Clearance work commences at the Bluebell's Imberhorne Tip

Good question... I do wonder when a Restoration becomes a new build with some original fittings!

The work on 1309 could be described as a restoration, 1336 is more new build (at least 2/3rds), with a few original bits. I have a feeling that further restorations of 1930's era carriages at the Bluebell, will consist of more new material than original. It is very sad that so much has been lost over the last few years.

 

Bluebell website reports some £670,000 subscribed to the share issue up to closure at the end of December.

Should give them a start for the next phase of spoil removal. It's a pity they are not domiciled in some run-down ex-mining/industrial area up North, they would find grant money easier to find. I follow a canal restoration project in such an area, and there is always money available if you know where to look.

46118

 

I think that the number of vintage carriages available in 2016/6 is optomistic for without a proper woodworking force progress is painfully slow hence the length of time taken for 1336 this can be seen on their website also look at the progress on the Brighton 4 wheel brake at the last count 4.5 years work and not a lot to be shown just how many people are working on this project conversly the birdcage brake hidden in the old part of the shed, WHY? seams to be progressing very well surely this should be for the visitors to view and not the same old unworked on 4 wheel coach
I can only go on what is on their web site but general progress and productivity seams to be standing still, this carriage department always had somthing going on now the progress rate has dwindled away what has changed?
Engineer

 

Gents, would it be a good idea to start a new thread for discussion of the Bluebell's carriage restoration and volunteer issues?

This thread is about clearing the Imberhorne Tip.

Regards

46118

 

To answer the question from ages ago reference the Landfill Tax Credit thingy, it's quite simple. The railway did qualify, in principal, because the idea of the scheme was to partly compensate people for the fact that the land they were trying to use had a tip on it. However, long before the possibility of digging the tip out arose (thanks to three squillion miles of ever changing red tape between the railway and two different councils) the scheme was junked by HM Gov. At least, that's what I was told....

 

It must be a couple of months now since the test dig at the tip. Have Bluebell issued an update as to what they learned from the trial and how this will effect the cost of the project and what their plans are to proceed ? [-o< Perhaps I missed an announcement ?

 

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/funding/2009/tenner.html
I see the Bluebell's offering a new deal kind of thing. Tenner for the Tip.

This has more than likely been mentioned before but i thought it was worth highlighting

 

£4.5M has been quoted as the figure... :-k :-k

 

Stepney can perhaps answer this: Looking at the latest photos on the Bluebell website it appears that not all of the cutting is actually filled with waste material, rather subsoil infill, which the Bluebell can move.

Is there any accurate indication of the mix of actual waste and subsoil infill? It would be very nice if there was less waste and more subsoil.

46118

 

There is inert spoil (as opposed to material that forms the waste tip) immediately to the north of Imberhorne Lane Bridge that is currently being removed on weekdays down to Horsted Keynes by a series of Spoil Trains. Nobody knows for certain how far north of the bridge the actual waste tip begins. It is a matter of excavating further away from the bridge until the waste tip is encountered. As of two days ago the spoil face was approximately 25 metres back from the bridge, which has resulted in a large amount of spoil being removed by the railway.

The inert spoil is being taken by train down to Horsted Keynes where it is being dumped to create a new land formation in the 'triangle', i.e. the land in between where the lines to Sheffield Park and Ardingly diverge.

There are many old car tyres being unearthed in the inert spoil. These are being separated and will be stored for disposal later to an in-fill site with the waste material. The waste material will be excavated and transported by road from the Imberhorne Tip by a specialist contractor.

My online photos taken whilst guarding the current series of spoil trains are here: http://gallery74781.fotopic.net/c1644179.html


Chris

 

Thanks Chris. The implied point I was making was that the inert material is much cheaper to dispose of, so more of that and less of t'other the better!

I have been following the story so know the detail, but your explanation will be useful for those coming to this topic for the first time.

I notice from your excellent photos that the lack of recent rain has made the site relatively dry of late. That must help.

I hope that excavator driver doesn't select reverse by mistake!!

Regards

46118

 

An interesting photo on the Bluebell website of current progress at Imberhorne...

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/blueb ... feb09c.jpg

When you bear in mind that bridge was completely buried when we started...

 

It was built double track (the whole L&EGR was built to double track width, but only a single line was laid south of HK).

My understanding is that the excavation needs to go back to the original width of the cutting to ensure the necessary stability. Excavating as a single track cutting would be cheaper on account of needing to remove less material, but the "residual" material making up what would be in effect a partly infilled cutting would not have the necessary stability, especially with the considerable amount of water running through it that would not be properly drained. So there would be a risk of further slips of material, particularly during heavy rainfall.

Tom

 

I'd just like to add a special thanks to Chris and all the other guards for their guarding of this train, whilst still making themselves free for normal turns. Can I include some of your photos in the next Right Away guards newsletter please Chris?

 

It has all gone very quiet at Imberhorne (Bluebell website last updated 06 Feb).

Can anyone say what is actually happening at the moment? Are the "inert" spoil trains running at the moment,and is there any more news re. possible recommencement of the main clearance operation?

Thanks

 

All the inert spoil has been moved, and the 73 will be going home very soon.

I believe there is due to be some P-way work in a couple of weeks time, to lay anther few panels under the bridge. After that, I think the volunteer extension team are due to start working on EG station site.

As for the main tip removal... I believe we're waiting for substantial money to be available, so that they can remove a large part (or all) of the waste.

Pil

 

Talking to a Bluebell working member last month when I was at the Mid-Hants Gala he told me that another £1million must be found first before anymore waste removal can be done on the actual tip, then after that another £1million is required.

 

Oh dear sounds as though the money has run out and BB is now at the buffer stops at Imberhorn lane, now what is their next move? and with the new carriage museum or whatever to fund with the lottery they are rearly going to struggle to proceed with little money available due to the unfortunate recession, but can they get an extension to the time period to get to East Grinstead or is this one obstacle too far? Oh so sad.
Engineer