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Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Jamessquared, Feb 16, 2013.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    It's available for traffic, subject to a 30t limit - which I think was the same condition as Stepney. That is sufficient for Bluebell and Autumn Tint specials, and eases the reliance on 323 for those services.

    Tom
     
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  2. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    Many thanks

    Steve B
     
  3. 847

    847 New Member

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    Yes that makes sense I suppose, was looking forward to Giants already and was a bit worried that it had been replaced by the event in late September
     
  4. Dan Hamblin

    Dan Hamblin Part of the furniture

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    It looks like Southern at War has been dropped for 2017, unless it is slotted in the weekend before Branch Line Gala to make use of any visiting loco. A shame as the 2013 event with 3205 visiting from SDR was very good, but I think a lot of re-enactors tend to favour bigger events now.

    Regards,

    Dan
     
  5. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    I appears so, but last years was a shadow of its former self .
     
  6. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Visitor numbers for this years GOS " exceeded 4600" according to the latest SR, so I cannot see them dropping it, and spread over 3 days was better than the 2 the previous year. Shop sales had a 15% increase in sales compared with the same event last year, also according to SR.Deciding on date might be why it has not been announced, with a Halloween Scream Train - 27th October it its unlikely to be 27th to 29th October, so could be the week before when the Midhants are holding a diesel gala or the first weekend in November.
     
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  7. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    Just noticed 592's boiler ticket expires in May, would be nice to have the 01 back for the Gala.With 473 withdrawn from service it makes sense to put back the Gala, if there is a chance to have the 01 available.
     
  8. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    The 10-year anniversary of 592's boiler ticket takes us to the week after the Branchline Gala. So the hope is that it will last until then, though obviously there is also the possibility that something sufficiently major might fail to make a further repair unwarranted so close to the end of its spell in traffic. But right now, it is in traffic and hoped to remain so until the Branchline gala.

    As for 65, there will be a restoration update in the next issue of Bluebell News ;) But in brief, various components have been recovered from the existing boiler or new parts made and sent to the Flour Mill to install in the spare boiler, which is now in getting towards hydraulic and steam tests. The cylinders have been put back in the frames, so the loco should be re-wheeled fairly soon and the motion re-assembled. The aim is to have the loco available for traffic in the spring, so an overlap with 592 is planned. That potentially gives us, briefly, five SECR locos all in traffic together: 592, 65, 263, 323 and 178, with 27 under repair. Obviously all subject to the usual caveats.

    (Incidentally, on the subject of both 27 and the work needed for overhaul, this is interesting: http://wainrightsfinestsecr27.blogspot.co.uk/2016/11/more-original-secr-information.html)

    A couple of photos of 65, showing bits you don't normally see:

    IMG_2382.jpg

    Underside of the right-hand cylinder of No. 65, refurbished and ready to be refitted between the frames. (Front is towards the left; the flat section at the bottom of the photo is riveted to the frame). The triangular casting mark “E-SR” indicates that it was cast by the Southern Railway at Eastleigh on 22 October 1947. The left-hand cylinder has the same casting date.

    IMG_2386.jpg

    Refurbished draw gear between the locomotive and tender.

    Tom
     
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  9. 73082

    73082 Member

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    Are platform tickets available at SP and HK during the Santa Special events?
     
  10. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    From the Bluebell e-Newsletter:

    KINGSCOTE SIGNALLING WINS NRHA AWARD

    The Railway was successful at the National Railway Heritage Awards (NRHA) Ceremony in London on 7 Dec., 2016, winning the Siemens Signalling Award for the Kingscote Signal Box and Signalling.

    Rail Minister Paul Maynard MP presented the award to Brian Hymas, Chris Bassett, and Chris Chambers who represented the Railway.

    The judges referred to "... a first rate project, [w]ell thought through, designed, and executed to a very high standard"; the "re-creation and preservation of a full working example of an historically important type of lever frame and associated signalling practice as used extensively by the Southern Railway and Southern Region"; and the re-creation "of signalling for a country station as it might have been in the 1950s, following Southern Railway and Southern Region practice".

    Mention was made of the 1950s rail-built and lattice signal posts, and there was a particular comment about the design of the up home signals using a single post with two arms as an "interesting re-creation and demonstration of an old practice ... giving added interest and historic value".

