If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bluebell Motive Power

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Orion, Nov 14, 2011.

  1. Bikermike

    Bikermike Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 11, 2020
    Messages:
    1,442
    Likes Received:
    1,595
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Thameslink territory
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks Tom (and scribes)!
     
    jnc likes this.
  2. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2019
    Messages:
    849
    Likes Received:
    624
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Croydon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Johnme101, ghost and brmp201 like this.
  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,100
    Likes Received:
    57,416
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    This was on Facebook:

    STAMFORD TO STAY IN RUTLAND
    Fifty years of ironstone quarrying at Pilton in rural Rutland finally came to an end on 7th June 1969 when quarry steam locomotive STAMFORD worked its last train-load of ironstone at Pilton Ironstone Quarry.

    Upon closure the STAMFORD locomotive assisted with track lifting on the quarry railway as required until October of that year when it was secured for preservation and taken to the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex.

    In 2010 the locomotive returned to Rutland on loan to Rocks by Rail – the Living Ironstone Museum situated near Cottesmore.
    Last year the Bluebell Railway agreed to sell this historic locomotive and the Museum launched a campaign to raise funds to retain STAMFORD within Rutland and to conserve it as a museum exhibit on public display.

    Built by the Avonside Engine Company in Bristol in 1927 and delivered direct to Pilton, STAMFORD is one of only a very few steam locomotives which worked in Rutland’s ironstone quarries to survive into preservation.

    The museum is now delighted to announce that fund raising to acquire the locomotive has been successful and that STAMFORD will now be staying in Rutland, where it spent all its working life.

    The Museum Trustees would like to thank Cottesmore Parish Council, Museum Members and the public for making donations to secure the loco’s purchase.
    Whilst the purchase price has been raised, the Appeal Fund will remain open and the museum would be pleased to receive any other donations, large or small, which would enable us to ensure that this historic 94-year-old steam locomotive can be repaired and conserved.

    The Museum would welcome any offers of help and donations in the furtherance of this project. Any donations by way of cheques should marked on rear “Stamford Loco Appeal” and be made out to Rutland Railway Museum and sent to:

    Mr A Salmon, RbR Treasurer, 4 Main Street, Stanford on Soar, Loughborough LE12 5PY

    For donors willing to donate as Gift Aid there is an RbR Gift Aid Form which is available via email from the Curator
    email: Curator@rocks-by-rail.org

    For donors wanting to make their gift by bank transfer please contact the Treasurer for these details on email andysam@stayfree.co.uk
    Rocks by Rail - The Living Ironstone Museum, Cottesmore Iron Ore Mines Sidings, Ashwell Road, Cottesmore, Rutland LE15 7FF
    Tel: 01572 868415
    Tom
     
  4. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2019
    Messages:
    849
    Likes Received:
    624
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Croydon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Worth the mention that after 8 years of service, S15 847 has now been withdrawn and awaits overhaul.
     
  5. Wagoniester

    Wagoniester Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    583
    Likes Received:
    939
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Essex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    With the H due out in February too, hope this doesn't leave the Bluebell in a difficult motive power position. Hopefully not too long before Stowe and Archie can fill the gaps.
     
  6. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,575
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    If your a fan of the H Class, you might want to have a look in the latest issue of Bluebell News that arrived today, as there is some good news regarding plans for the loco post withdrawal.
     
    Last edited: Dec 29, 2021
  7. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,100
    Likes Received:
    57,416
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The current plan I believe is to finish Sir Archie and Fenchurch first; after that 263 should enter the works. Mechanically it needs new tyres and springs. On the boiler, it will need a new tube plate, and depending on what else is found, maybe some other boiler repairs; the crown girders in particular being in need of careful inspection. (They were replaced on No. 65's boiler last time round).

    Tom
     
  8. WesternRegionHampshireman

    WesternRegionHampshireman Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 25, 2021
    Messages:
    1,079
    Likes Received:
    198
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    So in a sense:
    Fenchurch might return for the Terrier Weekend.
    Archie might return for the Giants Of Steam.
    Then 263 can have a well deserved overhaul? Sounds fair, 263 needs a rest after the many wonderful years of service.
     
  9. Wagoniester

    Wagoniester Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    583
    Likes Received:
    939
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Essex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    For 263 to go in so soon, it must be in relatively fine fettle, and it is nice to know it won't be too long before we can see it steaming again. One can understand the decision to put this higher up the queue if it will be quicker and/or cheaper to do the H than something else.

