Bluebell Railway East Grinstead Opening Gala - SPring 2013

OK, there is nothing much official yet, but I will put this up here as it is on the Bluebell Website. Most important is a date, but it is looking increasingly likely (but not yet 100% confirmed) that this will take place in the spring of 2013.

East Grinstead Opening - Special Events

I'll try and keep this thread updated as and when more information is to hand.

Tom

 

Thanks for the link Tom, looks potentially a cracking event coming up next March if all goes to plan. Can't wait to find out what the visiting loco will be, would be great if we could get the other Fairburn Tank but somehow doubt it'll ever leave the Lakeside.

 

Will the visiting locomotive be in addition to No. 92212, out of interest?

 

If I was a gambling man I'd wager it could be Met loco No.1 visiting us for the gala as looking on Heritage Railway's Facebook page the engine looks nearly finished and it has been stated elsewhere that it will visit us next year

 

I was under the impression that with the link to the mainline at East Grinstead being ready it could be a mainliner like a Black 5, Tangmere, Braunton (if ready) or Tornado as they are most likely to meet the supposed gauging issues. But then again Met 1 could be it.

 

Rather see 925 or 777 (or even both!)

 

Who said anything about steam - it could be a class 66 :smile:

Seriously - I don't know the answer though personally I'd have thought more likely something coming by road than by rail - planning a rail move on top of all the other complications is probably a step too far, and would be a project for another day.

Tom

 

70000 or 70013 would be nice

 

I would like to see a large well known engine brought in but I also wouldn't mind seeing one of the Beattie Well Tanks visit.

 

To be honest, I can't actually see the point of having any visitor! Commercially, there is going to be more than enough interest just to ride the extension regardless of haulage. The reason railways have visiting engines is to try to attract visitors who might not otherwise visit: you hope the extra numbers of passengers outweigh the cost of bringing in the visiting engine. So on opening weekend, I'd have thought we'd be overrun with passengers anyway to the point that having a visiting engine adds little to the number of passengers. There will be very few people humming and haa-ing about visiting that weekend who would be swayed because loco X or loco Y was billed to appear. Rather like on our 50th anniversary gala - the fact that Tornado was, in the end, unable to come probably made very little difference to attendance figures but reduced costs and therefore improved the bottom line. The time to have a high profile visiting engine is to draw custom to a weekend that would otherwise have been very quiet.

So I am sure we will have a visiting engine - but commercially I can't see the point. Save it for a year or so hence when the initial excitement about the extension has died down.

Tom

 

I agree, but would still like to see a visitor - 925 or a Standard Tank.

 

not sure about the re opening week end, but how about a one off , never to be repeated gala? later once all the fuss has died down, 4 visiting locos, all coming in from the mainline, all with southern pedegrees,
A crompton, 2 X73's with the 4 vep , and a thumper
Runs for cover, takes phone off hook , turns off lights etc.

 

,and just for good measure a rail tour with the hastings unit visiting

 

and an 09!

 

If you want to be authentic and totally up-to-date, they should have a Class 66 pulling some (empty) muck trucks - people would pay to have a trip in them, wouldn't they? For a bit extra, they can ride in one which has been given a quick rinse out.

Richard

 

I think our general policy is to try to be authentic, but not totally up-to-date! :smile:

Tom

 

Does anyone know what the all day rover ticket will cost once the extension to East Grinstead is open? Or is it still under consideration by Bluebell management.

Cheers

 

Everything like that is still under consideration. I'm sure the PLC have a pretty good idea, but it is not announced yet.

<ShamelessPlug>
Of course, if you become a life member of the BRPS, you get free 1st class travel - for life! Includes galas as well (Not sure if the opening gala will be in scope, but it has worked for every other gala I have been to)... And if you do it before Dec 31st this year, it will be only be £450 - the price goes up to £750 next year, but even so, that is a pretty good price bearing in mind you get free travel for ever after.
</ShamlessPlug>

Tom

 

Looking forward to this. We will hopefully be able to visit by train from next year.
Has anyone suggested a Railtour from the MHR to the Bluebell yet? 34046 should be ready by the time they are connected up at EG.

 

Steam Railway's website gives one of their headline news bulletins for Friday issue as Britannia to visit for the East Grinstead Opening. So really looking forward to hearing the Brit climb Imberhorne gradient over the gala weekend.

Steam Railway Magazine | steamrailway.co.uk

Cheers