Bluebell Motive Power

And the Bulleids on GWSR and SVR.

Bluebell has always been 9017s home regardless whether GWR fits in Sussex or not.

 

And City of Wells on the KWVR and ELR too

 

The website does refer to "a few years spent at the Great Western Society, at Didcot, and more recently occasional visits to other lines" and states that "the locomotive is to remain normally on the Bluebell Railway" (my emphasis).

 

And.....
5775 on the KWVR
35006 on the GWSR
1638, 4253, 5668, 6619 and the railcar on the K7ESR
47493 and 68077 on the Spa Valley
34027 on the Severn Valley
30777 on the GCR
34101 in the NYMR
5553 and 5224 on Peak Rail
etc, etc, etc.

However, "foreign" locos can become very popular in their new surroundings, and not just among loco crews. Even at a more general enthusiast level, a bit of variety can sometimes be rather enjoyable.

 

That is my point entirely John, now then what about the North London Tank…?

 

Absolutely .... even if I do have an image in my minds' eye the highest bits of Scaldwell poking clear of the reeds in Warbleswick, having been sent down the wrong siding, avocet nesting in chimney, arctic terns arguing over space on cab roof.

 

Beware the slippery slope into madness here... Lots of engines to speculate about, but the communication specifically said that the NLT and Sharpthorne were not going anywhere, nor was this "the thin end of the wedge"!

 

Before too many people arrive with tape measures ready to measure up anything at the railway not firmly bolted down, the disposal of 30064 (and the carriages put up for disposal earlier) are not presaging some wholesale clear out of rolling stock; but rather just taking a pragmatic look at what can realistically be achieved within our available resources.

An important point is that the new owner proposes to restore the loco within a reasonably short time frame. There would seem little point to me in identifying items of stock stored outside for which there is no viable restoration plan, only to sell them to another railway where they would remain outside with no plan. The core problems of too little undercover storage and too little overhaul capacity is a sector-wide issue, not just one that the Bluebell is suffering from. Even the superficially attractive "send it to X Railway and they will restore it" comes with the never-asked question "and what would they thereby leave decaying outside instead while resources were thus diverted?"

Tom

 

Tom, I’m not suggesting 58550 should be sold, given away etc.
My comment was very much tongue in cheek seeing as how the Nat Pres HRC (Blubell Branch) has already decided what to do with 488 and 3217

You raised a very good point some time ago regarding how this lovely little machine was undercover at Barrow Hill not so long ago and was recalled to Horsted Keynes to sit outside.
From my association with the SVR and knowing how much it cost to rebuild 43106 and 75069 after years outside, is there some sort of conservation plan for it?
From my only visit to the Bluebell I have to say I was rather taken with it!

 

In regards to the NL Tank, wasn't it brought back from the Ecclesbourne Valley Railway or Barrow Hill with a view to being overhauled for the tip trains?

 

I think that was the original intention but (correct me if mistaken) a combination of the engine needing more work than initially anticipated and the decision to hire in an 08 for that work led to it being sidelined

 

I seem to remember that there were some crossed wires about timescale for needing it back, and it arrived at Sheffield Park entirely unexpected and during a big event…!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

9017 has been a Sussex based engine longer than it was ever anywhere else. It might be funny looking and have odd bits of brass sticking out of it, but she's one of us now.

As for 30064, suppose it's wishful thinking for a straight swap for Waddon?

 

Surely that'd have to be at least a 3-way swap?

 

The same could be said about 30064. Apart from the brass bits, that is.

 

A point reinforced by the railway's recent purchase of the 01 to secure it there for the future.

 

A rather nicely done animated video has been uploaded on the Bluebell YouTube channel for Fenchurch's 150th

 

That's a really nicely done video! Something totally different, and very enjoyable.

Richard.

 

That's excellent.

 

What a brilliant video.