    The runners-up for the Award were Carnforth Junction Signal Box (Network Rail) and Midsomer Norton Signal Box (Somerset & Dorset Railway Heritage Trust).

    By Robert Hayward


    And, still on a signalling theme:


    HORSTED KEYNES SIGNAL BOX CLOCK RETURNS HOME

    The original clock from Horsted Keynes South Signal Box has been purchased by the Bluebell Railway Museum. It was in a recent auction and the Museum was fortunate to be able to purchase it.

    The clock records show that it was made before the signal box was opened, so it's likely that it was in the box from the beginning.

    The clock cost the LBSCR £1 17s 6d, rather less than it cost the Museum to buy it back!

    By Tony Hillman

    Tom
     
  11. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    I saw this in the report of the auction concerned. Price was reasonable enough for the "real thing".

    What does surprise me is hows cheap these timepieces were when new, even allowing for inflation. Havenstreet has just been donated the clock from Portsmouth Harbour supplied by Jno. Walker (not to be confused with John Walker) to the L.S.W.R. in 1898. It is a whopper with twin 30 inch dials yet it cost no more than £35. Incidentally it appears not to have had its dials re-painted in S.R. or B.R. style which is a touch unusual.

    Paul H
     
  12. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    This site only goes back to 1901 (there may be others) but apparently £35 in 1901 is £3885 in today's money. Is that cheap?
    http://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/...tion-calculator-value-money-changed-1900.html
     
  13. RASDV

    RASDV Member

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    I was thinking of popping along to the Bluebell next Thursday (22nd) to take some photos/videos - I can see that the Victorian Christmas trains are running. There seem to be two locos listed on the roster - is this a two train service or is the 'Edwardian train' a different service? What is the timetable like for the day? Thanks :)
     
  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    They are separate services.

    Victorian is the four four wheelers; Edwardian is five pre-group bogie coaches (the Birdcage brake; 100 seater; LBSCR bogie first; LSWR brake; LNWR Obo).

    I haven't seen a timetable yet for that date, so can't help with times. I think that both services in essence cover the whole line, whereas the main Santa services are SP to HK and back.

    Tom
     
  15. RASDV

    RASDV Member

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    Thanks for replying so quickly! That's helpful. On the website under 'Victorian Christmas' there are departures from Sheffield Park at 10.45am, 12pm, 1.15pm, 2.30pm and 3.45pm - would the first be the 'Victorian' set, second 'Edwardian' set etc?
     
  16. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Possibly, but I wouldn't know for certain until seeing the timetable. On other days (and last year) the Edwardian set has been used on a service that starts and finishes at East Grinstead and runs to HK via a long layover at Kingscote to visit a family of reindeer. But judging by what the website says, I suspect on this particular day both sets look like they are being used on a SP - HK Victorian service with a long layover to take in the attractions at HK. That would be my best guess, but the timetable will confirm when it is issued later this week.

    Tom
     
  17. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

  18. pmh_74

    pmh_74 Well-Known Member

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    I see your point but those were different times, there was an army of independent clockmakers up and down the land just waiting for this kind of work. The equivalent today is mass production, or at least a high degree of mechanised assistance for "one offs".
     
  19. Funnell

    Funnell New Member

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    Both sets only do Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes and the timetable is as follows;

    Victorian Set:

    SP Dep @ 10:45 13:15 15:45
    HK Arr @ 11:05 13:35 16:05
    HK Dep @ 12:23 14:53 17:20
    SP Arr @ 12:41 15:11 17:38

    Edwardian Set

    SP Dep @ 12:00 14:30
    HK Arr @ 12:20 14:50
    HK Dep @ 13:38 16:08
    SP Arr @ 13:56 16:26

    Hope that helps,

    James
     
  20. RASDV

    RASDV Member

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    Thanks James - that's really helpful - just what I was looking for! :)

    One thing- the roster for No.263 says Edw/GD so is the Golden Arrow dining train running at some point on the 22nd as well? when I looked elsewhere on the website I couldn't find any mention of it. Sorry for all the questions - I'm new to the area!


    Thanks :)
     

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