Photographic and video reports 2008:
Please note that some photos included below are taken by volunteers and staff during the course of their duties, and so may have been taken in areas not open to the general public. These photos are very valuable, since they enable the public to see these otherwise hidden facets of the railway, but visitors to the railway should note that they may be unable to visit these locations themselves.
The photo on the left shows the Dukedog passing though Bewdley just after its arrival at the Severn Valley Railway on 30th July (with my thanks to P Sharpe for permission to use it. He has a complete gallery of photos from the day here). The loco has since been receiving planned attention to its valves and pistons in the works at Bridgnorth. The valve chests have been rebored and the valves were refitted on Saturday 23rd August.
Our Grandparents Special "Wealden Rambler" train on Sun 21 September is full so we have added Afternoon Tea on Pullman Car Lilian at 2.30pm -
Pullman Train Fare: £20.00 plus Afternoon Tea at £10.00 (total £30.00 per person). Please telephone 01825 720800, or visit the Sales and Information Office above the Shop at Sheffield Park.
Some tickets are still available for the Victorian Evening on Fri 5 September.
The What's New entry for 23rd June this year included a report and photographs about the newly installed elevated shunt
signal (SP No 1) for the exit from the Newick siding at Sheffield Park.
On 23rd July 2008, after several weeks of work both on and off site, an S&T team led by Mick Sargeant successfully
commissioned this new signal, and removed the old one.
The photos below taken that day show Mick Sargeant and Dave Devlin with the newly
commissioned signal, and Mick Sargeant carrying out alterations to the electrical wiring for the signal, in
the adjacent equipment location case. My thanks to Alan Grove for this report and photos.
27 August:
Details now available for The Bluebell Ramble on Sat 6 & Sun 7 September -
Join us for a 5 mile ramble from Horsted Keynes.
21 August:
Some more of David Chappell's photos from the Saturday of the Vintage Transport Weekend. The first of the photos below shows a pair of railway vehicles, a Scammell mechanical horse and a platform luggage-trolley tug.
This coming Bank Holiday Weekend there will be Guided tours of the Carriage & Wagon Workshop at Horsted Keynes, at 1.20 and 1.40pm each day (Sat, Sun and Mon), led by Dave Clarke, John Coleman and Richard Salmon.
19 August:
Brian Easter's photo on the right shows the C-class 592 approaching Three Arch Bridge on Sunday. His other photos of the Vintage Weekend are available.
The photos below show the gathering of traction engines (Stephen Hunt) and some of the classic cars (Derek Hayward) - see yesterday's entry for links to their collections of photos.
Derek Hayward has a new photographic tour, this time covering the disused line from Culver Junction to Uckfield (Old Station), including the Lavender Line at Isfield. This tour joins Derek's existing comprehensive tours from Hamsey to Sheffield Park, the Ardingly Branch, and north of Kingscote, plus (of course) the two tours (SP-HK, HK-Kc) covering the operational part of the Bluebell Railway itself.
News report from the Maunsell Locomotive Society with the latest on the overhaul of S15 No.847, the results of the boiler survey on Stowe, plus the news that the Q-class has moved up the queue for attention in the Works.
18 August:
David Chappell's photos, right and below, are from Saturday - the first day of what turned out to be a very popular Vintage Transport Weekend.
Further photos to follow here later this week, and the following collections are also now available:
Reminder that the next Victorian Picnic evening trains are on Friday 5th and Saturday 6th of September - your party will be provided with a hamper containing a finger buffet, with wine and soft drinks, and there will be a Victorian Music Hall show for your entertainment and delictation. Some tickets remain - particularly for the Friday evening - book now!
11 August:
The photo on the right shows the Prairie Tank approaching Horsted Keynes with the first train of the day on Saturday (with the GN Directors' Saloon attached - photo below). The other locos running were the O1 on the Chesham set (plus the LNWR Observation Car - photo below) and the U-class with a Golden Arrow Wedding charter.
Update to the Contacts page, to make it easier to find the information you may be looking for.
Paul Pettitt has a new picture of the month, featuring Clive Groome at Horsted Keynes in February 2007.
8 August:
David Chappell's photo, taken yesterday afternoon, shows the last train of the day back from Horsted Keynes, which is sometimes double-headed, although more often the engine from the Horsted-based set travels down separately as a light-engine movement. The first two coaches are the recently re-painted SR 1935-built pair of Maunsells. Click on the photo for an enlargement.
This is a good image to advertise the busy train service which will form part of our Vintage Transport Weekend (16-17 August), for which further details are now available.
Below is a photo from Tony Sullivan of a gathering at Isfield of Bluebell personalities on Sunday 3rd August. Click on the photo for an enlargement.
