Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Ahh. I see. Well I don't know about the specifics of that, you may be right, or it may be that the perfectly good reason is that no one had the time or inclination to do it differently and so defaulted to the easy and probably cheaper route. We all do that at times.

 

Back to the Elephant Van and some pictures as at yesterday

David R

 

A couple of photos of the new shed going up from yesterday

David R

 

From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

"INFRASTRUCTURE NEWS: PILING ON

With work on the footbridge complete, and with slightly better weather of late, it was an ideal opportunity to get the foundations dug for the piling and associated concrete plinths to be installed ready for the new platform starter signals at Sheffield Park.

Piling is required because it is effectively made-up ground on what were the banks of the river in the days before the railway came to town. The new tapered signal posts have arrived, and are waiting in the yard for the pre-fabricated and galvanised metal bases that will support them.

Once fitted together, and with the posts painted, the signals will be "dressed" by the S&T Department using refurbished spare parts and some fittings from the original signals that are being repainted.

The whole assembly will then be lifted into place and bolted to the studs set in the concrete foundations. With the road-railer on hand to mix large volumes of concrete in the trailer, we also have taken the opportunity to cast the concrete abutment for River Bridge so that we can terminate the new handrails on the southern end. A new abutment at the northern end is not quite so urgent, so this can be done at a later date.

By Mike Hopps, Infrastructure Volunteer"

Also from the e-Newsletter, the ASH (Accessible Steam Heritage) project has reached £105,000, or 50% of the target so far. Thanks to everyone who has donated so far. For those that missed it lats time round, the appeal video explains the need for the project:



and there is also a page on the website explaining the project and with some schematic visualisations of how it might develop: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/trust/appeal/about.html

Tom

 

A little later than David, I have uploaded photos of progress over the last couple of weeks to my Flickr site.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/albums/72157659146847649

Dave

 

The locking bot has been fitted to the NW double doors and the first of the large end doors has been trial fitted. The roof is now structurally complete but requires the remain mastic trimmed and a few more coats of paint.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/26094510154/in/album-72157654777610931/

Elsewhere SECR 3188 is nearing completion, the final coats of varnish have been applied to the east side and brass work fitted.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/extension3363/26428941450/in/album-72157626960166136/

Dave Clarke

 

Locos in use 73082, 263 and 473 on 3 train service according to loco roster see http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/loco_roster.html
with Baxter as station pilot on the Sunday.

 

Some photos from earlier today of the Elephant Van including a picture of the more difficult to access east side. The van continues to make rapid progress.

David R

 

Looking really good! Where are you going to get an elephant...?

 

Is that our very own JamesSquared on the cover of the 2015 Report and accounts??

I am visiting on Monday for some Camelot action! (Luckily, it's not "only a model")

 

Ah, 'tis indeed - fame at last!

Tom

 

Some local publicity

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news...es-get-new-home-at-heritage-railway-1-7369053

David R

 

Another donation to the ASH project

http://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news...-heritage-bid-goes-full-steam-ahead-1-7367121

Thank you Lewes District Council

David R

 

Seconded, well done LDC

 

From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

OP4 PROJECT UPDATE

Phase 1 of Operation Undercover 4 (OP4) has seen steady progress since the beginning of the year, although the extremely wet weather in January and February caused inevitable delays in the foundation construction works.

Since the improvement in the weather conditions, progress has accelerated, and the frame and roof are in place over the majority of the maintenance road. This has already brought rain protection benefits to the C&W maintenance team. The framework for the carriage storage shed is also well under way, and once completed the contractor's roofing team will be on site to fit the roofing panels.

The final stage of phase 1 construction will be the framework and roof for the Heritage Skills building that will be situated on the eastern side of the storage shed. Once fully completed, this building will provide much improved facilities for the C&W Department, as well as the Railway as a whole. In addition to providing new office and Trimming Shop facilities, it will also house large meeting and skills training rooms that will provide significant benefits for the training of volunteers and others in heritage skills.

The benefits of achieving the framework and roof over the carriage storage area can be realised once phase 1 has been completed. Track can be installed in the building, and, with a temporary connection to the running line, carriages for restoration can then be transferred into the shed. The side and end walls/doors of the storage shed can then be completed at a later phase as funds permit.

The "Cash for Cover"' fundraising campaign raised enough money to provide the framework and roof for the whole building, and this will complete phase 1. The focus of future funding initiatives will concentrate on providing side cladding for the south end of the maintenance road, to provide weather protection for the maintenance staff in the coming winter. In addition, funding priority will be given to the provision of side cladding, windows, etc. for the Heritage Skills building, to make this facility available at the earliest opportunity.

By Stephen Bigg, OP4 Project Sponsor

 

So who's bringing the elephant?? And has it been risk assessed?

 

Seriously, I bet there's a local school that would like to make a model elephant for an art project (in sections for easy transport!)

 

or you could get two people to turn up in a elephant costume

 

one of them singing this....

 

Timetable for Southern at War event this weekend:

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pic2/wn/2016b/saw_tt16.gif

Three train service to the slightly modified normal service 2 timings, but an extra service interpolated. AFAIK (subject to usual caveats), loco A is B473; loco B is 73082 and loco C is 263 (yay!), plus a pilot engine (which I suspect might be 592, though it is due its boiler test, so that might change).

Edit: Loco roster suggests 592 on the C service and 263 as the Pilot.

Further event details here - http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/1-southern-at-war-2014/. Sunday there will be a Spitfire display at HK, weather permitting.

Tom