Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Thanks for the current update Tom, and I look forward to the next Bluebell News.

As for 928 . . . . WOW . . . I didn't know the Bluebell had saved a South African Railways 11 class 2-8-2. You might be able to re gauge it from 3' 6" to 4' 8½" but it will likely still be out of gauge so far as its overall size is concerned.

Bryan

 

Deleted

 

Just reading my copy of the winter BN, and despite the messages of ongoing fiscal prudence, it's clear that 2024 is, barring unforseen disasters, going to be a huge year for the Bluebell- 4 carriages, spanning 75 years of development, outshopped after complete rebuilds, one lasting for 20 years!
Further restoration of platform 1 at HK, having last been used for passenger trains c.1914.
And the cherry on a very big cake, the appearance in service of a Brighton Atlantic for the first time since 1958.
It's going to be quite a year!

 

Plus a certain blue tank engine with any luck ...

2024 is shaping up to be the year that 2020 could have been

(For those less versed in Bluebell matters, the four carriages referred to by Mark are:

• LBSCR Stroudley 4w brake 3rd No. 949, built 1881
• Pullman brake 3rd Car No. 54, adapted for wheelchair access, built 1923
• SR Maunsell Restriction 0 Brake 3rd No. 3687, built 1931
• BR Mark 1 SO No. 4754, built 1957

Tom

 

All the more impressive is that 75% of the 2024 C&W highlights are to be pre-nationalisation. A Bluebell trademark and something to be proud of.

Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk

 

Deleted, quoted wrong post and now can't change it to make sense

 

I would also add the not inconsiderable task of returning 34059 to the Bluebell fleet. Do we know when the repaint / launch is scheduled?

 

Although I haven't seen any photos, I believe it was due to be in the paint shop in January. (Possibly 80151 will be in front of it ...). I haven't heard any definitive plans or dates for a formal relaunch though there is sure to be one.

From a loco point of view, 323, 263, 541 and 928 are all having work done. I think teh plan is that 323 will be back in traffic this year; 263 is I think a possibility at a stretch.

(Trivia fact about 323: it has run operationally in every decade since it was built - which in preservation terms means it has run at least some period in traffic in each of the 1960s, 70s, 80s, 90s, 00s, 10s, 20s; and looks set to continue that in the 2030s, assuming any steam locos are. I can't think of any other standard gauge loco for which that has been the case, except possibly Clan Line. (But Bluebell had a solid 3 decades of use prior to Clan Line even being built )

Tom

 

Oh that's a fun game. I immediately thought of 3205 which after a cursory bit of research seems to fit? 1450 maybe? 5764 looks good too, but will probably lose it in this decade. Flying Scotsman works too I think.

 

45407 and 44871 could be a good shout too?
This has nothing to to do the Bluebell though I’ll start a new thread.

 

Fenchurch I believe only narrowly missed out running in the 1990s, which is her only missing decade, that would have been quite the achievement

 

For anyone who missed it in the Gala Section, GWR Collett Pannier 1369 from the South Devon Railway, will be joining 7812 Erlestoke Manor for the Branch Line Weekend between 10th-12th May.

 

Just going back to carriages for a moment, the Southern Railway Coach Group now have some pages online, including details of how to support the group.

https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/sr-coach-group/

The initial projects for the group are listed as:

• Maunsell Restriction 0 Brake 3rd No. 3687 (which should be in traffic this year).
• SR Maunsell Restaurant Car No. 7864
• SR Maunsell Composite Brake No. 6575 of 1929 (This was one of the first two carriages used on the Railway in 1960 - background work on the interior prior to an overhaul)
• SECR Hundred Seater No. 971 (This will primarily be some work in the background, particularly restoring doors, to prepare for when a full overhaul starts)
• Intermediate overhaul of Bulleid Open Third No. 1482

They are also currently working on some repairs to BY van No. 419, which I believe is due to become the store for the Carriage Shop, which has moved from Platform 1 to the dock siding at Horsted Keynes so as to allow restoration of platform 1.

The group publish regular updates on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SR.coach.group

Tom

 

I believe it's scheduled to enter the paint shop on 5th February

David

 

I think the North Norfolk's Hunslet "Ring Haw" has possibly worked every decade since it was built.

EDIT: last steamed in 2019 so it has in fact temporarily lost the claim, but fingers crossed it will tick off the 2020 decade soon enough!

Sent from my moto g(8) power lite using Tapatalk

 

Deleted

 

1369 took a bit of time out from the 1970’s until 1996 I believe.

 

Oh I like that! Nice little loco - I had a lovely little run from Buckfastleigh to Totnes behind it last Summer!

 

A couple of pictures taken this morning while working with the Wednesday Lineside Gang south of Horsted Keynes near Three Arch Bridge. The Class 73 was working test trains with Pullman Cars 54 and Christine. As the line is under an engineering possession, with no run-round possible at Sheffield Park, the train propelled southbound and was hauled northbound.

 

In the carpark at Horsted Keynes today, lorries were loading the old bridge sections which have laid there for many years. These are apparently heading to Bodiam (presumably for the KESR extension to Robertsbridge). Note these are NOT the bridge girders stored in the Salt Yard (Horsted Down Yard ) which are for possible use on the Ardingly extension.