Bluebell Motive Power

Has anyone complained about the 33? Haven't noticed it, in this thread at least.

 

The Bluebell yahoo group has had a few people most miffed at a diesel working passenger trains on the line.

 

There have always been a few "delicate" souls over there, though...

 

Not the first time it has happened though. You should have heard the upheaval when our ED, PERSEVERANCE, ran one there.

 

I'm keen to have a gander at the prairie and was wondering whether anyone knows if it's likely to be out and about for testing, training etc this weekend? I'm not expecting to ride behind it just yet!

 

Due out (according to the loco roster) on Saturday 13 July, so I'd suspect probably warming fire Thursday and gauging run / trial trip Friday 12th. But that's a guess, not Gospel.

Very much doubt it would be out the previous weekend. There's only one spare path on our weekend timetable and even that is quite tight, so not really when you want to be doing things like gauging runs. A midweek is more likely as there is plenty of time to try slow run throughs of various platforms to check it fits! Should be OK, but as I recall, 5199 was banned from platform 4/5 at HK - obviously this prairie is a bit smaller so might be OK, but it will have to be tried.

Tom

 

The Bluebell roster may be worth bookmarking

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

 

Might be a bit early to ask, but does anyone know what's likely to be out at the October gala ? (subject to something unexpected), any visitors etc ?, I'm hoping to come down for that one thanks to an outrageous ticketing loophole the Mainline TOC's don't seem to have spotted.

More hoping for some of the more elderly home fleet (The H and C being prime targets) or something based down south if visiting, less so the 9F and Prairie.

 

I think "elderly flatulences" is the expression!
PH

 

It is usually the larger locos in the Autumn - so likely to be 1638,847, 9F plus visitors. Unlikely to feature H & P's. No sure about the C and 5521.
The smaller loco are used at the spring gala.

According to a member of the loco department ( the one who describes rebuilt Bulleids as wrecked ) - 70000 has been promised but it is also being mentioned as a potential visitor for the Midhants gala the same weekend.

 

Paul beat me to it, except I wasn't going to mention the identity of the potential visitor, as nothing is yet confirmed ... But with a four train maximum line capacity, I'd suggest October will be - all else being well - 9F, S15, U-Boat, visitor with the Prairie in reserve, so not much obvious scope for the C, H or Ps.

If you are after seeing the older engines at a gala, the Vintage weekend in August is probably a better bet.

Tom

 

Due to be delivered tomorrow (Friday 5th July). As stated previously, first rostered day will be 13th July.

 

Thanks for the gen Gents, food for thought there.

 

Quick question about the Vintage event in August, the website write up states "vintage trains will be operating between Sheffield Park, Horsted Keynes & Kingscote", are most trains only going part way or is it (as I suspect), the text has just been lifted from a previous year and hasn't been updated to reflect opening to East Grinstead ?, whichever event I do I'll be coming off the mainline at EG, so if there's a considerable TT gap at the August event, I may have to stick with the October one.

 

I'd be about 99.99% certain that it is text cut-and-pasted from last year, and we would be running to EG - I can't see any reason we wouldn't.

I'd be fairly confident that - based on previous special events this year - that it will be a three train service, at least on Sunday, with the fourth path taken by the golden Arrow. On Saturday I'm not sure if the Wealden Rambler is running on that date (the website seems to suggest not) in which case it may be either a three or a four train service I'd have thought. Those services give departures each way roughly every 35 - 40 minutes (4 train service) or every 75 minutes with one of the long gaps having an additional train and one not (3 train service).

Tom

 

Thanks Tom, will looking at booking the 10th August then unless there's a snag.

Last and only time I've visited so far, all the standards were out (73082, 75027 & 80151), so be nice to see a few older things of Brighton/Ashford origin.

 

I did hear rumours of a certain 7MT coming in for the October gala, perhaps on a railtour, but these were just rumours...

 

It isn't the end of the world if a class 33 or class 73 does a round Robin once in a blue moon. Some BB members forget this also brings in extra revenue.

 

Indeed so. The money earned with 73136's trip paid for ALL the fuel used by her in shifting the clay cap to HK.

 

Tuesday and Wednesday she's pencilled in for a good coat of looking at and a test run (according to the owners rep's at least). Nothing this weekend.