Brighton Atlantic: 32424 Beachy Head

Up to now, it has almost entirely been in the hands of the workshop crews, so not a lot of a wider experience base to go on, and I've only briefly discussed it with a couple of them. So not much explicitly come out yet. I think firing is going to be an art, given a wide firebox and a GNR "oven door" type firehole door. In addition, it seems the grate is fairly shallow. From what I gather, that means a fairly flat fire, quite different to the wedge-shaped fire on, say, a Bulleid. The brick arch is also apparently quite low. So I suspect a definite technique to master there.

One other thing that has struck me personally from videos is that the combination of large wheels and being only two cylinders makes it sound "slow" - i.e. each chuff fairly well defined even at line speed. The only other locos we have of comparable wheel diameter are the Schools (and various visiting Gresley pacifics) with 3 cylinders, so six chuffs per revolution rather than four. I suspect there will have to be a degree of mental adjustment to get the balance between rhythm and speed.

I'm sure we will all know a lot more in a month or so's time.

Tom

 

I must say that the shot of her entering Horsted Keynes from the East Grinstead direction, hauling a carmine and cream set, looks spot on, a 1950's liveried engine, with 1950's liveried MK1s, I hope the Bluebell's publicity department have several such shots, and can turn out postcards of this scene.

 

Event details and tickets for Beachy Head's launch event:

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/beachy-head-2024/

Timetables:

23, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 August, 1 September
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp...ebell-Railway-Beachy-Head-Timetables-2024.pdf

24-25-26 August ("Brighton Works Weekend")
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Bluebell-Railway-Timetables-2024-3.pdf

Tom

 

I have noticed that the tender toolbox looks very Dugald Drummond-ish. I know DD was an admirer of William Stroudley; did he adopt the toolbox from his time at Brighton (leading to both railways having similar boxes)?
Pat

 

I think the influence goes the other way. As built the tenders didn’t have toolboxes. I think they were fitted in SR days, probably at an overhaul at Eastleigh. Those fitted to Beachy Head came from an S15 (Bluebell Times, November 2020).

There are some fairly clear photos here: https://sremg.org.uk/steam/h1-h2-mob.shtml which show the locos in LBSCR days without toolboxes (e.g. the second photo) and in SR days with (e.g. the fifth photo).

Tom

 

If the only point of contention so far just concerns the tender tool boxes then I think we can pretty safely say that all those involved in the 32424 reconstruction project have done an excellent job. Congratulations to all those involved in bringing this dream to a reality!

 

There's nothing wrong with the toolboxes - they are correct for the period portrayed!

Interestingly, I was talking to one of the workshop staff at the weekend, specifically about the noise of the air pump (which is quite loud and, to my ear, has quite a sharp sounding exhaust). Apparently, a sound recording of the locos at work in the 1950s has been sourced, and the sound is correct - they were loud then, as well! It's a much different sound to the gentle lapping of the air pump on Fenchurch.

Tom

 

I'm so glad that the sound is authentic - I really like it, and it gives the engine a very distinctive "voice" and presence.

 

Presumably because the pump is larger (there are different sizes, despite looking almost identical) and the exhaust routes straight up the chimney, not along the boiler then up...?

 

In regards to Beachy Head (the original loco), my Grandad reminded me of a story he told once told me when I was younger, that when he was still at secondary school, he was told about Beachy Head's final run and on the day in question was in school, he made up an excuse that he had a dentist appointment and went to see the loco pass through Haywards Heath station.

And whilst not specifically linked to Beachy Head, my Grandad would go onto be a signalman at Haywards Heath station for a time and my great Aunt (his sister), also worked for a time at Brighton Works and had some link to design work on the 9F's

 

Nice story, but I fear that Grandad's memory is failing him. If I recall correctly, 'Beachy Head's' last run was during the Easter weekend of 1958 when the schools would have been closed over the holiday period.

 

He did turn 80 earlier this year, he might possibly have been informed about it's withdrawal and saw it on a different trip prior. He has macular degeneration, so is probably unlikely to see the new one.

 

Ah, shame- can you take him down now, or is it already too late?

 

His eyesight has been bad for quite a few years now sadly and hasn't really been able to go to railways as a result unfortunately.

 

That's such a pity. Can he make out the photographs? At least he knows it's back, anyhow.

 

With strong magnifying glasses he can, as he uses them to read his issues of Steam Railway, so he keeps up to date through that. He's seen it during construction prior to his sight deteriorating though, although not the advanced stages of the last few years.

 

With thanks for production help from the Watercress Line Film Unit:



Tom

 

Fascinating--that's a little detail I never noticed! It occurs to me that the cab roof strengthening straps are rather Drummond-esque as well. But of course, he had long left Brighton by the time the Atlantics were built...so, maybe just coincidence?

Sent from my SM-A125F using Tapatalk

 

The cab roof is from the Maunsell-era rebuild, so quite possible the Eastleigh draughtsman had a hand in that as well.

Tom