If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Bluebell Motive Power

Discussion in 'Steam Traction' started by Orion, Nov 14, 2011.

  1. cav1975

    cav1975 Member

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2009
    Messages:
    520
    Likes Received:
    634
    Just out of interest, why did it go by road?
     
  2. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,576
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not sure. I was under the impression it was based at Shacklestone but it seems to be owned by Nemesis Rail. Didn't it come via a low loader?
     
  3. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    As I understand, it is not mainline registered. (I might be wrong on that).

    Definitely did come by road - we didn't have a mainline connection at the time :eek: (The 33 arrived early February 2013).

    Tom
     
  4. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Aug 1, 2008
    Messages:
    2,576
    Likes Received:
    545
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Brick Machine Operator
    Location:
    Haywards Heath
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Oh yeah. A senior moment. That's a bit worrying at 22 :eek:.
     
    Kje7812, oddsocks and Jamessquared like this.
  5. desperado

    desperado Member

    Joined:
    Dec 12, 2006
    Messages:
    214
    Likes Received:
    81
    Location:
    Brussels
    As well as a relationship with Shackerstone, Nemesis have a lease on the former Burton wagon workshops. 33103 went from Swanage to Burton once its lease there finished.
    103 is certainly not fitted with the right safety equipment to drive itself to Burton but that shouldn't be an obstacle to it being dragged there by something else.
    I guess the low loader was cheaper than arranging for a mainline loco to drag it and presumably there was no other move in the right direction that it could attached to the back of.

    JP
     
  6. MuzTrem

    MuzTrem Member

    Joined:
    Mar 13, 2011
    Messages:
    937
    Likes Received:
    1,225
    I must say, that surprises me. It's a more powerful engine than people might think; I remember it hauling three four-wheelers + LSWR 1520 at the re-launch event for 263 in 2012, albeit only on the SP - HK section. So you'd think it would be a popular choice for gala day shuttles if nothing else.
     
    dan.lank likes this.
  7. Charles Parry

    Charles Parry Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    325
    Likes Received:
    275
    Gender:
    Male
    I'm hoping Baxter might be used on the Sunday SP station pilot run at some point.
     
  8. Grashopper

    Grashopper Member

    Joined:
    Sep 7, 2011
    Messages:
    274
    Likes Received:
    88
    Occupation:
    Assistant FLeet engineer Southern Railway
    Location:
    Surrey
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    She has been used as pilot engine this season, I believe it was one of the weekends that 178 was away on holidays. Not sure why she hasn't been used for this duty since, she'd only be unsuitable in winter as the pilot loco steam heats as well (a facility not currently fitted to Baxter).
     
  9. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    She is quite powerful (greater TE than a P class, for example), but I suspect water capacity (and to a lesser extent coal) is probably the main limitation on using her for full line turns. It's also worth noting that 1520 + 3 four wheelers is a nice train, but rather smaller than anything we have regularly used since opening to EG!

    She was used for Stepney's birthday and has seen some outings on brake van rides round HK this year.

    Tom
     
  10. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
  11. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2007
    Messages:
    4,496
    Likes Received:
    1,079
    Location:
    Winchester
    Can anyone from the BB confirm that the 541 will soon be back in action within weeks according to Railway Magazine. The article also saying 80151 could take the space of 541 once 541 is finished. I did hear that 73082 was the next in line after 541 but reading RM today 80151 could be the next loco to be overhaul because it would be a straight ward overhaul apart from needing new tyres.

    Cheers
     
  12. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    5,922
    Likes Received:
    3,829
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    541 should be back this year.
    73082 is being overhauled at present at Sheffield Park. The boiler is being overhauled at Crewe.
    34059 Boiler being repaired at Crewe
    65 - spare boiler being overhauled at Floor Mill

    For latest news see http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html and scroll down.
     
  13. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    "Within weeks" is a bit optimistic. Basically, mechanically 541 has progressed as far as possible until the boiler overhaul is completed. It's probable that the hydraulic and steam tests will be in October, with final reassembly taking place thereafter; the planned return to service should be by the end of the year. Usual caveats apply.

    The owning group for 80151 have put in an order for new tyres. Either way, 73082 will be the next loco to emerge after 541, probably around early summer next year. Even more usual caveats apply ...

    Tom
     
    73129 likes this.
  14. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 24, 2007
    Messages:
    4,496
    Likes Received:
    1,079
    Location:
    Winchester
    Cheers Tom
     
  15. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    It's going to be happy days for the Maunsell Locomotive Society soon - 1638, 847 and 541 all running simultaneously, and then perhaps in a few years, 847, 541 and 928 all running simultaneously.

    Tom
     
    Kje7812 likes this.
  16. dhic001

    dhic001 Member

    Joined:
    Jan 20, 2008
    Messages:
    312
    Likes Received:
    35
    Location:
    New Zealand
    That was meant to be the case in 1992, except those days the U class was 1618. Unfortunately 541 came out of service before 847 entered it after her restoration. Those were the days when 1638 was still a scrapyard wreck.
    Daniel

     
  17. Funnell

    Funnell New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 14, 2009
    Messages:
    141
    Likes Received:
    39
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Pullman Steward
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    55 Stepney is currently sat at the north end of C road carriage shed having a repaint
     
  18. Charles Parry

    Charles Parry Member

    Joined:
    Aug 2, 2013
    Messages:
    325
    Likes Received:
    275
    Gender:
    Male
    Ah I never did figure out where she was hiding. Is her new livery publically known or is it a big secret to be revealed?
     
  19. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    26,103
    Likes Received:
    57,432
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Something of an "improved-ment" on the previous scheme ;)

    Tom
     
    A1X and Charles Parry like this.
  20. Jimc

    Jimc Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2005
    Messages:
    4,052
    Likes Received:
    4,665
    Occupation:
    Once computers, now part time writer I suppose.
    Location:
    SE England
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Not green then [grin]
     
    Jamessquared likes this.

Share This Page