Bluebell Railway General Discussion

That's absolutely lovely.

It's also exactly the sort of thing that demonstrates how crap and lazy current graphic design and AI produced colour schemes and liveries are.

 

Yet again 'Like' is too small a word

 

Deleted, subject already well covered.

I should have read the last few posts - but was rostered to be on incoming asteroid watch today.

Bryan

 

Timings for the goods train on Saturday have been publicised.

 

Out of interest I see that the PTI hasn’t been updated for a month or so. Has this facility been withdrawn? Or is it simply holidays, illness etc preventing its update?

 

I really don’t know - I believe the page is run by a volunteer rather than the railway’s commercial/marketing department, so it could be that they’ve not had the time to update the page or have been unable to. Hopefully in time the page will be updated again.

 

Couldn't make it to the Giants of Steam but does anyone know when the spring gala will be or is still too soon

 

Will include, as a minimum, both of the recently-restored tank wagons, AIUI.

Tom

 

I would assume the Spring Gala will be sometime between March and May 2027, but there is a chance the Bluebell with holld a New Year's Day Steam Up, as it has done the last few years, which will likely have most of the home fleet in action (and presumably 41313 if such an event happens).

 

There will be a New Year’s event again for 2027 - details should be available soon for this. The previous few years have had 4 engines in operation.

 

Coming back to a mini-thread earlier this year about Mark 1 First Open 3068, as of a week ago it is now at the Bluebell. My understanding is that once commissioned, it will replace sister vehicle 3064 in the Wealden Rambler set.

Tom

 

3064 will be withdrawn for overhaul once 3068 enters traffic. The plan is for the Rambler set to be formed of 3 FOs (3064, 3068 & 3069), alongside a BCK (21271) which will be overhauled at CTMS to be the kitchen/brake vehicle.

 

Report now released https://www.gov.uk/government/news/...motives-being-coupled-on-the-bluebell-railway

 

Got to say I read it open-mouthed

 

Good lord

 

I think we can all feel thankful that nobody was injured.

 

The latest issue of The Bluebell Times is now available (with Nick as the new editor, but I'll publicise here )

• Ambassadors from 14 countries visit to see the Railway at work
• 9F No 92134 arrives early for “Giants of Steam” - and an opportunity to meet the team behind “The Duke"
• Heatwave operations with electro-diesel E6040
• Progress on Standard 2MT 84030, Q class 541 - and a glimpse of Shell-Mex tanker 4947
• Pilgrim Trust and Bluebell Railway Trust step in to fund repairs to Kingscote Signal Box
• Goods Division exclusive - buy a 4mm scale Stroudley D1!
• Volunteers needed - Board Safety Director and Risk Assessment Administrator

Download here: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/10/issue-86.pdf

Tom

 

41313 is due to arrive for the Giants of Steam event on Monday by road, and 65 will be leaving for the East Lancs gala that day too.

71000 will be arriving by rail on Tuesday - RTT link available here.