Good News from the Bluebell

Roy Watts, the Society Chairman, has today released news about the award of the contract for the new development at Sheffield Park:


"I am pleased to announce that we have now had written confirmation from the Heritage Lottery Fund that they have approved the railway’s recommendation of Morgan Ashurst as the main works contractor for the Woodpax, Operation Undercover project including the new washout pit.

Morgan Ashurst has worked on some important heritage projects such as the restoration and setting of the SS Great Britain. Railway experience includes the current repair and restoration of the fourth roof span at Paddington Station.

There were 4 contractors who submitted tender documentation for the project which were then subject to scrutiny by our professional advisors.

The appointment of the main contractor is of course a major step forward but there are still a number of issues that need to be addressed such as the timing and relocation of the ticket presses (whatever you may have read elsewhere this is still not finalised) and the enabling works for the new washout pit.

However, I am pleased for the Membership who will now see yet more improvement to their railway through the provision of covered accommodation for our historic carriages and more attraction for the paying visitor who will benefit from a much improved and extended museum and better facilities on the up platform.

It is planned to mobilise the contractor on site by early December and apart from setting up works, the real work will commence in the New Year. The contract period is less than a year and we hope to have the main building works complete prior to the Santa operating period in 2010.

A full report will appear in the Winter edition of Bluebell News.

Roy Watts
Chairman BRPS"

 

The latest Bluebell news has some good news for us all...

I will leave you to guess what this might be.

For a lesson on a failed attempt on censorship see the Bluebell yahoo group!

Regards,
Tom

 

Yes I saw that Tom, it would appear that some "elitism" is going on here as some people know and the great unwashed do not.

Sad!

Regards
Chris

 

By not telling the rest of us what this "good news" is aren't you being a little bit elitist yourself Chris!

 

All that's happened is that yesterday a Bluebell volunteer got wind of something that the railway is arranging. The railway is intending to keep the news under wraps so that it can be announced to all members simultaneously in the imminently expected next issue of Bluebell News Magazine. Knowing this however, the volunteer decides to send a message to the Yahoo email group asking whether anyone wants to learn the news immediately, or do they want to wait until it’s announced in Bluebell News. Several members responded telling him to keep quiet so as not to spoil the surprise, respect the wishes of the railway and the people who had arranged it.

Chris

 

Don't you mean that some members are wishing to keep it under wraps, so that they can pretend that all members find out at the same time. Which they won't of course, with the postal system the magazine can arrive up to a week later than the first copies are received!

Regards,
Tom

 

And we still don't know what the news is. Perhaps Tiger Woods is taking over from Roy Watts

 

As long as its not Gordon Brown!

 

So there is no truth in the rumour that a tight-fisted gentleman lost a 10p piece down a rabbit hole in the tip and now all the rubbish has been cleared..

 

or any other politician for that matter - there are too Prima Donna types in preservation as it is !!

 

I don,t know what the news is david, how i wish.

Regards
Chris

 

STOP PRESS!,1, They have found a C2X buried in the tip

2, Someone has gifted 2 millon pounds to spend on Pullmans

Regards
Chris

 

Well I'd guess it can't be rocket science, either someone's stumped up all the cash to clear the tip or the H class is going to be outshopped in BR lined black first[-o<

 

Not at all David. The Bluebell has agreed to house a pair of Thumpers, 2 Class 73s and a Class 33 and run 50% of the services with diesel.

 

Bloody hell, now that would be a headline grabber that, or even better the Bluebell have bought one of those new Javelin trains and will electrify the line!

 

When I read the thread title I thought it was going to be something interesting, not another whinge about censorship on the Bluebell...

 

FURTHER STOP PRESS!

The whole of the PLC board resigns handing back the Railway to the Society.

Regards
Chris