Bluebell Railway General Discussion

A few pictures from today of the elephant van, the roll hanging up at the end corner is commonly known as the "Elephant's toilet roll". The final two pictures are of the curved piece of wood at the end being built up in situ by a form of "glue lam" (glue laminate - thin strips of wood bent and clamped into shape and glued together). As can be seen by comparing with earlier pictures it's now making some really rapid progress.

David R

 

Putting 592 out on a train, eh? Now that's the WW2 spirit. Patch it up and send it out if it works.

 

Rather more consideration given these days than "make do and mend"! It looks like she may be able to do a limited amount of line turns until the end of her ticket, which should ease the pressure on 263 and B473.

Tom

 

Tom: Changing the subject for a moment, I have been following the progress with the new carriage sheds at HK, whilst I am sure the contractors are doing a good job, they are working with a really messy worksite. I wonder why they didn't level the site and put down a layer of hardcore before they started, they appear to be working with very rough churned up subsoil or similar, which must make the job of moving men and plant around more difficult, which I suspect when it rains turns into a "sea of mud".
Anyway, each to their own I suppose!

46118

 

I suspect cost would be the main issue?


Keith

 

I'm not very close to the project (and generally I have other things on my mind when passing Horsted, like looking for signals, rather than studying the ground behind the C&W!), so really only follow from probably the same photo sources you do. However, the project is, as you would expect, managed in a formal sense, so I have to assume that the contractor and the railway agreed to a method of working, recognising the ground conditions likely to pertain, and working out what was felt to be the most cost-effective way of working. To my eyes, things look quite tidy where vehicle access is needed:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/26297210753/in/album-72157659146847649/ (Not my photo).

The northern end of the site looks more churned up adjacent to the partially-complete frame, but at a guess I would suggest you are looking at earth that has been recently dug out and piled either side in order to form the trench for the foundations:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/26906088906/in/album-72157659146847649/ (Also not my photo).

Tom

 

From Southern at War on Saturday


Further photos can be found at http://paulsimpson.zenfolio.com/p869328729

 

Ah, those BR Standards. How well they served us in wartime.

 

And the MK1 coach as well.

 

And the BOSE speaker system.

 

Good grief.

 

Just like every other Heritage Railway which runs War weekends then!

 

These WW2-themed weekends do amuse me, usually being frequented by dozens of overweight middle-aged generals and remarkably few young squaddies, as they mill about between the burger vans and ice cream sellers. I haven't been to the Bluebell's event but from those I have been to elsewhere, I see these events as being on a par with 'Thomas' - the usual aim of recreating the past being suspended for a few days in an attempt to make some money. I don't have a problem with that, I just think it's a bit bizarre that grown adults find dressing up and playing soldiers to be a fun passtime. But, each to their own, I suppose.

 

Southern at War has been a long-running event on our calendar, so I assume that whatever one thinks of it, it must be commercially successful.

For a few years, we did have an "Edwardian Weekend" in mid-June, which played to our strengths, at least in motive power and rolling stock. There were other non-railway attractions, such as a steam fairground ride etc., but after a couple of years it had disappeared, so I assume it can't have been commercially worth while. It's place on the calendar is now the model railway weekend I think.

I don't suppose any railway is going to put on a calendar of events in which every event has equal appeal to a given individual - indeed, it would be risky to do so, since it would make you overly reliant on a single market. Hence we have "Giants of Steam" which is really our main event for hardcore railway enthusiasts; but we also have "Southern at War" for those who like that sort of thing; and a Food Festival weekend on the platforms at HK that taps into yet another demographic. The key must surely be the broadest possible visitor base to avoid reliance on one particular market; and also - hopefully - for people who get attracted by one particular event to like what they see of the railway and come back for something different.

Tom

 

Re Southern at War I think Tom should be banned from Nat Pres as he talks far too much sense! However painting the Q in Southern black would provide a suitable loco for those that worry about the early 1940's ambience.

I take it the class 73 that disgraced itself last week by doing some unscheduled track re-alignment at SP last week has now been removed??

 

Quite so Tom, it wasn't a criticism of the Bluebell at all or really even those who like such events really; I just don't understand them, that's all. They would probably say the same about people who like restoring old wagons and so on.

 

The Q was supposed to be repainted into SR black after 12 months, still waiting...

 

I went to Southern at War when 3205 visited from the South Devon Railway and very much enjoyed the event. The only other wartime gala I've been to is the North Norfolk Railway's one held in September, which is on a much bigger scale and sees the shops in Sheringham decorate their shop fronts with the re-enactors walking around town and many displays plus military vehicles in attendance.

At both events it was nice seeing the older military hardware on display - jeeps, APCs, tanks etc. and the flying displays. It's also a challenge trying to get photographs that need little or no effort to make it look like it was taken during the 1940s.

I think the Bluebell stands a better chance than most lines of being able to turn out a train from the correct period, even down to the livery. It is of course reality that you have to use what stock is serviceable and capable of catering for the number of expected visitors.

Regards,

Dan