If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Jamessquared, Feb 16, 2013.

Page 444 of 444
  1. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,954
    Likes Received:
    1,200
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I remember it going to the NYMR and then the Bluebell, I can't remember the exact reason beyond needing to use a wheeldrop. I certainly remember seeing 34028 making some surprise movements at Sheffield Park during Giants of Steam in 2006.
     
    Dan Hill, May 17, 2026 at 6:06 PM
    #8861
  2. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    29,118
    Likes Received:
    70,566
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    "Eddystone" came in late 2006 to use the wheel drop. As I recall, one (or more) of the driving wheel sets was swapped for those from "Sidmouth" using the Bluebell's wheel drop; the loco then remained through into 2007 on loan. From reading the SLL website, it seems to imply the swap was temporary, with the "Sidmouth" wheels now under "Sir Keith Park" and "Sir Keith Park"'s wheels earmarked for Sidmouth - which presumably means "Eddystone" is back on its own wheels.

    The wheelsets in the yard at Sheffield Park are not driving wheels though, but carrying wheels. I'm not sure of the source but I seem to recall they were at West Hoathly for a long while before moving to Sheffield Park.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, May 18, 2026 at 10:14 AM
    #8862
    silversteellady, SECR 65, jnc and 1 other person like this.
  3. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2007
    Messages:
    1,963
    Likes Received:
    842
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Store Manager for the Co-operative Group
    Location:
    Stevenage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    alts1985, May 19, 2026 at 7:41 PM
    #8863
    Jamessquared, UP13, WorkingPressure225 and 1 other person like this.
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    29,118
    Likes Received:
    70,566
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    News of two vehicles carrying out vital missionary work to the heathens:

    There’s video on Facebook showing that 1520 (the LSW brake 3rd) has arrived in Darlington on loan for the summer.

    (As an aside - it’s a lovely carriage, but feels a surprising hire to me, given a fairly low seating capacity. But maybe it was what was available).

    Also (not sure it has been reported here) 32424 is currently at Didcot.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, May 19, 2026 at 9:04 PM
    #8864
    silversteellady, burnham-t and 35B like this.
  5. SECR 65

    SECR 65 New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2026
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    9
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Assuming it had to be a brake coach, I can't personally see what other vehicle would have been available. 21246 is obviously needed on the A set, with 2526 in reserve. 6686, 3687, 387, and 114 are all needed on B sets. 35207 and 34556 for the Rambler. 3363 has been dead for a couple of years. So I reckon 1520 is all there was - given its low capacity, it sees very little use on the Bluebell, last in passenger service in Spring 2024 I believe. I wish it was run more.
     
    SECR 65, May 19, 2026 at 9:15 PM
    #8865
    silversteellady likes this.
  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    29,118
    Likes Received:
    70,566
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Yes, agree from our stock - but there are other railways out there as well!

    Like you, I wish it ran more.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, May 19, 2026 at 9:23 PM
    #8866
    SECR 65, silversteellady and WorkingPressure225 like this.
  7. WorkingPressure225

    WorkingPressure225 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2023
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    179
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    75H / 71B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I’m sure there’s reasons for it but it does seem odd that a carriage from halfway across the country is being used instead of one from a local railway. Perhaps it’s linked to Giants of Steam last year, or that’s simply all that was available for the time period required.
     
    WorkingPressure225, May 19, 2026 at 9:33 PM
    #8867
    SECR 65, silversteellady and Jamessquared like this.
  8. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    29,118
    Likes Received:
    70,566
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The LNERCA might have a few carriages knocking about under-used! ;)

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, May 19, 2026 at 9:35 PM
    #8868
    Kirk Oswald, silversteellady, CH 19 and 5 others like this.
  9. Steve

    Steve Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    13,438
    Likes Received:
    13,739
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    What makes you think that?:)
     
    Steve, May 19, 2026 at 9:48 PM
    #8869
    silversteellady likes this.
  10. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 21, 2011
    Messages:
    1,278
    Likes Received:
    1,428
    Occupation:
    Insurance
    Location:
    Good Old Sussex by the Sea
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Trigger's Bulleid
     
    A1X, May 21, 2026 at 11:36 AM
    #8870
    jnc, UP13, Bluenosejohn and 4 others like this.
  11. OldSchoolTrains2

    OldSchoolTrains2 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2020
    Messages:
    180
    Likes Received:
    249
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    The West
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Delighted to see Bluebell on Parade pop up in the email newsletter and it running for three days. I felt like I'd seen it mooted in one of the magazines' full-year special event listings and Aug 7-9 was tantalisingly blank on the Bluebell website calendar until recently.

    The home fleet gala on the equivalent date last year was exceptionally good so I'm very much up for a repeat. I've yet to get a good front window for a run behind 2999 through the tunnel during its stay so trying for that will be top priority when planning my moves whichever day I go, followed by what I imagine will be a last trip with 65 before its boiler ticket expires, then more time with the outstanding Beachy Head and the (re)visiting 33.
     
    OldSchoolTrains2, May 22, 2026 at 7:22 PM
    #8871
    WorkingPressure225 likes this.
  12. SECR 65

    SECR 65 New Member

    Joined:
    May 8, 2026
    Messages:
    19
    Likes Received:
    9
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    From what I've heard it looks like Bluebell on Parade 2026 is going to be pretty amazing!!! It's a lot of locos to be running on one weekend!
     
    SECR 65, May 22, 2026 at 8:57 PM
    #8872
    OldSchoolTrains2 likes this.
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    29,118
    Likes Received:
    70,566
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    August 7 1960 was the first day that trains ran, so that weekend nearly always has some kind of "internal" type event.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, May 22, 2026 at 9:07 PM
    #8873
    Paul42, WorkingPressure225 and OldSchoolTrains2 like this.
  14. Wagoniester

    Wagoniester Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    807
    Likes Received:
    1,904
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Essex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    From what I recall following a chat with staff at the branch line gala, the Pullmans will likely be included in service trains again for the breakfast / tea and cake upsell, which suits me very well...
     
    Wagoniester, May 22, 2026 at 9:50 PM
    #8874
    black5 likes this.
  15. WorkingPressure225

    WorkingPressure225 New Member

    Joined:
    Oct 10, 2023
    Messages:
    149
    Likes Received:
    179
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    75H / 71B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I would argue that the event will be even better than the Bluebell 65 event last year - not least because there’s 9 engines running over the weekend! Can’t wait for people to see what’s in store for this one… ;)

    Arguably the best bit of the whole event is the ticket prices - standard fares apply, along with Kids for a Quid. That puts an adult day rover at £27 when booked in advance, and a family of four at £56. Very good value for money :)
     
    WorkingPressure225, May 22, 2026 at 10:47 PM
    #8875
    silversteellady, OldSchoolTrains2 and Jamessquared like this.
  16. torgormaig

    torgormaig Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2007
    Messages:
    5,376
    Likes Received:
    9,157
    I was on the first train that day, aged nine. It was the only railway event that my dad ever
    took me to - and here is my ticket (actually my dad's in all probability) to prove it IMG_0755 copy.jpg

    A day I remember well

    Peter
     
    torgormaig, May 22, 2026 at 10:59 PM
    #8876
    silversteellady and WorkingPressure225 like this.
Page 444 of 444

Share This Page