Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Was able to visit the railway yesterday to see Fenchurch running. Picture arriving with the 1215 HK-SP and then at three arch bridge with the 1445 HK-SP.

 

Mrs 6968 pointed out how modern the stock looked in that one, she even commented on why were there no GW 150 emblems on the tables…

 

During the Dunkirk filming, the director was shown the Mk1 featured, a bullied and a wood panel MK1, he chose the Formica one.

It’s not up to the railway to decide. It was probably down to lighting. All the seats were removed on one side and that would of been possible on either of the alternatives.

 

excellent photos thanks, I saw the train heading North at Freshfield on Saturday morning but the sound was drowned out by a police helicopter which spent a couple of hours circling the area. The only slightly suspicious thing I saw was a sheep which had escaped onto the road near The Sloop

 

There must have been a report of "wrongthink" in the area for that degree of surveillance.
Presumably the perpetrator, if found, was severely dealt with
Unless the sheep had not paid its baaa bill at the Sloop.

 

In fact the helicopter was about to find a reported missing person from East Grinstead area.

 

That's reassuring. I hope they suffered no ill effects from their ordeal.

 

May have been mentioned before and I missed it but the "Kids for a Quid every weekend & Holidays in 2023" as per the advert in Bluebell News this week.
Does that mean all school holidays or just public ones?
Just wonder if the plan is to have all the kids pushed into travelling at weekends?
Will be interesting to see what impact the offer may have if running all the time rather than say just for a half term.

 

Latest Blyebell weekly update suggests Bluebell busy over half term.

 

i grew up in Woking, !! and its certainly changed in my time, i have to agree with those who say, it needs further redevelopment, a few Martian fighting machines with heat rays should do the trick, Now a point of order, If that scene was supposed to have been Woking in war time, there would have been no running boards, or they would have been covered up, to not give German paratroopers clues to where they had landed, everywhere would have been crawling with military, because of the vickers works being a major target.

 

The Vickers works (now the heart of Brooklands Museum). A friend of my father's worked there as a chippie during the war (not called up until March '45). One lunchtime he went out in the carpark with a mate to sort out a snag with one of their cars. The Luftwaffe paid a visit while they were outside, the bombing killed about 80 of his colleagues. I visited with his daughter just before Covid, there was a part of the roof on display. Luckeeee!
Pat

 

Something really pleasing is the noticeably increased frequency in news updates now, C&W updates being particularly welcome, and there is a lot going on, too. 2 wagons outshopped this week (!), Pullman brake no. 54 in the paint shop at last, and speaking of the paint shop, isn't this the most gorgeous sight?

All those years of work and forensic research finally coming to fruition. Photo credit to Richard Salmon, (I think) but please correct if wrong.

 

I suppose we shall be seeing this at the upcoming Branch Line Weekend?

 

Beautiful work, and we should acknowledge that there is more and more of it going on all around the country.

 

My understanding is available every weekend when we are running + school holidays, except special events (Galas, Santas etc).

I guess since the age range is 3 - 15, there shouldn't really be any children on other days, except organised school visits!

Tom

 

It's really three wagons this year so far! That group is doing tremendous things. I think 12058 is really going to turn heads as something a bit different. I wonder how many people say "they haven't finished it!" There are some photos of the vehicle as it originally arrived in 2005, basically just a stripped under frame.

On the carriage front, I think in addition to 949 and Car No. 54, Maunsell Restriction 0 Brake 3rd No. 3687 should see the light of day this year as well.

Tom

 

Looks like the Bluebell will need a wagon shed to keep all these nice. An opportunity for a wagon exhibition with telling the story boards ?

 

Absolutely! It really is going to be quite a red-letter year for the department with all these long term projects emerging almost simultaneously, plus the wagon team's stated aims for the year. And Maunsell 7864 at last entering works for probably one of the most keenly anticipated rebuilds of all!
Brilliant stuff.

 

except th previous Tory administration has brought it to the edge of bankruptcy with that redevelopment.

 

Quite possibly. Personally, having worked there and had to stay in hotels, my views align to John Betjemen on Slough.


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