Blog: What's New at the Bluebell Railway?
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24 March
- Matt Wickham’s photo from Friday shows our SECR O1-class No. 65 during its visit to the Swanage Railway, double heading with the LSWR T3 at Swanage’s Victorian Weekend. Matt also has this video compilation from Friday.
- Neil Munro-Thomson provides this photo below of today’s Golden Arrow Pullman Luncheon train, hauled by 80151, and featuring newly overhauled Pullman Car No. 54 on its first weekend of operation. Our Pullman dining trains are now open for booking right through to August.
His gallery of photos also shows the 09 shunter on a Diesel Footplate Taster at Horsted Keynes, ‘Camelot’ on the vintage set, ‘Wightwick Hall’ with the Mk.1 set and the updated and much improved Carriage Shop now open.
- Brian Lacey’s photo below shows 73082 ‘Camelot’ hauling the vintage set at West Hoathly today.
22 March
- John Sandy’s photos and a video from yesterday, with the Standard 4 Tank 80151 out and about, prior to taking some carriages up to Horsted Keynes. The photo on the right is from the album.
- We have an update on the overhaul of SR Q-class No. 541.
- Diesel Footplate Tasters – Spring 2024 Dates Available!
Take advantage of our Diesel Footplate Taster this spring, now offered at an exceptional discounted price of £200!
- MG Car Club Meets At The Bluebell Railway
Calling all MG Car aficionados! The Bluebell Railway is set to host two exhilarating MG days, at both Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes. These events are absolutely free! Seize this golden opportunity to marvel at the immaculate display of MG Cars.
The two days are Saturday 30th March at Horsted Keynes and Sunday 28th April at Sheffield Park.
Buy advance travel tickets here.
21 March
- After the winter’s track renewal, we return to steam this weekend in style, with three locomotives (expected to be 80151, 73082 ‘Camelot’ and 6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’) hauling our trains, to Timetable C. In addition, children can meet Bluey & Bingo over the weekend at Sheffield Park – and you can also take advantage of our popular Kids For A Quid Travel Offer.
- Here we see 80151 freshly painted (by Heritage Painting) after its “purple patch”. It’s also had a valve and piston overhaul over the winter, nearly completed as seen here in James Cummins’ photo from 27 February.
- The Carriage Shop at Horsted Keynes opens on Saturday having completed its move out of the old ex-Travelling College Mk.1 coach (which was in Platform 1) into the refitted GBL (Southern Railway luggage van) in the Dock next to Platform 5, where it now shares space with Matthew Cousins Rail Artists exhibition and sales.
- Our SECR O1-class No. 65 arrived at the Swanage Railway yesterday for their forthcoming ‘Victorian Weekend’, which starts tomorrow. (Video from TheSoutherner)
- Below we see the “Dukedog” as it sets off for a two year loan to be displayed in the new VoR museum at Aberyswyth on 26 February (James Cummins) and 178 loaded ready to go to Margate on 20 February (Phil Laycock)
- The three visiting GWR Locomotives have been announced for our Branch Line Gala Weekend – 10-12 May: No. 7812 ‘Erlestoke Manor’ and two different varieties of Pannier tanks: 1369 from the South Devon Railway and 7714 from the Severn Valley, and with 6989 ‘Wightwick Hall’ running too, this will be something of a GWR first for us! 80151, 65 and 72 ‘Fenchurch’ will be in steam from the home fleet. Tickets are now on sale and the Timetables are now available.
The photos of 7812 and 7714 were taken at the Severn Valley Railway’s Winter Gala on 7 January this year by Richard Salmon. The photo of 1369, taken at Buckfastleigh on 24 Septmeber 2021, is licensed from JHRailPhotography under CC by-sa 4.0.
- Issue 1 of the BRPS Internal Combustion & Electric Traction Policy is now available on the BRPS Members’ Documents page, and is also here, as a pdf.
- There have been a number of updates to the Infrastructure News page, with thanks to Bruce Healey. The 2023 News has been archived to a new page and there are now five entries already for 2024.
