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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. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Well, 11 plus Braunton is definitely a big load! I took 9 from our STN, which said Braunton + 9 Mark 1s + Black 5. Maybe someone forgot to include the support coaches when passing on the details. I think 11 coaches would be pretty much our load limit for a class 5 from SP to EG, so Braunton would have needed to at least be pulling itself :)

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Nov 9, 2013
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  2. richards

    richards Part of the furniture

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    Braunton definitely with steam on when dragged up the curve to Streatham.

    Richard
     
    richards, Nov 9, 2013
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  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Edit: A video I just saw looks like 10: Nine Mark 1s and one Mark 2. So our STN saying nine Mark 1s was right, and no-one dared mention the Mark 2 on Bluebell metals! :rolleyes:

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Nov 9, 2013
    #83
  4. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The load today was 11 for 396 or 430 gross. This was a well conceived trip and went like clockwork until Braunton got low on water and that necessitated an extended stop at Sanderstead - otherwise we were to time all day.

    The timing on the Bluebell was just right and, I think, didn't throw their timetable too much out of the window, We even got the time to slip in a trip to HK and back with the C and 9F.

    Both locos were fine and the '5' coped well given what it had to lug around at times but, of course, they worked in tandem when necessary. This was most noticeable out of Kingscote when without Braunton pushing we would have been in trouble. Min of 12 at the top. (That TSR on Freshfield was also a tester for the drivers).

    We noticed that the '5' seemed to develop a slight gland blow during the day so let's hope it's minor and all will be well for Monday's Kent Circular.

    Definitely a trip to repeat, I suggest.
     
    Big Al, Nov 9, 2013
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  5. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I need to learn to count then! A big load on its own for a Black 5 on the Bluebell, though clearly no issue given that conveniently there was a bank engine on hand! :smile:

    Did sound like an attractive trip. Given the more sensible length and start / finish times, it's the sort of trip I probably could have persuaded Mrs J^2 to have joined had it not been for the children - whereas last week's seventeen hour epic to and from Bridgnorth, much of it taking place in the dark, I think would firmly be in the "enthusiasts only" category.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Nov 9, 2013
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  6. gricerdon

    gricerdon Guest

    From the lineside at Sharpthorne 34046 coped quite easily with this load plus the 5 doing nothing but 44932 only just made it both sides of Horsted and 34046 was definitely giving some help

    A very well planned trip. Must book early on the next one

    Don
     
    gricerdon, Nov 9, 2013
    #86
  7. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Was on the tour today, I have to confess I think the itinerary change put this tour into danger before even setting off. Having no scheduled water stop between Sheffield Park and the end of the tour was always asking for trouble (there was no mention in any of the bumpf about a stop at Sanderstead, and I think we held up a following ex-EG service by about 10 minutes).

    Also felt the tour would have made more sense going to Uckfield first as a short turnaround at SP followed by being sat on a train shuttling back and forth for five hours wasn't the most thrilling day out you can imagine. Full marks to both the Bluebell and Spa Valley though for their contributions to the day, even if the weather Gods had it in for SP for the second Saturday in a row.

    Only major criticism was that there was no heating in our coach. By about Uckfield it was getting bearable but for the run from Victoria to Sheffield Park it was positively Arctic! Don't think the heaters (either steam or electric) so much as stirred from their hibernation.
     
    A1X, Nov 9, 2013
    #87
  8. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    My video taken at Hill Place Farm and Three Arch Bridge.
     
    David-Haggar, Nov 9, 2013
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  9. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    The timings in the brochure were not accurate after the Uckfield departure and a scheduled stop for the Black 5 was planned for Sanderstead between 1615 and 1630 so I expect that someone did think again about the water situation. But I gather that the problem was Braunton that also needed water - hence the extended stop. And then, of course we had lost our path and trundled back behind every stopper between Sanderstead and Victoria. So I think that to be fair to West Coast, they seem to me to have responded well to what Network Rail gave them...at the last minute, I'm guessing. And it looked to me that on the day, all of the WC crews and train control staff were slick and on the ball.

    On the other hand and with regard to your comment about heating, I assume that you were in the same coach as me, or at least I hope it was just the one coach with non existent heating. It just beggars belief that a company can turn out stock with a heating problem. No doubt there will be a reason such as it being a substitute/additional vehicle and if it was not included then a coach load of passengers would have not been able to travel etc. etc. I'm sorry to say that West Coast has form on this one and there's no evidence that they have the capacity to do anything about it as it's not the first time there's been this issue with the stock down south. I just feel sorry for the RTC who have to field these criticisms. I pity those folk travelling on London departures in December!
     
