Bluebell Railway General Discussion

(Blurb below; but this issue is worth it for an absolutely cracking Jon Bowers cover photo alone ...)

Vision is a theme of this issue: the Plc has unveiled its draft vision and mission statement – but what sort of Railway do we aspire to be?

In this issue:

• The company chairman paints a picture of how the Railway could appear to our visitors of the future
• A round up from the recent BRPS AGM
• Five minutes with new BRPS Vice Chairman Neil Glaskin
• A new home for the Yankee Tank No. 30064
• Work starts on “The Jewel in the Crown”
• A walk along the Forest Row line in 1963
• New museum photos capture Beachy Head at Horsted Keynes in the 1950s, and Fenchurch in the 1960s.

The Bluebell Times is published monthly on the second Friday of every month. The next issue is due out on Friday 8 July.

You can download the latest edition using the link below.

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

Tom

 

Thanks Tom, interesting read as ever.

I'm sure this has been said before, but the Bluebell could really do with some website culling… I'd never encountered the Museum website before, and I suspect that's at least in part because it's entirely separate to www.bluebell-railway.com and www.bluebell-railway.co.uk – feels like you'd be making better use of the brand with everything on a single domain (even if technically they all run on different platforms).

Simon

 

There are some really glorious pictures in this latest edition, Tom.
Difficult to know where to start- Colin Saunders' lovely shot of 32424 entering Horsted is a peach. One which, some day in the future can be replicated, with the Maunsell CK and Trio set.
Then there's David Esau's beautifully composed study of Goudhurst, the H and the C meeting in that wonderfully Sylvan setting, the Ford Prefect waiting at the crossing gates.
But it's Alan Postlethwaite's gorgeous colour slides of Withyham, and East Grinstead HL which are the icing on the cake- it almost feels like one could step through the frame, and back into a land of lost content. That's how I came to know the railways of Sussex- faded, peeling green and cream paint, soot- stained bridges, and everything streaked brown with brake dust. Except only grass and Ox-eye daisies grew where the track once ran. See, I was a few years too late to the party.
Thanks again, Tom.
Incidentally, I'm guessing that's a typo in Bob Darvill's HK article, about "new paint in period-correct Southern Region colours"? At least I hope so, with all the research that has gone into it

 

Oh, so you didn't include "Tom James' glorious study in red and umber on the right of page 16, the juxtaposition of light and shade being worthy of any Renaissance master of chiaroscuro ..." then?

I'm lucky to have a couple of regular streams of museum photos (and also a route in to requests like "I need a photo of Fenchurch in Southern Railway livery" or whatever). I actually cut a couple from this issue due to how space worked out. As a quid-pro-quo, Bluebell Times is probably giving the photographic archive much more visibility, which is a benefit for what is an educational charity (ultimately governed by the Trust). I haven't counted, but I suspect we have published over a hundred archive photos in BT which might otherwise have remained unseen.

I should also give thanks to a handful of photographers of the current scene who regularly supply me with photos to choose from.

Oh, I just stick a deliberate error in from time to time to see if anyone is paying attention

Tom

 

Oy! I'd already given that one an uptick- don't milk it.

Talking of milking it, keep on with those Bluebell archive photos, they're priceless.

 

The interesting bit for me is the visitor announcement for the Terrier weekend!

 

A very interesting read, especially the vision outlined by Geoff Mee. Good to see some news of a visitor for the Terrier Gala too.

 

Could have been a bit more ambitious IMHO

 

Thanks, excellent indeed.
The Vision article was concise but very thought provoking and is worth reading by anyone interested in the future of preserved railways.
I was particularly interested to see the plans for Kingscote Station which bowled me over with its authenticity when I last visted the line, sadly only passing through. Which, I suspect, most day-visitors do.
A goods yard to the same standard would be a very welcome addition.

 

I checked with the relevant parties - yes, a typo. I'll publish a correction in the next issue. Thanks for pointing it out!

Tom

 

I note that the page link to the Terrier Gala from the events listing is currently broken:
Page not found - Bluebell Railway in Sussex (bluebell-railway.com)

 

Has now been fixed

 

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/terrier-150/

 

Two terriers (W11, 70) + 672.
I would assume that the O1, Q and 4 Tank will also be in action?

If the mainline trains are kind, I will definitely be attending.

 

Nice to see 70 confirmed as well as W11. Hopefully an opportunity to see 3 Stroudley Improved Green Terriers lined up together.

Looking forward to this one. I went to the Terrier Gala in 2000, but missed out on the one in 2006.

 

GWR 6989 Wightwick Hall will be in use at the Model Railway Weekend on 2 & 3 July.

Info from https://www.facebook.com/3798224096...ekVU3gVgptcMyjv1hUqCgWUgiKyB2DpJuymUSoMBeAbl/

Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk

 

Any ideas how long the loco is due to visit? I think there was something in Bluebell News about a loco being hired in while the Class 33 was still being worked, so I guess 6989 is that loco?

 

Think its staying for a little while, the loco fleet is a bit "thin" currently

 

Thanks. Looks like I have another reason besides the Terrier Gala to pay a visit and tick another Hall off.

 

I’ve often wondered if a Hall would be able to negotiate Horsted P4/5 with those notoriously wide cylinders…