The Brighton Belle

There is quite alot of news coming out about the new Brighton Belle project
(including a tour to raise money and the profile viewtopic.php?f=36&t=19990)

The trust have two carriages from the NNR and I hear one is drying out at Holt.
Here is the website http://www.brightonbelle.com/index.php? ... &Itemid=28

 

Thanks for the website address, I beleive its the driving unit thats drying out at Holt

 

Yes it is the driving Unit from NNR at Holt as it can be seen here being unloaded at Sheringham (the two from NNR have been on long term loan eles where) and again in the carriage sheds: http://www.brightonbelle.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=49&Itemid=53

 

We don't want more preserved diesels, electrics or heritage units in boring blue or blue & grey. Saw enough of that between the late 60's & mid 80's. As for the wooden frame, don't forget some former Brighton Belle coaches form part of the VSOE.

 

There was a short bit in Joint line about wanting a 1 mile electic railway for them and running on the mainline with a 73.

 

The VSOE carriages and Queen of Scots carriages operate under grand father rights (They also have to have a barrier vehicle of suitable crashworthiness between the set and the locomotive) as you say they have never been out of rail service.

However i believe you are not allowed to register any "new" wooden bodied carriages for use on the Network.

 

AFAIK, these are not wooden bodied coaches - in fact they are more like the MK2 in design. The group are more likely to be stumped by a lack of disabled access and central door locking than the make-up of the coaches.

 

There is always "Doris" on the Bluebell that has not been converted to vacuum braking yet due to lack of finance and the non availability of any volunteer qualified to do the work.

Perhaps the Bluebell might want to sell it to raise money for the extension?.

Regards
Chris

 

You are quite right, these are metal framed carriages, with stressed steel sides and no separate underframe i.e. the sides of the carriage hold the underframe to the right shape.

Central door locking should not be too much of a problem there are very few doors to fit.

Note. The VSOE have a variety of both wooden framed and steel framed carriages

 

As one of the five trustees who administer the 5-Bel trust I am happy to answer some of the points raised in this thread:

The trust owns driving motor third car 88 and trailer parlour third car 85 (stored at Southall). In addition we have on permanent loan driving motor third car 91 (stored at Holt, North Norfolk Railway) and trailer parlour third car 87 which is currently at the Kieth & Dufftown railway but in due course will return to the North Norfolk Railway for storage. The trust is missing a Trailer Kitchen First (such as Doris) and discussions to obtain one are allready in hand. By rights a correct 5-Bel would have two of these and only one trailer third but the scarcity of these cars (two are in the VSOE) makes the original formation an unlikely option.

The vehicles are NOT timber framed but all steel construction and built like tanks !!! being substantially heavier than a MK. 1 or similiar. The trust has held meetings with the ORR to examine the issues surrounding the return of such a train to main line operation and I can reveal the ORR were very encouraging and certainly not dismissive of the possibilities surrounding the engineering and derogations that would be required. It should not be considered a 'done deal' however as there is much to be resolved and achieved yet !

The estimated budget for the return of the Brighton Belle is in excess of £500K and donations are being sought with regular supports schemes being drawn up, the details of which will be published on the http://www.brightonbelle.com website.

Work has allready started with car 88 now at Rampart Ltd. in Derby where it is being structually overhauled and replacement traction equipment is being sourced. A VAB approved engineering consultantcy has been engaged to draw up the design of mounting the replacement gear into the vehicles as the original BTH traction motors are long gone ! Car 88 is estimated to be outshopped in 12-18 months time. The engineering of this project is not in any way a volunteer based project and everything is being carried out under contract.

The 5-Bel Trust has the backing of both the Transport Trust and Electric Railway Museum Limited and is seen as a 'Blue Ribbon' project to promoted the better representation of preserved electric traction in the UK.

 

One thing that may stop the unit from running solo on the main line maybe the cost of add things like OTMR and other safety equipment that maybe required to go with OTMR?

 

I think what is meant by 'built like a Mk2' is that they are both of stressed steel construction, ie, the the paneling as well as the frame take any loadings. Rather than just the frame e.g. on wooden framed carriages.

Would be great to see them running... although I do wonder about what the ride is going to be like!

 

To be honest that's a fairly minimal cost compared to the cost of restoring the whole train. If they can raise the money to restore 5 coaches then they'll easily find the money for OTMR.

 

One coach back in the Sun

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31074376@N ... 0774003709

 

We're still waiting for 3142 to work electrically . . . . . . . . . .

 

First newsletter, including pics of progress - http://www.brightonbelle.org.uk/images/ ... letter.pdf

(you can sign up for it on the main 'belle website)

Chris

 

As the fund raising rail tour for this project is at hand, I wonder why uksteam has it as an 'excursion' without mentioning the fact that its in aid of the The Brighton Belle restoration fund, it mentions the extra tender and non stop run, obviously to attract the thuso's but had it been noted about the brighton belle I would have taken more notice, sure I should have checked the operator sooner but it looked like it was just a possible run, likely to be cancelled, anyway I wish them every success, looks like a winner to me, and a very professional website.
So good luck to them.