Bressingham

Went to Bressingham En Famille yesterday (31.8)

The first good sign was in the car park with 2 electric car changing points, well done!

After getting our tickets we visited the three railways, Dads Army Exhibition and rode the Gallopers.

I am sure that the Gallopers medley played on the fairground organ includes Tom Lehrer's Vatican Rag, much to my amusement.

the Earl Grey was proper leaf tea and the home made cakes were nice - and generously sliced.

I took my youngest round the crazy golf - not done that for a while which was rather fun.

My wife commented that there need to be more places like Bressingham to keep retired men out of trouble BUT that it could do with a womans touch. Having said that however the toilets were good the place was clean and cared for.

Bressingham is of course Alan Blooms creation but it kept us all interested from opening time at 11 until 4, and my wife & youngest son are not particularly interested in Railways so clearly they have got something very right.

 

This is a good post. I read about Alan boom once and how he got the engines. He was good at it which is why you can find so many big ones in the shed there. You’d have to pay lots of money for all those engines now. There was some interesting ones when I went on my notes there is royal Scot thundersly Grenville and a big black German called pier gynt. And many more. And a tireless engine at the car park which is different. I’d like to go again but it is a long way so probably won’t but it’s been on telly now

 

thanks have found it
https://www.my5.tv/inside-the-steam-train-museum/season-1/the-steam-museum

 

Royal Scot hasn't been at Bressingham for a very long time

I assume you mean a fireless loco rather than a tireless loco?

 

Don't forget that some of the locos at Bressingham are part of the National Collection so won't have been purchased by Alan Bloom. The only big loco that's there now that he would have bought is the Norwegian Kriegslok "Pier Gynt".

 

As mentioned I think most of the standard gauge ex BR locomotives arrived there on loan, though ‘Royal Scott’ and ‘Duchess of Sutherland’ I think were later acquired by Bressingham before being sold on to new owners. These, along with Martello were owned by Butlins for a while and Martello is now owned by Bressingham.

There was also the dispute regarding ‘Oliver Cromwell’, owned by the NRM but after spending 30 odd years there I think Bressingham were reluctant to let Olly go…

 

From https://preservedbritishsteamlocomo...ny-works-no-6841-william-francis-0-4-00-4-0t/
Looks like the next project will be getting the standard gauge Garrett they now own in steam. If they can raise the cash.
If they do manage it will be popular if it visits galas.

 

Pedant alert : It's a Garratt.

 

Quiz question - which parts of Garratts were made by Garretts?

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

 

Thanks for the correction as both surnames are in use, but looking it up Herbert William Garratt designed the loco.
Interesting point as looking it up Richard Garrett Engineering Works became part of Beyer, Peacock & Company in 1932, 5 years before
6841 William Francis was built for Baddesley Colliery.

 

It was a gently teasing question. I am not sure that William Francis has any parts built in Leiston but a during a recent visit to the Garrett Long Shop museum I found out that Hadfield reversers and mechanical stoker engines were built there

Sent from my SM-A105FN using Tapatalk

 

Just been going through some family pictures and came across a few from Bressingham about 30 years ago.My favourite is my 10 year old daughter and friend on the footplate of Bronllywd with Alan Bloom.Norwegian Loco King Haarkon was giving footplate rides,I can remember Oliver Cromwell being used a year or two previously.Royal Scot,Duchess of Sutherland,Thundersley ? (spelling) and possibly Martello were all on site.It was a very good family day out. Plus William Francis of course which I had forgotten.There were also two other Garden Railways.

 

First steam locomotive I ever saw was Oliver Cromwell at Bressingham. I think I was only 3 or 4 years old, ‘Olly’ was in operation giving footplate rides.

 

Great day today at Bressingham with the family, on the occasion of their 60th anniversary gala.
Bronllywd had been "naughty", as one of the Statfold guys told my daughters, and derailed on the sharp bend on the Fen Railway (ex-Nursery Railway), plus its cab now fouls something (the station canopy?). Ironic, of course, as it was formerly a stalwart! So she was confined to shuttling about the shed. Fine loco, though.
Sybil Mary was double heading with Gwynedd.
Visiting loco "Pendragon" on the Garden Railway.
Both Martello and the Austerity at work on the Standard Gauge line, making pleasingly effortful noises up the steep bit.
Lots of tracton engines, steam lorries, etc., little and large, chuffing about the place.

 

I think it would have been a nice gesture for Royal Scot to have been there for the anniversary.
I also noticed that the restoration of Männertreu didn't seem to have advanced much if at all compared to when I last visited. Obviously COVID will have had an effect here. But I do hope they are able to get the Krupp pacifics restored to service

Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk

 

Royal Scot, Duchess of Sutherland and Oliver Cromwell all together…

 

Let's not forget Thundersley .....

Possibly some event to mark a significant anniversary related to that wonderful and unique powerhouse behind both Bressingham and more than a few steam-age survivals, Mr Alan Bloom. How could it not?

 

And 2500

 

For those of us happy to wait till the end of play on Saturday afternoon, we were treated to a brief bit of movement from Bronllwyd when she was parked in front of the gallopers and the other 2ft locos were arranged in a line behind her. Caught the afternoon sunshine perfectly as well.

 

Given that Thundersley ran in the late 50's in preservation, surely getting her back in steam must be a realistic possibility?