    It would be interesting to know what locos are in line for overhaul in the future. Stemming from the talk about the Adams in the main Bluebell thread, when the 'cheaper/quicker' overhaul engines all reach the 'too expensive to overhaul' condition, what happens then?

    In no way trying to be a naysayer or negative - just curious to what steers these decisions based on what I have been told during past visits and comments on the forums.
     
  10. Monkey Magic

    Monkey Magic Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jan 6, 2018
    Messages:
    3,498
    Likes Received:
    6,845
    Location:
    Here, there, everywhere
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not Bluebell specific but I think quicker/cheaper is relative rather than absolute. There will always be a quicker/cheaper loco to turn around, even if it was previously in the too expensive pile. There will always be a least expensive/least complex overhaul (even if it is more expensive and more complex than all the other overhauls ever done). I'd imagine usefulness also plays a role, much as I'd love to see the B4 back in steam I can well understand that a U is of more use and so will be higher up the list. The other factor is whether a critical fund raising mass can be raised around a loco. A loco which has a USP which might sometimes be 'it was the loco that saw us through the first few years' that makes it easier to raise the larger than normal pile of money necessary.
     
    andrewtoplis likes this.
  11. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2019
    Messages:
    849
    Likes Received:
    624
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Croydon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    With the exception of the tyres and the springs. The bottom end is sound. The H underwent a major bottom end mechanical overhaul in mid-2019. Didn't return to action till the end of September 2020. I suspect a piston and valve exam plus other mechanical jobs will be undertaken should there be a need to.
     
  12. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,921
    Likes Received:
    3,827
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    The B4 is owned by the Bulleid society, and since they have stated that they would like to have Archie and Blackmoor Vale to be in service for a few years together, I think the B4 will have to wait at least until they are both in service.

    It has been stated in Bluebell News that funding has had a major influence on what has got overhauled. The H is owned by the Bluebell Railway Trust, while the 9F which will be the next large loco to be overhauled had an active fund raising group. The Dukedog had previously been stated as the most likely Medium sized loco to be overhauled, but that was previously expected to start long before the H came out of service and is owned by the PLC.
    1618 is next loco to be overhauled by the MLS once Stowe is complete, they have for many years always been working on one of their locos, and actively fund raising.
     
  13. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2020
    Messages:
    1,090
    Likes Received:
    1,093
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hayling Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    :rolleyes:What a complicated faradiddle of ownerships!
     
  14. andrewtoplis

    andrewtoplis Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Mar 28, 2006
    Messages:
    1,357
    Likes Received:
    816
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Not really, Bluebell owns the majority of engines, the Maunsell team has about 1/6th of the stock and the Bulleid team less than that. Plus there will be a lot of talking and cooperation in reality.

    Other places have it far worse!
     
    Jamessquared, Matt37401 and Paul42 like this.
  15. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2020
    Messages:
    1,090
    Likes Received:
    1,093
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hayling Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Glad to hear it but the arrangement still remains a faradiddle. :Resistanceisfutile:
     
  16. Cosmo Bonsor

    Cosmo Bonsor Member

    Joined:
    Dec 10, 2014
    Messages:
    221
    Likes Received:
    500
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Good grief!
     
    Paulthehitch likes this.
  17. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,100
    Likes Received:
    57,416
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    541, 847, 1618 and 928 are owned by the Maunsell locomotive Society. 96 and 21c123 are owned by the Bulleid Society. 73082 is owned by the Camelot Locomotive Society. 65 is privately owned. 80064 is owned by a private group. 80151 is owned by a company of which the Bluebell Railway Trust has a significant stake. 592 and 263 are wholly owned by the Bluebell Railway Trust. The remainder are owned by the Bluebell Railway plc.

    The separate loco owning groups provide a valuable service in helping provide money and volunteers to support their engines, as the state of the current operational fleet shows.

    Tom
     
  18. Paulthehitch

    Paulthehitch Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 13, 2020
    Messages:
    1,090
    Likes Received:
    1,093
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hayling Island
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    That's the rub really. "Their'' locomotives or the railway's?
     
  19. Morris_mad

    Morris_mad New Member

    Joined:
    Jun 6, 2013
    Messages:
    86
    Likes Received:
    167
    Gender:
    Male
    What are the practical differences (if any) of a locomotive being owned by the Bluebell Railway Trust verses the PLC?


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
  20. Platform 3

    Platform 3 Member

    Joined:
    Apr 20, 2015
    Messages:
    825
    Likes Received:
    1,091
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Maybe you should ask the mainline TOCs?

    Sent from my SM-G770F using Tapatalk
     

Share This Page