Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I was too polite to point that out, but oh well, here goes ...

Roy writes:

As for the former part, we seem to be in a period where we are losing many stalwarts of the railway, many with irreplaceable skill sets and this is where every single one of us in our roles as “Ambassadors” for the Railway can play our part.

The current society membership stands at 9431 which looks a very healthy figures on paper but bearing in mind we are spread far and wide – you cannot expect a member to come over on an awayday from Canada! – so just as with the finance, we need to “top up” the labour bank as well.

We must not forget the contribution our late members have made to the success of the Bluebell Railway and we owe them the respect and gratitude they deserve.
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Which I think is as clear an exposition that you can get that the strength of the railway is built on its members. (And, extrapolating, the more members you have, the better). That isn't a view that, it seems, is universally shared on this forum! The members certainly provide vision but, in my mind, they also provide a moral compass and a very real indication that what you are trying to achieve is worthwhile. I might almost use the phrase "public benefit", but the BRPS isn't a charity ...

Tom

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And his honesty in stating that some of the gimmicks like Dinosaurs and Stormtroopers etc do actually work at getting people in and giving people a perception of value for money.

 

The Hastings DEMU captured on its visit to the line today, alongside 73082, 32424 & 65 on service trains:

 

... though I suspect next month there might be rather more about Wembley and less about Sheffield Park than normal!

Tom

 

A Bulleid RMB with disabled facilities, created from one of the disused, spare and unused BSOT would allow creation of a 6 car train with ALL facilities.

 

Following in the footsteps of 9581 at the SVR. Rebuilt from a very rotten Collet, bow end all 3rd into a wheelchair accesible buffet car. Outwardly it looks similar to a Diag H33 kitchen composite.

I can see this type of project becoming more commonplace on railways as it offers 2 vehicles into one.

 

On disabled carriages, there have also been mutterings of converting 971 (the second 100 seater) into a disabled access vehicle by merging two compartments and some subtle alterations of doors - again, that would follow the lead of LBSCR all third 2403 on the Isle of Wight. I think that would provide a very useful "loose" vehicle for wheelchair access that would be equally at home as a strengthener on the four-coach Maunsell set or running with the other 100 seater, birdcage and LBSCR 1st on a pre-grouping non-corridor set.

@RichardSalmon may know whether that is still a potential consideration or not.

Tom

 

Thats more or less what I was thinking. Based on the "Bognor Buffets" interior. You'd have the Wow factor for the set, then.

 

Its an excellent idea, and eminently do-able. IoWSR are currently adapting their LCDR bogie brake 3rd 4515, although naturally using the brake to access the adjacent compartment.

 

For our birthday celebrations we will be hosting a mini gala style event over the weekend of 8/9/10
August.

We will be showcasing our home fleet with multiple sets running on various journeys throughout the weekend. At present the locomotives which are planned to take part will be 72, 65, 32424, 80151, 73082, 34059 and E6040 (all subject to availability.)

There will be 3 sets running between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes and 3 sets running between Horsted Keynes and East Grinstead. In effect Hortsed Keynes will become a Hub Station ensuring that there is a link between our North and our South.

As a grand finale on Sunday there will be a cavalcade of stock running through Horsted Keynes.

Timetable: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Bluebell-65-Anniversary-Timetable.pdf

Event page and tickets: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/bluebell-railway-65th-anniversary/

It looks like a pretty much full-on event in both loco and carriage terms - every loco and almost every vintage carriage available simultaneously. I think of the currently serviceable vintage stock, only Car 54 is not listed as running.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom.

A Bluebell cavalcade?

Here's one I took earlier. 12 August 2007.

Bryan

 

Yes, feels like harking back to the old “Bluebell on Parade” days - the grandaddy of what developed into galas as we know them now.

Tom

 

Picture from Dave Clarke's Flikr site, showing 0 Road being relaid at Horsted.
IIRC, this was originally known as -1 Road, the track into the previously semi-derelict platform being labelled 0 Road, as it was unusable as a through track. This tag probably goes back as far as 1914.
Nearly there now, and it has been an enormous task, but it will be quite a day when a passenger train can finally be signalled into platform 1 for the first time in 111 years.

 

From photos on Facebook this morning, looks like there are now rails at the northern end of Platform 1 as well. (A panel or two beyond the ramp).

Tom

 

Going to need the mother and father of 'mind the gap' announcements…

 

I see there's a pair of tampers in the down yard at Horsted, too. Don't know if there's any connection with the work in hand, though.

 

I'm still hoping for a Tavern Car one day!

 

If only they hadn't been so claustrophobic! Mr Bulleid had a really weird aversion for putting windows in his catering vehicles. Probably fine on a winter's evening, but any other time...

 

A winter evening spent in a Tavern car sounds good to me

 

I guess at least if you spend the evening inside ...



... you don't need to spend the time looking at the outside!



It would be pretty epic as a conversion though, a shoo-in for the annual HRA Rolling Stock award. Hell, you could even hold the ceremony in one ...

Tom