Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I suspect it may have something to do with the fact that the appeal will create a new edifice, one with a long life-time. For some people, that has more appeal than giving for one more overhaul of an existing artifact.

Noel

 

Once a couple more of these are complete, a photo charter with the H is likely.

The Maunsells are the most comfortable coaches on the railway. When we were using the Maunsells yesterday afternoons charter and when the likelihood of sun was low, some of the participants decided to stay in the Drop Light because there were so comfortable.

 

As someone who's travelled in a variety of different stock at various preserved railways, IMHO the Maunsells more than hold their own against anything any of the other railway companies had to offer. To show it's not purely a matter of personal bias the closest I've come is in some of the GWR stock at the SVR.

 

Maunsells are comfortable and ride well. Bulleids are not far behind, its probably the SR standard bogie. GWR stock has a soft slightly bouncy ride. LNER rides reasonably well. The ride of LMS stock can best be described as interesting and in the brake noisy. I cannot imagine what the ride was like at 114mph. BR MK1s are better now than when new,esp if on comonwealth bogies.

It might upset some but IMHO the best riding rail vehicle is the BR MK3

 

Adams Radial tank in OO from Oxfordrail:

http://www.oxfordrail.com

Tom

 

Re the list above.
No mention on there of any Goods Stock.
Are there to be no Goods workings on the Bluebell.

 

Hello,
Tom,
Will there be a photographic story of the undercover operation? Or some form of blog?


Nick

 

Goods brake vans, some vacuum-fitted.
Engineers' vehicles for service purposes.
Pre-grouping goods vehicles.
Grouping-era goods vehicles.
BR-era goods vehicles.

To maintain, for operation, hand crane 1748S.

 

Actually there are 8 - 3 open third, 4 semi open brakes and a compo with a further open third on long term loan to the Mid Hants

 

I imagine that construction work will be covered on a regular basis on the "what's new" page (http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html) and I'd imagine on FaceBook as well (https://www.facebook.com/bluebellrailway, publicly accessible).

There are also quite a number of photographers who regularly cover comings and goings on the Bluebell, both in photo and video form. Probably worth keeping an eye on John Sandys on Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluebellrailway/.

Tom

 

Hello,
Many thanks to be pointed in the right direction.


!!!!

Nick

 

Paul gave an extract from the Long Term Plan, but in addition I'd point you towards the wagon stock list (http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/wagon_list.html) and the historic wagon strategy that is linked from that page. There is also the Kingscote Goods Yard project (http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/kingscote/goodsyard.html). Given all that though, historic wagons do seem to be a bit of a Cindarella on the railway at the moment.

Tom

 

Just to say thanks to you good people for posting the Imberhorne cutting photos. Clearly a long way to go with green roots as opposed to green shoots, and I just hope the plastic stays in place this winter. We are entering the gales season down here in the west.

 

Only glad to be of assistance.

Maybe Tom could post a pic of what its like now from one of his footplate turns.... as I know there to be nay sayer's that the embankment will never hold.......... but knowing them as I do, I believe the BB and not them, otherwise the works would never have been passed.

 

Hmmm ... the saw-tooth gradient change from 1:55 up to 1:60 down in the space of not much more than an engine length tends to mean you are otherwise occupied at that point of the journey!

I seem to remember that, at the time the work was done, the estimate was about five years for the vegetation to grow back completely, and basically we have had two of those growing seasons so far. As I understand, the use of that sort of covering is quite well established for stabilising cuttings, though probably not when the underlying material is a rubbish tip rather than soil! The key issue with the rubbish seemed to be keeping it dry until such time as the vegetation could stabilise things.

Tom

 

The Brighton Directors' Saloon is indeed a splendid vehicle. I recall my Mum buying tea for me in it when it was attached to a service train many many years ago.

I do wonder if the Brighton purists' insistence on the removal of its SR installed (?) gangways is a factor in it being out of service for so long. Vehicles like this are difficult to make economic and the gangways might have helped.

A little known fact is that one of its axle bearings was lent to the Isle of Wight for a few months in the 70s when a bearing on 4168 failed to give time for a replacement to be made.

Nick

 

But they were not proper gangways - some kind of lightweight fall plate with a canvas surround so not suitable anyway for regular (or even passenger) use

David R

 

From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

"Cash for Cover Appeal: Onwards & Upwards

The Appeal has reached an amazing £340,500 in just four weeks! This figure is a little less than £10,000 short of the £350,000 target that will put up a roof capable of covering 20 carriages.

The incredible response has delighted not only myself but also Society Chairman Roy Watts, Company Chairman Dick Fearn, and C&W Director Lewis Nodes, who thank everyone who has contributed. The generosity of more than 1,200 donors has been beyond all expectations.

This response is a tremendous start to Operation Undercover 4 (OP4), which is more than just a roof. A lot more than the current target is required for doors, walls, storage space, etc., so the Appeal will continue in one form or another for a while.

The message is that if you wish to support the project, please don't stop when the current target is reached. A few people have started standing orders and many more would be welcome. Only the first year of a standing order is included in the reported sum because we can only spend what we have in the bank or expect in the next few months. A standing order form can be found here.

Donations can still be made online with Just Giving or by PayPal. The latter does not charge 5% for administration, so this method is preferred. It can be easy to forget to tick the Gift Aid box, so make sure you do if you wish us to claim it.

The OP4 Project Steering Group meets on the 25 Nov., 2014 to plan work for 2015, so that is the next deadline for making donations. The Steering Group will make its plans based on the sum raised to that date or promised for the immediate future. The group will use the eNewsletter to let keep you up-to-date.

Thank you again to all who have made donations or plan to do so.

By Roger Kelly, Funding Director"

 

The Directors Saloon is worth at least two of any rancid 3rd class Pullmans in terms of experience and ambiance. I along with many others have given donations to a couple of funds for it over the decades but sadly last time I saw looked for it, it was still stuck out in the wild west of HK along with the Bluebells version of Barry scrapyard under a sweating Tarp. With it stuck out of sight out of mind I had more or less resigned myself to it never being restored. In my case the opportunity to see it under cover was why I donated to the current under cover fund. With it undercover perhaps its value and potential will be more appreciated, one can but hope.

Brian

 

Just over £300 to go, so less than 1% is needed so will it be to the total today. It will be so good to see those coaches go under cover at last and be able to dry out in airy condition to help the slow proses which they will do them the best.