Bluebell Railway General Discussion

There's something to have on your "Welcome to East Grinstead" signs....

 

Neither of which can claim to be the global home of scientology

 

A colleague of mine was involved as the driver of the fake locomotive used last year in the filming of Mission Impossible on the NYMR. At one point during a lull in the filming the star dropped down into the cab through the roof (as you do) and stopped for a brief chat. Do you know the Bluebell Railway in Sussex my mate was asked. Yes I've been there once or twice he replied. I live quite close to it says the star and like to visit it when I can. Of course Tom Cruise is an enthusiastic supporter of Scientology and it seems that he counts East Grinstead as home - or at least one of his many homes.

Peter

 

Didn't the infamous Dr Beeching live there?

 

Not infamous at all. Remember that G Fiennes called him "the great and good Doctor".

 

Yes. There is a road named after him, that is on the course of a closed railway line.

 

Forest Row, all the Raving Nazi's sorry Steiner folk

 

Moving swiftly on …

Tom

 

I feel discussion about the Bluebell Railway has taken a rather peculiar turn

 

I’m in agreement, but I’m going down the Tim from ‘The Office’ wormhole, and want to hear more.

 

Perhaps more interesting than talking about SECR locos, though.
(That’s any semblance of friendship with Tom out of the window. )

 

Presumably crash-worthiness of the ends is not an issue, then?

 

GSM-R, OTMR, CET, CDL and alterations to the couplings - that's a lot of work for £50k.
It's also a lot of acronyms!

 

Will ownership one day be transferred to the SETG from the Bluebell I wonder? The Bluebell doesn’t seem to have use for 3417, and the SETG are putting a lot of time, effort and money into it.

 

To operate on Bluebell it would need either batteries or propelled by the 73 or 33 so yes I guess use is limited there but if it could go mainline I assume it opens up excursions from/to East Grinstead and the Bluebell interchange there, so maybe tours steam from Sheffield Park and then electric to who knows where ?

 

It would be great to time it at 90 mph plus again.

 

Well using the ORR's "high" CDL figure in 2021 pounds around £30K of that will go to CDL, and as it was retired from the network I assume NR will not be funding the CET's either. £50K does seem light unless they already have a wad of notes down the back of the sofa.

 

Yes Don, but bear in mind that could be spoiled on a winter's day when there is ice on the conductor rails, we might end up with a steam loco on the back!

 

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

In This Edition:

• A major appeal to get our 4-VEP running on the mainline next year
• Sir Archibald Sinclair enters service on our Santa Specials.
• A driver’s view of a commercial goods train – ten years later.
• A Christmas message from the Railway’s Chaplain.
• Save the dates for next year’s Society AGM, Members' Day & Bluebell Staff Party.
• A busy 2024 is planned- but keeping focus on the underlying business.

You can download from here: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/bluebell-times/

Tom