Good News from the Bluebell

Of course looking on the positive side it could be just a 'typo' on the roster, or the work involves more time than the workshop have at present given the urgency to get 178 finished... so 42085 might run after Branchline W/E. Remember 'dont count your chickens'... nothing official has been stated yet.

 

Well yes there is that hope, afterall we've just repaired a spring and some other bits of work on the loco so it would be good to think the owners will let's have the loco for an additional weekend as a good gesture for doing the repairs.

 

Or have her back another time. But maybe the people who arrange the roster don't want to say yay or nay and getting people's hopes up or flattening them. If she doesn't run at Branch Line, she'll probably be in the dock siding so you could maybe cab it.

 

Such a shame!! Maybe those who can see her can get some nice shots of the Fairburn tank for us all to enjoy?

 

Mr Hayward's got you covered on that front http://train.fotopic.net/p63158476.html

 

In the Bluebell email group Richard Salmon has said that problems with the work being undertaken mean she won't run this weekend and it isn't looking good for Branch Line. 80151 will replace her. We can at least hope she can stay another couple of weeks.A statement is now on the what's new page.

 

Yes hopefully as our guys are doing the repairs the owners will let her stay for an extra w/e or two. I do fear that once 42085 has left the Bluebell the owners will never let it leave the Lakeside again and gone will be the chance to finally see a Fairburn Tank hauling BR(S) carriages.

 

If she doesn't stay longer, Lakeside have another one don't they? What's it's status?

 

I think it's a slightly different scenario with the other Fairburn Tank. Both were owned separately by the Maher brothers who refused to let them go anywhere. But when the brother that owned 42085 passed away it's was bequeathed to his son who has been a little more open to loan offers. However the other brother who owns the other Fairburn Tank still will not let it leave the Lakeside. I should point it that this is only what I've heard so not 100% sure on this, if anyone else can confirm this it would be appreciated.

 

I second that. With that type of attitude the Bluebell would never see a Fairburn tank grace their rails again.

 

All please remember this is the BlueBELL thread not the Blue Language thread.

Offending posts have been removed.

 

Ok so back to the hopefuly good news from the Bluebell, a couple of shots of 42085 around the middle of the page here,http://crjennings.com/preserved steam bluebell/bluebell 7 Index.html was good to see her and will be an awfull waste if she dosnt run, if the work needed is done at Sheffield Park it would be strange to say the least if she isnt used for a weekend or two, so heres hoping.

 

Will it reflect badly on the L&HR if 42085 only went to the Bluebell for repairs and never ran as agreed, will they be obliged to allow her to stay for longer or loan her back another time?

 

As the engine doesnt belong to the L&HR why should it reflect badly on them?
I am disappointed that some members of this forum have had to resort to bad language. Bluebell have had to beg to get this engine there at all. A few bad comments may just upset the Owner and that would be that. If it was my engine, I would certainly think about taking it away on that basis. Yes we are all disappointed its not likely to run at Branchline W/E but there may be more to it that meets the eye. Remember this is Bluebells 50th year and I for one really want to see Stepney and Bluebell with that first train as thats what its all about. With 178 looking like it may slip a week or 2 that puts even more pressure on the works to finish these 2 in time for August. Not to mention any teething troubles with 473/178, general maintenance and progress with 263/847/Baxter and of course the dredded unplanned failure!. If 42085 needs more than a simple spring change, perhaps now is not the time. There is one saving grace, someone has had to foot the bill for transport so I think it possible that we will see a Fairburn run in Sussex at some point in time.

 

Oops, my bad, I meant would it reflect badly on Mr Maher if he let his engine go for some agreed repairs and working BL W/E only for the Bluebell to do the graft and not get the benefit of her running.

 

i had better clear up what i said. All i said was that the railway should forget the fairburn tank, send it home and not waste resources on it and concentrate on returning their own locos to steam, as they will be there for longer.

I hope that this weekend 78019 isnt paired with the maunsells. And 9017 is hardly a substitute. Id rather 473 was rostered, it seems silly to steam it for 1 day. Also, what time does 592 do its trips 2morrow???

 

The thing with the Fairburn Tank though is that it's a massive historically important loco to the railway that many, many of us enthusiasts have dreamed of seeing it here and paired with BR(S) carriages. A lot of us never thought it would happen and now finally one of them is here it would be such a huge blow if the loco never worked any services. Remember once it's gone, it's gone, and probably never coming back as I can't see the owners being so willing to let it leave the Lakeside yet again. So if a deal can be hammered out with the Maher family to let the loco stay for an extra week or two so we can get to see the loco on service trains then let's do it. To be honest for me the arrival of the Fairburn Tank is a bigger and better deal than getting Tornado for the 50th Gala or Oliver Cromwell for Giants of Steam.

 

For enthusiasts, most definitely. For the treasurer of the Bluebell Railway, not so sure.

 

With you 100%. 42085 has much more relevance to the Bluebell than either 60163 or 70013. No doubt the two Pacifics will attract large numbers at the special events but for me 42085 on green is the Holy Grail.