5 August:
Working Timetable for the Vintage weekend (16-17 August) now available for download as a PDF. Also, on Sunday 17 August, Service 20, a Free Vintage Bus Service
will run every half-hour from Brighton Pool Valley to Sheffield Park from 10.30am. The last return will probably be at 5pm from Sheffield Park.
Photos from Ashley Smith from Sunday 27th July, including that on the right showing the Dukedog at West Hoathley. This loco left the Bluebell two days later for an extended visit to the Severn Valley Railway, which will involve it receiving some attention to valves and pistons in their workshops (which should cure that rather curious groaning noise!), after which it will be in use on their line until October.
Jon Bowers' next photo charter (why not come along and join it?) is on Saturday 13 September, featuring the two SECR liveried 0-6-0s - O1 Class No.65 and C Class No.592. Details available here. That page also has details of two photo charters which will benefit the Bluebell during the Dukedog's visit to the SVR.
Statement from Paul Churchman (Operations Director) and Lewis Nodes (Loco & Rolling Stock Director) responding to the article in Bluebell News magazine concerning Footplate Days and Ways, added to the Information for BRPS Members pages.
Brian Easter spent last Sunday on the Railway, and the resulting photos include that on the right, showing 5199 leaving the tunnel and passing the site of West Hoathley Station.
Press Release about the Bluebell Railway Playroom at the Valley Presbyterian Hospital in California. A new concept in playrooms, it is designed to expose the children of patients to a virtual experience that will make them feel comfortable in a sometimes frightening hospital environment. The Bluebell Railway Playroom was recently opened by actor Goran Visnjic, renowned for his role as Dr. Luca Kovak in the hit series, ER.
Photographic images taken by Bluebell photographer Derek Hayward were prepared by Anna-Marie Buss of Bussroot Limited, a graphic designer based in Paddock Wood. Photos and a
YouTube video are also available.
22 July:
Chris Gardner, some-time cleaner in the Loco Dept, now lives just six miles from Barrow Hill, so is currently popping in there for an hour every Saturday morning to give Normandy a quick clean, to maintain Bluebell standards! His photo shows it there, on a line with a LMS Jinty and between 'Blue Peter' and a class 20 diesel.
Update to the details of the Murder Mystery & Mayhem specials on the Golden Arrow, with an additional date for this year, and advance notice of dates for next year. Gift Certificates are also available for these evenings.
Details of the Social Sub-Committee's The Bluebell Himalayan, a members' visit on Sunday 21st September, to the Beeeches Light Railway.
Update to the Special Events list - due to a distinct lack of "Giants", an Autumn Gala is now being planned for October. More details once confirmed.
Reminder that this coming weekend is the Toy and Rail Collectors' Fair at Horsted Keynes.
Model Railways - both new and second-hand, RTR and kits
Die-cast models such as Dinky/Corgi
Railwayana - cast iron / enamel signs and plates etc.
Preservation groups etc.
About 33 stands divided between a marquee, the station site and the station field.
Public opening 10.30am - 4pm both days.
Catering in both field and on station site.
Free parking. Admission £2.50 per person. (Note: there is no car boot event this year).
Hourly train service (train ticket required)
Guided Tours of Carriage & Wagon Workshops at 1.20pm and 1.50pm.
Today's photo is one from Sean Tompsett taken last Friday, showing 5199 at Sheffield Park.
Update to the FAQ page adding financial and traffic information for 2007.
12 July:
Target: East Grinstead - The Bluebell Railway has launched its 2008 Share Offer to help raise the funds we need to extend the line through to East Grinstead.
More details of how you might be able to help us are available here.
The Vintage Car section of the Vintage Transport Weekend on Sat 16 and Sun 17 August is now full, although there are still a few spaces remaining in the Vintage Motorcycle section - book soon on this form.
The photo on the right shows the new "Bluebell Railway Playroom" at the Valley Presbyterian Hospital, San Fernando, which used some of Derek Hayward's photos as their inspiration. The hospital's press release is here, and there was an article today in the Kent & Sussex Courier
Running until Sunday 2nd November 2008, East Grinstead Museum is hosting
An Exhibition Celebrating the Impending
Arrival of the Bluebell Railway - further details are available in this pdf of the flyer or on the Museum's web site - this weekend is one of the featured "Meet the Bluebell Volunteers" special events.
Photos from the second weekend of the Traditional English Summer Fair/Family Fun event from:
Paul Pettitt has a new picture of the month, featuring Stepney & C class No.592 hauling Stepney's last public service before withdrawal for boiler overhaul, and an update to his page for the U-class No.1638.
The photos left and below (our North London Tank on Imberhorne Viaduct and West Grinstead on the Steyning Line) are from Terry Cole's new book: 'Southern Colour in the Sixties'. 96 pages of previously unpublished colour for £14.95, the book includes chapters on the
Lewes & East Grinstead and the early Bluebell days, the
Cuckoo Line, Steyning line, etc.
