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Bluebell Railway Giants of Steam 11th-13th October

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by John Petley, Jun 14, 2019.

  1. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    From the "What's new at the Bluebell Railway" page of the website:-

    BR Standard class No.70000 "Britannia" and LMS Princess Coronation class 4-6-2 Pacific No.6233 "Duchess of Sutherland" have been named as our visiting guest locomotives. These two "giants" will run alongside our own locomotives at this three-day gala event. Our grateful thanks to the Royal Scot & Locomotive General Trust and the Princess Royal Class Locomotive Trust for the loan of their locomotives.

    The original plan was for the guest locos to be 46100 and another unspecified LMS engine. I don't think the change of plan will result in too many sad faces. While one of Stanier's magnificent Pacifics on an LB&SCR branch line may not be some people's cup of tea and Britannias were not exactly local to Sussex either, nevertheless I would suspect that there will be plenty of people keen to ride behind both these fine engines. One interesting detail is that the Duchess is due arrive at Sheffield Park earlier in the month to work a tour to Bath and back with Steam Dreams the previous Saturday (5th) and could well therefore return facing Sheffield Park. Normally big locos face East Grinstead.
     
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  2. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    No offence to Royal Scot, but that's an upgrade.

    Can't wait to find out what happens to Britannia to stop it visiting this time, unless it's third time lucky?
     
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  3. Dan Hamblin

    Dan Hamblin Part of the furniture

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    Amen to that! I've been hoping it would finally make it after the two previous problems. I wonder if the opportunity will be available to sponsor named trains again for the two visitors?

    Regards,

    Dan
     
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  4. Matt McFarlane

    Matt McFarlane New Member

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    Britannia again, third times the charm i say
     
  5. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

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  6. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    Also one-day tickets are now on sale, adults £23, children and BRPS members half price.

    Online tickets via: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/giants-of-steam/. Multi-day tickets coming soon apparently.

    Worth pointing out incidentally, that adult BRPS membership is £25: you would just about make that back in ticket savings alone just attending this gala and one other event, without considering the other benefits (10% shop discount; four issues of Bluebell News; opportunity to volunteer etc). More info here: https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/membership.html

    Tom
     
  7. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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  8. Ben Jenden

    Ben Jenden Member

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    I see 73082 and 80151 are ruling it alongside the Brit and Duchess with the Q-class briefly on the Sunday
     
  9. Matt McFarlane

    Matt McFarlane New Member

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    Oooooo double headers on sunday. Thats the day for me
     
  10. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    Tom,

    I have a query about the Giants weekend which you may be able to answer. The Duchess will be working the Steam Dreams charter to Bath and back on Saturday 5th October. There is no reason for it not being a straight out and back job with steam on the front all the way, in which case the Duchess will face south on its return to the Bluebell late that evening. This is not the norm for tender engines, visiting or otherwise, although I do recall 78019 facing south when it paid a visit a few years back . Is the plan to have it facing south in the gala or will it be sent off somewhere to be turned? (I guess you could run it round the Selhurst/Norwood/East Croydon triangle as long as you did it at about 3.30AM when there isn't much else around!) There is no reason for a diesel to be included in the formation given the power of a Duchess and the relative straightforward nature of turning the train round in the Bristol area, but SD trains often include one regardless and another possibility may be for the train to take a convoluted route through West London involving a reversal so that the diesel is leading on the final stages of the journey back to SP and thus with the Duchess on the back facing East Grinstead. Any light you may be able to shed on this would be most appreciated, as always.
     
  11. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

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    The Duchess is on the rear of a train made up of 2 sets on Sunday and that could well be because it is expected to face South.

    A diesel has been included on SD trips to Bath and Bristol in the past, where there has been insufficient time to shunt the stock and service the loco. Note it has happened at other destinations as well and would be a West Coast decision.

    3205 also faced South when it visited.
     
  12. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    Thank you, Paul. Good point about the Sunday T&T working. I had forgotten about 3205 as I wasn't able to get over to see it
     
  13. alts1985

    alts1985 Well-Known Member

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    Isn't that because the run round loop at East Grinstead isn't long enough for what will be 12 (?) coaches?
     
  14. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    From what I have seen, the charter operates in the way that has become customary, i.e. it starts and finishes at Kingscote with a Bluebell feeder train opertaing between Sheffield Park and Kingscote at each end of the day.

    From the operating notes I have seen, I conclude (1) the charter is steam hauled only on Network Rail and (2) 6233 will be facing south by Saturday evening before the gala.

    Obviously (a) operations might be revised between now and then and (b) conceivably 6233 could still be turned via a circuitous route to and from the Bluebell between the charter and the gala.

    Tom
     
  15. Paul.Uni

    Paul.Uni Well-Known Member

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    From Facebook: Mayflower replaces the Duchess


    Sent from my SM-J610FN using Tapatalk
     
  16. DragonHandler

    DragonHandler Well-Known Member

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    Now that is a big disappointment. :( I was looking forward to seeing the Duchess again and having a ride behind her, last time I saw her was 10 years ago on the main line.
    I'll still go to the gala, but I have to say that Mayflower isn't that big a draw having seen her almost every Tuesday for the last few months on the Royal Windsor Steam Express.
     
  17. green five

    green five Resident of Nat Pres

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    I have to agree. I was really looking forward to the Duchess visiting for the Gala. Hopefully Britannia will still make it. I wonder why 6233 has been swapped. Gauging issues?

    Sent from my I3312 using Tapatalk
     
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    I don't know the cause. Presumably it will also apply to the Steam Dreams charter on 5 October, though as of just now, they were still advertising (subject to the usual caveats) "Duchess of Sutherland".

    I'll be on Camelot on the Saturday, if anyone wants to say hello.

    Tom
     
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  19. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    So Mayflower joins Britannia in a gala which probably ought to be renamed as the "But will they turn up this time? weekend".
     
  20. fenman35

    fenman35 New Member

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    The Duchess failed last weekend at Norwich and was replaced by a diesel on the Cheshireman
     

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