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Flying Scotsman at the Bluebell Railway: 13 - 19 April 2017

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by Jamessquared, Nov 23, 2016.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    The Bluebell Railway is delighted to have secured the services of Flying Scotsman for a special week of operations. Since opening the line to East Grinstead in 2013, the appearance of Scotsman will give thousands of people from London and the South East a chance to enjoy this renowned locomotive in the delightful surroundings of the Sussex countryside.

    The dates of operation on the Bluebell Railway will be April 13th – 19th, offering a special Easter treat for many! Further details of the visit and ticketing arrangements will be made available in due course.

    From here: http://rasalmon.co.uk/bluebell/download/news/Flying_Scotsman_News_Nov16.pdf

    Tom
     
  2. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    Well done Tom. Preperation for all eventualities seems to be the answer to a smooth event.
     
  3. 46236

    46236 Well-Known Member

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    will appear at the KWVR as well
     
  4. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    So over the Easter school holidays as well, sounds like an excellent bit of planning this one.
     
  5. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Intresting to see it on a rake of SR green stock, nice one Bluebell!
     
  6. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    It would be nice to see her run with the GNR Saloon. It looked great behind Green Arrow when she came down in 2003.
     
  7. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I was hoping we'd stick the Mets behind it - LNER engine with varnished teak stock and all that ;)

    Seriously, I don't know what she'll haul on regular trains or how tickets etc will be sold. Our normal limit is six coaches on account of short platforms at Sheffield Park; we have on occasion run with seven coach trains, but it starts getting operationally complex, though easier if you arrange not to have two trains at SP at the same time. Eight coaches would (I think) be the absolute limit on account of the length of the run round loop at East Grinstead.

    Tom
     
  8. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Would you have 34059 back in action then? You could market it as a Gresley and Bullied event maybe? The master and his apprentice...
     
  9. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I doubt it. My gut feeling is that FS will be a draw on its own, without having to dress it up anyway. There was an interesting comment I recall from the SVR General Manager (quoted in one or other of the mags) that the FS / Tornado event on the SVR drew a very different crowd to a normal gala - much more family based.

    Tom
     
  10. chrishallam

    chrishallam Member

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    Hopefully after the song and dance made during her trip to Scotland the Network Rail gauging team will be on their best behaviour for her trip to East Grinstead.

    As an aside what steam locos have used the connection so far? Is it just Braunton and various 5's?
     
  11. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Tornado came in by rail a year or two ago, 70013 came on a rail tour in 2013, and of course our own C class has used the connection earlier this year. Plus I think 6201 was scheduled for a rail tour that didn't happen, but which (presumably?) got as far as gauging for the East Grinstead line. Then as you say Braunton and a couple of Black 5s.

    Tom
     
  12. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    1306? Or have I imagined that?
     
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    It was due to take a rail tour in 2015 but failed its FTR and as I recall it didn't come - though again, presumably it had been gauged by that time.

    Tom
     
  14. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    (6)1306 is currently due to start a Steam Dream charter from Horsted Keynes on 18th March 2017:- http://steamdreams.co.uk/Executable...r=71887&Route=1&Adults=2&Children=0&Infants=0 I think the acid test of gauge-friendliness is whether a given loco can run in Kent, which abounds in tight clearances. 61306 visited Canterbury in 2015, so South Croydon-East Grinstead shouldn't be too tight, although someone else (Richard Salmon??) has posted that there is a bit of embankment slippage at Dormans which is causing NR to be a bit cautious about what it allows southbound. (For information, next March's SD trip only has steam northbound from the Bluebell, although there is still the question of getting it down to HK in the first place - perhaps running overnight on the up line??)
    Going back to Flying Scotsman, my assumption has always been that it is less gauge-friendly than 61306 or 60163 - again using the Kent test. Canterbury featured regularly in the steam-hauled itinerary when Clan Line worked the pullmans. When it was withdrawn circa 2001/2 for overhaul and Scotsman took over the pullmans, Canterbury promptly vanished for the itinerary and I thought that gauging was the issue. Tornado has already visited Canterbury and is due to do so again with UKRT in December.

    Whatever, it's hard to imagine the Bluebell and the NRM making such a high-profile announcement if NR hasn't already been consulted about moving the engine over a rather tight piece of track. Both parties would end up with an awful lot of egg on their face to have to say in a few days time, "Whoops, sorry, 60103's visit has been cancelled as we've just found out that it won't fit!" I certainly hope not. It's already down in my diary as not to be missed.
     
  15. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    Sorry - duplicate post. Server was playing up.
     
    Last edited: Nov 24, 2016
  16. Sidmouth

    Sidmouth Resident of Nat Pres Staff Member Moderator

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    Giving the gauging issues that seem to restrict access for loco's to the Bluebell I presume this has been checked
     
  17. Bean-counter

    Bean-counter Part of the furniture

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    Unless there is another, earlier visit yet to be announced, the first appearance 'south of the River', and hence I would have thought guaranteed to be a success on a par with the first visits to other parts of the country.

    I would expect it will be an all ticket, premium affair and I suppose the main question is which end is best to book the round trips from. This could also affect ease of using a longer train than Sheffield Park's platforms - 8 coaches tends to have been standard I think, if not more, on previous visits.

    Being during the school holidays, I am sure it could challenge the SVR event for speed of selling out?

    When is the KWVR visit mentioned above?

    Steven
     
  18. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

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  19. Matt37401

    Matt37401 Nat Pres stalwart

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    I can't find any mention of it going to Keighley either, but looking at it so far It seems it seems if you haven't a mainline connection you'll miss out. Edit @Paul.Uni has just made me look rather silly! Also rather clever how there's a plug for membership below the article about Scotsman visiting! Yorkshire folk!
     
  20. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    I hope that if Scotsman is used on the Bluebell pullmans that it won't run as the Golden Arrow. That would look rather odd on an A3 (with or without smoke deflectors) Any chance that some other line might loan a "Yorkshire Pullman" or "Queen of Scots" headboard??
     
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