- James Cummins’ photo here shows the Adams Radial Tank 488 as it entered Atlantic House on 6 February for assessment prior to its planned overhaul.
- John Harwood’s slow motion video of ‘Fenchurch’ crossing the viaduct at Half Term.
- Collection of photos and videos by James Green from a visit on Saturday 17 February.
- Some photos from John Sandys showing 23 February’s Footplate Taster sessions, and on a day of very mixed weather, 2 March for another Footplate Taster, once again with the O1 on duty.
- Update to the web page for Maunsell Brake Composite 6686, adding a photo by John Atkinson from 1978.
- Update to the web page for BR Mk.1 BG 81025, adding a photo by Tim Robbins from 1989 along with one showing the current repairs being carried out to put this carriage into service as a kitchen car on the Golden Arrow dining train.
- Update to the web page for Maunsell Brake Third 3724, adding details of the set formations in which it served.
- New web page giving access to an archive of our Press Releases.
- If you are interested in the closed section of our line, there is a large update to Derek Hayward’s gallery for Barcombe Station (now 160 images). This follows a similar update for Newick and Chailey. Sections of the line all the way from Hamsey to Sheffield Park have also been revised and these can be accessed from the main index for the line. These include numerous contributions from third parties, individually credited, for which Derek is very grateful.
14 March
- Fundraising milestone passed!
We are very pleased to report that we have now raised £30,001.47 via the EasyFundraising portal for the Bluebell Railway Trust over the years we’ve been part of the scheme!Visit EasyFundraising (you need to sign up to support the Bluebell Railway).
This is great way of supporting us at no cost to yourself. Through this portal you will find many on-line retailers, shops, hotels and other suppliers who will donate to us when you buy something through this link. Everything you buy from these retailers once you have registered to support us will benefit the Bluebell Railway.
Our thanks to everyone who participates in the scheme.
- Statement on the BRPS Members’ Notices page from Roy Watts regarding the Chairmanship of the railway.
- Two Press releases – the first announcing that our GWR Dukedog locomotive has gone on loan for two years to be displayed in the new museum at Aberyswyth, created by the Vale of Rheidol Railway from the old locomotive shed where 9017 was based in the 1950s.
The second announces that SE&CR P-class No. 178 has also left the Bluebell, bound for under-cover storage and (when it opens to the public) display at The One:One Collection, Margate. This follows the swap of its wheelsets and boiler with 323, and their subsequent repainting green to match the rest of the locomotive. 178, along with 2′ 6″ gauge Kerr Stuart ‘Brazil’ class locomotive ‘Leader’ from the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway (the two locomotives which worked together at Bowater’s paper mill at Sittingbourne in Kent) will form a display in the One:One Museum’s entrance.Both locomotives remain in Bluebell ownership, and will return in due course. Plans for the overhaul of the Dukedog remain a medium-term priority in view of the large amount of work done on it at its last overhaul and since, and its generally good condition and usefulness.
12 March
The March 2024 edition of Bluebell Times features:
– ‘Beachy Head’ emerges for the first time
– While ‘Normandy’ and the Adams Radial Tank take their respective places in Atlantic House
– Latest progress on Q class No. 541
– Pullman Car No. 54 undergoes running-in trials
– A new museum exhibit devoted to railway women
– The Carriage Shop is preparing to open in its new location
6 March
The momentous news and photos here are taken from the Bluebell’s Facebook release. The low loader was used for the manoeuvre since Atlantic House is at right angles to the tracks in the yard. The loco requires completion of painting and lining of the boiler, weighing, boiler test, commissioning, and running in, before a formal launch into service later this year.
You can find out more about the Atlantic Project here.
‘Beachy Head’ Emerges!
A historic day for everyone at The Bluebell Railway. New build LB&SCR H2 Atlantic No. 32424 ‘Beachy Head’ was transported from its shed at Sheffield Park yesterday afternoon and was partnered with its tender for the very first time this morning.
This is an incredible achievement by the Atlantic House team and everyone involved with this fantastic project. The reality of seeing an LB&SCR Marsh Atlantic is very much reaching the final stages.
