Pioneer 2

The images of the newly restored P class at the Bluebell brought back memories of going to the line on Boxing Day 1969 when the loco and Avonside Stamford had just been delivered.

The images below were taken on a dull day and so are not great but show the Bluebell have faithfully recreated the livery of the Bowaters line.





Stamford is the engine behind the P class.

I now have to get down to see the loco before the full SECR livery is applied!Preservation at its best I'd suggest.

 

Thanks for posting the pics. Great to see them. Dont suppose you took any of Stamford as I know the chap thats looking after it.

Cheers

 

I thought I had taken one of Stamford but it'd be equally dark. I remember being keen to see both engines so should have one - trouble is it is not with my other old Bluebell slides. I'll look in other slide boxes.

 

Photo, courtesy of Tony Sullivan, on the Bluebell website of her on her first revenue-earning train in preservation - see http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html. Congrats to all involved in her restoration. She's 100 years old this year, and it is 41 years since she last ran in industrial service, at the Bowaters Paper Mill.

Tom

 

Shouldnt that be 100 years young?

 

Here she is pausing at the site of the former Bluebell Halt. Sounded great hammering up Freshfield Bank! Just like I remembered in the 70's with Bluebell and the Kings Cross coaches. Well done to the workshop staff. Role on Bluebell and Stepney then we can really have a party!

 

She certainly sounded great and looks very nice too. Nice to see something a little deifferent (livery wise) even if it is only for a short while. Here's a few photos from Saturday:






A few more larger versions can be found at http://craigrailpics.fotopic.net/c1819435.html

And also a video featuring plenty of Pioneer II at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xpCWqEm5pJQ

 

how long before we see double headed p classes in full SECR livery ?

 

I think 'Bluebell' will be in the Bluebell Blue livery rather then SECR livery

 

I was more thinking of the K&ESR's no.753. Got those two together at either respective railways and pair-them up would look great.

 

The other SECR P Class is at the KESR. It visited the Bluebell last year, so I doubt will be back anytime soon. Nettle could visit the KESR in the future, but we've got to finish her first, and then get through the 50th, so it might be next year...

Pil

 

i would not be surprised if 753 does make an early season visit next year probally around another branch line day if Stepney is still steamable then , it would be nice to have double headed Ps and Terriers give the larger engines a rest, use pre grouping locos only for that week end

 

Surely you mean Fenchurch, Stepney should have a new ticket later this year, although dont expect it to do much work. It will be a mascot until the cylinders are replaced.

 

I believe Stepney will only have a 5 year ticket. Would be nice to see 753 and 178 meet up.

 

How about bringing Pioneer to Foxfield whilst she's in her industrial livery?

 

i thought that the ticket would be just for a limited number of steamings how much longer has fenchurch got on her ticket ?

 

Stepney is being ticketed for five although I think it basically goes until it dies and requires anything major rectified to run.
Fenchurch I think is withdrawn some time in 2011, something tells me the first half of the year but I have no true idea. At the next overhaul I think she will require major firebox work and could be out for a bit like Stepney as the Bluebell intends to focus on getting all the P's going for the time being. Also, Sheffield Park have been monitering 672 since conversion to A1 form to see whether she steams and performs better like that or as an A1X.

Would like to join in congratulating all who worked on the locomotive on getting the last remaining example of this class to steam in preservation going once more, great job as usual!

 

Fenchurch isn't techicely a A1, she may have a A1 smokebox, but she still got the A1x boiler, so its sort off in werid hibrid form, Waddon is in a similar state. Only Boxhill remains a 100% A1. However I not sure how much diffrerent the designs of the boiler differ, apart from the dome being in slighty differant places... so it proberley makes no difference!!!

Well there you go load of useless information....

 

Stepneys 5 year ticket isnt likely to last for that long, it is not likely to steam after the end of the year. 672 boiler cert runs out in january.

 

I think I fell in love with this little engine yesterday, I was able to listen to her lay into Freshfield Bank from the first compartment twice. And she's so photogenic http://www.flickr.com/photos/spinner673/sets/72157623450342329/