Bluebell Railway General Discussion

I believe the answer is HK in the short term, and watch this space in the slightly longer term.

Tom

 

Does anyone know whether Beachy Head is operable? I've spent all week reloading to see if the locos for tomorrow will change but they haven't as of yet.

A couple of sources have suggested that it might be rather broken - I'm told the rear pony truck is missaligned????

 

34059 (A), 73082 (B), 65 (WR/GAL)

 

34059 was rather warm yesterday evening!

 

Any chance that might get pulled from the Roster next week? Bullieds are known for being particular bad in the heat and it's getting warmer next week.

 

And yesterday daytime…


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After a day on it, that would be ideal! But i'm not sure there's much to replace it with.

2999 had a warming fire in it so I can see that being used. You have 73082 too; Beachy Head is meant to be out but the last few weeks, it's been swapped out so not sure the state of play on that.

34059 was exceptionally warm today but it can be managed with care (and relief when available!) - I've heard the Spamcans were a lot nastier, thanks to the casing.

 

2999, 34059, 72 and 32424 is rostered.

32424 had to have some minor work carried out in the works but AFAIK is now sitting in the yard presumably waiting testing. I suppose 73082 or 80151 can replace 34059 if required.

 

I would imagine (hope!) that Archie would be swapped out for something else - with temperatures set to reach above 35C in the South East next week, crew welfare becomes a big issue.

In addition to the normal midweek services, Fenchurch is out on Wednesday for a filming charter with the Great Northern Saloon.

 

Agreed. The crews welfare is very important and as much as I was looking forward to seeing Archie next weekend I totally would totally understand if it got replaced with another locomotive for the sake of the crew.

 

Bellerephon and most Manning Wardles should be in high demand for spot hire

 

I was on Camelot today, and it was fairly hot, though not unbearable - though next week will be worse.

An interesting point about open-cabbed locos, particularly 65, but I suspect the same applies to 2999 (I haven't been on it). When it is very sunny, with the line basically being north / south, you simply can't get out of the sun: you have the full power of the sun behind you. The only time I've been completely beaten by a loco and had to get off before the end of a turn was on Covid reopening day in 2020. It was (as I recall) 38C; we were on No. 65; no 3rd man (for covid reasons) and the relentless natured of the sun did for me.

Tom

 

The loco situation is tight in the short term:
34059, 2999, 72 are available with not conditions to my knowledge.
65 clearly works but was (as of my latest info from a while back) due a washout yesterday. Therefore, it may be close to 28 days as it has recently done four more than it was booked for.
80151 was due to have had a wahsout last weekend - not sure if this happened. It works I suspect.
I had heard of a serious fault on 32424. No official info on this. Frustratingly the HOPS roster seems to be being updated with very little notice.
73082 is booked a washout next weekend (MRW). It has been the 'main engine' for a number of weeks so must be almost at 28.

2999 and 72 should be able to work their booked diagrams.
80151 should be available to take the diagram of (potentially unavailable) 32424, or in turn sub for 34059.
65 might be available but as discussed may need washing out. It is also a dying engine on limited mileage.
It may be that 34059 is the only option.

Archie is booked as A engine mid-week next week last time I checked. Hopefully 80151 or 2999 can cover this.

 

73082 is now rostered out as the weekday engine instead of 34059.

 

I have a mate who was big into trail riding, he did Morrocco a few times. He said above 45 degrees, opening the visor was hotter than having it closed. So I think at a certain point it's all much of a muchness.

Could some form of air cooling be added? Could you hide something in the tender and duct it into the cab?

(I was wondering about using the tender tank as a heat dump, but would that upset the eldritch powers that drive the injectors? How hot can the water be before they become tricky?)

 

To be honest, I don't think there is really much you can do about cab temperature.

At the end of the day, if it's too hot in the cab, then train doesn't run. You can relieve crews as much as possible and ensure regular breaks etc.

Beyond that, diesel traction it is, I suppose.

I presume E6040 works. Not sure when 33108 arrives but I didn't see it last week in the yard. 09018 is still broken to my knowledge.

 

To be honest, I wonder how many willing passengers there will be in any case - I don't think being in a carriage at 38C is massively pleasant for what is supposed to be a pleasure trip.

(I notice that the SVR and GWSR have opted to close mid week this week).

Tom

 

I have added up my estimates of days in steam since washouts. I'm not from loco, and some of my information is from two months ago. This is as of today, ignoring future rostered turns
65 - 22
80151 - 0
73082 - 21
32424 - hard to tell due to Didcot and then failure - likely not many days
34059 - hard to tell due to roster changes meaning not sure when it was last washed out. 23 or more, at a guess, but I'm not convinced
2999 - 0
72 - 0

 

Since winter maintenance - 32424 only had about 7 days of public service (5 at Didcot)

 

Railway will be closed on June 24th and 25th due to the weather warnings, excluding pre booked coach groups, according to the Social Media channels.