Bluebell Railway Giants of Steam 11th-13th October

Nothing to do with it. Repairs to 6233 completed .

 

The SD charter has now also been changed to 61306 on the SD website.
The 6233 website hasn't been updated yet as it still has 6233 down for the SD charter and the Bluebell Gala visit.

 

As Jerr Grey posted above the repairs of this failure have been completed and she is due to return to Southall tomorrow to be prepped for the final Royal Duchy on Sunday. Update from PRCLT Facebook page:
"6233 update.

Firstly we would like to thank everyone for their support and interest in the Duchess since our post on Saturday. The support crew with the Right Inside valve and bush were brought back home Saturday afternoon and as of this morning, the new tail rod bush has nearly finished being machined. Once finished the engineering staff will travel back to Norwich and resemble the engine, dispose of the engine and prepare the engine for a Light Engine movement on Friday from Norwich to Southall so that the engine can continue as planned to travel to Bristol with the ECS on Saturday in preparation for working the last RTC's Royal Duchy. Any donations towards this unplanned maintenance work would be appreciated."

 

Bluebell newsletter I've just received tonight says the Duchess has been replaced by Mayflower for Giants of Steam. Bit of a disappointment really - I know Mayflower was supposed to turn up last year but it's hardly a "Giant of Steam"

 

Sadly the Bluebell, like everyone, is at the mercy of Loco availability. I remember one occasion, some years ago, that one engine was unavailable for Giants of Steam. The other guest was fairly small, prompting one wag to re-christen it "Gnats of Steam". I wish the Duchess was coming, but a Brit is plenty giant enough.

 

"Gnats of Steam" that's a bit cruel, but quite funny.
Shame about the Duchess, but I haven't seen the Brit for years so that'll be good.

 

Could reclassify it as "Great Eastern" gala.

 

I think the website editor is ahead of you!

[...]so this visit gives our event an East Anglian theme[...]
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If only we could have s visit from the North Norfolk’s Y14 ...

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Tom

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As its heading to the Spa Valley the following week it would be brilliant if it could leave the NNR a week earlier and travel vis the Bluebell.

 

Carriage set info is up https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Set-Formations-Giants-of-Steam-2019.pdf

Set A: Bulleids & Maunsells - 5768, 1482, 2526, 1309, 1336 & 6686.
Set B: BR Green Mk1s & a Bulleid - 25728, 16210, 1464, 1818, 4941 & 21246.
Set C: BR 'Blood & Custard' Mk1s - 4824, 34556, 1674, 4957, 16012 & 35207.
Set D: SE&CR vintage carriages - 3363 & 1098

The GN Saloon will be on Set C on Friday & Saturday. On the Sunday it will be on Set A.

 

That brings an interesting question as to how you would define a 'Giant of Steam'. My previous interpretation of the term was that of 'Big Locos', which the visits of Britannia and Mayflower and the previous booking of the Duchess. A previous gala being dubbed 'Gnats of Steam' would support that, especially as the railway has a Branch Line Gala earlier in the year which tends to make use of smaller locos. But could (and should) Giants of Steam be interpreted more as that of significant locos? That would probably incorporate 564 more comfortably as the only operational loco built by the GER.

I've always found it interesting how the Bluebell differs their galas in terms of theme. Instead of some railways which just have a Spring and Autumn Gala and adapt the themes according to availability, I like how the Bluebell tries to focus one gala on the little engines and one on the big.

 

You could just call it an “ Autumn Steam Gala”. Then you can run anything (even a DMU, Hymek or Class 25)

 

At the start of one year it was listed on the website as Autumn Steam Gala, before changing to Giants of Steam,

 

Ah, but would Mr Hoskings object to the pinching of the term 'Icons of Steam'?

It's also interesting that when I went to a Bluebell Giants of Steam many, many years ago (I think it was 2002!) they had a West Country and a 9F as part of their resident operational fleet. With the current biggest locos being a pair of 4-6-0s the average loco size has dropped a bit. Although having said that, the 5MT has a similar tractive effort to a Light Pacific, and on the Southern the S15s did do the same work as 9Fs

 

Meanwhile, back at the plot: just to confirm that both visitors have now arrived. "Britannia" faces north; "Mayflower" (somewhat unusually for large locos on the line) faces south.

In other motive power news, the S15 should be in light steam as a spare over all three days and should available for footplate visits in the yard. The Q was being tested after its return from the SVR; it may run on Sunday double headed with Camelot on the 10:30 and 12:55 ex-Sheffield Park.

Tom

 

BRITANNIA SHUNTING MAYFLOWERS SUPPORT COACH INTO POSITION AT SHEFFIELD PARK

 

Why is the S15 not running services? Surely as the most Giant of the railway's home fleet it would be an obvious choice? Put the Q or Standard tank as the spare. What logic am I missing?

 

It will be 80151’s first gala since overhaul, and I guess you then get three BR Standards together.

Tom

 

I see what you are saying but during its last period in service it always seemed to class as a "Giant" for this event.