 

Gosh, how slow were you travelling??!!

 

Lol! Other side of the road

Dan

 

Waiting for the up service yesterday:



Tom

 

How big a bucket of metal glue were they using?

 

H class failed today? Photo on Facebook of the 09 on the Mets at Sheffield Park.

 

No fireman according to Bluebell IO group.

 

Presumably @Jamessquared was distracted by a particularly troublesome WSR post on the correct structures for managing a heritage railway and lost track of time…



Simon

 

Yes there is a lack of fireman available for the second train today. The Q-class took the main set with 6 on. The 09 was used to cover the set which would've been taken by the H. If I wasn't busy today I would've took a special trip just to ride behind the Gronk. I suppose at least the Bluebell tried to run full service even with alternative motive power

 

Guess they need to send for help

 

A friend from Ireland I was holidaying with in Wales last week paid a visit today before heading home (using up a voucher from last year) and had to laugh when he saw the Gronk on the service, though obviously a little disappointed. Managed a trip behind the Q though so he was happy. Anyone know why half the loco shed is currently closed off? He was hoping to see the H from the usually open far-end but the path between the buffers is currently barriered-off.