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The Bluebell Explorer 09/11/2013

Discussion in 'What's Going On' started by John Petley, Nov 1, 2013.

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  1. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    RTC have posted the confirmed timings on its website: http://www.railwaytouring.net/uk-day-trips/blue-bell-explorer-09-11-13 Looks like now it is visiting the Bluebell first and then on to Uckfield, although the blurb hasn't been altered to indicate this. I've checked Real Time Trains but nothing seems to be posted as yet. 1 hour and 20 minutes at Sheffield Park this time.
     
    John Petley, Nov 1, 2013
    #1
  2. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    08.43 from Victoria, 34046 leading, 44932 on the rear. ( last time I had a combo like this was 34028 and 44767 at Churnet valley).

    Victoria platform 9 should be a good spot to watch..black 5 banking the train out !
    Even the ECS moves on this should be worth watching... In both directions.
     
    ADB968008, Nov 1, 2013
    #2
  3. banana patch

    banana patch Member

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    Complains about steam loco hanging off back of train all day?
     
    banana patch, Nov 2, 2013
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  4. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Depends if that ghastly northern thing hanging off the back stops me hearing the Southern stallion at the front doing it's thing...
     
    A1X, Nov 2, 2013
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  5. gricerdon

    gricerdon Guest


    Interesting as RTT show an 0845 to Chesterfield from platform 2. Is steam allowed from any other platform?

    Don
     
    gricerdon, Nov 2, 2013
    #5
  6. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    I shouldn't read anything into that, platform changes are often made on a local basis on the day.
     
    RalphW, Nov 2, 2013
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  7. 5944

    5944 Resident of Nat Pres

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    08.45 to Chesterfield is a WTT path for the VSOE, but it's not booked to run next Saturday.
     
    5944, Nov 2, 2013
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  8. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Platform 2 at Victoria is used for nearly every steam operation from Victoria (I say nearly because in 2012 35028 as 35018 left Plat 7 once, and 34067 arrived on plat 3 once.. because 35028 was on plat 2 already.... that was a good night)... but otherwise.. its Plat 2 across the board for most trips.

    Plat 2 is the only one where the departure end is not undercover, and is long enough for length for the train. (plat 9 could do it.. but is way too busy), the rest are shorter/undercover.

    (There is a really big clue.. if you look at the over bridge it's smoke stained above plat 2.. :))

    top end of Plat 9 is the best place to watch the departure.
     
    ADB968008, Nov 2, 2013
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  9. david1984

    david1984 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Have I wandered into a parallel universe ?.
     
    david1984, Nov 2, 2013
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  10. RalphW

    RalphW Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Administrator Friend

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    No not parallel, the one that A1X inhabits runs like a sine wave sometime close, other times very far away from reality....:rolleyes:
     
    RalphW, Nov 2, 2013
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  11. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    If this comes off - two locos, the trip up and down the East Grinstead line, the reverse, Uckfield and back, as planned, I shall be delighted. However, cometh the day..........
     
    mrKnowwun, Nov 3, 2013
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  12. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Keep the faith at the back..

    this is hardly a complicated trip.. 2 lines with limited service, 30 miles or so out.. 30 miles or so back and a trip down two branchlines, and a spare black 5 waiting at the destination if it all goes wrong.

    what could possibly go wrong ?
     
    ADB968008, Nov 3, 2013
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  13. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Just thinking aloud guvner, ( wanders away muttering "Network Rail" under his breath )
     
    mrKnowwun, Nov 3, 2013
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  14. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Me too. They've been up to something, I think, over Nov 11 so let's hope for those on Nov 9 that the NR 'spanner' (assuming that they have just one) was aimed at the following Monday and misses out landing on Nov 9 as well!
     
    Big Al, Nov 3, 2013
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  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    All credit to the RTC for having the imagination to create this steam only trip to the Bluebell and also what was arguably once the centre of the branch line universe in Sussex.

    There was a time when you could go in all four directions of the compass from East Grinstead and just north of Eridge. A good two day's day out I recall. My list of motive power when I did it was 31278 (Oxted-Tunbridge WW), 80013 (TWW-East Grinstead), 30055 (EG-3 Bridges), 31324 (Oxted-Groombridge), 80082 (Groombridge-Eastbourne), 80064 (Brighton-Groombridge), 34012 (Oxted-Eridge) and 80037 (Eridge-Victoria).

    So Braunton is exactly the right kind of engine for the day. Let's hope that if it's a successful formula then it is repeated.
     
    Big Al, Nov 4, 2013
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  16. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Indeed, I think the only miss in this trip was the option to do the Eridge-tonbridge wells line as well... There's enough spare time in the day to have done it.
     
    ADB968008, Nov 4, 2013
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  17. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Probably would have ended up in the way of the Uckfield train though, unless they managed to squeeze it into the loop at Crowborough. Would have been fun squeezing a ten coach train's worth of passengers into 4 on the Spa Valley as well!
     
    A1X, Nov 4, 2013
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  18. AMP

    AMP Member

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    The lack of a physical connection at Eridge between Network Rail and the Spa Valley would make getting to TWW very interesting!

    Braunton is good but I don't think it can levitate!

    Andrew
     
    AMP, Nov 5, 2013
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  19. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    Was that the 26th April Al? If so, here's the return/inbound working of your Oxted-Tunbridge Wells train with 31278. Approaching Hurst Green.

    [​IMG]
     
    KentYeti, Nov 5, 2013
    #19
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  20. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    It was the 1504 Oxted to TWW on 10/3/62. Different date but my money would be on it being the same stock. My notes say it was pretty nippy between Hurst Green and Edenbridge Town - 63 max. Such a lovely image of yours.
     
    Big Al, Nov 5, 2013
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