Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Some are even more complicated with discount varying how far I advance you travel. Discount for online booking is getting more the norm for attractions, not just railways.

 

But they did get your £7.

 

Erm ...

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/contact-us/
including postal addresses and phone numbers if you don't want to do it online.

The opening times for Steam Works are also on the website:
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/the-stations/sheffield-park-station/

 

It's pretty common for heritage railways to offer a discount for advanced booking these days, as indeed it is for most attractions. It's easy to see why - It's in the railway's interest to get more advanced bookings, as it makes it easier to predict likely loadings for the day, and so they offer a discount to encourage it. Many lines also have reciprocal agreements, and so offer substantial discounts to each other's working volunteers too - it never hurts to wave your ID card and ask nicely... (or get an HRA card that's valid almost everywhere)

I also attended the collector's fair, and apart from the weather (which meant the outside stalls shut up shop at lunchtime, understandably!), had a great day. For various reasons it's the first time I've been over to the Bluebell since before Covid, and the only thing I can really complain about is the cost of a cuppa in HK buffet, and the fact they only have UHT milk... We went down to SP on the last-but-two train and the shed was still open then, which is later than it's normal closing time according to the website.

 

Just heard the news that the railway has put Aquila and Carina up for sale. In a way I'm not surprised about Carina, given the magnitude of work that would be necessary to rebuild this historically very important Pullman.
Aquila, however, is a real shock, given that it was only purchased by the railway last year, so a post-covid scenario business case would have been presented for its acquisition.
I also notice that the latest chairman's weekly update, while being open about the disposal mk.1 4824, makes no mention of either of these carriages being put up for sale.
On a personal note, I was made up when Aquila arrived at SP 2 years ago- it would have made a handsome addition to the Golden Arrow set. Wither now the plans to turn this train into a real showpiece, and top earner for the railway?
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/bluebell-railway-stock-for-sale/

 

Aquila only has 22 seats and needs major work. It's felt logical to sell it where there is already interest in it. Car no. 36 is seen as an easier to restore option with almost double the seating capacity for less of the amount

 

Sudden disposal of running/recently acquired vehicles and accounts for the PLC overdue, albeit just by a day currently, with companies house… 2+2 = 5?

 

It was a surprise to me as well.

My understanding is that the new BG will become the second kitchen (providing resiliency). Given that, Car 36 (42 seat brake 3rd) then offers more seats than Aquila (22 seats), and is also less expensive to overhaul.

I guess that means the likely maximum fleet then becomes Fingall + Car 64 + Car 54 + Car 36 + BG.

Tom

 

In which case, why purchase it in the first place?
We were led to believe that it requires a full rewire, "some" attention to bodywork, and a full running gear overhaul.
All this was known a couple of years ago. OK, so the NRMs BG is undoubtedly a game changer, but why Aquila couldn't be held as a reserve Car, enabling rotations for overhaul to be made without these being so time critical, due to loss of capacity in the set.
I'm sure there's more to it than we yet know, but right now it looks like short-termism.
I just hope that the railway can recover the costs that were incurred from Aquila's very brief stay.

 

Perhaps Tom will get a good explanation into Bluebell Times for us all ?

 

Are the Bluebell still struggling to get enough staff for the dining trains? I seem to recall @Jamessquared stated earlier this year that only a few dates were being announced at a time due to lack of certainty over staffing numbers. Indeed, there's only 5 evening Golden Arrows and 5 Murder Mystery trips advertised for the rest of the year. I guess from the railway's point of view, fewer trains carrying more passengers makes more sense.

 

7864 could stand in once restored.
It has 32 seats and is a flexible vehicle, which has a larger kitchen than Fingall as well as a pantry ( from the website)
This has been suggested before on the Bluebell io group . It also has funds for restoration to commence.

 

I would imagine because like any business case at the time it was the right thing to do. the world changes, other options become available or costs increase that change the initial decision. It is a bit like asking an airline why they have stopped flying somewhere when they fought hard for the route and invested lots of money in the first place.

 

I'll see - but bear in mind the copy deadline is almost upon us, so may not be this month.

I went back to the Pullman article in June 2021 Bluebell Times to remind myself of the picture as it was then. What was clear then was that the BGZ was nearing the point it would need to be withdrawn; and a Pullman Kitchen Car was seen as the logical replacement, forming a service vehicle and also resilience of a second kitchen. The core set was therefore envisaged as Car 64 (3rd) + Fingal (Kitchen 1st) + Aquila (Kitchen 3rd) + Car 54 (wheelchair accessible brake). In addition, addition of Car 36 would form a very high capacity - if somewhat heavy - train.

That plan did require completion of Car 54, which is still not ready, Aquila and potentially Car 36.

The game changer seems to have been the opportunity to acquire the ex-NRM BG, which I guess couldn't have been envisioned in 2021. That provides a better solution to the BGZ problem than Aquila, since by fitting a kitchen you get a better scullery vehicle than Aquila could have been - given that it has more space. You do lose the 22 seats provided by Aquila, hence increasing Car 36 in the priority list which provides 42 seats. That inevitably pushes Aquila back down the list by many years, so I guess the rationale is realise the value on it rather than take up space in a shed for maybe many years.

I think the core set therefore becomes Fingal + Car 64 + Car 36 + Car 54 + BGZ (four Pullmans + a service vehicle) but with two kitchens, and two all thirds, there is the opportunity to remove individual vehicles for maintenance without massively affecting the ability to run the service. The only facility not duplicated is the brake compartment, but if Car 54 had to be withdrawn for maintenance, something like the 404 Van C could substitute. - see correction below!

That's my reading of the situation beings somewhat distant from both the Pullman operations and C&W; and shouldn't be taken as an official view!

Tom

 

Is the brake in the BG not being retained then?

 

Oh possibly, I'd forgotten the "B" part of BG

Gives even greater resilience in that case.

Tom

 

Would you not want the BG (kitchen) in the middle of the formation with two Pullmans either side of it? Serving a four coach dining train from a kitchen car at the rear seems like a lot of extra toing and froing to me.

Peter

 

Indeed - I wasn't intending to suggest the running order (but probably should have done).

I suspect north to south Fingal + 64 + BGZ + 36 + 54 is likely.

Tom

 

Now wouldnt it be rather nice to have one of the Devon Belle obbos for an event, once the 4 pullmans are up and running.
BG - 54 - 64 - FINGALL - 36?

 

In regards to the Pullmans, this is probably the correct move when you consider Aqulia and Carina both have limited seating and pokey pullman kitchens which might not conform to current regs even with significant rebuilding.

What is the reasoning for disposing of the MK1 coaches?

Hopefully none of these vehicles will be 'accidentially' sold for scrap.