Bluebell Railway General Discussion

As in the Chime Whistle? My understanding was that a good number of BR Standard 5s were built with them from new...

 

The latest issue of The Bluebell Times is now available to view for April.

• Work on “The Jewel in the Crown” resumes after the winter
• A packed month of activity on our Thumper …
• … and Electro-Diesel E6040 is renamed “The Bluebell Railway”
• 5 Minutes with Tony Astor, the Railway’s new Infrastructure Director
• Summary of the recent volunteer workshop
• “Tender care” on our Giant No. 92240
• The Bluebell Railway Museum and the Great Western Trust jointly acquire the Edward Wallis photographic collection.

The Bluebell Times is published monthly on the second Friday of every month. The next issue is due out on Friday, 12 May 2023.

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

Tom

 

Latest issue certainly conveys the point that there is a big concerted effort to make Bluebell survive one way or another through teamwork.

 

It's good news that the Edward Wallis photographic collection has been acquired by the Bluebell and the Great Western Trust. Four volumes of photographs were published showing the actual infrastructure of the railway in the 1920's/1930's edited by Kevin Robertson and are a marvellous time capsule into could be seen during the long wait for your train and would keep the Picture Puzzle thread going for a long time!

 

Thanks I wasn't aware of this. It certainly is distinctive.

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Hi all - question for the Bluebell knowledgeable...

The afternoon cream tea service currently has dates on the website for May, June, and July. Do later months get added as time goes on, or does it only operate until July? I was hoping to book a date in September for a special event. Anyone know if I should just hang on? Or opt for July?

Ta.

 

Dates on dining services are only being announced for a few months ahead - so keep an eye on the website for dates in September nearer the time.

Tom

 

From @jonpbowers charter today, Thanks to Jon, the crews, other operational staff. Thanks also to catering staff for breakfast and lunch.
6989 at Rock Cutting by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
6989 approaching Ketches by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
6989 at Nobles by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

 

In 2013, I started a thread on this forum entitled Halls - unloved, unsung? which confirmed the general feeling I had that Halls (including "Modifieds") did not have anything like such a large fan club (for want of a better term) as some other GWR 4-6-0s, especially Manors and Castles. However, I suspect that even though 6989 has turned up at the Bluebell because it was available (and the Bluebell was short of motive power) rather than because anyone desperately wanted to see a Modified Hall running in Sussex, the pictures from the photo charter clearly indicated that it has been appreciated. I was able to record it on a service train earlier this month on a glorious sunny afternoon and I must say it looked and sounded rather good. I'm hoping to get a ride behind it too at some point.

Maybe not the most sought-after class of loco, but it seems I'm not alone in appreciating its visit and enjoying a sight and sound that the pioneers who established the Bluebell over 60 years ago would never have imagined.

 

It sounded superb yesterday. Staying to the end of October according to the latest Bluebell news received yesterday.

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To add to Paul's excellent photos, one of the Hall and Dukedog together at Sheffield Park. I don't know what A70 means exactly but someone said yesterday it was a Cambrian route code, I'm sure someone on here will know!
Some well placed effects from Jon and the team to make 9017 look 'alive', it was a lovely spring day down at the railway.

 

Best news I’ve heard all week!
This time I HOPE the Giants event is a Western one.

 

In the Winter 1961-62 timetable, 1A70 was the up "Cambrian Coast Express" 9.45. a.m. Aberystwyth - Paddington. A70 would have been displayed following the replacement of WR train numbers by the four-character headcodes around that time. It makes a very evocative image.

 

To my mind they're one of the most attractive GW locos. Even allowing for the fact the 4-6-0s all basically look the same, it does seem to have nice proportions.
The thing is, it's a big loco, so only really gets to stretch its legs on a decent length of line. So one can see why it's better suited to the Bluebell than Quainton Road, and has more earning potential with us.
Hire locos are in short supply this year, so we're lucky to have it.

 

I've put lots more info about the Branch Line Gala, which starts today, on the Blog over the last couple of days:
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/brps/whats_new/
including Andy Kelly's great photo of the visiting locos lined up with 'Fenchurch' on shed yesterday afternoon.

 

I just looked at the website: I knew the Mets weren't running but I thought the 4-wheeled stock would be but they aren't...

 

A couple from today's evening charter, thanks to @jonpbowers and the crews. A challenging charter !
52322 Leaving Horsted Keynes by Paul Simpson, on Flickr
52322 approaching Horsted Keynes by Paul Simpson, on Flickr

 

Absolutely stunning, I look forward to seeing more photos from this.

Incidentally, despite following a large number of railway enthusiasts and amateur photographers across various social media platforms, these are the first photos of the Branch Line Gala I've seen outside of the Bluebell's official social media pages. Unfortunately instead my feeds are full of GWR 4-6-0s.

Seems a lot of people were elsewhere this weekend - would love to see more photos if people have them as its one I'd have really loved to have been at, especially with Hastings visiting.

 

There's some more photos on the dedicated gala thread, starting about here, if you are not already following it: https://www.national-preservation.c...ranch-line-weekend-21-23-april.1421688/page-6

Tom

 

A mixture of Swanage and Bluebell in this film (and Steve Oates splitting the difference in Chichester by the look of it) from PBS in the USA looking at the issues facing all heritage railways.

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/show/h...s-threatening-britains-historic-steam-engines



Tom