Available from the Bluebell Shop, the author or Post free from the publisher:
Kevin Robertson (Noodle Books), PO Box 279, Corhampton, Southampton SO32 3ZX.
3 July:
Details added for the Bluebell Summer Saver, our half price offer for tickets purchased in advance over the summer.
Update to the Loco Roster from Lewis Nodes, showing planned engine usage for the summer.
26 June:
Photo on the right is from David Chappell, and shows the three light engines arriving at Horsted Keynes last Sunday morning ready for their services over the English Summer Fair family fun event, which continues over the coming weekend - 28-29 June.
Train service on Sat 22 and Sun 23 November:
With confirmation that the engineering works planned for the above weekend will be based around the loco yard at Sheffield Park, and will not affect the main running line, a NORMAL SERVICE ONE timetable will operate on the above weekend and the Pullman train will also operate as normal over the whole line.
23 June:
On 6th June, members of the Alf Brown Group completed the installation of the new elevated shunt signal controlling the exit from the carriage siding (former Up line from Newick) at Sheffield Park as a replacement to the existing ground signal (SP No. 1 signal). The signal has been designed to allow greater visibility of the signal, particularly for the Train Guard when starting trains, as the existing signal is obscured by the elevated walkway known affectionately as Cackle House Halt.
The S&T Department will now carry out alterations to mechanical connections to bring the new signal into operation during the next few weeks.
The photo on the right shows the completed signal with the existing signal alongside. The red and white striped post is used by locomotive crews as a marker for shunting. The photo below shows Group members (L-R) Chris Saunders, Peter Clark, Robert Hayward, Martin Oakley and John Arkell (Nicholas Clark not present when photo taken).
Photo on the right from John Fry - The smokebox has been attached to the boiler of No.34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair" and the combined item was successfully, albeit temporarily, reunited with the loco's frames on Wednesday 11th June.
The photo on the right (from Andrew Strongitharm) shows 'Stepney' at Kingscote with a final train for working members on Tuesday evening. Ken Upton also has a gallery from the evening - the driver was Mick Blackburn and the fireman was Liz Groome.
Update, thanks to Nick Beck, Martin Skrzetuszewski and Blair Robinson, to the page on GWR wagon No.87782.
11 June:
Update to Operational Locos, Locos on Static Display and Locos under overhaul (and several other pages) to take account of the end of Stepney's boiler certificate and the start of Birch Grove's overhaul. Also Blackmoor Vale is now out of service, requiring boiler repairs.
9 June:
Neil Munro-Thomson caught Stepney's last public train arriving back at Horsted Keynes yesterday evening (right) and also has a gallery of photos from yesterday.
No time is being wasted in preparing 473 "Birch Grove" for its overhaul - the photo below (taken yesterday) shows that dismantling has already started - the advantage of this loco is that it needs very little boiler work beyond the routine lift and re-tube, so it complements our other current overhauls which are all heavy on boiler-work.
8 June:
The photo on the right shows Stepney and 592 ready to leave Horsted Keynes on the last train of the day today. Short video (YouTube) also available here. This was Stepney's final bow in public service (although there is a train for working members on Tuesday evening), but also good to finally welcome 592 back into service after a protracted period of difficulties over availability of suitable springs.
Stephen Hunt has a gallery of photos available that were taken today.
Paul Pettitt's picture of the month for June features Stepney.
Three photos below from Derek Hayward, also taken today. (More photos in his Gallery here). On the left Stepney and 592 again doubleheading on the last train of the day. The middle photo shows U-class 1638 with the other service train (including a private party - the Camelot Loco Society's AGM - in the GNR Directors' saloon) heading north from the tunnel at West Hoathly. Thirdly the visiting Prairie tank was heading the lunchtime Golden Arrow Pullman dining train - today's formation was unusual in that recently overhauled first-class carriage 3064 deputised for "Lilian" which was at the South of England Show.
We are very pleased to say that our stand at the South of England Show has again won the award for "Best Trade Stand".
7 June:
Update to the Football Competition page, with the final results for the 2007/8 season. Our thanks to Gary Smith for again running the competition, as fund-raising for Operation Undercover.
"Nine Elms" is the latest publication from Buggleskelly Books. As with all previous publications 10% from all orders received by Bluebell signalman Melvyn Overbury at the address below will go to the the Bluebell's Brighton Atlantic Project.
The book, by George Marsh, Clinton Shaw and Driver Jim Evans (Nine Elms Top Link) is A5 size, perfect bound, 52 pages plus 3-colour laminated card cover with 39 B/W and 42 colour photos (including 16 full page images).This book combines the largely previously unseen work of two accomplished photographers, George Marsh and Clinton Shaw, along with the notes and captions of former driver Jim Evans.
