Bluebell Branch line weekend

So the Fairburn was running. Sweet and I remember Giants last year was very busy as well without visiting engines.

 

Yes, the Fairburn was running and proved very popular with the photters! It's got a good bark to it and the noise of it double-heading with 80151 was awesome. Well done to the Bluebell loco works for getting it ready in time. The other highlight for me was 473 in it's new Southern livery - they've done a great job there. Overall a very enjoyable day. The Bluebell usually put on a good show but this one seemed exceptionally good.

 

Yes just got back home and have to say the Bluebell pulled off a great show. Managed to get a good shot of 42085 in the sun along with B473 and 80151. Unfortunately too much cloud cover came in in the afternoon and my other photo of the Fairburn wasn't as good as the first, but the two Standard locos double-heading did look really good. Well done to all the organisers and those guys who pulled out the stops to get 42085 running.

 

My efforts from a particularly good day linsideing can be found at:

http://njmphotographic.fotopic.net/c1816756.html

Sun in the morning on freshfield bank was a particular highlight with a fairburn back in sussex together with the other stalwarts particularly good.

 

A selection of my photo's from yesterday can be found at http://paul-simpson.fotopic.net/c1816911.html

The timetable made allowance for changing trains at Kingscote. I hope this is repeated at future Gala's.

Special thanks for stopping 80151 outside platform 1 for 10 minutes, while 42085 was in Platform 2 - see http://paul-simpson.fotopic.net/p63396345.html.

80151 arrived in platform 2 with its train, and after 473 departed, reversed and was stopped outside Platform 1.
42085 then brought its train into platform 2.

 

I just go back from this event, it was bucketing down most of the day but it was still a great event, the Fairburn sounds brilliant, the double-headed standards was a treat and 178 was in light steam in the shed and has been given the name 'Pioneer II' that she wore when she was in industrial use. Unfortunately there was a 20-25 minute delay all day, this was apparently due to an S&T dept. train being first up and it took longer than anticipated to unload whatever it was that they were moving. I also did the carriage and wagon works tour, very informative and interesting, I recorded most of it and I will post it on youtube later this evening along with photos and video of the action.

 

Some pictures from Saturday here:-

http://phil-edwards.photobook.org.uk/c1817176.html

A good gala, and nice to see 78019 let loose on its own mid-afternoon. Shame about the weather but it didn't seem to affect the number of visitors.

 

I just got back and 178 just before I left about 45minutes ago was in steam running to 4 signal gantry just past the Ouse at Sheffield Park and back to the yard. Good day and good work to get 42085 and 178 in steam. Though 9017 had the numberplate missing from the smokebox. May add pictures laterif I can load pictures from my new phone.

 

Nice set of photos on the Bluebell web site from the gala.

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html

 

My video of the day's very soggy action is now up http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xDpwImpGexc

Also photos are sort of going up but only 4 have been uploaded at the moment as my stupid BT Home Hub is messing about http://www.flickr.com/photos/spinner673/sets/72157623357430807/

 

My contingent are posted here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tom92240/sets/72157623482909226/

My possible fav being:

 

Most enjoyable day on Sunday in spite of the dodgy weather. Managed to miss the one burst of sun that coincided with 42085 arriving at HK in the afternoon but got some good sound recordings to compensate and our sales stand raised a few bob for 34081's forthcoming overhaul. Well done to all concerned.

 

P class seems to be missing some cab windows and a few other bits and bobs, but finally a p class working. And as its industrial livery

 

Hopefully the cab bits will be fitted this week, and the Industrial livery is only temporary until the SECR lining and crests are applied

 

Thanks for the pictures, after some seemingly quiet times things really seem to be happening there in spite of what the Bluebell bashers might say. Or some could say that is is because of them. Either way what a great start to 2010.

 

So the $64,000 question is will the SECR regalia be applied before the coming weekend or will we be treated to the rare sight of an "industrial" loco working trains on the Bluebell?

 

According to Mr Salmon, this livery will last "just a few weeks", so I would say this weekend she will be 'Pioneer II'

 

Excellent. Another trip round the M25 is called for. 10 out of 10 for some imaginative thinking from the Bluebell.

 

Just to confirm. Rob Faulkner of the Loco Working Group (which restored 178) stated:

"The Loco Working Groups current understanding is that the loco will return to the works after it's involvement in the special timetable weekends has been completed. It's lining will then be completed into full SECR livery. The reason the for Pioneer II livery was that the lining would not have been completed in time for Branchine Weekend or next weekend and therefore it was decided to do the minimum and have it appear temporarily in it's Bowater's guise."

 

Spent both Saturday and Sunday at the event which I must say was excellent. Well done everyone involved! Here's a few photos:

http://craigrailpics.fotopic.net/c1816866_1.html

And three videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNqBoYpOYOM
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F1-yxHfPU8s&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pqXoAzPG394&feature=related