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 Railway General Discussion

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by Jamessquared, Feb 16, 2013.

  1. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,061
    Likes Received:
    61,090
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    As @Ben Jenden says, the intention is that the loco will be available for use at Christmas, but won't go into the paint shop for final painting until January 2024. Partly that is driven by an available slot in the paint shop (it'll go to HK). It also enables the loco to be used over Christmas and enable 73082 to come in for a P&V exam. If 34059 were to be painted in December, it would delay 73082 and then you'd find you could in any case make little use of 34059 until much later in the year. So it makes sense to do have it in traffic for a peak period only part-painted. (The LBSCR provides a useful precedent for getting locos into traffic unpainted for peak periods and then returning them to the paint shop at low season ;) )

    For 32424, my understanding is that it will need to go into the workshop fairly soon, probably after Christmas. I think the current intention is that it will be ready for traffic for the summer, which probably means running in and crew familiarisation starting around Easter of next year.

    Tom
     
    horace, green five, alts1985 and 2 others like this.
  2. misspentyouth62

    misspentyouth62 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2017
    Messages:
    1,562
    Likes Received:
    1,991
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    34D, now flexible
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    thank you Tom - nest year looks to be an exciting one for the Bluebell :)
     
  3. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    7,296
    Likes Received:
    6,067
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    So Tom the $64k question is will it be in undercoat, BR Black or something novel?:Arewealone:
     
  4. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,061
    Likes Received:
    61,090
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I think unlined, probably unnumbered, green. At least that is what it is now - so part painted, but not up to final degree of finish.

    Tom
     
  5. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    6,053
    Likes Received:
    4,369
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    There were four diferent pies in the Bessamer during the beer festival, and the one tried was very good. The burger being sold in the Birch Grove suite was a disappointment.
    Very good selction of real ales and I will go into more detail in the Tap Room thread.
    The revised timetable for Saturday with a 2- 3 gap back to East Grinstead in the afternoon meant I had to leave earlier than planned, so did not have time for the shop or the Bulleid Shop.
     
  6. Paul42

    Paul42 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 17, 2006
    Messages:
    6,053
    Likes Received:
    4,369
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    East Grinstead
    Resize_20230926_215204_4835.jpg Compress_20230926_215536_6120.jpg Compress_20230926_215535_5803.jpg
     
  7. Wagoniester

    Wagoniester Member

    Joined:
    Nov 30, 2017
    Messages:
    633
    Likes Received:
    1,138
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Essex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Saturday's timetable seemed to change on a whim; the website one was different to the one those arriving on the railtour had in their brochure, which was different again to what actually ran (1.30pm left at 1pm, an afternoon train from the Park terminated at Horsted and returned from there are the two obvious ones I noted) and even the late evening trains seemed to run... late.

    I guess the incoming charter made it difficult; last year there was a regular shuttle between the two stations, but from memory only a small bar at Horsted. I don't remember anything else being there aside that (and the shop/works of course) but this year there was definitely live music, which perhaps would have benefitted from the shuttle ferrying an audience to and fro? It's always a fine balancing act and certainly won't put me off coming back next year.
     
  8. Zoomeg

    Zoomeg New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2010
    Messages:
    134
    Likes Received:
    25
    I walked alongside the line (not literally, all on public rights of way) today a bit disappointing train-wise. Firstly the Ardingly- Whatley train was cancelled. Wightwick Hall was on the service train at 3 arch bridge which ended up being the only train I saw.
    Waited for Fenchurch and the OBO at the magnificent bridge into the Kingscote Estate (was this ever demolished and rebuilt?) and all the way to EG but neither saw or heard it. I suppose the Autumn Tints service is a bit hit and miss given that it depends on passengers stumping up the extra £5 to make it viable?

    (plus we are not even into proper Autumn Tints season yet although the NT gardens at Sheffield Park have required advance booking since 11th September)

    Saw a lovely herd of Fallow deer near Sharpthorne! very close too. I was tempted to buy a single ticket back rather than a £2 bus but HK station was closed.
     
