Bluebell Branch Line Weekend 21-23 April

52322 and Hastings have arrived.


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This looks emence! I cannot wait to attend!
Bit of North vs South eh?

 

Something I've just noticed, which I had missed when I first saw this post on Facebook, the Dukedog has appeared in the yard. I wonder why?

 

The service sets for the gala - at least for Friday, but don't suppose they will change:

Service Set A : (S-N):- 21246-16210-4941-25728 (Mark 1s)
Service Set B : (S-N):- 2526-1482-1464-5768 (Bulleids)
Service Set C : (S-N):- 7598-1098-3363 (SR pre-grouping set)
Service Set D : (S-N):- 6686-1309-1336 (Maunsells)

Timetables (which give the set numbers): https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/BRANCH-LINE-GALA-TIMETABLE-2023-V2-.pdf

Tom

 

PTI page says there is an "E" set despite there not being any mention of an "E" set on the public timetable...I presume this is an error?

 

It’s for a photo charter in the evening.

Looking in a bit more detail, by and large (not absolutely - check first!) if you stick with one engine all day, you would cycle through all four carriage sets; and if you stuck with one set, you could end up behind most or all of the engines …

Tom

 

From the photo charter today with the Hall.
Photo taken on phone so I could upload quickly. Only just go home some will process RAW files when I get time. The North London Tank is looking a lot smarter another phone photo taken as we passed.

 

The Bluebell have also posted a picture from Jon Bowers on their social media channels with the Dukedog and Hall together.

I'm booked up to visit on Saturday and it'll be good to see the cosmetic work to the NL Tank, presumably in readiness for it's eventual display in Steamworks?

 

Another phone one

 

Getting back to the Gala I have just noticed that after we get to

Just noticed that after we get to Kingscote with No 72 on Saturday afternoon there will be three trains there at the same time. Is there a turn back siding?

 

Yes, the down siding can be used to berth a short train while two others pass on the mainline. I think there has been a regular move at Branch Line gala for a number of years with three trains at Kingscote, with one berthed.

Tom

 

Tom will know if it is long enough but there is a siding EG end. Noticed 80151 sitting in it the other day on the cam.
I assume the pug must be detached at HK off the 13:30 from SP as iit seems to spirit itself back to HK otherwise.
Esit sorry Tom posting at the same time.

 

From 2018. 65 (unseen) with the Maunsells, 323 with the 4 wheelers and 813 with the up train. 323 had been in the siding mentioned above and shunted back after in (had run-round prior to the shunt), 65 arrived from EG and 323 slotted in behind.

 

Ok thanks. Although we are members we now live quite a distance away and haven’t visited for some years and I couldn’t remember.

 

Having now got the STN for Saturday and Sunday, the note for the 1.30pm departure from SP (11243 +72) says - having split off 11243 at Horsted Keynes - "Run round immediately on arrival [at Kingscote] and shunt Set C into the Down siding. After departure of the 2:50pm to SP return to the Loop, ready for departure at 3:10pm." In the interim, 80151 / Set B (heading north) and Hastings + 52322 / Set D (heading south) cross at Kingscote between 2.42pm and 2.50pm.

(At Kingscote, "the loop" is the down platform).

Tom

 

Bluebell blog states that the timetable COULD change again dependent on whether SECR O1 No.65 is fit to run following a couple of failures at the weekend.

 

Hall would be a nice replacement

 

I would love that substitution

 

Class 73 not ready yet, then?

I recall several years ago seeing Camelot substituting in for the C class for Branch Line weekend, which was a bit of a stretch!