Bluebell Railway General Discussion

23 points at HK?

 

When she visited with the ML special, she travelled through the platforms that are known to have most clearance, she has now been checked through the loop at Kingscote and through platforms 4&5 at Horsted Keynes, which have tighter clearances.

 

Not much, but it didn't travel through all the platforms on its last visit, and was purposely sent through the roads with the most clearance last time. Some parts of the railway have particularly tight clearances. Would be a shame to do damage just because 'it might fit'.
Daniel

 

More platforms! On its previous visit, it hadn't run into the Bluebell station at East Grinstead (coming in from the mainline bypasses our station); it hadn't run through the down platform at Kingscote (on the inside of the curve) and it hadn't run through platform 4/5 at Horsted; and I'm not sure whether it had run through both platforms at Sheffield Park. Of those, platform 4/5 is generally the tightest, but Kingscote can also be tight and the station at EG, while probably a formality, would be a showstopper if it didn't fit!

Tom

 

Gauging was not carried out last time.

It ran in without prior gauging but only on track known to have plenty of space and with the Infrastructure director on the footplate.

It did not travel through platform 4 & 5 at Horsted or the loop at Kingscote on its last visit.

 

Indeed - nor into our station at EG!

Anyway, she is here and gauged: here she is on shed at Sheffield Park yesterday:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamessquared/14574253229/ (my photo).

and at West Hoathly today in between the rain storms: https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluebellrailway/14582273268/in/photostream/ (not my photo).

Incidentally - we now know that a class 31 fits as well.

Tom

 

Popping over for a run behind the A1 tomorrow. As I usually visit off peak, I'm curious to know which are the quieter trains in each direction on peak days. I gather that the first service ex-EG is usually heaving, for example.

 

Hmmm ... how long is a piece of string? It's hard to predict, since I don't know what impact on passenger numbers Tornado is going to have (hopefully positive) and also it is midweek, when things can also be affected by e.g. coach parties to a greater extent than weekends.

What are you aiming to do - a round trip, or break the journey? If I had to guess, the 09:45 up service from SP will be quiet, but the 10:45 return will be busy; and the 18:15 down service will be quiet, but the 17:15 up service to get to EG may well also be busy with people leaving at the end of the day. If I just wanted to do a round trip out and back with the best possible chance of finding a good seat, I might be inclined to do the 14:45 up / 15:45 down service if starting from Sheffield Park; or else maybe the 13:15 down / 14:45 up if starting from EG. But that is a bit of guesswork on my part.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom. Very helpful.

 

Today I found the 9:45 ex SP and the 10:45 were reasonably quiet, then the 17:15 was quiet. But everything in between was pretty well filled, even on the strengthened 7 coach train!

 

Well connected to the Bluebell:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-28420246

Linked straight off the BBC news main page.

Steven

 

Out of interest. Tom, now the connection to Network Rail has been in operation for over a year and several locos have used it, is anyone any the wiser regarding which classes of loco can and cannot fit on the South Croydon-East Grinstead line? So far, a Britannia, an A1, two Black Fives and a rebuilt Light Pacific have all been found to fit. I must admit, I'd be surprised if there are many classes of locos that are conceivably likely to visit the Bluebell via the main line which have not already done so. An unrebuilt WC/BB, an MN perhaps, but not much else. Possibly the B1. The K1 and K4 are unlikely to come this far south and the only GWR main line registered locos that look to be possible candidates are Tyseley's two panniers which, again, are not likely to put in any appearances within 100 miles of East Grinstead. If 76084 goes main line, this would look rather nice and would probably fit, but that's probably the lot, I would think.

 

Apart from the ones you mention, a MN (no prizes for guessing which!) was due to visit for the opening weekend but ultimately didn't on account of the dates not fitting with her maintenance schedule, so I assume that in principle a MN will fit.

Beyond that, I'm not sure there is a list. I assume that the normal working practice would be for the loco owners and charter organisers to consider gauging on an "as needed" basis, rather than gauging lots of locos "on spec", as it were.

Of locos based in the south of England, what hasn't visited yet? An A4 stands out - I don't know how gauge friendly they are, though presumably no worse than Tornado? Beyond that, my understanding is that L150 couldn't leave by rail, even towed by a diesel, so I assume most GWR outside cylinder types aren't possible - they would tend to be problematic once they arrived, in any case.

Tom

 

Worse. A4'S are not gauge friendly in the South East.They are banned from Kent. Tornado is one of the most gauge friendly locos having been built to fit the current network.

 

Thanks Paul.

Does that suggest that the only current mainline locos that could conceivably run into the Bluebell but which haven't yet done so are probably "Tangmere", "Britannia" and "Clan Line"?

Tom

 

Yes based on those that currently operate on a regular basis in the South East.

There are 3 Black Fives that have not visted yet 45305, 44871 and 45407, which ocassionally operate in the South East.

One loco for the future which I am unsure about is Royal Scot which I suspect will be based out of Southall. I am not sure how gauge friendly it will be.

 

Oh NO! No GWR engines?

Just have to make do with the products of superior companies, then...

 

Did you not know that the gates between the Bluebell and Network Rail were carefully made to a width and profile sufficient to keep Swindon products out

Tom

 

Would be good if it could. Sadly, I would guess that the Stanier Pacifics, like A4s (and probably Flying Scotsman too) would be too big. More's the pity. When the Severn Valley foiund themselves a loco short for last year's autumn gala and were able to secure 46233 at short notice, I couldn't help wishing it could visit the Bluebell, but it probably never will.

However, as mentioned on my above post, I think 61264 might be a possibility. It hasn't been anywhere near the SE lately, but perhaps one day, who knows? A B1 turned up at Eastbourne once in BR days and another one worked to Littlehampton on an excursion, so it wouldn't be quite so out of place as one might think.

 

It might be a possibility in the future once the NYMR have a larger operational fleet and particulary locos that can go to Whitby. The ELR managed to hire it for their Gala in January, so might be available certain months of the year if owners rep's available and it doesn't have any mainline commitments.