Brighton Atlantic: 32424 Beachy Head

When the tender Ivatt came over it ran to Wootton double headed as the train engine, so the pilot could run round and take the train back using a token replacement ticket, the tender then followed back light engine.

Where there's a will, there's a way!

 

I believe they have already done this for the tank engines (which only just fit), I'm not sure how easy it would be to start digging into the bank there?

 

Have any decisions been taken during the building process that would absolutely prevent main line running? Or is it possible in principle if feelings change or if, for instance, someone organises a package bringing in enough cash?

 

The fact that the C class went to London by rail (towed, but in steam) shows I guess that most things are possible in principle. But it isn’t the intention, and I doubt many railtour promoters would be lining up to use a class 4 loco, given what would be likely limits on its haulage capacity.

Tom

 

On the other hand, the novelty value

First Atlantic on the main line since?

 

Ooh ... interesting question, as I don't think Shildon counts.

 

Quite a few of the locos that we haven't seen since Shildon had one or two mainline excursions as well, was the GNR Atlantic one of those? If not, the GNR atlantics last steamed in 1954 for Doncaster works celebrations, so I guess it'd be Beachy Head withdrawn in 1958!

 

What it really needs, rather like City of Truro's last trips on the main line, is someone to sponsor it.

 

I'm afraid there's more to it than that. You need to have a skilled body of support crew who are able to travel with it and look after it. Do the Bluebell have enough 'spare' volunteers who are willing and able to do this, without it impacting on their existing operations? Perhaps the answer can be found in their current level of mainline activity... If the alternative is to just hand it over to another group to play with, then I expect that those working on it, who see it as a Bluebell engine, for the Bluebell Railway, may have something to say about that!

It's not that these things are impossible, but the truth is that these days, any novelty factor, however 'nice' an outcome, will be in complete inverse proportion to the effort required to achieve it. Maybe I'm easily pleased, but for me, seeing a recreated Brighton Atlantic running on the Bluebell will be more than enough.

 

There's also the small point that if you build a unique locomotive to attract visitors to your railway then its pretty damn silly to send it on tour!

 

Quite. In 2019 we had 632 loco days, some of which were double crewed (for example a daytime engine doing an evening dining service). So probably 700+ crew-days required just for the loco turns, probably about 1000+ including rostered non-loco duties. To cover those, we have around 30 each of drivers and firemen. So you can do the maths - not something we have an abundance of. The crewing requirement of a mainline loco is another opportunity cost in the same way as needing an extra half a loco or so overhauled.

Tom

 

Shhh! I thought no-one would notice.

Tom

 

Never mind who would be able to maintain it, would it have the paper trail to be allowed to operate on the mainline? There's a world of difference between dragging a loco such as the C class to having one work a train.

 

It pulled a train for filming

 

Not on the mainline

Keith

 

It would only make sense to mainline it if the Bluebell had a Whitby or Wareham type extension where it shared tracks with NR. But it doesn’t as the Bluebell isn’t going to be going to Hayward’s Heath or Lewes anytime soon, so it doesn’t make much sense.

 

Yes at kings cross

 

No.

It did not pull a train a King's Cross or anywhere else on the mainline. It's not registered for mainline running.

If it was shown on screen to be pulling a train then it was either done through CGI or (more likely) by a diesel pushing from the back.

Keith

 

I had seen it on YouTube and it was polluting it

 

Not quite. It was pulling a train unaided at Kings Cross, but running under a possession. It was hauled by a diesel from the Bluebell to Bounds Green depot; and by diesel between Bounds Green and Kings Cross each day, but movements within Kings Cross were under its own power - up and down a single platform.

This video is pretty clear that there is no diesel at the back.



Tom