Bluebell Motive Power

Dan, the picture you refer to is on page 31 of "The Cuckoo Line" by Alan Elliott, and was taken by the late Sid Nash of Eastbourne in may 1963.

 

I haven't seen it in that book as I don't own it but there are 2 images taken at Polegate in the book I dug out called Taw Valley - From Dream to Steam by Ian McDonald on page 12. The first image is 34027 smokebox first on the 8:16 Eastbourne to Hailsham and the second is the return 8:44 with 34027 running tender first both taken on 31st May 1963. Its probably the same image as the 2 I saw were credited to a S.C.Nash who presumably is the same person.

I do agree that the Cuckoo Line would have been a good preserved line but I don't entirely agree with David that it would have been too close to the Bluebell. Afterall the Lavender Line is very close to the Bluebell albeit of a smaller length.

 

David, this w/e it is 1638 (A), 323 (B) and B473 (WR / GA).

3650's first revenue train is next weekend on set B, but as Pannier man says, it will have a proving run sometime next week.

178 and 263 return to service in the second week of October - 178 on the Obo specials midweek, 263 at the weekend.

Also, next week at least, the midweek Obo specials will run in "motor train" mode due to ongoing engineering works on the north end point at KC. Formation will be Obo on the north end and loco on the south, so propelling from SP to KC and hauling back.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom, my Dad and myself will definately come up for some lineside photting on the 6th if 3650 is in steam. Just got to hope the wife can be busy shopping with her mother again so I don't get any grief

 

Not my photo, but 3650 was out and about today on a test run before entering revenue service this weekend.

Haven't heard anything to the contrary, so assume all went well.

Tom

 

We had a great day. Warmed 3650 up with a bit of shunting first, then 5 on up to Horsted Keynes, checked platform clearance through the narrow platform (4?) then on up through the tunnel to Kingscote. Ran round, and back again.
Chris from the Bluebell is happy with her and their fireman Matt had her making against the injector, up hill with the regulator just cracked in main valve with the safety valve feathering!
A real friendly bunch of guys, copious amounts of tea and a rather nice pint after disposal, even if fireman Matt did appear in a white dressing gown later on his way to the shower!
Looking forward to Saturday.
A few photos here 3650's FB page

 

Pannier Man - glad you had a good day. The narrow platform at HK is 4/5 (it's the double sided one; labelled platform 5 on the down side adjacent to the station building; 4 on the up side). Good job your engine can get through there, as on most normal days, all down services go through that platform and up services go through platform 3, enabling a cross-platform interchange. The notes we have seen show that the pannier is authorised for all areas of the line.

As for your FB photos, and their captions, we like our weird signals The "over and under" signal at Kingscote is an allowable signal type, at least on the Southern. The meaning is for two (or more) routes of equal importance; the upper signal indicates the most left-hand route (in our case, into the up platform at KC) and each signal below indicates routes progressively further to the right. I think they were particularly used where width was limited - in our case, because that signal is in a cutting.

I get a sense (unofficially) that our signal engineer is sort of creating a linear signalling museum, so occasionally uses something not strictly necessary, or where there are alternative possibilities to achieve the same meaning, but which shows an interesting development not otherwise visible on the line; the over and under signal at KC could fit that interpretation. Or it may just have been easier than fabricating a bracket signal! Certainly there is a development from LBSCR signals (at SP) through SR railbuilt (at HK and KC) to colour light (north of KC) which also matches the historical presentation of stations from LBSCR through SR to BR(S) as you progress north. There are also lots of interesting bits of Southern signal practice such as theatre indicators (rather than gantries of multiple signals) at HK; the down banner repeaters on platform 5 at HK; the high-level repeater to be visible against the sky at the HK down outer home etc. (The theatre indicators at HK also help with reducing the number of levers needed at HK, which is critical as the box can't be extended and the signalling is way more complex now than in SR days). Sadly, all the rotating LBSCR ground signals with the nice pointy hands have gone from SP and are now in the museum, to be replaced with SR shunt dummies.

Anyway, at least we don't have any disc and crossbars!

Best wishes

Tom

 

It's this upper quadrant malarky us traditional Western types can't get our heads around! Over and unders were common enough everywhere in the Nineteenth century, but I believe they were increasingly frowned upon by the Inspectorate and were increasingly found only on goods lines and in miniature arms/discs.

But the Southern didn't have a monopoly on them...behold!

Great Central Railway Loughborough Leicestershire 17th January 2010 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

 

Ah that makes sense - I wondered about the comment about going the wrong way!

