Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Better late then never A video from Giants of Steam including some drone footage. Really did show just how popular 71000 was as a visitor. Huge thank you to everyone that made the event possible, they are going to have to go some to top this one!

The 9f on the Sunday sounded biblical as she left Horsted Keynes on the Sunday morning, they definitely got the memo to make up some time as she was about 45 minutes late

I hope you enjoy the video

All the best
Matt

 

I see from the webcams that Camelot and 41313 are running today. Does anyone know if that is the roster for the rest of the week? The website has Camelot and Beachy Head on the roster.

 

According to the crew rosters, it is 73082 and 41313 for the rest of this week and next weekend.

Tom

 

Is 32424 still on the GAL this weekend at all please, Tom?

 

Yes, Saturday and Sunday

Tom

 

a rare shot of Camelot in its Ghost Train alter-ego, made better by the full moon

 

What we (*) were up to 63 years ago today



(*) Not me ...

Tom

 

That looks incredible. My daughter loves Halloween, so we're doing Felix the Wizard on Thursday but I think I'll definitely take her on that next year.

 

Thanks

Thanks - heritage railways should definitely go in for passengers in period dress more often!
Incidentally were the carriages the Lancing works train? Couldn't quite make out the lettering.

 

I think that's Bob Symes doing the narration

 

Ian Nolan photographed all 9 vehicles of the then-Lancing Belle in August 1963, just a couple of months before this train. They comprised an LSWR Ironclad brake, a LSWR non-corridor lavatory 3rd ; an SECR 8-compartment brake 2nd and six SECR 10-compartment 2nds (like our 100 seaters). The film seems to correspond with those photos, except the set has been shorted to 7 coaches, presumably on account of platform lengths on the Bluebell.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/31890193@N08/albums/72157635802337463/with/14210227481

It is. The films were from a large film archive shot over a number of years in early Bluebell Days by Tom Martin, which were packaged up and released on video in the 1990s with Bob Symes doing the narration.

Tom

 

Is there any useful reason why the planning application for the reinstatement of the branch to Ardingly has moved to the committee phase recently?
Or is this just local councillors looking to make news for re-election?
Application here.

https://pa.midsussex.gov.uk/online-...GblxeirTrec15FlpjS_aem_UfBldx2AvdCRcpokIrcMvg

 

I saw a couple of councillors (and I think the local MP) put out a broadly supportive video discussing it, but my best guess was just wanting to make news; I'm not aware that there is any big push within the railway in that direction.

I think the railway does need to continue to be seen to be making some progress towards reinstatement (however glacial) because it keeps the lease alive on Cinder Hill Tunnel, which is the one bit of trackbed between Horsted Keynes and Ardingly that is not owned by the railway. But that is supposition on my part.

Tom