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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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    From the eNewsletter:

    OPERATIONS REPORT: A BUSY SUMMER

    We have had a busy summer, with the usual mix of standard passenger trains, Pullmans, Wealden Ramblers, and demonstration goods trains.

    All of these trains have been serviced thanks to the usual pool of faithful staff who turn up un-complainingly to open signal boxes, guard trains, staff platforms, and booking offices, and to crawl around underneath a steam engine at some unearthly hour. We thank them, as always.

    Sadly, we have lost a couple of friends this summer, which many of you will have read about already. They are missed and mourned in equal number, and they will be hard to replace.

    As has been reported, we have been trying to square the circle of running a "right-time" railway and making sure we capture as many connecting passengers from London via East Grinstead as we can.

    I was a guard on 22 June, 2016, which proved to be a perfect opportunity to see just how our plans work out in practice, especially during table 2 days. It was plain to see that in order to achieve everything, staff had to be full on all day, especially during the early part of the morning.

    In addition, we have had the speed restriction over Leamland Junction to cope with, so it is really good news that work has started on replacing the ironwork and on re-aligning it in time for Christmas.

    This work means that in 2017, along with changes to the timetable, we hope to present a service that is easier to keep to time, while maximising ridership from the north. So look out for the 2017 timetable in due course.

    As well as the usual trains, we hosted the Hastings DEMU once again this year. The trip started and finished at Hastings, via Sheffield Park and then Eridge on the way home. The scene at Kingscote as it came down in the morning was very much one of the great "might have beens".

    We have purposely run demonstration goods trains on a number of occasions this year, for two main reasons.

    First, these trains show that railways were not all about passengers in days gone by. In fact, our line was opened to provide a means of transporting agricultural goods to market, with passengers a second thought! Indeed, the LMS carried 27 million tons of coal during the height of the depression in 1931, which shows how much more important goods was compared with people, even during a trade slump.

    Second, goods trains provide a chance for us to train our staff in the mysteries of working unfitted trains and shunting. They also allow signalmen to operate signal boxes in ways that are less familiar--in doing so we build on our commitment to keeping alive the skills of yesterday, as much as we can.

    Goods trains are not a source of revenue, but they add interest for the visitor, and they add to the scene. But chiefly they are fun, and while we are all about the visitor, we must have fun ourselves ... it's what keeps us going!

    By Russell Pearce, Operations Director
     
  2. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

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    Just seen the ballast delivery train film clip on the Bluebell website.
    Looking at the amount of stone loaded in the wagons, am I correct in assuming that the weight restriction on NWR for these wagons has now been removed?
    As I think they were limited to about 75% of the load during the Imberhorne tip works.
     
  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I've not heard of any change, but I'm not that close to the details of the work - @jonpbowers may know. I had a look at some photos from early 2013 during the construction work on the Northern Extension and the incoming ballast trains did look slightly less full than the recent ones - see for example photos from February 2013 on this page: http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/extprog.html#4mar13 (Scroll down a bit). I seem to recall then that the limit was 50tons load per wagon, so maybe there has been a relaxation. I think the limit was on the steel viaducts north of East Grinstead.

    Tom
     
  4. jonpbowers

    jonpbowers New Member

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    Sorry - I'm afraid I don't know re. NR restrictions.

    Jon
     
  5. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    I might be totally wrong but I would imagine ballast is lighter than earth (especially clay)?
     
  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    A bit more detail about what the ballast is for - from the eNewsletter:

    INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE: KEEPING ON TRACK

    Oh for those happy and uncomplicated days when you got your train set out of the box, pushed all the track together, wound up the engine and with any luck it would be tearing around the Christmas tree before teatime.

    Wouldn't it be nice if laying real track, albeit a little heavier, was so easy?

    In fact when we laid track from East Grinstead southwards through the cutting, it was a bit like a train set because we made up all the panels beforehand. Initially, it was just a matter of putting them in place and connecting them up as we went along. Then rails were replaced with longer ones once sleepers were positioned.

    However, there was a lot of preparation work to do before we got anywhere near laying track, and this is what is now taking time at Leamland Junction in order to replace a worn-out point. The point is being assembled in sections in the triangle at Horsted Keynes, and it will then be carefully marked up and taken apart, ready for reassembly at Leamland.

    Before that can happen, an enormous amount of work has been undertaken, to improve drainage at the approaches to the point; to lay Terram to combat mud pumping through the ballast; and to update cable runs. Also, the S&T location cabinets on the east side of the line have been moved to the west side, where the path has been widened to give the required safe working area (the original position would now be in the way of the new formation).

    The existing point lasted a long time, but it was never intended for that location, and there has always been a certain awkwardness about the geometry of the formation, occasioning wheel wear and speed restrictions.

    The completely new point has been designed specifically for Leamland. It will result in more of a sweeping curve that positions the formation correctly, slightly more to the east, but that will be much better for running--and it will look nicer!

    Eight new panels are being laid from the bridge to the point on both the main and the loop, and six panels from the point towards Kingscote. With all the S&T cables laid underground--which is now the practice as renewals take place--all the old concrete troughs are being removed to the Salt Yard, where they will be crushed and probably used in the foundations of the new access road at the side of OP4.