If it is lower quadrant you'd like, best confine the Pannier to SP where the Brighton signals are all LQ. Personally I think the SP distant should have a red arm, but I doubt the relevant authorities would approve :smile:

Tom

 

Yes, and engines carrying the LB&SCR headcode should have the crosses replaced by green lamps at night.

I think that one was edited out of the rulebook in the end, as loco lamps with green aspects could never be found!

 

Slightly off the wall but Bluebell related... Just reading an article about the last overhaul of Fenchurch and the fact that new cylinder patterns were made-I seem to remember that a set was cast but was sold to the Tunbridge Wells lads, is that right? Did Fenchurch ever get new cylinders or were they repaired? Thanks in advance!

 

Two sets of cylinders were cast, as Stepney's have been thin for a while. Fenchurch's were repaired as it was the pipe joint faces that were badly corroded, can't remember which one(s) though now. Obviously worked well as Fenchurch completed her full 10 years. One set was sold to the SVR for Sutton/Whitechapel so the original set, financed by the Fenchurch Fund? should be available. Just means the Society, PLC or Trust will have to buy another set for Stepney at some point. From what I have heard, Fenchurch requires a complete new firebox and most of the outer wrapper replacing due to oversized stays having to be used in place of ferrules.

 

Hang on, that doesn't add up. Two blocks were cast, one was sold, Fenchurch's existing block was repaired. That leaves one remaining at Sheffield Park for Stepney, surely?

Incidentally I think they were financed by the Bluebell Trust, or possibly the Fenchurch Fund via the Trust.

 

IIRC from the Fenchurch Fund newsletters, it was this group or maybe even the Matthew (Chip) Wood Fund that initially set the ball rolling with regards to a new set of cylinders, for Fenchurch. The cylinder block was removed from the frames ready for the new set to be fitted but I guess once they were out, it was deemed possible to repair them for a further 10 years use. I believe the new set had already arrived by then and it was prudent to order another set for Stepney, knowing that this engine already needed replacements. Who financed these I dont know but guess it was the railway, not a specific fund as in the case of the first set. As the railway? sold a set therefore, in my view, it should be that the remaining set be used in Fenchurch. Of course another set may well have been produced since to replace those sold, as it would be some time before they are required and will have had the neccessary ageing process, prior to machining.

 

I'm asking on this thread as I presume it is frequented by most of NatPres's Bluebell members.

I am sure I have seen photographs of Bluebell volunteers wearing the older style of uniform cap associated with the edwardian period, more of a pillbox sort of thing, rather than the later peaked cap that is ubiquitous these days on heritage railways. I was wondering if the Bluebell has a supplier of such, as I'm trying to find one.

 

There are only one or two people who have those AFAIK. I've never seen them advertised anywhere on site so I assume they've been individually acquired. My guess would be they're leftovers from filming work (possibly where the photos you've seen have come from). Or possibly bought during trips to other railways abroad? There are links between the Bluebell and Stoomtram Hoorn-Medemblik for example.

Museum Stoomtram Hoorn-Medemblik

 

There is some information about Fenchurch's most recent overhaul, including the making of new cylinders and then repair of the originals here:

Bluebell Railway Villa Team - Fenchurch's Repair

Early days of the WWW, so information is far more sketchy than would be the case now when you can hardly loosen a bolt before someone demands a photo-update :smile:

I'm sure the second set of new cylinders are still at SP (the first set went to the Spa Valley).

Tom

 

The 'Chip' Wood fund was set up to finance the new set of wheels for Fenchurch that were needed after the originals on the rear axle were found to be fatally cracked. Chip Wood was the same age as me and a local lad to boot and spent most of his time at the Bluebell in the C&W and then loco departments. He even became a full time employee as well. When not doing that he was strumming his guitar and was teaching my then girlfriend to play once a week. 1991 was a hot and sultry summer and we all trooped off down the Sloop on the sunday night for a roll and pint before heading home for de-scuzzing and reality. Anyway, we all said our cheerios and see you next week and I had a phone call at work a couple of days later to say he had passed away after an asthma attack. Shocking and tragic for a guy in his early twenties. He was buried within earshot of a whistle from the line with a packed church of Bluebell folk from all departments.

Fenchurch was always his baby and at the time it looked like the cracked wheels would see it demoted to a static exhibit permanently. As a tribute and lasting legacy the Fenchurch fund was set up to finance the casting and machining of a new set of wheels so that the old girl would ride again - and she did.

That really was the Bluebell family...

 

Hi Jamie

Have sent you a PM

Tom

 

After testing both 178 and 263 during the week work has continued to complete both. Yesterday 13/10/2012 saw the new concrete / firecrete floor cast in 178's smokebox. This week will see the new brick arch go into 263.