Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Since you are trying to maintain a seal around the periphery of the smokebox, it just feels better to clamp at even angles round the outside, rather than have a clamp that essentially pulls the centre of the door and hope that that pull is evenly distributed round the edge.

Tom

 

Against that, is the central dart quicker and easier to open and close? Clamps around the edge seem to have been rare on locos operating in Britain, more common overseas.

 

And they were a big advance on the "cupboard door" type (a la Golsdorf) which I saw still in use in Yugoslavia in 1973.
Pat

 

Question, because I don't know; does the Q have a soft seal around its periphery?

 

Can't remember now, but I think so.

Tom

 

Just noticed these online:

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/special/footplate-rides/

£110 for a round trip footplate ride; if you choose the date right it seems you'll get me firing. No pressure then ...

(Locos are 34059 and 73082).

Tom

 

Any tips on how to pick the right date?

 

That’s a trade secret! Other firemen are available (and probably more competent …)

Tom

 

There are a few interesting enthusiast-focused events appearing, for example a very extensive “behind the scenes” tour for £25. It seems the financial pressures are forcing some innovation in “how do we get people to the railway”.

Tom

 

Don’t tell the NYMR

 

For 22 miles that compares very well with the NYMR @ £475 for a 36 mile round trip ( not allowed to take them to Whitby).

 

Indeed - particularly as the cost includes a day rover (normal price £27) to use for the rest of the day if you so choose, so the marginal cost for someone looking for a day out is really £83. Looking at the online booking, it looks like it is a maximum of one (out of a possible 3) trips for any given loco, which I think is sensible. The temptation I guess might have been to make them available on any trip, but that would make the training part of footplate work more difficult.

I think it is another sign of the prevailing commercial ethos at the railway, which is to look for any routes towards growing revenue. Focus on costs of course, but you can't cut your way to profitability in a business with high fixed costs.

(Incidentally, before anyone asks "what about Fenchurch / Beachy Head?" - our risk assessment for those locos has a normal maximum of three people on the footplate, not four, so I don't think you could offer footplate rides. I suspect they will be limited to days when we are running 34059, 73082 and 80151).

Tom

 

The latest issue of The Bluebell Times is now available.

In this issue:

• A busy summer of events planned for Rail 200
• The Railway signs a landmark agreement with Network Rail covering assets and facilities
• Duke of Edinburgh Award students help out with wagon restoration
• Progress on three fronts on Q class No. 541
• Carriage Shop releases another special commission wagon model - and provides £500 for four of our smaller locomotives

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/issue-67.pdf

Tom

 

Fenchurch is fairly obvious but I'm surprised at Beachy Head. Then again, thanks to the offer of a lift and a very early start tomorrow, I can have a look for myself

 

The cab is less spacious than you think, particularly in depth.

On a loco like 73082, the driver and fireman can take their normal position, and there is space for someone to stand behind each. But on 32424, on the driver’s side, the driving position is quite far back because of how much space the reverser takes up. And the fireman ends up constrained by the heat shield that protects the driver’s legs, while needing as much width as possible to fire to the sides of a wide firebox through a narrow flap-type firehole. So the fireman ends up moving. round quite a lot. The end result is a preference not to have four people in the cab. (It is allowed under certain circumstances by exception, but not as a routine).

Have fun today, there are some decent carriages on most trains, and I am sure there will be tours of the C&W during the day. I'll expect photos!

Tom

 

I had booked for two days of the current gala, but am happy with my photos of 41313 from yesterday, so not in attendance today. And also this getting older thing doesn't seem to take too kindly to the degree of physical exersion I expended yesterday.

So I've been checking the Bluebell for next Sunday, 23 March. And notice that currently (with all usual caveats of course), locos booked for the two train service and the Golden Arrow luncheon train are 41313, 32424 and 34059.

Hmmmm, one of my target photos this year, as mentioned earlier, is to get 34059 entering Horsted Keynes from Sheffield Park on the Arrow . . .

@Jamessquared Still subject to the usual caveats, any idea when you might know in the coming week which of those three are booked on the Arrow please Tom?

Maybe the first hint will be on the incredibly useful https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/index.html

Bryan

 

According to our internal info, for next weekend it is:

A - Sir Archie
B - Ivatt
WR (Sat) / GA (Sun) - Beachy Head. (With yours truly shovel swinging on Sunday).

Tom

 

Hey, @The Gricing Owl, with 32424 on the GA, you could at least have a representation of the 1952 RCTS Brighton Works Centenary special!
Now, what I'm personally waiting for is the day that Beachy Head takes on Maunsell green, and then there can be a representation of the "Southern Belle" in its final years!

 

Quick note for anyone who missed 41313 last weekend - it is one of the rostered service locos this weekend.

Plan is:

A - 34059
B - 41313
WR (Sat) / GA (Sun) - 32424

Tom