Bluebell Railway Branch Line Gala - 18-20 May 2018

The 813 folk should be careful to avoid hiring to railways with a branch line which has a tunnel. They may not be as resourceful as William Porter in recovering their property.

 

Thanks, very interesting. I had it in my head that the Bluebell needed to run longer trains (or ones that can carry more passengers), think I read something about some of the smaller locomotives there not being overhauled because they aren't powerful enough for the current demands of the railway.

 

We try to keep a balance of small, medium and large locos running at all times.

The vintage set is nominally quite high capacity, though it depends slightly how you count compartments - historically a 3rd class non-corridor compartment would be reckoned at 10 seats, though in modern practice 8 might be more realistic (people these days tend to be larger, and don't like being crammed together five abreast). So the "100 seater" should probably be reckoned at 80. Even so, the four four wheelers + 100 seater, which was the service set for the last few weeks, would nominally be 24 * 1st class + 210 * 3rd class +, say up to 4 wheelchairs; probably realistically 24 * 1st class, 170 * 3rd, 4 * wheelchairs.

The two Met coaches that have come back are nominally 120 seats, probably 96 in practical terms at eight per compartment. The full set is I think somewhere in the region of nominally 48 * 1st, 180 * 3rd or 228 total, perhaps around 200 realistically.

Tom

 

From Saturday. The second time I have travelled 813 in 6 months ( last time was December at the K&ESR - when it hauled 3 MK1's and Spent Maunsells up Tenterden Bank)
Spent most of the day travelling mainly in either the Maunsell Drop-light or the LCDR brake.It was good to see two of the Mets back, hopefully the others will back well before next years Branchline Gala.

 

My attendance on all of Saturday and Sunday, first train to last train on both days, was thoroughly enjoyable and added to by the (mostly) present strong Spring sunlight. The intensive and ambitious timetable worked seemlessly on both days with the opportunity to pull minor delays back despite the fast turn rounds at HK. Not seen 813 before, must say thanks to @nick813 for allowing the visit, you have a fantastic locomotive! Thanks of course to the Bluebell staff and volunteers for their efforts, special mention to C&W Dept for getting the two Mets out again. They attracted a lot of attention over the weekend! Anyway, I attach my video from the weekend as well as a series of my best photos:



Saturday morning's double header accelerates away from Horsted Keynes


An unusual view of 65 at West Hoathly - don't worry, it was heading away from me!

813 past Birch Farm with the Mets and Obo

Bluebell and the H depart HK on Saturday evening

263 and 813 lined up at Sheffield Park on Sunday morning

O1 arrives at HK with 813 awaiting its brakevan turn

30541 at New Road Bridge with steam to spare

813's final northbound run of the weekend leaves HK

323 and 65 speeding towards the tunnel - note the Obo in mid-formation!

 

The GWR 813 Fund is seeking photographs from the weekend. They will be used on the a Funds website. All photographers twill be credited.

You can e male to gwr813 at gmail dot com. Replace where ness.

Many thanks

Nick

Date and location help!


GWR 813 Fund

 

The footplate ride on Saturday was enjoyable though a tad warm......with 4 on the FP!

 

Yes, the climb out of Kingscote was an improvement on what went before. Would still like to hear her being “given the beans” all the way up from HK though.

 

Next weekend is your chance I believe - I think she will be used on the "A" service, though note there are some timetable changes to the normal service 2 timetable.

Tom

 

Try not to set fire to East Sussex!

 

Oh no, the Chatham engines are perfectly capable of doing that without any outside assistance!

Tom

 

Strange - the "Services for the coming week" has been updated this morning and shows 847 and 30541 in action. No mention of 813.

 

It's probably worth ringing the railway nearer the time if you are interested specifically in 813. At the time I left last weekend, it was hoped to have 847 in traffic for this weekend, but repairs were still being completed. Sunday has a combined WR/GA which is due to be double headed by 65 and 263; and I think that left 541 (A) and 847 (B) for the service trains on Sunday, but with the contingency of using 813 (A) and 541 (B).

Tom

 

@John Petley @Spamcan81 The Bluebell loco roster and services for coming week pages have been updated again, and confirm 813 running in set A from Saturday until next Tuesday.

So the basic plan is 813 on set A, 541 on set B, 263 on lunchtime dining trains and 263/65 double heading a combined GA/WR on Sunday.

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/loco_roster.html

http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/index.html

Tom

 

That link shows 813 on set B, the 100 seater and three Maunsells.

 

Ah, well it’s running anyway! Normally set A is the vintage set but looks like it has swapped this weekend.

There are some timetable tweaks, but if anyone is specifically interested in 813 haulage, it looks like:

Saturday - 11:30 / 2:15 / 5:15 ex Sheffield Park and one hour later ex East Grinstead

Sunday - 11:50 / 2:35 ex Sheffield Park and 70 minutes later ex East Grinstead

Monday - 11:30 / 2:15 ex Sheffield Park and one hour later ex East Grinstead.

Tuesday - as Monday.

Tom

 

813 will look better with any of the vintage coaches........a lot better than Tornado!

 

I was watching a clip of 813 exiting Sharpthorne Tunnel (and I never thought I'd write that!). The loco sounded a hell of a lot more 'businesslike' than I'd expected, to the extent I'm no longer wondering how it lived such a charmed life.

 

Thank you, Tom. The update is much appreciated.

 

The choice of locomotive for the Rambler / Arrow on 2nd June seems a tad optimistic!