Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I was at Horsted Keynes today for what, at times, seemed like a Gala day! 32636 (Fenchurch) with 31065, until the A1X took a break, leaving 31065 heading the 14.15 Sheffield Park alone; 73082 on a normal serivce train; then on what looked like a sold out Wealden Rambler; and of course the star of the day, 34059 in service after dedication. Lovely to photograph that at HK, making it my tenth different operating Bulleid photographed in the last eight days. Couple of very low-res quick edits of the Bulleid below.

Bryan B

 

Is it just me, or do the numbers on 34059's can side look thinner than on other Bulleids?

 

They appear to me, having just compared an image from Monday as the same as those on BIL.
I believe it was said these are an early BR size on a different thread.

 

Im glad someone else noticed this. Most Bulleids seem to have these smaller numbers. Compared to the later style where the number fills the panel more pleasingly.

 

Pre-repainting

 

Do they?
Of the 7 at Swanage for the gala (92 Squadron being in a different livery) only BIL hade the smaller numbers.

 

A few things I picked up yesterday.

Part 1 - around the railway

"Blackmoor Vale" beginning to be stripped down in the loco yard.



In "Atlantic House", work has started to strip down Adams B4 "Normandy" - looked like the cab had been removed, and some of the backhead fittings.

The maintenance shed wasn't open because a washout of 80151 was under way. Final painting on "Beachy Head" had just been completed, and the varnish was still drying, but the loco unfortunately wasn't on show.

Car 54 was open to view.



Sir Archie coupling the two Bulleid carriages to the service train after the naming ceremony.



Four engines were in use: 34059, Nos. 65 and 72 on the other service train; and 73082 on the Wealden Rambler. Fenchurch seems to have had a bad lot of coal which caused some upset to the timetable, since it was put in the down siding at Kingscote on its second trip to allow the fire to be thoroughly cleaned.

Part 2 - BRPS AGM

The AGM was in a marquee at Sheffield Park, which was somewhat rattled by a very strong wind! It was pretty full: from the voting numbers for trustees, I'd suggest somewhat over 200 attendees.

Roy Watts, in his remarks, mentioned that trade was up this year - I think he said (unaudited, of course) that year to date, we were about 15% up in income and approx 5,000 visitors relative to 2023. The first half of the year is I guess quieter - most of the big events tend to be second half (summer holidays, santas, steam lights etc) but even so it is very positive. The "Southern at War" event was said to be particularly successful. (As an aside from me, the second half of 2023 had the Flying Scotsman event; this year the same point in the year will have the Beachy Head relaunch). But in general, the "family" strategy seems to be paying off.

The railway has purchased a strip of land in the "narrows" north of Kingscote. Regular visitors will know that there is a section of a few hundred yards where the railway only owns half the width of the trackbed. In that narrow section, approximately half the outstanding length has now been purchased, just the flat section at the top, not the whole embankment side. The benefit to the railway will be to allow some improvement of signal sighting on the approach to Kingscote, and also incrementally makes detraining passengers in that section easier, were it to have to happen.

I understand that next winter's major track relay will be in the Horsted Keynes - Kingscote section.

There was an election for BRPS trustees - 5 candidates for 3 vacancies. Two incumbents and one new person were (re)-elected.

Roy also announced that Neil Glaskin will take over as the interim plc Chairman pending a permanent replacement. Roy will continue as BRPS chairman (though I think is looking to stand down next year).

Tom

 

Tickets for the first public trains featuring Beachy Head are now on sale, 23 August - 1 September:

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/beachy-head-2024/

As far as I can see, this is being run like a gala, i.e. all day rover tickets are available, but it isn't like (e.g. Flying Scotsman) with tickets on specific trains.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom. With a fun fair at Horsted Keynes it looks like being a busy week at the location I drive to and base myself when visiting the Bluebell. Not that I am complaining, it is very obvious that broadening the range of many events at heritage railways is vital for their continued success as the boiler certificates of us older, pure steam enthusiasts continue to tick away!