    Another advantage of our main line connection at East Grinstead is that ballast can now be brought in by rail rather than road, saving costs for the Railway and providing delivery to exactly where ballast is needed. There have been three trainloads this week, some unloaded directly at Leamland and the rest stockpiled in the triangle at Horsted Keynes in readiness for when 2 and 3 platform roads are re-laid in the New Year.

    By Mike Hopps, Infrastructure Volunteer
     
  7. David R

    David R Well-Known Member

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    First a picture of the Elephant Van from today which is now being fitted out inside with a view to opening as our Circus Play Van for Younger Children hopefully next Easter.

    Then to our next Project, S2531S a 4 wheel covered carriage truck - it's currently sitting in the part built new Maintenance Shed so we were able to make a start on taking a photographic record and removal of some parts. Although this vehicle is smaller than the Elephant Van we have a much smaller team working on it and most of the work willl have to take place outside so we believe this may take us about 2 years to complete.

    This vehicle is a 1955 build (part of the last batch built to this design which dated back to late SECR days) and so will also be finished in the same striking red livery as the Elephant Van and will be used to store parts for another coach restoration.

    David R
     

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  8. Peter Wilde

    Peter Wilde New Member

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    I'm a little surprised by the quote above from Russell Pearce "Goods trains are not a source of revenue, but they add interest for the visitor".

    While I can understand the caution about financial benefits of goods demonstrations, saying they add no revenue seems a bit too pessimistic. By adding interest, goods workings must tempt some people to make a visit - or an extra visit - and thus spend money at the railway. Railways need extra activities like this - otherwise, if every visit finds the same one or two passenger trains shuttling up and down, people may not come back for more.

    Of course the extra revenue might not balance the total costs of running goods trains; but it is surely better than nothing. Russell's other important points, about the fun factor and valuable experience for the staff, may be the major benefit of goods workings; but they are not the only benefits.
     
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  9. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Plus photo charters of course.
     
  10. 847

    847 New Member

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    Are there any timeframes on 80151 and 34059's returns?
     
  11. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    I think 80151 is due back in a year to 18 months and 34059 I think is now 2018 if I remember correctly.
     
  12. 847

    847 New Member

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    Thanks
     
  13. Zoomeg

    Zoomeg New Member

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    Are there still any plans for West Hoathly station site? I find the passage of trains through the tunnel at line speed both from a passenger POV (and photo opportunites from the level crossing) makes up for the lack of a station. IIRC the local residents rejected a station when the Northern Extension was being considered. Apart from the lovely walk to Kingscote (often muddy) there's not a lot else there to justify a halt.

    I read several years ago that their was a plan to rebuild the station house as a private dwelling (along with a couple of others in the station yard) but that was to help fund the NE?
     
  14. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    A halt to the North of the original platforms, so that the foot crossing does not need to be altered, has been mentioned. See long term plan and scroll down, link : http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/soc/ltp.html
     
  15. howard

    howard Member

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    A few weeks ago a friend and I travelled on the Bluebell. He has difficulty walking but wanted to see the museum at Sheffield Park so we went across the bridge to platform 2. On the way back he decided he couldn't face the bridge again so we rang the bell to call assistance for the foot crossing and we waited and waited until it became obvious that we would miss the train if we waited any longer. He struggled over the bridge and we caught the train but before we boarded I accosted someone who looked like the Stationmaster and asked why there was no reaction when we rang the bell. The reply that he was short staffed was delivered in the sort of tone of voice that indicated he thought that I was pretty simple not to know that, although that is by the by. I'd be interested to know why there isn't some sort of system in place to cover the notice about the foot crossing when there is a staff shortage because I very much doubt that we were the first to be stuck on platform 2.
     
  16. paulhitch

    paulhitch Guest

    Thankfully I am not in the position of your friend but I have noticed over the years that Sheffield Park staff can vary considerably from the absolutely fine to the "not so fine." Your "stationmaster" contact could have done the job himself after all. Elsewhere I have observed a tourist railway train guard assisting a frail visitor to the barrier when the platform staff were fully occupied. Obviously it was not infra dig.for him!

    I have got to re-emphasise that Sheffield Park is not always like this.

    PH
     
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  17. flying scotsman123

    flying scotsman123 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Any member of staff ought to be able to assist people crossing the line, I do it as a TTI all the time, even occasionally do it in my overalls if I'm sat on the platform too long!
     
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  18. howard

    howard Member

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    That's fine as long as you either see someone in need or hear the bell!
     
  19. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Indeed, and on occasion I've done it myself.

    @howard - Obviously I don't know the specifics, but if you like I can ask my contacts in the SP station staff for a comment, as I am sure they'd appreciate the feedback?

    Tom
     
  20. howard

    howard Member

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    Thank you Tom. It would be good if this discussion resulted in some sort of system whereby if the option to cross at the foot crossing is not available then it is made very clear to the public. Having a system in place that allows disabled passengers to waste time calling for assistance using an unanswered bell is not very good customer care. Either that or a dedicated telephone or a very loud bell?
     

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