  9. RichardSalmon

    RichardSalmon New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2006
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    333
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Engineer
    Location:
    75B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Checking our timetable ( https://www.bluebell-railway.com/timetables-and-calendar/ ) would be a good plan, if you intend watching the trains go past. Timetable
    https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Timetable-A-With-Autumn-Tints-1.pdf
    shows just two round trips, and the Observation Car attached to the back of the service train, not running as a separate service. Fenchurch was not expected to be running.
    Unfortunately the published loco roster was wrong (although there's a disclaimer as to it only being a guide to what was planned, and subject to alterations).
     
  10. Zoomeg

    Zoomeg New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2010
    Messages:
    134
    Likes Received:
    25
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2023
  11. RichardSalmon

    RichardSalmon New Member

    Joined:
    Mar 27, 2006
    Messages:
    198
    Likes Received:
    333
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Engineer
    Location:
    75B
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    OK, that's different from the one I downloaded this evening, as linked above.
    It looks like there was a last minute change.
    That information would have been conveyed to paying passengers.
     
  12. Zoomeg

    Zoomeg New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2010
    Messages:
    134
    Likes Received:
    25
    Sorry I'm not a paying passenger any more; done plenty of that over the last 25 years. Doesn't mean I won't be back 2024 looks very exciting!
     
    Last edited: Sep 28, 2023
  13. Cuckoo Line

    Cuckoo Line Member

    Joined:
    Aug 29, 2020
    Messages:
    340
    Likes Received:
    346
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    South West
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    No paying passengers = no trains ! I guess this year is a bit break or make for attractions.
     
  14. Gladiator 5076

    Gladiator 5076 Resident of Nat Pres

    Joined:
    Oct 2, 2015
    Messages:
    7,296
    Likes Received:
    6,067
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Swanage
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Is it correct per the weekly email that the ice skating in the shed starts on the same day as the first day of GOS.
    Will that mean no shed area access at all during GOS? Even though of course it is severely restricted these days.
     
  15. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,061
    Likes Received:
    61,090
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    According to the dates, yes. I’ve asked because it seems wrong to me to try to do both at the same time - you risk alienating both markets.

    Tom
     
    Chris86 likes this.
  16. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2006
    Messages:
    1,596
    Likes Received:
    886
    Location:
    Hampton Court, Surrey
    Completely bonkers! Who wants to go ice skating in October?
     
  17. Zoomeg

    Zoomeg New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 3, 2010
    Messages:
    134
    Likes Received:
    25
    yes agree but it's up to the operators to make it worth paying (in this case £25) to be a paying passenger rather than just observe. I have no idea what the BR's financial position is but they have enough in the bank to finance the HK station improvements (probably connected to its very popular role as a film location)
     
    Last edited: Sep 29, 2023
  18. Thompson1706

    Thompson1706 Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Nov 19, 2007
    Messages:
    2,497
    Likes Received:
    1,873
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired
    Location:
    Rhiwabon
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Torvill and Dean ?

    Bob.
     
    Steve likes this.
  19. banburysaint

    banburysaint Member

    Joined:
    Jan 12, 2008
    Messages:
    316
    Likes Received:
    380
    In 2021 there was a Lego style event at half term that was great fun. It does seem early for ice skating but perhaps the line got a very attractive offer for the skating rink so perhaps it will be a success

    Sent from my M2003J15SC using Tapatalk
     
  20. 6026 King John

    6026 King John Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2006
    Messages:
    1,596
    Likes Received:
    886
    Location:
    Hampton Court, Surrey
    It just seems really strange to me - not so much the ice skating in October but combining two special events. Hows it supposed to work? Suppose you turn up to go skating and then fancy a train ride - do you have to buy a Giants of Steam ticket at £37 or is there a cheaper option? If there's a cheaper option what's to stop people staying on the trains all day?
     
    Chris86 and Jamessquared like this.

Share This Page