So I will certainly support the incredible Beachy Head element of the event. And maybe the general notes at the bottom of the Beachy Head page suggesting the car park at HK will be available, means I can still enjoy another full day in the very pleasant company of all the Bluebell staff and volunteers (including those manning the refreshment room) as I do on my fairly frequent visits to that station.

As for me having a go on the bouncy castle - hmmmm - probably not - one large bounce from height could see the first owl visiting the International Space Station!

Bryan B

 

Last weekend we had the renaming of Sir Archie; the BRPS AGM - but also dinosaurs. (Do your own jokes …). It could have been a weird clash but actually I think it just resulted in a very busy railway and I don’t think the different clientele’s detracted from each other.

(Incidentally, there were 227 members signed in for the AGM).

As for Beachy Head - you can only have one chance to be at the inaugural running of a new loco …

Tom

 

Tom, this old dinosaur had a very enjoyable day at Horsted Keynes on Sir Archie's renaming day. HK was it's usual fairly quiet self re passenger crowds, most people seemed to be on the trains as often happens there. And I had the pleasure of seeing 32636, 31065, 73082 and of course the star of the show, 34059. My day included a very nice chat with the driver of 31065 after I mentioned I had photographed that loco at Tonbridge on the penultimate day of Kent steam in June 1961.

The saying'It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good' certainly came true for me as 31065 worked the 14.15 ex HK without Fenchurch as the A1X had decided to take the afternoon off after a very busy morning. So I got a chimney first shot of the 0-6-0 loco arriving at HK ,then got quite a close comparative photo with that I took of the same loco with my Brownie 127 at Tonbridge on 10 June 1961. I hadn't brought my folder of old photos with me, so I couldn't get try to get a better comparison, but I'm quite happy with what I got. See below.

Bryan B

 

Love that, GO- and the background of your 1960 photo has barely changed in the last 64 years!
I was just 2 weeks old when you snapped that.

 

Already done one this year thanks
In all seriousness very much looking forward to seeing Beachy Head in action, I'm sure I'll get to see it at some point.

 

The numerals are in the wrong typeface, this has happened on several occasions. BR used a version of Gill Sans, which was quite different from the 'standard' version and weights.
It seems a shame that after going to the trouble of a full repaint, the numerals let it down.

 

I managed to get down for Sir Archie on the 11.30 from EG and taking the return with 34059. Thanks Tom for the heads up.

I can admit to being very wrong and until now was sceptical that combining authentic steam travel with dinosaurs (and other things) could be a viable combination. The incoming train from SP to EG was already packed with pterosaur enthusiasts and there wasn't a spare seat for old gricers like myself for the southbound train. I will also admit to finding the joy on the youngsters faces seeing the young reptiles in arms as heart warming as me seeing my thirteenth working Bulleid inside six months! Happy days!

I was left musing how other HRs might need to consider such diversity of marketing to generate extra revenue?

 

I think other railways are, at least in the south (do not get up north much these days so do not know about there). The Bluebell do seem to have been a leader in this and having experienced ice skating at the same time as GOS, and read about other events it seems they have found a sweet spot in what appear at first strange combinations.
It helps the Bluebell that compared to many other lines they also seem to have a lot more real estate to play with as well.

 

I do realise some here do like to see such as exact typefaces being used relevant to the era being portrayed - as is probably well known here, I myself go all the way and much prefer to see ex SR locos as they were in BR SR 1960s livery, and numbering, (in a 'near enough will do' typeface). Although I fully accept that other eras are available!

Even though you are commenting on an apparent error (rather than just a choice of livery as per myself), I still feel that to add the comment 'the numerals let it down' re 34059, is somewhat harsh.

Bryan B

 

Yes, re 'other railways are', which brings to mind the very wide variety of attractions my nearest heritage line, the Spa Valley Railway, employ to attract a lot of visitors.

Bryan B

 

At least the numbers are the right colour.