Bluebell Northern Extension - so what's occurring then?

Did the Tamper 'jump' the gap....?

 

The Wickham Trolly went North after the line was connected then there was a late night visitor to Sheffield Park from Tonbridge............... I really hope someone got some photographs.

 

Well, the Wickham became the first vehicle to travel the whole way from KC to EG and back, I guess to prove everything was in order. It was followed by the tamper, which is now locked away in the cripple siding at EG, which allows the token to be released while still maintaining "one train in steam" working north of KC. That then enabled a class 66 to come in from the mainline and run to SP and back on what I think was a gauging run for the Maundy Thursday rail tour.

The "official" ceremony is today.

Tom

 

The loco was 66712 - and yes, there are photos...

Tom

 

Wonderful news, I can't help but have a wry smile that the first loco to make the journey was powered by internal combustion.

 

I think it is because of the catering coach, which will be behind. This obviously needs a raised walkway (because it is sitting on bogies) and therefore, to allow space for a ramp, all the other facilities in that line (toilet, visitor centre) also need to be raised up. Incidentally, the building you are talking about is the "visitor centre" which is there for more complex enquiries; normal ticket sales will take place in the mobile ticket office which is on the other side of the loco headshunt.

Tom

 

I've just posted pictures from the first run of the Class 66 at www.facebook.com/heritagerailway.co.uk

 

Try https://www.facebook.com/#!/HeritageRailway?fref=ts instead. That works.

 

Presumably a large locomotive running over a couple of miles of untamped track does it "very slowly"....

 

what is likily to be the first steam engine to run the full lenght, it would be fitting if it were 55 if still steamable and the secr brake . also are there any plans for a certain now steaming NRM loco that was stored at the bluebell to make an appearance she is after all in the south at the moment , now that would be a sight, if she, piloted by a deisel could be towed on the network to east grinstead to run a special on re opening day

 

"Golden fishplate" ceremony live on BBC Radio Sussex from 11:55.

Tom

 

What - the Q1?

 

No the T9.

 

ahem, ok
<stops chuckling at his joke, frowns, leaves room>

 

Great day for all companions and friends of our beloved BB!so a long time to
wait and...at last!
Congratulations all around ...British (churchillian if you want!) spirit is no
dead!
and Robert!... happy at last?
cheers!
regards
Noel

 

Such great news. The Bluebell was my local line growing up, so it's amazing to hear how far it's got. Congratulations to everyone involved. Hope you all get to enjoy it for a while before commencing some other madcap scheme.

Tom, particularly, your updates and news and views have been brilliant. Don't stop now (but feel free to take a wee sabbatical if you need it).

Cheers,
Simon

 

I might - I'm going to New Zealand for family reasons next week and will miss the entire opening fortnight!

Tom

 

OK, OK Actually are there any plans for 30120 to visit the line? i would have thought that with her being down the MHR at the moment, that a deal could have been made that she could have come to the bluebell before moving on to her next point of call . or are the bluebell keeping any visiting engines under wraps??

 

Visiting engines for the opening fortnight have still not been announced. There has been plenty of speculation, but 120 (can never think of her as 30120...) has not, to my knowledge, been one of the engines speculated about!

Personally, much as I'd love to see her (I'd be far more excited about her than, say, a big green pacific), the optimum time would be when traffic is otherwise light. If she came for the opening fortnight (and really it is the same for any high profile visitor), that period should rightly be a celebration of the extension and our arrival in EG, not the engines, so to a large extent any visitor is going to play second fiddle to that. So while I am sure she would be a very popular visitor (and has quite a following amongst our members), in my view now is not the right time.

Tom

 

More later ...

IMG_9245 | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

Tom