    Big Al, Nov 9, 2013
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  10. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

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    Lovely video David, was fun watching 44932 drag an almost not doing anything Braunton plus 11 up to Horsted Keynes, I am afraid I have photoshopped you out of my picture though! I was going to join you there actually but couldn't be bothered to trudge over in the rain so stayed by the road! Some photos from Crowhurst, Horsted Keynes, Lingfield and Edenbridge Town. Video will upload overnight.

    http://www.flickr.com/photos/alts1985/sets/72157632784810904/with/10766233176/
     
    alts1985, Nov 9, 2013
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  11. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    A1X, Nov 9, 2013
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  12. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    Thanks, we thought the 5 was going to come to a standing stop and have a blow-out at one point. It all made for terrific sound especially with the wheel slips but clearly showed how much the 5 struggled with the heavy load, wet track and what seemed little assistance from 34046 up the gradient.
     
    David-Haggar, Nov 9, 2013
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  13. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Just a quick afterthought following yesterday's trip. Having recently been to two heritage lines on a network charter - the NNR and now the Bluebell - it is interesting to observe the abilities of both set-ups in handling fairly complicated train, locomotive and stock movements without too much fuss and more to the point in a timely manner. I am sure that they follow all the essential health, safety and safeguarding measures that the big railway handles. And I have to say that yesterday at Sheffield Park probably beat No 9 platform at Clapham Junction on the way home for crowds when all of humanity seemed to want to escape from London!

    It appears that if the public is left to do the right thing then for the most part that is what they actually do provided that there is the odd person at strategic places to keep an eye on things. In terms of slickness of operation, NR can do it when they try. (For example the reversal at Oxted including the switch of route took only two minutes rather than the scheduled eight). But I have to say that heritage lines seem equally as capable, and at times more so, whilst handling sensibly a considerable public presence. Well done to all.
     
    Big Al, Nov 10, 2013
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  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Ooh, that's impressive! Clearly no shortage of steam at Three Arch, so shows just what a tough proposition that load was on that gradient with damp rails. Another video I saw of the train coming out of Horsted up to Horsted House Farm crossing showed Braunton doing rather more work.

    Tom
     
    Jamessquared, Nov 10, 2013
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  15. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    Thanks, as the 5 went past me I looked at the driver in the cab and the expression on his face looked intense to say the least as he was working the loco up the gradient.
     
    David-Haggar, Nov 10, 2013
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  16. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Victoria station - Platform 2. A steam locomotive pulls in a train with a Bulleid pacific on the other end prior to the Bulleid being assisted back up onto Grosvenor Bridge. A commonplace scene over 50 years ago. OK - the banker wasn't a H tank but when did steam last bank a Bulleid out of Victoria? Clan Line does it all the time with a Class 67. Tornado has been pushed out by Britannia....... but a Bulleid by steam? Did the RTC make history on Saturday without realising it by creating something about as authentic as you can get? P10605471.jpg P10605541.jpg
     
    Big Al, Nov 10, 2013
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  17. mrKnowwun

    mrKnowwun Part of the furniture

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    Filmed at Hanwell with the ECS to Victoria, Lingfield, Hever, and Edenbridge Town. Been waiting for sometime to get to film steam at those last two locations with that big up and down grade. As it turns out a bit of a damp squib but it was a good day

     
    mrKnowwun, Nov 10, 2013
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  18. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

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    My video...

     
    alts1985, Nov 10, 2013
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  19. steamvideosnet

    steamvideosnet Well-Known Member

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    OK, so it isn't quite a Bulleid being banked out of Victoria by steam, but this is still pretty authentic I think? 30053 dragging an ECS and 35028 out of Waterloo at the end of a railtour in 1995...

     
    steamvideosnet, Nov 10, 2013
    #99
  20. ADB968008

    ADB968008 Guest

    Ive seen 45305 bank 6201, and 44871 bank 45407 out of Victoria in the last 2-3 years... tbh the banking of 34046 by 44932 was a real bonus to compensate for the loss of Cannon St.
     
    ADB968008, Nov 10, 2013
    #100
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