Bluebell Railway General Discussion

A huge thank you to everybody involved with last week's gala. As somebody who grew up in the 1980s/1990s it really did take me back. Seeing all the liveries, but also the station signs, clocks and even bins. What an atmosphere at Horsted Keynes, especially with all the hustle and bustle of people and trains.

For me, it was exactly the same thrill as some older enthusiasts get from 1960s themed events. My youngest son also really enjoyed seeing what the railways were like when his Dad was his age.

I hope this proves that if done well, 1990s themed events might be an option for heritage railways moving forward.

I finally got round to sorting out my (low quality) film footage from the Sunday for anybody who may be interested.



I sincerely hope that this event helps make up the shortfall from the summer. I look forward to returning at some point to enjoy steam traction.

I also echo everybody else in thanking Tom for his work with the newsletter. Always an enjoyable read.

 

Also finally got round to sorting out my stuff from last weekend, some photos below and more to be found at https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.co...n/Bluebell-Railway-Diesel-Gala-September-2026

100% the busiest diesel gala I've ever been to at the Bluebell and seems to have been very well received across the board

 

80151 will be turned by low loader on Wednesday to face north. The low loader will then take 33108 back to the SVR.

 

I never got my photo of 80151 on the correct side of the double track section heading into HK on the Maunsell set on an afternoon train from EG. To match a 1962 photo I took of a BR Std 4 2-6-4t approaching Hurst Green Junction on a rake of Muansell coaches.

But, like when a sporting team you support gets relegated, it doesn't actually have any impact on my life!

And it means that I now have the chance of it entering HK from SP. Maunsell or green MK1 s without any obs cars in shot.

So, it is likely to be back in service before the G.O.S please?

Bryan

 

I don't recall, but has there ever been discussion at the Bluebell about installing a turntable? Yes, I realize it wouldn't get much use, and therefore would likely have a poor cost/benefit ratio (dissuading its installation), but if one has one, it would be useful. There are a number of heritage lines that have one (the RVR is getting one) - and the WSR has the Norton triangle, which can do the same.

Noel

 

It pops up as an idea from time to time, but cost, opportunity cost and other considerations get in the way.

The most plausible place for a turntable would be to put it on the up (west) side of Horsted Keynes, at the north end of the sidings there. But a rough estimate of £750k or thereabouts (for which price you could do a pretty major loco overhaul - so a big financial cost and opportunity cost when capital is scarce).

There was also thought about 15 years ago of building at triangle (wye) at Horsted, with the clay capping recovered from the tip being available as material. The idea would be to create a chord between the Sheffield Park and Ardingly lines. However, when it was examined in detail, the radius turned out too tight (I think about 4.5 chains from memory) and the cross levels between the two lines would have made it quite steep. So again, it got dropped.

Ultimately, lack of a turntable doesn't really hinder us; you'd only use it occasionally and it isn't worth the money for that rare usage. We do turn locos occasionally; the options are a spin round the car park on a low loader (as is happening to 80151); sending them away and getting them returned the opposite way round (as happened to 323 "Bluebell" a few years ago when it visited the Churnet Valley); or spinning all the parts round with the workshop overhead cranes during an overhaul (as happened to "Fenchurch" last time it was rebuilt).

Tom

 

I’ll keep an eye on it, but currently the next running date for 80151 will be at Giants of Steam. It will do a trip with the C Set (formed of the Observation Car, 3 Maunsells & a Bulleid) on the Sunday of the event.

 

Many thanks.

From your comment about G.O.S. I assume, as would be expected of course, that timetable planning is well under way. Hopefully to be releasd soon, aka when it's ready!

As for that C set on the Sunday, does that planning yet state which end of the train the obs car will be please? They usually are on the SP end.

I am hoping to come on the Saturday - and with me not far away from having to ask Mr Jarvis to rebuild my right hip, I doubt I can make Saturday and Sunday, so may need to change my plans.

( I am currently a Jarvis/Bulleid hybrid - rebuild left hip and right hip unrebuilt and still with an oil bath ).

Bryan

 

The sectional appendix says, on marshalling trains, that unless they are the only vehicle in the train, or by special instruction from the Ops Manager, the following vehicles must not be marshalled adjacent to the loco on up trains passing through the tunnel:

• BY No. 404
• LNWR Obo No. 1503
• Bulleid brake 3rd No. 2515
• LBSCR First No. 7598

In practical terms, it means the Obo would always therefore get marshalled at the south end of trains.

I don't know the rationale, but since it is so specific to trains passing through the tunnel, I suspect it has something to do with protecting the roofs from cinders, though why those vehicles specifically I don't know.

(As an aside, BY 404 is the generator vehicle for the Steamlights set and is routinely marshalled at the north end of that train, but of course it is never scheduled to go through the tunnel).

Tom

 

Should be released within the next week. As for the formation of Set C, south to north is OBO-Maunsells-Bulleid

 

I wonder if 41313 will face south as it was when photographed at Sheffield Park on Saturday 28/5/55, the last day of "normal" service before the start of the ASLEF strike (see RM Aug. 1955, page 549)

Peter

 

I think 41313 faced South when it visited last year, but it could do so again this year, especially as everything else running at GoS will be facing North

 

The plan is for everything to face north - 41313 faced south when it visited last year so will be good to have it facing the other way this time.

 

Those instructions have for a little while puzzled me.

2515 was withdrawn before I had any decent idea about the Bluebell's carriage fleet.

The Observation Car (OBO) always seems to be at the south (SP) end of the train. Why, specifically, I do not know - possibly to make shunting on and off easier to/from the SP carriage shed?

It can be noted that, whilst a set is often formed of (e.g.) the Mets and then the 100 seater 1098 and Brighton First 7598, 1098 always seems to be the north end vehicle.

I'm afraid I have a brief non-example to your comment about 404. Indeed it is the north end of the Steamlights set, which usually works between SP and HK only, although this set also sees use on standard service trains between SP and EG in the Christmas - New Year week, and New Year's Day gala.

 

I guess that is covered by the "unless authorised by the ops manager" bit then!

There was a brief period (probably in the 1990s?) when a plastic material was used for roof coverings rather than traditional canvas. The experiment was stopped due to issues with cinders burning holes in the material; I wonder if the vehicles concerned were those four and the operational instruction was added to try to protect them, and it has stayed there ever since? But that is just a hunch.

(Edit: this article seems to suggest that at least 404 and 2515 were fitted at one time with that material: https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/car_roof.html#synth)

Ultimately, the LNWR Obo has to go one on one end of a train or the other; it makes no sense to put it in the middle. So apart from that rule, putting it at the south end makes shunting at Sheffield Park easier if it is being added to a normal five coach set as a strengthener for a weekend or gala.

Tom

 

I think this may have something to do with synthetic roof coverings, versus traditional canvas. I know that in the past, the Brighton First did have a synthetic (plastic) roof covering, which proved to be less than optimum against hot cinders. Although I thought that in more recent times, this had been re-covered with traditional canvas. In this I may be quite wrong, relying on a faulty memory rather than anything else.
Anyone?