Bluebell Railway General Discussion

Lirpa Loof was the spokesperson if I recall correctly. I can't remember what Nula Seer (Alun Rees) was.

 

I must admit, I was a bit disappointed to read of the plans to turn 80151 to face north. Facing south does offer opportunities away from the more popular spots for north facing engines. However, a trawl through my photos made me realise that there aren't may south-facing locations I haven't already covered with this engine. See below for a selection - all apart from the Hill Place shot taken in the days when I had a lineside pass or PTS.

 

I personally like it when railways have a few locos facing the other way to most of the fleet it gives chances for different shots that you'd usually not get.

Sticking with Bluebell. It's a shame that a shot like this one is only possible with now one home fleet loco facing chimney first, that being Fenchurch. Variety is nice, but at the same time it's not that big of a deal just personal preference.

 

Personally don't care which way 80151 faces as she's spent plenty of time pointing south in service by now, but I am a bit annoyed if they're doing the line-up thing in the middle of Giants again, last year was fine as it was a special thing with the four new builds but if it's just 4x BR Standards then it just massively interrupts the timetable for something not that special IMHO

 

Would have looked better with the name and numberplates in red...

[Ducks for cover!]

 

I do understand your point of view. But to some (one?) of us, four BR Standards featuring at the G.O.S, including all facing one way at some point is very appealing.

Just a shame that 80151 will never head just the four Maunsell coaches downhill into Horsted Keynes station that would have given a truly authentic look over the 'double track' section.

But such is life and sadly, just for me, not the sort of truly authentic, indeed historic 1960s spectacle that seems to fit these days with the Bluebell making sure they attract sufficient paying visitors to keep a railway alive and well that I have been visiting for 60 years very soon.

No point in running trains that only satisfy one (small brained as I was reminded here recently) dinosaur and no one else!

And in any case I have now gone past the point of return with my BR SR steam loco memoirs book to make any changes.

But assuming it will be four BR Standards at G.O.S it sound like it could be a really cracking event that I shall look forward to.

Bryan - I can't add to the post as my small dinosaur brain has used up all of its RAM - B

 

My latest upload from a few days this Easter holiday linesiding with 2999, 80151 & 73082. Also features 2999 on the GA Diner on the Saturday in the evening sun. Swear that loco gets louder everytime I see her.

 

Some photos of progress on Normandy in Atlantic House:

https://www.bulleidsociety.org/News/Latest_News.html

Tom

 

Good to see it coming on steadily. I can't wait to see it out and about, not because I particularly admire the little loco but because work can then start in earnest on 488 (or 30583 as the forum's favourite Owl would prefer). Roll on the return of the Adams.

Peter

 

Looking again at some of those photos, it is interesting to see how overgrown the lineside was in some of them, in marked contrast to today where in the main, the linesides are very neat. (Look especially at the second, third and fourth photos).

Tom

 

I don't think they had internal-combustion-powered lawn-mowers back then!

Noel

 

Well, @John Petley 's photos of 80151 must have been taken this century, so I suspect they did!

Tom

 

The Rye and Camber used one as motive power

 

Just checked the PTI page to see which locos are working which diagrams over the weekend but it’s a week out of date.

 

Saturday:

2999 - Set A
73082 - Set B
80151 - Wealden Rambler

Sunday:

2999 - Set A
73082 - Set B
80151 - Golden Arrow

Tom

 

Just checked the PTI page to see which locos are working which diagrams over the weekend but it’s a week out of date.

Many thanks.

 

Please remind me how long 2999 is staying there. I'd like to have a ride but I'm fairly occupied the next few weekends.

 

I think it's been said it's staying for most of the year (until at least Giants of Steam presumably) so you should have plenty of time for a ride.

I'm sure Tom or someone else will be be to confirm if it's staying beyond that.

 

My understanding is through to September - so not for GoS, but most of the time until then.

Tom

 

The latest issue of The Bluebell Times is now available:

• The Branch Line Gala has eight locos in steam - and draws the crowds to visit
• Two generous legacies enable improvements to be made to the driveway at Horsted Keynes; and to provide improved welfare facilities for the Infrastructure team out in all weathers
• Maunsell open 3rd 1309, bows out after 42 years’ service
• Work continues on Q class 541 and on making cylinder patterns for “Stowe” - with funding support from the Horsted Keynes Carriage Shop
• “Camelot” meets “Camelots” at Horsted Keynes as the spring daffodils bloom!

You can download here: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/issue-80.pdf

Tom