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Bluebell Vintage Trains Gala 4-6 Nov.

Discussion in 'Galas and Events' started by David-Haggar, Sep 25, 2011.

  1. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    Just updated on the Bluebell website, a Vintage Trains event will now replace the SECR gala that was going to be held but now postponed due to the H class not being ready until the new year. Sadly no visiting locos, but still a good line-up of home based locos.
    http://www.bluebell-railway.com/event/vintage-trains-weekend/
     
  2. Orion

    Orion Well-Known Member

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    It'll be interesting to see what happens to this one; no visitors and very late in the year and so very prone to the winter weather. November is not an easy month. I think the Bluebell has cocked up on this gala.

    Regards
     
  3. Dan Hill

    Dan Hill Part of the furniture

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    I'll probably go to this as I've only been to the line once this year and I want to get some more pictures of 323. Sad about the change of SECR to Vintage Trains but to be honest I don't think the H Class has looked much different than it did during the Giants event last year. There aren't many updates on its progress either.
     
  4. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    My and Dad and I will go on the Sunday but won't be able to make the Saturday due to photo charter commitments and probably won't take the day off work for the Friday. It really is a shame there are no visiting locos for our Autumn Gala, especially when you look around at other railways Autumn Galas and they've got x,y & z high profile visiting locos in and we can't even get just one in, but then again I guess what monies that would have been put aside to hire in visiting locos is going all towards clearing the tip out. I suppose you can look at this event as just Branch Line w/e but with a different name, however seven home based locos in steam is still impressive and looking forward to seeing the Birdcage Brake. Really hope the organisers are going to pair the E4 with just the 100 Seater and Birdcage Brake carriages as that would make a superb SR olive green combination.
     
  5. pete12000

    pete12000 Member

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    Looks like an excellent event to me, the addition of 1638 swings it for me and I'm now planning to travel down from Yorkshire
     
  6. Tim Hall

    Tim Hall Member

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    Also tempted, but it's a looong way from Cardiff.....not that it stopped me in March 09....
    Presumably Captain Baxter would only work demo freight or perhaps brake van rides?
     
  7. Axe

    Axe Member

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    Captain Baxter is not currently fitted with an automatic brake and therefore cannot be used for passenger trains.

    Chris
     
  8. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    For a fortaste of what to expect for our Vintage trains w/e, yesterday the C class was paired with the vintage goods train rather than Baxter and the two P's with the Metropolitan carriages. I've just added to photos to my web gallery so here's the links;

    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/MwMl714C1fACYG7loPqevw?feat=directlink
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/z4pxvP_mryDVhFvjYB7VoA?feat=directlink
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/XsyzfLIXLRjSQcZ0E2jJYA?feat=directlink
    https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/0ONjfsEg5XqbLNDe6LAu0w?feat=directlink

    Really hope our organisers choose to stick 592 with the wagons again at the November gala as this combination looks just sooo much better than when Baxter is with them.

    Cheers
     
  9. 73129

    73129 Part of the furniture

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    Hello,

    For some reason when I click on your photo link your photo pop up and then disappear?
     
  10. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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  11. Orion

    Orion Well-Known Member

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    They're really good, high quality photos David, but 323 just looks like a 'Thomas' engine to me. Can't bear it.

    There seems to be rash of painting engines in funny schemes at present, not just on the Bluebell, but nationally; all very odd.

    Regards
     
  12. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    I must confess I've been surprised that they've used Baxter so often on these trains. Presumably it's to find a use for it but I'd have thought varying it a bit more often would create more interest. Using the B4 or one of the Ps for example. Or are they trying to avoid eating into the photo charter market, on the assumption Baxter probably isn't in that much demand for said events?
     
  13. DJH

    DJH Member

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    Having never been to the Bluebell and the event being near ones birthday it would be a good excuse to visit. My only question is how feasible is public transport to the Bluebell. Would be travelling from London.

    Duncan
     
  14. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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    Yes I must admit 323 in Bluebell blue livery isn't my favourite loco and certainly won't be running around trying to phot it as much as other Bluebell locos. But I guess we've got no.178 in an authentic livery so it doesn't matter so much with 323. Also 323 is the Bluebell's flagship loco so in it's corporate/commercial blue livery it's what the general public and childern will most recognise with. If 323 was the sole surviving P class and no others had got preserved then I think there would have been quite an issue about the livery scheme much like there was when the unique Maunsell N class was painted in that atrocious "James the red engine" livery.

    I'm really glad that the C class was put on the Goods train as I must admit when Baxter was running with it I just wasn't interested, I know sounds harsh but just being honest. I guess as Chris says it's just something that they can find to give Baxter a use and no doubt is quite economical on fuel costs rather than a bigger loco. Fingers crossed that they'll pair the C with the goods again at the vintage gala or maybe the E4 as that would make an equally good combination to photograph.
     
  15. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    Either go from Victoria to East Grinstead and take the shuttle bus to Kingscote or go to Haywards Heath and take the 270 bus from there to Horsted Keynes. They also sometimes run buses from Brighton on gala weekends, but not sure if these are running or not.

    With regards to David, the other thing to remember about Bluebell is that Stepney isn't in "Thomas" (i.e. yellow) livery at the moment, and so isn't immediately recognisable to the public. Bluebell looks a bit like Thomas (small blue tank engine) and so appeals in that way.
     
  16. David-Haggar

    David-Haggar Member

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  17. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    Not that the summer weather has been that good has it? As for cocking up, do you consider those railways who have galas in February have cocked up? After all they are just as prone to winter weather as November.
     
  18. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    323 in Bluebell livery is nothing new. Can remember it so painted back in the 70s.
     
  19. A1X

    A1X Well-Known Member

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    If my summer holiday was anything to go by July is quite prone to winter weather...
     
  20. Robert Heath No.6

    Robert Heath No.6 Well-Known Member

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    Good, bring back 70s pres! :D No need for EVERYTHING to be BR black/green!
     

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