Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I assume that is done to keep spectators out of their hair? If it's known that actor/actress X will be at location Y at time Z, some of their more 'enthusiastic' fans are bound to show up. I can't wait for AI actors/actresses to take over.

Noel

 

I seem to remember that one being trailed in advance, unless memory serves me false. But then I guess if you're moving stock on the mainline, and the grapevine starts buzzing, it can't really be kept very low-key.

 

The first time that 99.5% of people knew the C class and a dozen vintage carriages had gone to Kings Cross was on the morning it suddenly turned up!

Tom

 

Very true! That was a smart bit of work, alright.

 

This popped up and may be of interest - a collaboration between Network Rail and the Bluebell looking at monitoring for potential landslips.

https://www.networkrail.co.uk/stories/project-thumper-making-your-journeys-more-resilient/

Tom

 

This might be something of value to the SVR with its heritage of unmarked coal minings and to Network Rail where national lines operate over numerous (unrecorded) mine workings.

 

I would suggest the NYMR as well.
Numerous slip areas some already monitored.

 

Reading the weekly email update from Bluebell this morning and saw the following headline.
"Everyone’s favourite fireman is making his way to the railway this weekend at Sheffield Park!"
I never realised @Jamessquared was so popular. . .

Then a couple of minutes later the images finally loaded and I realised they were referring to someone else.

 

That is quite interesting - although I wish the story had given more technical details, for us techo-geeks!

I am guessing that the best part of this, for the Bluebell, is that it doesn't cost you all anything, for that survey of the line's under-pinnings to be done? It must be fairly valuable to know what you all have to keep a close eye on.

Noel

 

I would assume not. Those types of arrangement are always mutually beneficial: we get a survey of a section of line known to be problematic, and Network Rail get to experiment in a controlled environment and where access is much easier than it would be on the mainline.

Tom

 

Going back to the upcoming filming job, I see the railway is closed Monday to Wednesday due to filming work taking place, according to their social media accounts, so presumably the filming job the wagons are being prepared for.

Says the railway should be open on the Thursday but Horsted Keynes and Kingscote will be shut.

 

@Jamessquared or @WorkingPressure225 can any of you two confirm if 2999 is out next weekend please? Thanks in advance.

 

The loco department roster says 73082 (A); 32424 (B) and 65 (WR / GAL).

Tom

 

Thanks Tom, much appreciated

 

I see from photos on Facebook that Betton Grange has arrived.

 

A couple of pictures from Dave Clarke's Flickr site, illustrating progress in C&W:

Maunsell restaurant car 7864 now has a fully gritblasted underframe, which has since received underframe black, whilst the solebars are in protective undercoat. The south end buffing gear has been overhauled and reassembled, chiefly to facilitate its movement around the site. Drawgear to follow. Repairs on the bodywork timbers is moving towards completion.
The coming year is going to be very interesting, as this carriage begins its journey towards reassembly.
Secondly, in the paintshop,

Bulleid open 3rd S1482 begins to blossom after protracted remedial work.
Lastly, the 12t van 47588 is ready to be sent outside:

And that's just the tip of the iceberg. There is a huge amount of work in progress, just now.

 

1482 has been in the works for something almost longer than I’ve been on the railway - I believe the intermediate overhaul actually started back in 2018! It will be great to finally see the coach shiny and new after such hard work. A real credit to our C&W Team and more recently the Southern Railway Coach Group for doing a really high quality overhaul. For anybody looking for this coach at Giants of Steam, it can be found in the middle of Set D (coach 3 of 5).

 

Great Western Railway "Toad"
20 Ton Goods Brake Van No. 17908 (built in 1913) has been sold and - according to a comment on Facebook - left the railway today for pastures new (but unknown to
me).

Tom

 

Its been an on/off overhaul, with the carriage returned to traffic for interim peak periods, but the main effort has been attention to all main sidelights, side sheeting, rot in the cantrail area, plus a roof recanvass and attention to the gangways, so a comprehensive going over.

 

I see according to FB Bluebell have won Sussex Business Awards Best Attraction 2025. Congratulations to Bluebell !

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