If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bluebell Railway - Giants of steam 2018

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by Matt McFarlane, Jun 13, 2018.

  1. Matt McFarlane

    Matt McFarlane New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2017
    Messages:
    98
    Likes Received:
    52
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Winchester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    On the 12th-14th October, the bluebell railway will hold yet another 'Giants Of Steam'.

    Confirmed visitors:
    - LNER A4 No. 60009 "Union of south africa"
    - LNER B1 No. 61306 "Mayflower"


    More info: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/autumn-steam-gala/
     
    Last edited: Sep 24, 2018
  2. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2006
    Messages:
    1,491
    Likes Received:
    735
    Location:
    Hampton Court, Surrey
    October seems a long way off but this should be something to look forward to. Good choice of visitors. If they can pull off a third, even better. I'd like to see a Bulleid, preferably one like 35006 or 34053 that hasn't been on the line before. Otherwise Ollie Cromwell or the blue King would go down well - here's hoping!

    Not too many of the Bluebell home fleet can be described as "giants of steam" at the moment. I guess they will wheel out 73082, 847 and maybe 30541
     
  3. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    6,596
    Likes Received:
    2,242
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I would have thought that the other visitor may be 60163 as she has an empty schedule in October now that the luxury Golden Eagle excursion has been cancelled.
    It would also make up for her missing the planned Tornado event in May.
     
  4. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2007
    Messages:
    2,849
    Likes Received:
    2,362
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Researcher/writer and composer of classical music
    Location:
    Between LBSCR 221 and LBSCR 227
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The Bluebell has tried, unsuccessfully for a Brit twice now since Giants of Steam returned to the calendar. I agree with you - 70013 (or indeed 70000) would go down well. Not so sure about 6023 for the usual reason - gauging problems. I was informed by a Bluebell staff member who seemed pretty knowledgeable that a "5013" series Castle would fit but not a "4073" series. Goodness knows how anyone has worked this out as, to my knowledge, there has never been any plan to bring a Castle of any type to the line, but if some Castles would be problematical, the issues for a King, even with cut-down boiler mountings, are likely to be far greater.

    If my source was not accurate (or perhaps teasing a rather gullible enquirer!) then yes, 6023 would be very welcome.
     
    Last edited: Jun 18, 2018
  5. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,431
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    AFAIK, it will be the two visitors announced for Giants of Steam - nothing else planned.

    The date for Tornado returning will be in the next issue of Bluebell News, so I won’t say until that hits doormats, but the plan isn’t October. There will also be some hints about visitors for next year’s Branch Line Gala and GoS in Bluebell News, though as always, the further away you get, the more caveats there are around such proposals.


    Tom
     
  6. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2006
    Messages:
    1,491
    Likes Received:
    735
    Location:
    Hampton Court, Surrey
    Oh well we can stop speculating then! Actually the Bluebell website mentions only the 2 visitors so I don't know where the original poster got information about a third one from.
     
  7. Matt McFarlane

    Matt McFarlane New Member

    Joined:
    Nov 21, 2017
    Messages:
    98
    Likes Received:
    52
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Winchester
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I was speaking to someone at the moors valley gala who also volunteers at the bluebell, he mentioned a third visitor. :/
     
  8. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2007
    Messages:
    2,849
    Likes Received:
    2,362
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Researcher/writer and composer of classical music
    Location:
    Between LBSCR 221 and LBSCR 227
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Tom is fairly close to the action, although I'm sure he would be the last person to claim absolute infallibility!

    Realistically, given the operational constraints of the Bluebell, five locos (plus shunting engine at SP) and four sets of stock is about the limit for a gala. If a third visitor turns up, fine, but the thought of, say 61306 on the Mets + GNR director's saloon, 847 on the six-coach SR olive green set and 60009 + any combination of 73082, 30541 and 80151 sharing two sets of Mk1/Bulleid /Pullman carriages is quite sufficient for me.
     
    Jamessquared likes this.
  9. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2006
    Messages:
    1,491
    Likes Received:
    735
    Location:
    Hampton Court, Surrey
    Is 80151 likely to be back by then? It would be good if it was. I remember it making its debut at a Giants of Steam gala
     
  10. Jerr Grey

    Jerr Grey New Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2017
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    50
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Des Moins
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    With the latest delays to Mayflower's return I must say I am sceptical if Carnforth can have it ready for this event..
     
  11. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Apr 30, 2006
    Messages:
    6,596
    Likes Received:
    2,242
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Hampshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Thanks for the update. The Bluebell website GoS page did mention that there was a third visitor to be announced when I first looked at it. It has been changed now to just 60009 & 61306. I am really looking forward to this event. I do wonder if the B1 will be ready in time though. It seems to have fallen into a black hole for this overhaul.

    Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
     
    Wingsandwheels likes this.
  12. Funnell

    Funnell New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    Messages:
    141
    Likes Received:
    39
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Pullman Steward
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Having published the webpage I’m not sure where you read that. There has never been a plan for a third visitor.
     
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,431
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    green five likes this.
  14. DragonHandler

    DragonHandler Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    May 27, 2016
    Messages:
    1,286
    Likes Received:
    1,590
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
  15. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,576
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    It says in Steam Railway that each round trip 60009 hauls will be run with a headboard from a different East Coast Main Line Express, each of which will run non stop both ways.

    On the Friday it will carry The Aberdonian, The Elizabethan and Flying Scotsman headboards.

    On the Saturday it will carry The Night Scotsman, The Heart of Midlothian and The North Briton headboards

    On the Sunday it will carry The Queen of Scots, The Talisman and The Waverley headboards.
     
    Last edited: Aug 16, 2018
    6026 King John and green five like this.
  16. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2008
    Messages:
    1,179
    Likes Received:
    1,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I hate to be the voice of concern in all of this, but with just over a month to go, as far as I can recall there is STILL no sign of Mayflower. Have the Bluebell had any updates as to whether it will be ready?
     
    green five and Jerr Grey like this.
  17. Jerr Grey

    Jerr Grey New Member Account Suspended

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2017
    Messages:
    108
    Likes Received:
    50
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Des Moins
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    And with it's planned trips with Flying Scotsman in early October surley we should be seeing signs of test runs if it is going to make any of these dates.
     
  18. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,576
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I'm booked on the SD trip from Sheffield Park the week after Giants as well as going to the event, so I wonder, if 61306 needs replacing whether it'd be with another mainliner that would cover the tour the following week.
     
  19. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2008
    Messages:
    1,179
    Likes Received:
    1,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    So far Steam Dreams have just cancelled any trip that she was due to be on, but couldn't make. I was meant to be on one in July, but that got canned.
     
  20. UP13

    UP13 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 23, 2018
    Messages:
    39
    Likes Received:
    20
    Location:
    London
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Quick question - will 60009 only be there for the gala?
     

Share This Page