Bluebell Railway General Discussion

And Taw Valley has now left Bridgnorth too

 

The answer on the event webpage is a 'yes, with a but...'

"Unfortunately, due to the shed space within Steamworks being occupied during Giants Of Steam, there will no be access available to view the locomotive yard from Steamworks. However, limited access to view the locomotive yard will be made available. Station staff will direct those with tickets who wish to view this area on request."

Though I see on the Beachy Head page that they will be open as usual during GoS: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/brps/atlantic-latest/

Anyway, we'll see how busy the ice skating is during the gala. Families do attend these events, and when I visited in February half term this year the skating looked popular. But that was when Fenchurch was only running trips up to HK and back. Were they only to hire the ice rink for October this year or something?
Anyway agree this sounds like a bad idea, hopefully that will be fed back to management.

 

AIUI, there will be access to a viewing area in the loco yard and Atlantic House via the coach park and through the main access gates into the loco yard.

Tom

 

Just seen the best thing I have ever seen on FaceAche:
96, 323 and 488 to be overhauled and put back in service.
I cannot wait to ride behind them, preferably 488 as I do love the Lyme Regis branch.

 

I have a memory of visiting the railway in about 1983, where I'd walked through the lanes to Freshfield Halt, and standing all alone on the timber platform as 30583 in shining black came around the curve, drifting in with 3 Bulleid carriages in tow, and thinking "remember this- it's as good as it gets". It was just like I'd slipped back 20- odd years in time to an afternoon on the Lyme Regis branch.
So to say I'm pleased about the announcement would be putting it mildly!

 

Full press release: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/bl..._3ls7GEVmWksA2MnOLZV6hVoKihXMSk8mrQVoVoOoaFMg

States that 488 and 96 will be restored by the Atlantic team, with 323 going into the Bluebell's workshop with the aim of being completed by summer next year. Interesting (and good) news given it seemed unlikely the radial tank would steam again, either because of its condition or because it doesn't meet the needs of the railway. On the flip side I take it this means the proposed overhaul of the Dukedog won't be happening any time soon.

 

488 is being pursued slightly separately (in Atlantic House, so not in the main workshop). So for the Dukedog, I’d suggest look to see what follows 263 in a few years.

Tom

 

Thanks Tom, I thought the plan with the Dukedog was for it to go into Atlantic House once Beachy Head came out.

 

That was a plan ... subsequently revised. The current running order seems to be 263, 323 in the main workshop; 488 and 96 in Atlantic House proceeding at their own pace; and 928 and 541 off site. I think when 263 is finished, the need is still going to be there for a medium loco to be the next workshop project, rather than a large one. (We would likely have 34059, 32424, 928, 541 and 73082 in traffic by then, but only 263 and maybe 65 amongst medium locos).

Tom

 

That was the plan at one time but it has clearly changed now. Having just been reading the curent issue of Atlantic News the excitement within the group at being given the chance to tackle the Adams instead just pours from the magazine. Exciting times ahead at Sheffield Park.

Peter

 

According to the latest Trackside magazine the Atlantic group membership were not keen on the Dukedog, so made an application to the BRPS to do the Adams Radial instead. So there will be another Atlantic in Atlantic House.

 

I think you are seeing the first flowerings of a railway that has to an extent started to rediscover its mojo this year.

On the C&W front - Car No. 54 is nearly complete; and the SR carriage group are working on stripping down and reassembling the bogies of 3687 (the Hastings restriction brake 3rd). I think the body and interior of that carriage is all but done, so just the under frame to attend to.

At Horsted Keynes, the work on restoration work on Platform 5, the station building and canopy is I think at the snagging stage. I believe there will be a pause over the winter (HK is always busy in Santa / Steam Lights season) and then next year attention turns to bringing Platform 1 up to passenger standard.

Tom

 

Pleased to see the Adams Radial has featured in a change of plan. Shows an organisation with flexibility to react.
My only comment is that when the "plan is changed" to something we want it is a great thing. Everywhere else, be it government or a company plan change seems to be regarded as a bad thing on here ans other forums.

 

I would say the same about an event that occurred at a certain railway I love and support in the West Midlands.
If you give people the chance, they really can step up and prove themselves, rather than call them a bunch of ‘enthusiastic, well meaning amateurs’

 

You're conflicting Politics with pragmatism.
The 2 are irreconcilable.

 

On the next medium engines for overhaul point above, I would have assumed (obviously without any sort of detailed knowledge) 9017 ought to be in fairly decent nick? It had a pretty big overhaul when it first came back and IIRC only served the one ticket between about 2001 and 2011 (dates purely from memory)?

 

November 2003-June 2011 was its latest term

 

Does this mean there's a chance of a 3D printed, 4mm scale @Jamessquared in the future?

 

Is the fireman in the first one playing pocket billiards...?

 

I hope she isn't!