The locomotive has now been moved into the maintenance shed where the commissioning work will now commence to bring ‘Beachy Head’ into service.
Here are a couple of photos of both yesterday and today, showing ‘Beachy Head’ at Sheffield Park.
The Atlantic’s place was taken by our two LSWR Adams locomotives which are now to be overhauled there, Radial Tank No. 488 (itself an Atlantic 4-4-2T) and No. 96 ‘Normandy’. The Bulleid Society have updated their News Page with a series of pictures showing Normandy’s move into Atlantic House.
16 February
- David Chandler’s photo shows SE&CR O1 No. 65 with Pullman Car 54 on an evening test run on Monday. Yesterday Car 54 entered the paintshop for a couple for days, to receive its final coat of varnish. This Pullman car will be running on our Golden Arrow Pullman dining trains from March. For the first time in many years this will enable every seat offered on these services to be in a 1920s Pullman carriage, and also for the first time, we can accommodate passengers requiring step-free or wheelchair access.
- John Sandys provides the first photo below, one of the photos he took yesterday, which include a nice selection of photos of Car 54 being shunted at Horsted Keynes. In addition he also has an album of photos taken on Monday.
- If you want a ride on the Bluebell in the near future, we are running this weekend and following track replacement work at the bottom of Freshfield Bank, we re-open on 23-24 March.
- On 23-24 March Bluey & Bingo will be at Sheffield Park.
- The second photo below, courtesy of Leaky Finders, shows boiler work in progress on SR Maunsell Q-class No. 541. We have an update to the web page for the overhaul of No. 541.
12 February
- Nick Gilliam’s photo shows No. 72 ‘Fenchurch’ leaving Kingscote with the 12.45 service from East Grinstead on Saturday.
- Reminder that we are running steam trains every day this week ( until Sunday 18 February), for half term, to this timetable. The locomotives being used are LB&SCR Terrier No. 72 ‘Fenchurch’ and SE&CR O1-class No. 65.
- We have our Kids for a Quid Travel Offer every day this Half Term.
We also have Ice Skating on offer at Sheffield Park station, as an additional attraction.
- On Friday 16 February we have There’s A Tiger On The Train – meet the Author.
11 February
- No. 72 ‘Fenchurch’ with its lunchtime departure from Horsted Keynes today, hauling a vintage train consisting of the Observation Car, SE&CR 100-seater and a pair of LC&DR carriages.
- Below we see the first arrival of the day at Horsted Keynes, hauled by the SE&CR O1-class No. 65.
- In the Paint Shop at Horsted Keynes, our Battle of Britain Light Pacific No. 34059 ‘Sir Archibald Sinclair’ is being painted by Ralph Timmins. Today several members of the Loco Department/Bulleid Society were working on it, helping to clean it.
- The final two photos show BR Standard Class 5 No, 73082 ‘Camelot’ as one of its driving wheelsets is raised back into position on our wheeldrop on Thursday, as its winter maintenance turns to the re-assembly phase. We also see a photo from today of the Alf Brown Group’s van 153, now in the care of the Thumper gang, with its new doors and rainstrips fitted. The nearest planks in undercoat are mostly new. Those at the end which are also going to be replaced are marked with chalk crosses.
10 February
- John Sandys was on hand to record the first day of train running this half-term, and provides this photo/video gallery from today, and the accompanying photo showing Nos. 72 and 65 together at Sheffield Park this morning.
- I have added some photos to illustrate yesterday’s “catch-up” blog post, below.
9 February 2024
- Following completion of the first half of our winter maintenance (see reports in February’s Bluebell Times) we are running steam trains every day this week (10-18 Feb), for half term, to this timetable. The locomotives intended to be used are LB&SCR Terrier No. 72 ‘Fenchurch’ and SE&CR O1-class No. 65.
We have our Kids for a Quid Travel Offer every day.
We also have Ice Skating on offer at Sheffield Park station, as an additional attraction.
On Friday 16 February we also have There’s A Tiger On The Train – meet the Author.
