Tornado to visit the Bluebell.

I like the idea of having the SECR Matchboard Brake visit from the KWVR, they did have the E4 as their visiting loco about 5 years ago so it might be possible. Other visiting locos might come as static exhibits so we could have a good chance of bringing back Gladstone and even try to get the SECR D from the NRM. Certainly the thought of having the D lined-up with the C, O1, H and P's would be a mouthwatering prospect. [-o<

 

Thanks "Sidmouth" I realised that from the BB website but the fact remains that this an important opportunity publicity wise to get the tip moved. Let no-one lose sight of that opportunity. Sorry if I sound as if I'm lecturing; I'm not. It's simple, the loco is coming by road or rail but lets all try collectively to see it arrive by rail.

So lets get our tenners out!!

 

Most people would prefer to keep their tenner discretely hidden away!

 

Yep, the Bluebell text is on the Latest News page of the A1 Trust website. It's been slightly hurriedly edited to (almost) sound like it's from an A1T source. They specifically say that it will, unusually, arrive by road if a rail link isn't complete.

Imagine the headlines; "Tornado heralds sunnier future for Bluebell"

Well I think that if the connection isn't ready, they should run 60163 on rails to the BBR station at East Grinstead, then stand there whistling the quarter hours to gee up the guys on the other side of the tip, and remind them what they're missing.

(Runs extremely rapidly for cover, pausing only to say...)

So whip out your tenners, PLEASE.

 

Yeah it was hurried in the editing room because the last sentance is from the Bluebell and they forgot to edit one word.
''If they can raise the remaining money to complete our extension by then, it could happen!''

 

As a spotter who spent all his time on Kent platforms in the 50's I would agree that the Fairburn tanks were not popular with crews on the Southern Region, and they spent a lot of time moaning about them. They were all a lot happier when the Loco's were swopped for Standard 4 Tanks which they all loved working with.

The Fairburn's were also unpopular with local spotters too because their numbers began with'4' and the majority of the schoolboys then could not afford the 10/6 for the 'Combined Volume' of Ian Allens masterpiece but had to settle for the 'Southern Region' section at 2/6. My paper round wages were 8 bob a week at the time for getting up at 5, biking 3 miles up to the WH Smith under the railway bridge at Folkestone Central, getting the round done up the 'posh' area of town and getting back home for dads fried breakfast by 7. Happy Days.

 

Would Tornado have the clearances for all the lines platforms? Or will this be measured when she arrives?

 

There will be an official test run to double check when it arrives. Though I reckon that Tornado won't be able to run via Horsted Keynes platform 4 and will be limited to 5mph in Kingscote's platforms. There's bound to be some more, plus the normal prohibited moves.

 

Is it much bigger than a MN?

 

I would be surprised if clearances would be as big a problem for Tornado as they were for Prairie Tank 5199, which visited the line last year. Tornado has alrady run round Kent, and is due for another couple of visits later this year.

As far as I know, any outside cylinder GWR loco, even a Manor, would be out of gauge running over the main line in Kent, so if Tornado can go where copper caps may not, it ought to fit on the Bluebell's slightly more generous loading gauge, subject to the usual caveats about Platforms 4 & 5 at Horsted, but I'm only speaking as an outsider, and am open to correction by anyone more knowledgeable on the subject.

 

Are you boasting again

 

I know on the LNER front we had Green Arrow and if I recall passed it clearence tests but V2s are a smaller class I think. That was a great job though because it left on the Monday was back up and running at York by the Thursday.