Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Not an obvious contender to take the title off Mallard...

 

Just headed past Hornsey on up slow by the looks of things. 592 in light steam. Ish!

 

so it's running tonight not the 20th


http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O71641/2016/02/18/advanced

 

Left Bounds Green at 2202 (2 late). Due into East Grinstead at 0059.

http://www.realtimetrains.co.uk/train/O71641/2016/02/18/advanced

 

20142 and 20189 on the Bluebell move sounded good heading over the flyover at Hornsey earlier. A few minutes earlier, 20107 and 314 lead a pair of tank wagons and another pair of 20s on West Ruislip to Peterborough move. Six 20s through Hornsey in 5 minutes, superb!

 

Don't think you're getting it back! I'm thinking there must be a road bridge the council need to reassess for weight limits somewhere!

 

There is always the railway option via so yar boo sucks

 

I take it she was popular your way then?

Is she still at Ropley - I haven't seen any indication that she has made it back to SP yet?

Tom

 

Popular could be the understatement of the year - she can't half make a racket!

She's got a charter on Monday....... which I'm not doing.

A little taster of what she'll be up to.

 

Dave,

Don't forget to pack your raincoat and umbrella for Monday.

Ps nice photo.

 

Lee, why do I need waterproofs if I'm NOT doing the charter?.......................

Glad you like the pic.

 

If you look very carefully you can see the driver's grin....my grin. There was some advice about not using second valve too much because it drained the boiler. Provided you get it nice and hot this doesn't seem to be a huge issue though

 

I'll put that down as "the Q visited the MHR where she proved popular with both passengers and loco crew" then in the next BN loco report!

Tom

 

Ah, that's you - you certainly knew how to handle her!

You can, BUT you can't have her back.

 

I think a better wording would be..." The Q has moved to the MHR where she is proving to be popular with both passengers and loco crew"

 

Here is the latest picture of the elephant van - planking on the west side is now progressing quite rapidly

David R

 

i dont want to decry the efforts on the Elephant van, but i am sure there are many who look forward to the new carriage shed at Horsted Keynes being completed and the LBSCR Directors Saloon being dried out and work on restoration commenced after many many years in the open. this was a project that was dear to the heart of Bernard Holden. this 'valuable' important coach has been left to rot in the open for over 35 years. surely the LBSCR Directors saloon is more important than the Elephant van?

cheers,
julian

 

I believe the elephant van relieved funding for various external sources, including the Arts Council. At least that is what I was remember being told on the carriage works tour last year. The directors saloon requires a much greater expense and would ultimately serve ess people, as the interior of the van is to be converted to a children's play/learning centre and parked up at Horsted Keynes.

Such vans were also used for carting about theatrical scenery and as I work in theatre I find it a fascinating piece of history. I do not mean to belittle the Directors' Saloon at all, stunning as it is (and I have donated to its restoration as well), but there is logic to restoring the elephant van instead of it.

 

hi charles,

many thanks for the further details re the Elephant van, but i hope you will agree the LBSCR Directors Saloon is of far more importance historically and far more important for an ex-LBSCR line.

i do not doubt that it is now a major restoration job - but that is the fault of it being taken out of service in the 1970s and not stored under cover.

cheers,
julian

 

Absolutely agree with you, but the Elephant Van has received significant external funding (Arts Council grant of just over £80K) and is a fairly quick fix (less than a year in the workshops as opposed to 5 years + for some of the more complex restorations) so it isn't a straight choice of elephant van or LBSC Directors Saloon. We all look forward to the additional overhead cover which will help the long term conservation of many historic vehicles including the LBSC Directors Saloon. More donations always welcome (hint - link below) to help complete this and (of course) volunteers are always welcome.

David R

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/trust/appeal/donate.html