Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Just make sure that any electric vehicle does not do this -

http://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/133..._electric_fleet_to_remain_on_the_road/?ref=ar

 

Hopefully that would be avoided ...

Tom

 

From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

OP4 UPDATE: WORK NOW WELL UNDERWAY

Operation Undercover 4 (OP4) is now well underway. The Delivery Team is working hard to clear the site, which means moving the current offices, workshops, and storage containers. This is a significant task as the site is very large. An area must be cleared that is bigger than the new roof structure in order to permit construction plant to move in and out and to provide an area for the construction contractors compound.

Planning consent for the temporary location of office and workshops has been obtained, and these should be in place by early July. Moving the storage units is proving more of a problem. Decisions need to be made about not just where to put material but what to keep and what to scrap.

Whilst keeping everything would seem, at first, to be the best option, consideration is being given as to whether the material is ever likely to be used and if the scrap value will enhance the project's finances. In the long term the project includes a Parts Storage Shed, but this building will come after the completion of the shed with walls, doors, and permanent workshops. Temporarily, some storage will be in the field north of the station car park and events area. Project activity is on schedule to see actual construction start in September as planned.

Financially, the project remains strong. The additional appeal to get the total of Cash for Cover (CforC) to £385,000 is only a couple of thousand short of that target (you can donate to the project here).

These healthy finances mean we will include the framework and the roof of the office/workshop block in the roof contract that is about to be placed. This inclusion is in the expectation that donations to CforC will continue to come in as they have over the past few months. The CforC fund has also benefited from the proceeds of May's successful Track Trek.

Thought is now being given to the cost of adding wall cladding to the building and completion of the office/workshop block. These are next priorities as they will improve working conditions for our paid and volunteer staff. Should money become available by Christmas, it may be possible to add some of this work to the contract whilst it is in progress.

By Roger Kelly, OP4 Steering Group Secretary

 

What was up with the smart car Tom? I would post a video but have no idea how...

 

It was some kind of Press event I believe, timed to correspond with Goodwood Festival - I assume all will be revealed in your weekend motoring sections! The e-newsletter gives the following detail:

"For instance, this weekend we are hosting a Public Relations showcase for Mercedes-Benz Smart's latest range at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. As part of the promotion, Mercedes-Benz has been testing a 'Smart Forrail' vehicle: a rail version of its new smart town car, and they will be taking clients and press from all over the world up and down the line in it!"

Slightly surreal when it turned up about 7.30am this morning in the loco yard! It seemed to do two very early morning round trips each day, being turned on portable rollers at each end.

Lots of photos online from the usual suspects, but this scan from the "The Sun" has a bit of background:

http://riff-raff.org/photos/v/Mlawrence/2015-06/sun newspaper car.jpg.html

Was a mammothly busy weekend, and very well attended. I think the working timetable had 17 arrivals at Sheffield Park on Saturday and 14 on Sunday, with the earliest arrival on Saturday arriving at 7.07am and the last (an evening Arrow) arriving at 11pm that night.

Tom

 

Here's the ORR policy on third-rail electrification: http://orr.gov.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/17621/dc-electrification-policy-statement.pdf

That doesn't sound very hopeful, though they're more forgiving of the London Underground (no level crossings) and the DLR (bottom-contact conductor rail).

 

The fruits of their labours:



A search for "Smart forrail" will find the story all over the specialist car news websites. Apparently the conversion (which involved railway wheels, locking the steering and some strengthening work) was done by Interfleet.

No lamp irons though... Someone posted a photo on the Bluebell Yahoo group of a somewhat similar conversion running on the LBSCR in Edwardian days, complete with appropriate special headcode!

Tom

 

Just a slightly sideways thought did any of the stock from the 4 Cep/Bep retro restoration project spend any time on the Ardingly branch, albeit in storage. That could be, in future, a sort of homecoming.

 

A restored Ardingly branch would be an ideal opportunity to offer rides in historic diesel and electric units; perhaps using a battery for power in the electric units to overcome 3rd rail expense and health and safety issues. There must be nostalgia value in old BR demu trains as well as the old Southern Electrics.

John

 

I think as railway (and mainly steam) enthusiasts we underestimate the appeal of heritage electric traction, if done right. The public seem quite keen on visiting places running electric trams and trolleybuses, and if your heritage electric unit is all varnished wood and bouncy seats inside then I don't see there being much problem in 'selling' the experience, at least as an add-on to an existing attraction.
As for the legislative issues, it's just like anything else we want to do like running on wooden underframes or with steam-filled pressure vessels or without central door locking or whatever - so long as you can put together a safety case and convince the relevant bodies that you know what you're doing, have suitable risk mitigation in place and follow the relevant standards etc., then you can do what you like, within reason. Not easy, certainly, but a long way from being impossible.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

That's an interesting idea, I wonder how feasible battery operating actually would be?

 

I think the Eden Valley could give some answers.

 

Clan Project AGM being held at Sheffield Park this coming weekend, give a little support to the quiet men of new build steam if you can...!

 

Just realised the Met coaches haven't been used in many, many months. Are they ok? With them needed for Steam on the Met in September, I am wondering where they are.

 

The brake coach is receiving new tyres after suffering flats when they were last used on the Met, the tyres didn't have sufficient thickness to turn them again.

 

One of the brakes (not sure which) has been jacked up outside the C&W minus bogies for attention to the wheelsets.

One issue with the Mets is that if one of the centre coaches needs attention, they can be remarshalled into a three coach set, but if one of the brakes needs attention, then it puts all four coaches out of action.

My guess is that they are being readied for use by LU later on in the summer.

Edit: Matt said much the same more succinctly!

Tom

 

U-class No.1638 has now withdrawn from service. Very good nine-and-a-half years service.

 

There is only one brake. The other outer coach (394) did have a driving compartment but this was removed and replaced with a standard compartment when we restored them. This was the first major rebuild activity of the BASH project around 1992. There is no handbrake on this vehicle either

 

Ah, thanks Maunsell Man, my mistake.

Tom

 

Quick note that there will be one round trip of the goods train this Saturday only.

The loco does some carriage shunting at SP first thing before an ECS move up to HK with the Pullman set which is berthed.

Then:

Dep HK 10.20 arr KC 10.40 with the goods.
Shunt the brake van to the opposite end of the train.

Dep KC 11.32 arr SP 12.10
Shunt the brake van to the other end of the train.

Dep SP 12.50 arr HK 1.10
Berth the goods set, return L/E to SP ready for the afternoon Wealden Rambler at 3.20.

Don't know which wagons are rostered but last time it was the SR Pillbox brake and four pre-grouping (mixed SECR / LBSCR) wagons.

Apart from that, normal Service 2 with seven round trips.

Rostered engines are 541 (A) 263 (B / Evening GA) 592 (Goods / Afternoon Wealden Rambler).

Sunday is normal Service 2 (six round trips) without a Lunchtime Golden Arrow, but with an Afternoon Wealden Rambler. Same engines are rostered.



Tom