Bluebell Giants of Steam 13-15 October

I have only looked at Sunday, but the last trains now make sense, that is not having an up train leave SP before the down train arrives.

 

34070 safely arrived at SP this evening.

 

Can anyone tell me which way the locos are facing please?

 

Going by the look of it 6989, 73082, 34070 and 34027 will face north and 72 and 80151 face South.

 

Thanks Dan.

 

Available on Set B

 

During the Branch Line gala the Brakevan rides were running from Platform 4/5 into the sidings passing the carriage sheds, is that going to be the same this time?

 

In platform 5 which has reopened in full when I passed.

 

Thank-you, presumably its running as it has done at previous events then... to just outside Leamland Bridge?

 

The operational notes say commence in platform 4 / 5; head south to the single line; then back north via any free platform to the single line, i.e. to Leamland Junction; then back to platform 4 / 5.

Tom

 

It was standing room only at the front of the first departure from East Grinstead, although like yesterday quite alot of people changed trains at Kingscote. Noticably busier than Yesterday and the Bessmer was full after the first arrival from East Grinstead, with those having a cooked breakfast including me! At Horsted it good to see the completed works on platform 5, while the brakevan rides appeared popular. Had a very Enjoyable run from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead behind Manston. Despite the sun being in the wrong place still took a photo ( see above ) which looks a lot better in black and white.Went to photograph the double header south of Horsted but the Sun went behind one of the only clouds about 10 minutes before.

 

I went today en famille for a price, rather than being rostered. When we arrived at Sheffield Park about 9.30, parking was already in the overflow car park - and more people must have arrived after us, judging by the positions of cars when we left in the late afternoon.

We took the 10:15 behind Taw Valley to East Grinstead and back to Horsted Keynes, travelling in the Maunsell droplight third - it was full, but seated. The brake van trip again seemed to be full on each trip. (For anyone going tomorrow, the general timetable pattern is trains passing every 45 minutes at Horsted; and two brake van round trips ran in each gap between service trains). We then caught an afternoon trip behind Camelot to Kingscote (getting some rare mileage in the LSWR Brake 3rd); let the kids let off steam there, and came back on the same train after it returned from East Grinstead, this time riding in one of the passenger compartments in the LCDR wheelchair access 3rd. For those trips, again full but seated - we shared compartments each time.

The carriage shed tour was very good as always - the Hastings restriction brake looks superb (anyone wanting to follow progress can do so at https://www.facebook.com/SR.coach.group; the current work is overhauling the bogies). Car No. 54 also looked absolutely superb.

The work at HK on platform 5, including the canopy, was interesting to see up close, though now it makes the contrast between platform 5 and 4 much more visible! Platform 1 is being cleared ready for work to start there next year.



Tom

 

I had a great day on the railway today - lovely to see two Bulleids on the line again!
I especially enjoyed my ride behind Wightwick Hall, what a great sound!

Thanks to everyone involved in putting on such a great show.

My video has just finished uploading if you're interested. Comments and feedback welcome!

 

Was the Manston run the 2:45? If so I was on that one and the climb from Kingscote to Holden Summit sounded great especially.

I spent my day with both visitors. Like Tom I took the 10:15 behind Taw Valley and did a round trip and half, then changed platforms and did a round trip and a half behind Manston, then left after it's double header with Camelot left Sheffield Park. Still plenty of people around before that left and good to see the line busy (it was standing room only when I joined Manston's train).

Taw Valley did seem to me, to be a bit cautious on the runs out of Sheffield Park and had a few slips on my trips behind it, especially the first run up to Horsted, although the run from Horsted to East Grinstead was a faster pace.

I joined the Bulleid Society who were going through both sets I travelled on and seems like Blackmoor Vale may soon be having it's boiler sent off to Devon for it's new firebox to be fitted.

All in all a good day and the seemingly new to me Chorizo Sausage Roll at Sheffield Park was very tasty. As well as the reopened Platform 5, it looked to me like the building on Platform 3 has also been given a new lick of paint too.

 

Yes.

 

I keep saying this but I really must go back to Sussex!

 

Manston on the 1145 really demonstrated what it can do by accelerating all the way up the 1-in-75 then 1-in-55 from Kingscote to the top of the climb at 25.3,mph. 6 on for about 225 tons the driver David Foale told me he was using 45% cut off and 160lb of steam. Best climb of the three we had. An excellent day