Good News from the Bluebell

You may say that - I couldn't possibly comment

Tom

 

Has it been confirmed yet that the Riddles mogul is the good news or is it a rumour that might be good news. Or might it be a little dull news for those who regularly go to the GCR?

Regards

 

My friend it is good news that the Riddles mogul is coming to the branch lune weekend , but apparantly according to others it is old news.

I see also that £10,000.00 pounds has been obtained by the funding Directer towards a second MK 1 conversion for disabled passengers .

Regards
Chris

 

Actually the news about the "second MK 1 conversion for disabled passengers" is by far the better news. Well done the Bluebell and a good Christmas and a Happy New Year to all!

:smt114:smt114:smt114

Regards

 

I just received my copy of Bluebell News and the two big pieces of news are that:
1. Spoil from the tip will be removed north (probably with a 73) onto the mainline
2. 42085 will be visiting in February
--edit--
3. 78019 is confirmed for Branch Line
4. From the last weekend in February to the last weekend in March timetables from previous decades will be employed while track is relaid through the tunnel. The first two weekends will be from circa 1963 with a P and a Terrier top and tailing on the mets calling at all the old halts along the route. The last weekend will be the 1990 timetable with a shuttle service from Horsted Keynes to Horsted House Farm, but using the Queen Mary Brake rather than the Maunsells.

 

Bluebell secured a Fairburn. Excellent and only right as they did run on the line in BR days. I may have to go down for 3 events this year them. Branch Line, 50th Anniversary Gala and Giants. No post here yet but may get mine today.

 

IIRC 42085 is one of the class that actually traversed the Lewes and East Grinstead prior to closure. Looking forward to seeing it on a rake of three Bulleids.

 

Just received my Bluebell News and what splendid news it is that Fairburn 42085 will visit for 2 weeks in February. Please please Jon can we have a charter or 2 booked with the loco, paired with the Bulleids and perhaps the 2 blood & custards and one additional Brake carriage e.g like we did with the last charter with 32473. Fairburn Tanks were regular visitors to Eastbourne in the late 1950's/ early 1960's with blood & custards in tow, my Dad took a photo 42105 at Eastbourne in 1958 as attached below.

Also some interesting comments in the Correspondence section regarding the forthcoming PTS rule for lineside photography. I completely agree with what Paul Chancellor and Malcolm Ranieri have wrote.
Unfortunately the Bluebell could become the next Mid-Hants where many photters who "freeloaded" will still choose to take their chances on the lineside as it cannot be 100% policed and in turn those guys who have put money into the railway by paying for the old style lineside pass will not do the full course due to the extra expense and logistics. My Dad and I will probably have a go at the PTS course next year just as a result of all the visiting locos coming next year, but whether we renew it the year after is another question.

 

Good news indeed , but I cannot help wondering if every preserved Railway will have to go down the PTS road, sad as though that may be.

Regards
Chris

 

Not wishing to detract from the "Fairburn" news, the mention of the tip removal to the North by rail is significant as well. Any ideas about timescale?

 

Got mine and the news is very good indeed. 78019,42085 and that spoil will be moved by rail.

 

The aim is for the first train to run in early March but there are still a few hurdles to clear yet, not least being the need to agree changes to the method statements with the County and District Councils and the Environment Agency.

Gavin

 

Did they mention where they are taking the spoil to ? No doubt removal by rail will very much please the neighbours

 

Doe this mean that there is enough money in they kitty to actually finish the work? Is this a method statement for the future work or will there be a small/large trial excavation?


Keith

 

The idea is that they will carry out periods of work as and when they have the funds, the removal can be switched on and off very quickly. Using rail transport though has very usefully saved them around £700,000 (bringing overall cost down to £2.9m) There was mention of trials but I've already passed my copy over to my Dad, but someone else can fully furnish you with the details

Merry Christmas and a happy new year

 

has the track already been extended from east grinstead to the tip then, if removal is going to start in march? if not when does the railway expect to lay the track on the viaduct and upto the spoil tip, or is it going to be put on lorries and then re loaded onto rail

 

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html

alright lads calm down, 78019, 42085 will appear at branch line weekend 2010. As well as 473 and hopefully 178.

 

They will be laying track across the viaduct to the tip, as of October they were putting in the drainage and ballasting, I'm sure they'll have track laid by March

 

Yes next year's Branch Line w/e looks like it's gonna be a corker of a gala with the 2 visitors plus the E4 and hopefully 178.

 

The track isn't laid yet, but the plan is it will be before March (along with suitable signalling to allow trains onto the mainline); however, bad weather may delay things which is a risk to the project starting in March. So it is a case of watch this space... The rubbish itself is going to Calvert (north of Bicester, in Buckinghamshire) I believe.

As for taking it out by lorry, even just for 1 mile - that isn't the plan. The cost saving partly comes about because the lorries had to have wheel washing equipment in place before they left the site, which the trains won't. In addition, by not having to have that equipment, the works can be started and stopped much more quickly and with less equipment to set up / dismantle, and all the attendant cost. Therefore, it is more practicable to remove relatively small amounts of rubbish as an when funding is available, rather than doing it all in 1 or 2 big chunks as would have been the only financially viable way of doing it by road. In turn, it is hoped that the more visible progress of seeing the tip gradually diminish may encourage people to contribute as they can see the project is definitely progressing.

Tom