Bluebell Motive Power

Is 1638 even operational? She seemed to make a brief comeback a few weeks ago and then all went quiet again. Although I suppose technically she could just shove her about...

 

It will depend on how sucessfull the welding to be carried out to 1638's firebox is. Since they are planning to carry out repairs, they obviously think it will last a while longer ,hopefully until 541 and 73082.

There was a rumour while I was on the M7 photo charters at Swanage, that the Bluebell might have another GWR loco on hire next year a 56 or 66xx.

 

No , requires some welding to the firebox which has been appproved by the insureres.

 

I believe the repairs are imminent.

For anyone thinking of visiting - this weekend the service is 45231 (A); 592 (B); 263 (WR Sat; GA Sun); 178 (Shed pilot Sun). This weekend (or maybe the next couple of weekends) may be the last opportunities to turn up and ride behind the Black 5 before the Santa season. I assume there will be further use made early in the new year, though that is always a quiet time so in general doesn't justify the loadings for a Black 5.

92212 is going back to the MHR on Monday I believe.

Tom

 

Sounds intriguing, would be great to see a 56 or 66xx coming. To be honest anything is better than that awful red Prairie coming back, well other than a diesel of course

 

Any truth in the rumour that 847 might be having a test run this weekend please?

 

Pure speculation on my part, but I'd suspect not - we don't tend to do test runs at weekends because if there are any minor teething problems, it's easier that they occur when there isn't a busy public service also trying to keep to time. So I'd have thought today is more likely, or, if not, next week. I'm not sure that the springs have yet been adjusted to ensure each axle carries the correct load. That can only be done once the boiler and tender are filled to the prescribed level, and on a big loco could take some time to adjust properly. So at a guess, next week maybe looks a bit more probable.

Tom

 

Thanks for the info Tom, that's what I was suspecting as if something went wrong with 847's test run it could well interfere with the service trains.

Cheers

 

First "shoulder season" into EG though, was basically Easter when opened this year, might be an interesting one. With not a lot else to do at that time of year on a weekend it could be a good marketing strategy to get it out there.

 

Will be interesting to see if we get back our February enthusiasts gala next year. Although the Branch Line theme might have to be changed as the Black 5 and S15 which I'm sure we'll all be keen to see would be too big to use for such a themed event.

 

Personally, for next year, I'd settle for no diesels on passenger trains, 541 in service before the end of the year, B473 and 1638 repaired and reliable and 847, 263, 592, 178 and 323 all doing their share. If we achieved that, I couldn't care about what theme the galas had!

Tom

 

Be nice just to have a proper gala again, been two years since we last had a "steam gala" of sorts. Most other lines don't bother with a theme, just have a "whatever goes goes" event. Although a goods train would be nice, all those lovely wagons sitting round doing nothing...

 

Due to the increase in passenger number, I think a four train service of 6 coach trains will be required for future Gala's (similar timetable to opening Gala ).Rather than a Branch line or Giants theme, I think the Galas should renamed Winter/Spring and Autumn and make use of most( if not all )of the fleet that is in traffc at the time ( paired with coaches suitable to livery of loco where ever possible)plus a visiting loco.

 

Slight tangent, but is there any service from East Grinstead during Santa season ?

I was looking to do a family trip, but my reading if it suggests no trains at all (no even a shuttle) from the BR feed at East Grinstead.. That would be a bit of a miss if true ?

 

That does certainly sound a potential workable formula to our future enthusiast galas. Just guesstimating here, but we could have something along the lines of 1638 & 847 on the olive green set, 592 & 263 on the vintage set, the visiting loco or two on the mix of Mk1's & Bulleids set, B473 on the WR set and 178 hauling a "local" vintage goods train between SP and HK. And of course not forgetting Steppers providing Brake van rides along the Ardingly Branch stub.

Would be a shame to give-up on the Branch Line or Giants themes as we've had such good past events. But "steam everything" galas held in February & October would probably be much more easier to organise logistically in terms of available motive power. As Chris has said we've not had an enthusiast gala since the Vintage Trains event back in November 2011 so let's hope we see something next February.

 

I believe that like the Autumn tints, Santa trains are pre-booked only with no regular services running. They were all full last year so the railway must be doing something right.

 

Might be something worth exploring once we have a few more engines back in traffic. Certainly a "branch line" / "vintage" gala featuring (e.g.) the E4, C, H, O1 and Dukedog (plus maybe the Atlantic) could provide a decent level of service with older engines and stock (if you assume Mets, Maunsells, birdcage+100 seater+7598 and 4 wheelers plus Obo, maybe with a freight thrown in. Would probably work in February for a gala then, with a late season "Giants" being pretty easy to organise (S15, Camelot, Q, 34059, possible visitor and maybe the Atlantic again).

Long way in the distance obviously, and much water to pass under various bridges between the two, though but it would seem possible. I do think though that something for the "enthusiast" market is badly needed to get a few more into line now the extension is complete. The crowds at the Mid Hants, despite the terrible weather, shows there is clearly a big market for a well planned and organised gala, and the Bluebell has the option to provide things the Mid Hants can't do, especially in the vintage market.

 

The Santa service is scheduled to be a Sheffield Park - HK and return service. When it was planned (some months ago) there was no guarantee about the tunnel works, so naturally enough there is a nervousness about having a service that needs to run through the tunnel during winter (remember, we have lost running days in something like three of the last five winters due to ice in the tunnel). So we have a relatively sedate run from SP to HK while mince pies and presents are distributed by elves; then time at HK to meet Santa and play on the fairground; then a more spirited run back to SP. That length of trip seems to meet the attention span of the core audience.

The service already maxes out the line capacity from SP to HK (something like eight main Santa departures each way at peak, plus I think Victorian and GA departures on some days) and also uses most of the available corridor coaches. So there simply isn't the line capacity south of HK to slot in an extra set of trains running from EG to SP and return; nor are there any available carriages (the non-corridors are needed for the Victorian Christmas trains, which are pitched at a different demographic).

Now that the tunnel works have been completed, there should be more confidence about running through the tunnel even in cold weather. So for 2014, I wouldn't be surprised if the format is tweaked to possibly have a double-ended service, with some trains running SP - HK and some running EG - HK, concentrating the entertainment (fairground etc) at HK. But that is for the future, not this Christmas.

Tom

 

I don't think you'll ever see C+O1+E4+H+Dukedog all in service simultaneously - the LTP doesn't envisage that level of provision. Don't forget, the C is about 6 years into its ticket already. It's to be hoped that the O1 will be in service before the C is stopped, but effectively the O1 directly replaces the C; the Dukedog can't possibly be started before then (it isn't yet even in the schedule), so no chance of having C and Dukedog running together in the near future.

Wasn't the opening gala enough of a "steam gala" for you? Every available loco except Baxter; every available carriage except 1520; and running for 16 days flat! If that's not a gala, I don't know what is!

Tom

 

I think we keep forgetting that we keep running into the first time we have run these events since the extension opened, so there will be a few teething troubles and "toes in the water" this year. By the time we get past Easter and the new timetable has been worked out and all that jazz the line should be better at running these sorts of things.

I do think the shoppers specials are a very good idea and making good use of the line and it's capabilities.