Bluebell Branch Line Weekend 21-23 April

L&Y no. 19 announced as a visitor.

Info from https://www.facebook.com/3798224096...eLvyKuD12szaYgPicgj94W7VJAoQul/?sfnsn=scwspmo

Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk

 

Also webpage here: Branch Line Gala Weekend 2023 - Bluebell Railway in Sussex (bluebell-railway.com)

 

Strange how this event is advertised NOW when it's not until April.
Yet, some of the January events haven't been advertised.

Though I am looking forward to riding behind a pee-wee again.
Guessing the 4/6 wheelers will be out and about, eh?
2020's was basically going to be 3 corridor sets (2 Mark 1 sets, Bulleid set) and the Cheshams, not very Branch Line if you ask me.

 

DELETED

 

Nice.

 

wrong livery for you......

2890 from Spa would look great on the pre grouping stock....

 

The Facebook post said there is a 3rd and final guest to be confirmed soon. Outside of longer term hire locos like 92212, 6989 etc, when was the last time the Bluebell had 3 visitors for a Special Event?

Looking forward to this one.

 

Also on Instagram, could not fit it into the screenshot.
Terrier Gala 2006?

 

Wait so!

Visitors:
19.
52322.
3rd TBA.

Usuals:
65.
72.
30541.
80151.

Can they fit all of that on the railway???

 

There were three Bulleids for Giants in 2007 (34028, 34081, 34007) but I think that was the start of 34028's long term visit

 

Somewhat more towards the end of 34028s visit as it left in early 2008

 

Or 828 if she is back up and running.

That would be a sight with the 01 too, 2 of the prettiest locos in preservation together.....

 

If I was to take a guess, I'd assume the Pug will be limited mostly to the demonstration goods at HK, but will probably be double headed on one of the early SP departures to take the loco up there (perhaps it might appear double headed on other trips too). I very much doubt it'll be hauling any of the sets by itself though!

Will this event have the style of timetable where, I think locos swap sets at HK?

 

What's the comparison of the power of a Pug compared to something like Baxter? The Captain has taken the four-wheelers to EG in the past I believe, albeit not often.

 

OK.

 

Pug 19 will happily take 2 mk1s all stations Bury to Ramsbottom.

 

What's it like for line speed?

I had a very superficial glance at the stats and it has considerably more TE than a Terrier - for which we allow 80 tons for the whole line. I did wonder about speed though, given small wheels. In other words, a bit Normandy, which will shift anything, but not particularly quickly.

And also - what's the water capacity? You can design round that in timetable terms (we have water at all stations, with varying degrees of difficulty of access), but it is another factor.

Haven;t seen any indication of timetable yet, but I'd hope it does more than just potter round HK.

Tom

 

Tank capacity is quoted at 450 gallons, i was the kamikaze test pilot for the light and loaded test runs after overhaul... like all the smaller engines its great for knocking wagons about in a yard. On a run you need to get it hot before setting off and on the journey it finds a pace its happy at and theres no point in forcing it, in this case somewhere between 10 and 15 mph.... water consumption is good to the point you don't worry about it.

I'm looking forward to attending the event though my primary interest will be with the other announced guest engine....