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Bluebell Railway General Discussion

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

  1. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    Stuck at PRH in Haywards Heath for five fruitless hours (don't ask!) and distinctly peckish, I checked the Bluebell's website for opening times for the Bessemer Arms. Deep joy turned to utter despondency when it transpired that even those hardy folks at SP had thrown in the towel. Best laid plans of mice ..... and all that!

    Whilst there, I did overhear the reason for tomorrow's truncated service ..... buckled rail up by Sharpthorne Tunnel.
     
  2. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

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    Makes sense, given the short notice.
    In addition, there may be more, after tomorrow's blast.
     
  3. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    On the gala, it is of course great that other Terriers will be present and that Fenchurch will be on display. But that said, given that this event is all about Fenchurch, everything else is arguably padding to enhance the reason for the event in the first place. I guess that too much else was planned to be able to shift the date till when Fenchurch was ready. Any time this year as the 150th 'event' would actually have been just as good, surely?

    I say all this because I was going to the gala but now may not bother. Yes, my loss, I know but anyway I wish the event well.
     
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  4. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    You say all that as if any excuse is actually needed for a gathering of Terriers! :)
     
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  5. alexl102

    alexl102 Member

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    How many operational Terriers are there at the moment? 2 at KESR, 2 at IOW, Martello at Bressingham... No chance of getting them all together this year?!
     
  6. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    One missing from the total list there. Add static displays Boxhill and Waddon to the Bluebell's pair .... got it .... 32650 Sutton/ Whitechapel at Spa Valley
     
  7. Wagoniester

    Wagoniester Member

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    If I recall rightly, Martello needs tyres turning for any serious-distance running? Was that not what restricted it to yard-only work when it visited the Nene Valley a few years back? Otherwise a gathering of all operational Terriers would be most welcome!
     
  8. alexl102

    alexl102 Member

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    I thought I'd heard it was something to do with braking/compatibility but I might be getting mixed up with another loco at another event!
     
  9. gwalkeriow

    gwalkeriow Well-Known Member

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    W8 Freshwater is currently undergoing its 10 yearly overhaul, it is at quite an advanced stage, so only W11 Newport for the moment.
     
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  10. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Member

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    And Knowle isn't in the best of health currently either
     
  11. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    I've lost the plot with the numbering and naming of Terriers. It's almost worth a thread of its own.

    For example:
    72, Fenchurch - is best known to those people currently alive as 32636.
    W11, Newport - ditto as 32640. Actually, had it been on the Bluebell it would probably have been numbered 40 - Brighton.
    70, Poplar - or is it 3,Bodiam? Was always 32670
    etc

    It makes any discussion about whether it is Blackmore Vale or Blackmoor Vale rather trivial! :)
     
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  12. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    Actually, and I hate to say this, given that Fenchurch has been known as such for most of the time for the last 58 years (albeit numbered either 72 or 672) I would venture to suggest that it is that identity that is best known to those currently alive...

    Steve B
     
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  13. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    We do know it's O.V.S. Bulleid once a year!
     
  14. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    Also on the subject of the Terrier Gala, I take it W11 will have to run another loco (possibly Poplar/Bodiam) due to its air brakes? I know it ran double headed with 2678 back in 2000
     
  15. Big Al

    Big Al Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator

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    Fair comment. Wasn't trying to set up an argument. It's not surprising that once the Bluebell got hold of it they would want to revert to LBSCR. But it is unusual to have a class some of which have three different number systems - LBSCR, BR, IoW.
     
  16. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Fenchurch was sold while still 72 (IIRC) directly by the LBSCR to the Newhaven Harbour Company, when she came back into Southern Railway stock the number 2672 had been taken on by something else so she was reverted to the next nearest number which was 2636. At least those are the bare bones of it, there's probably a few mistakes in there.
     
  17. Steve B

    Steve B Well-Known Member

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    Indeed and I took your point, although I couldn't stop myself making the comment that you have to be somewhat "mature and grown up" to remember Fenchurch under it's BR number. As has already been noted, Fenchurch's numbering historically has been somewhat unusual even for a terrier, and even it's most recent LBSCR (Bluebell) numbering - 672 - could be described as fanciful as it never lasted long enough on the LBSCR to be renumbered as such.
    As you say, Terrier numbering is quite something. Add in the NRM's terrier and you have another level of complication. To say nothing of the GWR's aquisition of one, although that didn't get preserved.

    Steve B
     
  18. 30854

    30854 Resident of Nat Pres

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    I've just had a boogie through the SR renumberings from the Brighton duplicate lists (on https://sremg.org.uk/photoind.shtml ) and can't find anything else which wore B672 or 2672 or anything remotely like it.

    Though I can see no logical connection, literally the only possibility which occurs is that contractor Pauling & Co. (Whence came the first W1, ex-FY&N MW 0-6-0st) had a substantial fleet of purpose built industrial and ex-mainline locos, including from the SR and constituents, the number sequence of which was in the 70s by the 1920s, when Fenchurch (re)joined the Southern fold.

    We have a mystery!
     
  19. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    2672 wasn’t taken, the latter bit is largely correct (B636 being the lowest Terrier number available). I doubt the SR were that sentimental. See latest Bluebell Times for details.

    Tom
     
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  20. Dunfanaghy Road

    Dunfanaghy Road Well-Known Member

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    Some LSW examples:
    488, 0488, EKR 5, SR 3488, BR 30583.
    LBSC 46, 646, LSW 734, FYN 2, SR W2, W8, 32646, W8.
    For those who have difficulty going to sleep digging through all these probably works better than counting sheep!
    Pat
     

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