Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I always find it amazing that 9017 seems to get slightly shunned.

It's a remarkable survivor, and probably if it was based elsewhere would be a bit of a "jewel", whereas in the context of the Bluebell fleet, it seems to be less appreciated.

I think that it's current roving ambassador role is a great way for it to be appreciated by others and being on display.

I'd love to see it run one day, I have only ever seen one outside framed loco run (3717) and visually it's such a departure from almost anything else that is about.

Chris

 

GWR 4-4-0s were indeed daily visitors to the Southampton area - usually on trains into Southampton Terminus.

There was a daily early evening return working from Reading - worked by Dukes in early years and Bulldogs latterly. Recorded sightings include 3286 Meteor on 3/8/27 hauling 10 (!) non-corridor coaches (6 SR and 4 GWR) and 3356 Sir Stafford on 11/8/34.

As mentioned, multiple GWR services ran in from the DN&S. These were usually worked by Dukes (e.g. 3272 Fowey on 28/7/27) but Dean Goods, Barnums and 3551 where also regulars at that time.

Occasionally GWR locos worked through to Southampton via the MSWJR instead of the usual loco change at Andover. e.g. Duke 3268 Chough on 2/9/33 and Bulldog 3322 Eclipse on 5/6/34.

And then there were a wide variety of excursions and other special workings to Bournemouth, Southampton and Portsmouth frequently worked by Dukes in early years before giving way to Bulldogs and in turn 43xxs. Flowers and City's too on occasion. eg. Bulldogs 3410 Columbia on 9 GWR corridors on 9/7/27 and 3387 (formerly Reading) on 27/8/27 with no less than 18 LMS vans and a LMS brake 3rd that ran into Southampton Docks - Pigeons!

 

This is Andover Junction, on the LSWR mainline, in early SR days. There is what looks like a GWR 4-4-0, probably a Duke judging by the frames, outside the loco shed - no doubt arrived via the M&SWJR.




Tom

 

Harold Gasson's book 'Firing Days - reminiscences of a Great Western Fireman' recounts several days firing Bulldog 4-4-0s on the Didcot - Southampton return over this very route. 3376 River Plym, 3448 Kingfisher and 3454 Skylark are all recorded as doing the honours

 

Why?
Not knowing anything about Loco's

 

Is Sharpthorne under cover yet?

 

I think the amount of work is very high, lots of original material would be lost and the loco when done is only very small, so not much use! This makes it almost impossible to prioritise it over other locos which would be better choices.

It was in Horsted yard two weeks ago when I last saw it.

 

Thanks.

 

It strikes me that Sharpethorne is the ideal candidate for a cosmetic restoration and placing in the museum - after all it helped build the line did it not?
Ray.

 

That, of course, is the problem for all heritage steam locomotives; eventually, we discussed this on the Lynton and Barnstaple thread many years ago about LEW. If it were ever found, the conclusion was, I think we would be better off building a replica and keeping the original in a museum like the FR Double Fairlie at the NRM.

Admittedly, it is not the same as having Sharpethorne herself in steam, but don't forget it would cost just as much to return her to a museum standard as it would be to get her steaming again, but we don't know that until a full mechanical assessment has been carried out.

 

Really?

Tom

 

I am only quoting what I was told by some of the staff at the NRM a few years back. I think the FR said pretty much the same about the Double Fairlie now at the NRM, and as it turned out, they now have two new Fairlies since that was said and running around on some of the old parts that have been refurbished since then.

It all depends on whether you want to preserve or conserve an item; to me, that means two different approaches that would need to be taken to achieve either outcome.

 

I think there was a plan a couple of years ago for Sharpthorn to be cosmetically restored for display in Steamworks alongside Stepney (the idea being to have the loco that helped build the line be displayed alongside the first loco or the preservation era), but not sure if it is being worked on or not. I remember a group of people doing work on it during Giants of Steam in 2024, before it moved into the down yard at HK.

 

I'd agree, although I wonder how much the loco changed (on the Trigger's broom principle) between the completion of the Lewes & East Grinstead contract and its final withdrawal from industrial service?

 

There’s currently a group doing exactly that, with the intention being to put it on display in Steamworks. They are on Facebook but the page hasn’t had a post for about 10 months.

I did some prep work on it a couple of years ago as part of the plan to cosmetically restore the engine and it would be incredibly costly to return the engine to traffic - almost everything would have to be made new. Much of the metalwork has rusted and I can’t imagine the boiler is in very good condition. Even if the engine was restored, I very much doubt it would be powerful enough to run on a regular basis.

 

I Think you have missed 3440/3717 City of Truro a regular apparently over the DN&S between Didcot and Soton Terminus

 

Just looking at the Facebook page for Sharpthorn, I think you might find it will require much more work than has been realised so far, which begs the question, just how far do you go with a project like this?

https://www.facebook.com/share/17y5hY2NhF/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I don't think it is an unreasonable condition to consider making sure you end up with a rolling chassis at least.

 

Good news from the HRA awards.

Firstly, the team responsible for the restoration of Maunsell Brake 3rd No. 3687 won the rolling stock preservation award.

Secondly, the https://www.setg.org.uk/ (custodians of the Bluebell-owned 4-VEP 3417) won the team of the year award.

Congratulations to both groups, and also to the other award winners, which included the Tanfield Railway, Middleton, Severn Valley, Mid Hants, GWSR and others.

Tom

 

Sharpthorn update.

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Xcm4z4kNG/

Quite aware there has been a lack of updates recently, but fear not, work in the background is being carried out. Bluebell Driver Bob Blake has done an immense amount of searches for any K class engineering drawings, emailing multiple organisations up and down the country in hope of finding some. Luck was on our side, with and original Manning Wardle GA drawing being found, and details for the original cab roof. A trip over to the Kent to the Colonel Stephen’s society was arranged, and the drawings borrowed so our own archive team could digitally record them for our future use .

These are going to be invaluable as the idea is to return Sharpthorn to how she was originally when the building of the line commenced. This includes the original roof, which saw the back going to the rear of the bunker, simpler cab steps, and removing and re positioning the sand boxes. And having buffers on the buffer beams rather than the wooden pads. The bunker looks to be in very poor condition, and so will likely need to be re fabricated.

This weekend, Loco department Fireman Hannah tackled an immensely important job of getting the brakes working again. The handbrake had been locked in the off position for a number of years. The rigging was cleaned and oiled, and a large amount of coal dust/oil/ crud removed from the handbrake screw thread. A large scaffold pole extended the reach of the handbrake and with a fair amount of muscle power, the handbrake moved!!