Bluebell track laying South from EG?

It shows the toe of the second the wrong side of the crossing nose of the 1st for it to be two separate turnouts. Definitely shown interlaced. Although the scan isn't too clear when zoomed in, I'll grant you.

 

A true 3 way point is with toes within about 2 foot of each other, sometimes called a Tandem.
The turnout in question appears to be about 10ft apart or approx the length of the switch blades.

 

What will the coach length be from end to end? And shouldn't there be a stabling siding for another loco?

 

There was a feasibility study done about five-ish years ago to see if the Bluebell could go round either side or tunnel through the tip. Digging it out was the best option.

 

Looks to be - I would say a 5 coach length would be sufficient with room for running round?

 

Very interesting detail here and answers lots of questions. I'm not aware that the track plan is avaliable anywhere in the public domain (I couldnt make it at the weekend to Grinstead). A tarted up version of the track plan should surely be on the Bluebell website - isnt that what everyone will be asking about?

Its vital (and made clear in several places) that people should not lose sight of the need to raise the money to clear the tip (and not rely on large donations from "specialised interest groups" in EG ). If that isnt done, everything else is hot air.

I'm glad to see that the current station building plan is regarded as interim while NR make up their mind what to do with the station site. My own view about the future station is influenced by the fact that the Bluebell long ago ceased to be a museum of the old line and is now a "Heritage Experience" which is something completely different.

There is virtually nothing left at EG to see of the old station. I would like to see a brand new joint station which could run the whole length of the NR and Bluebell plot. We could have a proper information centre for visitors (for instance) with buttons for kids to push to explain where Stepney lives, how steam locos work, and why you have to open the doors on the train . HK and Kingscote are the stations to preserve and to try and maintain their period appearence.

To create some old looking station with minimal area will just look daft on that site as it is surrounded by modern roads and Sainsburys. The other thing that should not be overlooked is PARKING. To believe that visitors from the north and London will all come down by train is a complete fantasy. Its true that most locals will continue to go to HK and SP becuase there is more to see, you can picnic, and all the locos are there, but there will be considerable pressure on parking at EG. Sainsburys is very busy on Saturday and mums with a car load of kids in a hurry will not appreciate the station entrance being clogged up with gricers!

 

The desire is for all Bluebell platforms to be able to cope with a seven coach train. It is planned (one day!) to extend Sheffield Park's north by one car. The only other platform not short enough is 5 at Horsted Keynes, but there are no plans for that to change.

 

160m stated platform length is 8 coaches in my book and there sems to be ample clearance for this. However, there is no indication of any signalling, other than a couple of stop boards, and this may affect train length. Are there plans to signal the station or will it be one engine in steam or other similar arrangement?

 

It will initially be one engine in steam with a token operated ground frame at East Grinstead as it will still be controlled from the Kingscote (temporary!) southern signal box.

When the northern signal box opens, I'm led to believe that it will be track circuited north of Kingscote.

Not too sure about how the points will work (be powered etc), but the ORR nowadays are not fans of loose or spring toggle points.

 

Click the link below to view an image showing the turnout from the Bluebell's running line to the National Railway network. The view shows the point looking north from the viaduct towards what will be the station platform. Immediatly beyond and butted-up to the turnout shown in the photo, there will be another crossover point between the running line to provide access to/from the run round loop. The run round loop to the south of the crossover will continue across the viaduct as a siding.

See >>> http://gallery74781.fotopic.net/p55946997.html

There is a track plan currently displayed in the exhibition about the Northern Extension Project in the Waiting Room at Kingscote Station.

Chris

 

That's good but not a lot of use to casual visitors to EG station and you can't drive to Kingscote. How about refurbing the waiting room on the Up Side at EG and putting a big copy in there? Or on the wall outside Sainsburys? Or on a panel in the High level car park? Or on a display board in the library? Or on a panel on the wall in Queens Walk?

The open days at the station have been great, well organised and well attended but its crucial that the community of the town are kept well-informed at all times.

 

Just a bit of fun. What loco do you think should pull the first passenger train out of EG?




I would like to see LBSCR E4-class No.B473 ("Birch Grove") with three Maunsell droplight coaches and she's smoke box out of EG

 

If it was this year I would say 34059.
Next year maybe it should be 55 and 323. If we can get 55 facing north it would be smokebox first both ways and maybe with the mets as they were some of the earlier coaching stock to arrive I think. Seeing as they hauled the first train they could be most fitting.

 

Definately 34059 with a full rake of Bulleid stock!!!

 

That's not such a bad idea. There is a very good relationship with both Sainsburys and the EG branch. I'll pass that on to someone.

 

From what I remember, when the project was first announced the plan was for an art deco style station - is this still going to happen?

 

I agree that it should be Stepney and 323. Or 80151 disguised as 80154 with the headboard from the final train.

 

No there will be very little, the below quote from the Bluebell yahoo group contains the latest information

(Quote...)
"I'm sure that deceased members, Scientologists, individual members and any others that have given directly to specifically ring-fenced funds towards our 'East Grinstead station' do not and would not have expected it to be spent on a bunch of breezeblocks with some tarmac on the top and be called a station. Who's conning who?

Welcome to the south's best heritage railway, sorry you're getting wet?" (End of quote)

The drawings and plans that have been discussed in the past do not appear to fit into the shape of the site, also money is so short (£3 Million!) that it is unlikely to see anything much for quite a while.

Regards,
Tom

 

From what I have read this new station is only temporary, there is no point in firming plans whilst the mainline station plans are in a state of flux with Network Rail.

 

There you go once more with those negative vibes against the Bluebell.

The truth is, as was mentioned on the BB email group as you well know, that although planning permission was approved by the local council to construct a station building on the East Grinstead platform, the Bluebell subsequently decided not to proceed with the build due to free itself of some of the restrictions imposed by the council. Therefore only a platform will be built, ticket office facilities being provided by use a mobile trailer that does not require planning approval.

Chris