If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

60163 to the Bluebell with Steam Dreams - Tuesday 10th September

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by John Petley, Apr 17, 2013.

Page 3 of 4
  1. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

    Joined:
    May 30, 2009
    Messages:
    22,591
    Likes Received:
    22,721
    Location:
    1016
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The fact that Tornado can get to these places, it would seem, is a massive credit to those who planned the build of this locomotive in the first place. Building it to fit an increasingly tight loading gauge and giving it the (water) capacity to go further than anything else on one tender is just so sensible.
     
    Big Al, Sep 4, 2013
    #41
  2. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,751
    Likes Received:
    829
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It is a credit to the design team who I think built her to what was Railtrack then NR's allowances.
     
    Dan Hill, Sep 4, 2013
    #42
  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,795
    Likes Received:
    64,464
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The "Bluebell" part of the timetable is here.

    http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/wn/2013c/tues_11sep13.gif

    SPL1 refers to Tornado / class 67 on Bluebell metals
    SPL2 is an extra train on the timetable to allow passengers on the charter to have a trip on the line during the layover.
    A is the regular Bluebell service train.

    Edit: In the light of previous conversation, it does look like the timings of the first up service train have been slightly amended, with a longer layover at Kingscote and reduced run-round time at East Grinstead, to fit in with crossing the incoming charter.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Sep 6, 2013
    #43
  4. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 8, 2005
    Messages:
    2,847
    Likes Received:
    222
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Scientist (Rtd)
    Location:
    Dorset
    gwr4090, Sep 8, 2013
    #44
  5. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,751
    Likes Received:
    829
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Seems like my idea came true. A picture on the A1 Trust Facebook page shows Tornado with the Cathedrals Express headboard in the usual position and also on the middle lamp iron The Blue Belle headboard. They say its the original headboard.
     
    Dan Hill, Sep 9, 2013
    #45
  6. ian14

    ian14 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2011
    Messages:
    338
    Likes Received:
    75
    Occupation:
    Freelance Journalist
    Location:
    Northumberland and London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Through Clapham Junction around 3 down at 1006. Looking fine in the London sunshine. Photos later.
     
    ian14, Sep 10, 2013
    #46
  7. Grashopper

    Grashopper Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    Messages:
    282
    Likes Received:
    101
    Occupation:
    Assistant FLeet engineer Southern Railway
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I have the luxury of spotting from my office chair (my office in Selhurst depot has a good view of the lines).
     
    Grashopper, Sep 10, 2013
    #47
  8. spindizzy

    spindizzy Member

    Joined:
    May 21, 2009
    Messages:
    899
    Likes Received:
    44
    Safely onto Bluebell metals, sounded fantastic as she pulled away up to Imberhorne cutting, it would appear that the no whistle rule has been suspended today :)
     
    spindizzy, Sep 10, 2013
    #48
  9. ian14

    ian14 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2011
    Messages:
    338
    Likes Received:
    75
    Occupation:
    Freelance Journalist
    Location:
    Northumberland and London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    ian14, Sep 10, 2013
    #49
  10. ian14

    ian14 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2011
    Messages:
    338
    Likes Received:
    75
    Occupation:
    Freelance Journalist
    Location:
    Northumberland and London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The Blue Belle headboard used today is described on the A1 Trust Facebook page as "the original re-opening headboard". So does that mean / imply it dates back to the temporary re-opening of the Bluebell line in 1956, the re-opening of the first preserved section in 1960 or another time? And excuse my ignorance, but what are the details of the last mainline steam engine / passenger train to run into the Bluebell? I've seen quotes of it being 55 years / over half a century ago but can't find the info. Thanks in advance from a humble snapper!
     
    ian14, Sep 10, 2013
    #50
  11. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,795
    Likes Received:
    64,464
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The headboard was from the Blue Belle railtour on 15 September 1963 - this was the last through working from London to the Bluebell until the diesel railtour earlier this year (behind T9 120 and the Caley single; it came via Haywards Heath and Ardingly) .

    http://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Train...tours/23526050_jVhW27#!i=2048348434&k=7b9rprb
    http://mikemorant.smugmug.com/Train...tours/23526050_jVhW27#!i=1935757343&k=XRbG7Dh

    (Not my photos).

    I believe there was a later trip to Brighton and back behind Birch Grove and Stepney.

    I think the very last train before this year to come onto the Bluebell from the national network was probably Fenchurch and the LBSCR Milk Van, which arrived in May 1964, by which time the Ardingly branch was already nominally closed. That of course wasn't a public service.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Sep 10, 2013
    #51
  12. buseng

    buseng Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 9, 2005
    Messages:
    4,801
    Likes Received:
    349
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Tilehurst, Reading, Berks.
    buseng, Sep 10, 2013
    #52
  13. ian14

    ian14 Member

    Joined:
    Aug 18, 2011
    Messages:
    338
    Likes Received:
    75
    Occupation:
    Freelance Journalist
    Location:
    Northumberland and London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks Jamessquared. Much appreciated.
     
    ian14, Sep 10, 2013
    #53
  14. dan.lank

    dan.lank Member

    Joined:
    Aug 30, 2009
    Messages:
    412
    Likes Received:
    312
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    14mins late leaving Sheffield Park-signalman said that Tornado's driver had got the wrong timings for leaving and had been stuck in a taxi from Hoo Junction...
     
    dan.lank, Sep 10, 2013
    #54
  15. free2grice

    free2grice Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Sep 19, 2005
    Messages:
    5,625
    Likes Received:
    3,614
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Rolls-Royce engineer
    Location:
    Bath Green Park / Mangotsfield
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    DBS again? Surely not. ;) <BJ>
     
    free2grice, Sep 10, 2013
    #55
  16. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,751
    Likes Received:
    829
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    The headboard arrived with Tornado but was later put on 592 for the 15:30 up to East Grinstead then it was removed and didn't reappear on Tornado on the return from Sheffield Park. Plenty of whistling even heard it quite a while before she arrived at Sheffield Park.

    After Tornado arrived, the yard was opened up so people could get up close to the loco and a set of steps to allow cab access. There also seemed to be a film crew before they let us near the loco which it seems according to the Bluebell twitter account is BBC South East.

    I wonder if it was also the same headboard from 1247 in 1962. Seems likely as it was only used on a few trips.
     
    Dan Hill, Sep 10, 2013
    #56
  17. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,795
    Likes Received:
    64,464
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Jamessquared, Sep 10, 2013
    #57
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,795
    Likes Received:
    64,464
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Jamessquared, Sep 10, 2013
    #58
  19. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,751
    Likes Received:
    829
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Dan Hill, Sep 10, 2013
    #59
  20. Matt35027

    Matt35027 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2009
    Messages:
    1,122
    Likes Received:
    143
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Builder
    Location:
    Near 74D
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Matt35027, Sep 10, 2013
    #60
Page 3 of 4

Share This Page