Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I'm a lover of the Directors Saloon as well. Would love to see it being able to replace the LNWR Observation when it comes out for serious overhaul, but guessing that won't be for a good 15 years as it is in intermediate overhaul at the moment.

 

In my eyes, it is really in the same niche as the GNR saloon, rather than the LNWR Obo.

With regard the corridor connections, I think the issue was that they aren't compatible with Pullman gangways (even if only for staff, rather than passenger, use), which limited its ability to run as part of the Golden Arrow; however, I think that idea is effectively off the table. So I suspect the best option is to remove the gangways and return the ends to LBSCR condition. The windows have also been changed in SR service.

The Bluebell web page for the vehicle suggests that (as at 2006) there was £14k in a restricted fund in the Bluebell Trust for the eventual restoration, which presumably is still in place. If it could be restored to LBSCR condition, it would be a stunning vehicle for special purpose traffic.

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/60.html

Now, who wants a bet on what will happen first - Ardingly, the Adams Radial or the LBSCR Saloon. My money is on the Saloon ...

Tom

 

Please can it be the Radial, pretty please? working the other way than normal, seeing as there's a model of it coming out, maybe might be more popular?

 

Just looked up its capacity... I would of thought with the longer body it could fit in far more than the GNR saloon, but pretty much the same number of seats. Hopefully when it is restored it can come out to play a little more than the GNR saloon at least. Or I may have to wait for that lottery win and charter it.

 

Well done.

Now up to £350,272.42

Very good news, hoping when you need more money you will be able to tell people you have raised £225,000 from donations in approx 4 weeks (less than the time for the double donation was for) which should help to get people to donate again to help with the walls etc when needed.

 

Hello,
........The Bluebell Railway.......
Also available in 4mm to 12 inches.......


https://www.flickr.com/photos/bluebellmodelrailway/sets/72157632564437752/
Amazing!

Nick

 

It's a fantastic model railway, the rolling stock particularly is impressive, a mixture of kits, modifying existing stock and in some cases some beautiful 3D printing, for example the Met coaches.

 

He hasn't got the new carriage shed though ...

Tom (ducking and running for cover!)

 

Nor sidings full of coaches which are covered in tarpaulins and looking a wreck.

Running for the nuclear fall out shelter.

 

Err, coz you haven't built it yet?.........................

 

We haven't built Beachy Head yet but that hasn't stopped him

Tom

 

But Beachy Head's crumbling away...................... oh, sorry you mean the loco not the cliff......... Lol!

 

Au contraire - it gets bigger and more impressive every time I look!

Tom

 

The cliff or the loco?.........

 

Not the cliff - that's heading towards Kent at a rate of knots!

Tom

 

Not the cliff - that's heading towards Kent at a rate of knots! Any chance of the loco doing that !

 

As an aside I have just read Tom's post 56 on the Rebuilt Patriot and Rebuilt Scot thread concerning power classifications, don't worry it does link, and it brought back a memory of the the up platform at Sheffield Park where as a very young volunteer in the late 60's I remember a painted 'P4' which had been explained to me as being used as a stop mark at the water tower for the Fairburn class 4 tanks. I recall these engines were described as “northern foreigners” by a very mature member of the Station staff ( “Billy” Budd ? not sure) who had started his career on the LBSC.


BTW managed an all too brief visit to the 'park last week, first time in about twenty years. No trains, but, wow, well-done well-done!!! It's muuch bigger and neater but tis still the Bluebell Line! and as a bonus had a lovely conversation with Chris Cooper, who I occasionally helped back in the day, even reminded him of his moped 'Trouville', had a little chortle at that. Looking forward to more regular visits

 

As the C&W priority has now shifted to Maunsell and Bulleid stock, I'm curious as to which vehicles are at the head of the queue. Presumably the two Maunsell diners are quite high up the list.

 

My understanding is as follows, but I'm not a C&W bod, so this is what I gather from discussions elsewhere:

Maunsells:

3687 (Restriction 0 Hastings Line Brake 3rd) is currently under restoration - http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/maunsell3687.html and http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/cw_news/3687.html

7864 (the Restaurant Car) is currently subject to an active fundraising appeal (last I heard they had raised about £30k from an estimated cost of £100k) and I think the intention is that it will probably go into the works when the current 4 wheelers are finished (say 3 years time) and the group working on those will transfer across. - http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/7864.html

6575 is in good condition with a complete interior so I believe might form a project for the workshop staff. This was one of the first two coaches on the railway - it's the one that was painted blue for the 50th anniversary celebrations. http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pics/6575.html

Bulleids

I'm not sure. 5768 Corridor Composite is under overhaul (http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/coach5768.html) but I am not sure of priorities beyond that.

2515 (Semi Open Brake 3rd) ran until recently, so might be a high priority as it is a complete vehicle. The Bulleid Brakes are quite popular with the opertaing department since, relative to a Mark 1 brake, they have a high seating capacity.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom. Will have to buy some more Restaurant Car Fund jam next time I'm at HK.

I recommend the damson, and the quince and apple, by the way.