Bluebell Railway General Discussion

As @Ben Jenden says, the intention is that the loco will be available for use at Christmas, but won't go into the paint shop for final painting until January 2024. Partly that is driven by an available slot in the paint shop (it'll go to HK). It also enables the loco to be used over Christmas and enable 73082 to come in for a P&V exam. If 34059 were to be painted in December, it would delay 73082 and then you'd find you could in any case make little use of 34059 until much later in the year. So it makes sense to do have it in traffic for a peak period only part-painted. (The LBSCR provides a useful precedent for getting locos into traffic unpainted for peak periods and then returning them to the paint shop at low season )

For 32424, my understanding is that it will need to go into the workshop fairly soon, probably after Christmas. I think the current intention is that it will be ready for traffic for the summer, which probably means running in and crew familiarisation starting around Easter of next year.

Tom

 

thank you Tom - nest year looks to be an exciting one for the Bluebell

 

So Tom the $64k question is will it be in undercoat, BR Black or something novel?

 

I think unlined, probably unnumbered, green. At least that is what it is now - so part painted, but not up to final degree of finish.

Tom

 

There were four diferent pies in the Bessamer during the beer festival, and the one tried was very good. The burger being sold in the Birch Grove suite was a disappointment.
Very good selction of real ales and I will go into more detail in the Tap Room thread.
The revised timetable for Saturday with a 2- 3 gap back to East Grinstead in the afternoon meant I had to leave earlier than planned, so did not have time for the shop or the Bulleid Shop.

 

Saturday's timetable seemed to change on a whim; the website one was different to the one those arriving on the railtour had in their brochure, which was different again to what actually ran (1.30pm left at 1pm, an afternoon train from the Park terminated at Horsted and returned from there are the two obvious ones I noted) and even the late evening trains seemed to run... late.

I guess the incoming charter made it difficult; last year there was a regular shuttle between the two stations, but from memory only a small bar at Horsted. I don't remember anything else being there aside that (and the shop/works of course) but this year there was definitely live music, which perhaps would have benefitted from the shuttle ferrying an audience to and fro? It's always a fine balancing act and certainly won't put me off coming back next year.

 

I walked alongside the line (not literally, all on public rights of way) today a bit disappointing train-wise. Firstly the Ardingly- Whatley train was cancelled. Wightwick Hall was on the service train at 3 arch bridge which ended up being the only train I saw.
Waited for Fenchurch and the OBO at the magnificent bridge into the Kingscote Estate (was this ever demolished and rebuilt?) and all the way to EG but neither saw or heard it. I suppose the Autumn Tints service is a bit hit and miss given that it depends on passengers stumping up the extra £5 to make it viable?

(plus we are not even into proper Autumn Tints season yet although the NT gardens at Sheffield Park have required advance booking since 11th September)

Saw a lovely herd of Fallow deer near Sharpthorne! very close too. I was tempted to buy a single ticket back rather than a £2 bus but HK station was closed.

 

Checking our timetable ( https://www.bluebell-railway.com/timetables-and-calendar/ ) would be a good plan, if you intend watching the trains go past. Timetable
https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Timetable-A-With-Autumn-Tints-1.pdf
shows just two round trips, and the Observation Car attached to the back of the service train, not running as a separate service. Fenchurch was not expected to be running.
Unfortunately the published loco roster was wrong (although there's a disclaimer as to it only being a guide to what was planned, and subject to alterations).

 

This was the timetable I downloaded today and was working to using your link

Timetable-A-With-Autumn-Tints.pdf (bluebell-railway.com)

 

OK, that's different from the one I downloaded this evening, as linked above.
It looks like there was a last minute change.
That information would have been conveyed to paying passengers.

 

Sorry I'm not a paying passenger any more; done plenty of that over the last 25 years. Doesn't mean I won't be back 2024 looks very exciting!

 

No paying passengers = no trains ! I guess this year is a bit break or make for attractions.

 

Is it correct per the weekly email that the ice skating in the shed starts on the same day as the first day of GOS.
Will that mean no shed area access at all during GOS? Even though of course it is severely restricted these days.

 

According to the dates, yes. I’ve asked because it seems wrong to me to try to do both at the same time - you risk alienating both markets.

Tom

 

Completely bonkers! Who wants to go ice skating in October?

 

yes agree but it's up to the operators to make it worth paying (in this case £25) to be a paying passenger rather than just observe. I have no idea what the BR's financial position is but they have enough in the bank to finance the HK station improvements (probably connected to its very popular role as a film location)

 

Torvill and Dean ?

Bob.

 

In 2021 there was a Lego style event at half term that was great fun. It does seem early for ice skating but perhaps the line got a very attractive offer for the skating rink so perhaps it will be a success

Sent from my M2003J15SC using Tapatalk

 

It just seems really strange to me - not so much the ice skating in October but combining two special events. Hows it supposed to work? Suppose you turn up to go skating and then fancy a train ride - do you have to buy a Giants of Steam ticket at £37 or is there a cheaper option? If there's a cheaper option what's to stop people staying on the trains all day?