Bluebell Motive Power

178 back in service today (and the rest of this week) on the Autumn Tints Obo specials.

Tom

 

For those interested, 263 had a new brick arch cast during the week and ran the Wealden Rambler yesterday, and is in service this weekend on the vintage set (LSWR brake 3rd / LBSCR 1st / SECR 100 seater 3rd / SECR Birdcage brake 3rd ). 178 was also running last week (and very sweetly too...) and will be back on the Autumn tints trains against next week, which will once again be running in push-pull mode, for anyone who wants a "forward facing" view of the while line running north...

Tom

 

Nice - shame I probably won't get the chance to visit during a weekday as would really like to see 178 in action having missed it at 263's launch into service

 

Is 3650 due to steam again before the Santa's start up? The loco roster on the website seems to suggest not. I was planning on going down on Sunday to see it but not sure if she'll be in steam.

 

Dan

According to the STN I have seen (but these things can always change at the last minute!) she should be in service this weekend:

3650: A turn (11am / 1pm / 3pm off the Park + Saturday evening GA)
323: B turn (12am / 2pm / 4pm off the park)
263: Saturday Wealden Rambler / Sunday Lunchtime Arrow

Tom

 

Thanks Tom. Will pop down then Sunday.

 

Was impressed by the sound 3650 was making today. Lovely sound heading up Freshfield Bank and upto Sharpthorne Tunnel.

 

Can't be to long before 92212 will be back at the Bluebell. I see today a new ash pan has been fitted and the rear driving wheel has also been put back in.

 

Any regular visitors to the line will have known that 592 has not been in the best of health of late. Essentially, the cylinders have worn "oval" as a result of the slightly asymmetric thrusts inherent in any steam engine. In turn, this results in the pistons not being evenly supported in the cylinder, so more weight is borne by the glands where the piston rod exits the cylinder, which results after a while in these wearing and leaking. The end result is a lot of leaking of steam and a reduction in power, which is why for the last few months 592 has not been used much, and when it has, it has been on lighter trains.

A couple of weeks ago, she was taken into the works for rectification of these problems. Essentially this has meant removal of the buffer beam and front wheels, dropping the motion, disconnecting the blast pipe and then dropping the cylinders out of the bottom of the engine for re-boring, and repair to the valve faces.

The following article by Lewis Nodes gives more details of the repair. I'd suspect she won't be back for the Santa season, but hopefully she'll be back to full strength before tackling the 1:55 slope up "Holden Hill" when the extension opens next spring.

Tom

 

I agree with you there, she sounded good a few weeks ago with 6 on, but with only 4 on yesterday was very nice, especially her last run where from the tunnel for once the areoplanes and chainsaws were quiet so managed to record her for the whole 5 minutes from HK to the tunnel.

 

This one is really for the benefit of Mr SE&CR_Red_Snow :smile:

Bluebell Thermal Image on Vimeo
https://twitter.com/NPAS_Redhill/status/270193372612947968/photo/1

Looks like the section between Leamland Bridge and Horsted House Farm bridge; 263 in fine form (no sound!)

Tom

 

This one?

[YOUTUBE]Kd7F4ZDdbjk[/YOUTUBE]

We get everywhere! Seriously, I'm just trying to catalogue all the film projects at the railway over the last 10 years or so, and it is a much bigger job than I thought when I volunteered!

Tom

 

Yep, the film starts by the old fire slip heading north. I may have had something to do with all that! Note the effect at the chimney when it's put into the big valve just by the Advanced :nod:

 

I see Dave Warwick from the MHR has made a visit to the Bluebell Railway last weekend.

A sunny Sunday on the Bluebell .18.11.2012.

Nice set of photos Dave.

 

I made a visit to the MHR today. I see 92212 has now left the MHR for another stint at the Bluebell. Does anyone know if 92212 has arrived there yet?

Cheers

 

I recorded the first train of the day at Horsted House Farm on the 18th and happily the chainsaws were silent for once. Only the one jet in the distance too so recording was quite acceptable.

 

The Bluebell website says "After a slightly eventful journey, the 9F, No.92212, has arrived on Bluebell metals again." so presumably yes, though I am not sure what the comment about a slightly eventful journey may have been about - possibly weather related, at a guess.

Tom

 

Yes, 92212 was sat in "The Top Shed" today, it arrived Thursday evening i believe! Not a moment too soon now 1638 isn't available for Santa trains.

 

Ohhh not another loco out, what's wrong with 1638 please? :-(
So if the U's now out of action along with the C class and I did hear the E4's not too well I guess that potentially just leaves the 9F, Pannier Tank, H and the two P's to cover the Santa services. Hopefully the E4 can be fixed in time but it doesn't look too great if another loco went down before December. So if the proverbial did hit the fan would we have to hire in a third visiting loco?