Bluebell Motive Power

Really hope that's sarcastic..... there's at least one woman still alive who remembers the Germans shelling Hartlepool in 1914, so she may remember pre-grouping NER livery, and I bet there's quite a few around of 'memorable age' pre-23

 

For me it's just all about things that match... Birch Grove on the olive green Southern set is spectacular, but I'm not quite so excited when it's on the Mk1s... Loved Archie with the Bullieds, looked amazing... And I can't wait for a Terrier on the Stroudley 4 wheelers. But not quite so keen when it's (for instance) the H Class on the Wealden Rambler set. BUT, really that's just living in the absolute ideal world, which isn't exactly all that practical most of the time when there's a railway to run!

 

Grouping was 1923 90 years ago,so to remember pre grouping livery you would need to be a centurion?
Does this woman go regularly to NYMR?

 

I think that a 'Centurian' was a senior NCO in the Roman Army and unlikely to have lived long enough to see a railway of any kind.

 

Not quite true - not everything got repainted on Jan 1st 1923: some pre-grouping liveries (on locos as well as carriages and wagons) lasted into the 1930s. I haven't got the reference to hand, but I believe the last loco painted out of LBSCR livery was somewhere round about 1932-33.

In any case, it's all a bit of a moot point. Our strategy is that we aim to represent all periods of operation between the 1880s and the 1950s, and, where possible, match locos to rolling stock liveries. (Obviously, in times of shortage, that's not always possible, but that's the plan!). Because the more modern locos like the BR standards and carriages such as Mark 1s can only be portrayed in 1950s liveries, I think it is more or less inevitable that the older locos and carriages will be in older liveries. Afterall, not much point putting the C class in BR livery and then finding we have no locos to match the pre-grouping carriages; or painting the Maunsells crimson and cream and then finding we have no SR coaches. 80151 would look slightly odd in Stroudley livery, as the last representative of the classic Brighton tank engine family...

Tom

 

It wouldn't do her much good if she was aiming to re-create her youth - the oldest livery currently carried by a loco operating on the NYMR dates from post-1923, and that's only the case for the next week! The "newest" livery style on a steam loco dates from the 1970s........

Steven

 

Rather than start a new thread in the diesel section, note the annoncement of a "Bluebell first" on their website, for the coming weekend an additional service train, hauled by 33103.

I dont have access to the wnxx forum since it want to subscription, but no doubt there will be much jollification over there.

Otherwise, a sensible use of available motive power if felt to be required for a busy weekend.

46118

 

The actual WNXX forum hasn't gone subscription, only the news & photo pages. The forum is still free access for members.

 

Thanks buseng, I stand corrected. In fairness the wnxx discussion is positive and welcoming of this move by the Bluebell. Hopefully the services will be well patronised.

Regards

46118

 

I don't remember anything pre BR 1980's Blue

 

Hats off to the BB for having 33 103 out on an occasional turn..

 

By all accounts there we quite a few visitors who came for '103 yeaterday and that the trains we very heathly full

 

Makes you wonder if the BB would consider running 33103 again.

 

I see it's been announced on the website that GWR no.5521 will be visiting the line from 1st July through to September. Shame it's in that horrible LT livery though

http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/visiting-engine-3205/

 

I think she looks very smart!

By all accounts she'll be arriving on the Thursday of that week, all being well.

 

I must admit it's probably gonna be one visiting loco that my Dad and I probably won't bother going to see due to it's current livery. Fortunately we saw it in GWR green not that long ago so we don't feel any enthusiasm to go and see it in LT red. But the major point here is that 5521 will bolster up our steam fleet and take the pressure off. Also does that mean the 9F will be leaving us sooner than expected as it was due to stay with us until the end of the year?

 

Another reason for me to go down then. I have a nice 5 day weekend from Wednesday so might pop down that weekend. Last saw 5521 at Railfest and she she looked like she needed a new coat of paint and haven't had a ride behind her before. I must say I actually quite like 5521's new look annd enjoyed her larger sister 5199 when it came down a few years ago (for similar reasons if I remember rightly).

According to the programme from the EG Opening Gala it said 92212 was due to stay until October so maybe 5521 will just be covering B473 until 847 and 592 are into service.

I wonder what with the return of Giants of Steam this year that 92212 might stay at the Bluebell until after then and go back to the MHR afterwards although she'd miss the MHR Autumn Gala which takes place the same weekend as Giants. If she doesn't stay then perhaps Giants will be cancelled or renamed as there'll only be 1638 (which sounds like it could be touch and go for the rest of the year), 847 and 592 as the only bigger locos in service by then.

 

I think 5521 is a very shrewd move as it will give a chance to pair it with the Metropolitan set for charters as well as being a (by all accounts) powerful and economical engine. I know 5199 was a big hit when she came down a few years back (albeit she was a larger version). Makes sense that once the E4 and C are settled down again and the S15 is back we have a medium-sized engine in the ranks.

To be honest lamenting that the livery is "unauthentic" is a bit odd given that having a Prairie in the first place can't exactly be said to be recreating something...

 

Who is going to want to photograph a GWR 'Prairie' in LT red on the Mets? Not exactly authentic!

 

Neither is getting Met #1 to do it in rural Sussex, but plenty of people turned up for that...