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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. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    Were they as nippy propelling, from videos I have seen they went well in reverse but not sure re 60s.
     
    threelinkdave, Nov 5, 2013
    #21
  2. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Just on the tour itself, has anyone received tickets yet? Nothing come through here.
     
    A1X, Nov 5, 2013
    #22
  3. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    I'd like to know which leg is coming first, UCK or EGR. The ECS move from STL WCR to VIC is up on RTT as is the evening ECS VIC > STL
     
    mrKnowwun, Nov 5, 2013
    #23
  4. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Based on the actual times on the RTC website it has to be EGR first.
     
    Paul42, Nov 5, 2013
    #24
  5. spindizzy

    spindizzy Member

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    RTC are saying its 14.50 arrive and 15.00 depart from Uckfield.
     
    spindizzy, Nov 5, 2013
    #25
  6. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Three and a half hours Uckfield to Victoria? What are we going via. Dover or something?
     
    A1X, Nov 5, 2013
    #26
  7. spindizzy

    spindizzy Member

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    It's 17.13 into Victoria
     
    spindizzy, Nov 5, 2013
    #27
  8. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    VIC IS 17:13, so thats two hours and 13 minutes.
     
    mrKnowwun, Nov 5, 2013
    #28
  9. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Even so that seems excessive
     
    A1X, Nov 5, 2013
    #29
  10. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    In case you've not spotted it, the RTC has released extra seats for Saturday. There's no truth in the rumour that these are benches bolted to the floor in the brake but a welcome bonus for those who missed the early rush for seats, like me. Two steam locomotives to a decent heritage site and out and back in daylight. Can't be bad.
     
    Big Al, Nov 6, 2013
    #30
  11. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Seats? SEATS? I often had to pay to STAND in the brake on some commuter services.
     
    mrKnowwun, Nov 6, 2013
    #31
  12. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    But when it was crowded with steam, if you were lucky there was always the guard's seat if he was elsewhere complete with periscope for forward vewing....if the brake was the right way round!
     
    Big Al, Nov 6, 2013
    #32
  13. KentYeti

    KentYeti Guest

    The style of the routing is a bit like some of the railtours we had in the 1960s Al!

    Enjoy it.
     
    KentYeti, Nov 6, 2013
    #33
  14. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Right
    It is VIC > EGR > Oxted > UCK > VIC in that order. Note the Reversing movement is at Oxted, not Hurst Green.

    Times are all up on RTT.
     
    mrKnowwun, Nov 6, 2013
    #34
  15. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Paul42, Nov 6, 2013
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  16. 34007

    34007 Part of the furniture

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    34007, Nov 6, 2013
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  17. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    With the original plan there would have been insufficient time to serve the meals on the return to those in dining ( Note : The Steam Dreams trip returned via the Surrey Hills). It will be easier for the Bluebell since it will be the first down train that day, passing the first up at Kingscote ?
     
    Paul42, Nov 7, 2013
    #37
  18. campainr

    campainr Well-Known Member

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    campainr, Nov 7, 2013
    #38
  19. gwr4090

    gwr4090 Part of the furniture

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    gwr4090, Nov 7, 2013
    #39
  20. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Need to wait for the STN, which won't come out until Friday.

    My understanding is that last week's tour hadn't been planned to stop at HK, but a stop was put in to allow passengers longer to stretch their legs / get a meal given the very limited time at SP. This tour has rather longer, so I would imagine the plan would be non-stop (as much as crossing service trains allows).

    Looking at the Bluebell timetable, eight minutes for our first "up" train at Kingscote (which doesn't normally stop there) is clearly to allow a bit of flexibility in crossing the charter. Experience from last week seems to indicate at least 5 minutes to get a charter from EG Sidings onto the Bluebell, and then probably about six or seven more to get to Kingscote; so that implies an arrival at Kingscote at 10:22-ish even if it runs on time from NR. That probably gives about 10:35ish at HK, assuming no stop at Kingscote. So an 11:00 am arrival at SP is pretty conservative unless there is a about seven or eight minutes stop at HK, which isn't needed for pathing.

    For the return service, a 12:20 departure ex-SP gives an arrival about 12:35 at HK, about 12:48 - 12:50 at Kingscote assuming no stop at HK. Again, the down Bluebell service train has a big long wait at Kingscote (22 minutes!) which I guess is to allow a bit of flexibility on running times of the charter.

    There should also be a Bluebell Wealden Rambler, but that is likely to be in the afternoon, so not conflict with the charter.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Nov 7, 2013
    #40
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