- The February 2024 edition of Bluebell Times features:
– “When Gordon met Gordon” – our 4-VEP goes to London Waterloo
– Mammoth winter works at Sheffield Park to relay track, repair the platforms and fit new footbridge steps
– The Maunsell Restaurant Car enters the Carriage & Wagon workshop
– Workshop updates on Sir Archibald Sinclair, Beachy Head and a brace of Southern Railway vans
– The Carriage Shop is poised to return – and provides another £2,000 towards two restoration projects
- The January 2024 edition of Bluebell Times features:
– Bluebell Goods Division reaches five years of wagon restoration
– Ben Gray celebrates his 21st birthday – by becoming the Bluebell’s youngest ever driver
– Major track relaying project starts at Sheffield Park
– Restoration updates on Q class No. 541, 9F 92240 – and Stroudley Brake 3rd No. 949 nears completion
– Positive feedback for the Education team from school visitors
– Remembering Jock McKay – a mentor to a generation of enginemen
- Apologies for the hiatus in updating this page – below is a “dump” of outstanding updates:
- Video by FrontLineSteam of Bluebell trains on 28 December, and from Martin Lawrence, showing a little of our mini-Gala on 1 January.
- Keith Duke’s photos from 1 January
- A video of 2023 steam in the South of England including a lot of Bluebell action, from Chatter Hatter.
- Chairman’s Year-end Update 2023 (published 3 January 2024) and the January Update (published 31 January), are now available.
- Update to news from the Atlantic Group who have nearly finished their recreation of No. 32424 ‘Beachy Head’.
The photos below, from Fred Bailey, illustrate a small part of the report, and show the new steam pipes being heated to relieve stresses, and the blower ring mounted on blast pipe.
- Update and latest newsletter from the BR Standard Class 2 tank 84030 Project.
This photo shows the righthand side of the bunker now in position and ready for welding, and then the drilling and riveting of the angle iron strengthening bars.
- The 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society have been posting updates on the winter maintenance currently under way on ‘Camelot’ via their Facebook page – you don’t have to be signed up to Facebook to read the reports. You can similarly follow work on Class 73 E6030 ‘The Bluebell Railway’, and on Oxted DEMU 1305 (and SECR PLV 153).
- The SR Coach Group have been posting updates on their Facebook page, and you can also follow progress by the Bluebell Railway Goods Division on theirs.
- The photos below show progress with selective re-planking and a roof recanvas on SE&CR Passenger Luggage Van 153, undertaken by the Oxted Thumper gang, and on SR Van C 419, which has been substantially re-planked, and also received a new roof covering over the last 4 months, by the SR coach Group, funded by the Carriage Shop.
- Bluebell video compilation from David Wadley, covering a variety of periods, including some great footage from 1990 at the end.
- This great video from Tim Dunn explains all about the events on Saturday 27 January, when Bluebell-owned 4VEP unit 3417 (in the care of SETG) was hauled into Waterloo station for a private event in honour of BRPS President Gordon Pettitt (after whom the VEP unit is named). Getting the VEP into a fit state to be certified to run into London, and be exhibited, is a major achievement by the SETG team.
The page outlining the work required to get the VEP onto the main line. has been updated – and outlines how there’s still a lot to do!
Their fundraising is going well, please contribute to the appeal to get it back on the main line.
Donations may also be made online via the Bluebell Railway Trust, if you wish to add Gift Aid; choose “Other Funds” from the drop-down menu and put “VEP” in the message box.
- Update to the web page for D6570 (33052) ‘Ashford’ adding a photo by Tom Bowes showing that it was very much a local locomotive, at Dormans during electrification work on the East Grinstead line in June 1987.
- Two photos of 09018 (D4106), which Alan Michael Gay took in the Summer of 1987, have been added to the 09’s web page.
- Following loan to the Mid Hants Railway (Watercress Line) in 2022, Mk.I BSK 35207 was then at the Epping Ongar Railway for the 2023 season. This coach is not owned by the Bluebell, but has now returned to us for use this coming year on the Wealden Rambler set.
Earlier updates are in the Archive here
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