Copies are priced £7.45 (inclusive of FREE P&P). Payment should be made out to "Buggleskelly Books" and orders sent to:- 22, Glassenbury Drive, Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex TN40 2NY
Web Site down-time: On Sunday morning (8th June) we regret that it is planned that there will be a temporary loss of access to this web site between about 8am and 10.30am, whilst essential maintenance work to allow for the replacement and standardisation of key networking equipment takes place.
6 June:
This photo from Bill Vigar taken last Friday shows the exchange of tokens at Horsted Keynes on the Standard 4, with the Dukedog waiting to depart southwards from platform 2 with the vintage set.
This weekend Stroudley Terrier 'Stepney' will double-head with the recently overhauled SECR No.592 (the C-class), hauling the Metropolitan carriages and Observation Car. This will be last time for some years that Stepney will be seen working public trains, since Stepney's boiler certificate expires at midnight next Tuesday.
Two new first day covers have been added to the Bluebell Railway Letter Service page - a Definitive Issue featuring "Blackmoor Vale" was issued on 19th May, and a Commemorative Cover to mark the Centenary of Bernard J Holden M.B.E. was issued on 8th May 2008.
The re-surfacing of the B2028 appears to have been scaled back compared to the signs that were in place a week ago (see note of 31 May below). The Railway again has a major presence at Ardingly's South of England Show yesterday, today and tomorrow. Visitors to the show will be able to enter Pullman Car 'Lilian' which is being displayed on a short section of track.
Two photos, below, taken by John Fry, illustrate recent updates to the Bulleid Society web site. LSWR No.96 'Normandy' is seen at the NRM's 1968 and all that exhibition, and the first 100psi steam test on the boiler of No.34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair' on Wednesday this week.
31 May:
Update to Who's Who page, adding Roger Kelly, who was elected as a BRPS Trustee at the recent society AGM.
Anyone visiting the railway in the next couple of weeks (especially Horsted Keynes via Ardingly/Lindfield) should note that this coming week (work started yesterday) the B2028 from the Copthorne Hotel, Kings Head roudabout, Crawley Down, Ardingly to Lindfield is being resurfaced. Also next weekend is the South of England Show at Ardingly, and then on Sunday 15 June the same road will be partly closed (and best avoided totally) as it is taken over for the British Heart Foundation's London to Brighton Cycle Ride.
30 May:
This photo from Andrew Strongitharm shows No.5199 with the stock for today's Pullman wedding charter, at Horsted Keynes.
The last day of Stepney's 10-year boiler certificate is Tuesday 10th June, after which it has to be withdrawn from service pending overhaul. Its last days in public service will be the weekend of 7-8 June.
Notes of the last two BRPS committee meetings are available via the Society pages
27 May:
Dave Clarke now has an extensive photo gallery taken during last Tuesday's mega-shunt at Horsted Keynes. All sorts of carriages which have not been seen for some years came out, and some even got put away again...
One carriage that has been kept out is LSWR/SR No.320 (seen on the right), which was one of the Bluebell's first two carriages in 1960, and has been extracted to be dried out and have a new tarpaulin fitted.
Klaus Marx's new book on Robert Billinton (Oakwood Press) is now out and is available at our bookshop at Sheffield Park. This follows on from his volume last year on Lawson Billinton, Robert's son. Robert Billinton was appointed Locomotive, Carriage & Wagon Superintendent of the LBSCR upon the death of William Stroudley, and was the designer of our locomotive 'Birch Grove' and carriage No.7598.
Update to the mobile/Wap page for access to the Railway by bus, reflecting last week's timetable changes. wap.bluebellrailway.co.uk
26 May:
Update to the extension pages reporting offically on the progress on the clearance of the station site at East Grinstead.
25 May:
Update to the Access to the Railway by Bus details - as from yesterday the 270 Bus times to/from Horsted Keynes were slightly altered at weekends.
The photo on the right is from Brian Kidman, who was working on the scrub clearance at our East Grinstead station site on Tuesday - rapid progress is being made.
Tomorrow (Bank Holiday Monday) will see the GNR Directors' saloon running in public service on the Horsted Keynes (vintage) set, which also includes the Metropolitan carriages. Why not get a first-class ticket and join us on the saloon for toasted tea cakes or scones and cream?
Also tomorrow, Dave Clarke and I will be running guided tours of the Carriage & Wagon works at 1pm and 1.30pm - meet at the South end of Platform 5 at Horsted.
It had been thought that Stepney's last day before withdrawal for overhaul would be 11th June. It may in fact be earlier than that - check this page for more details over the next few days.
Photo on the right from David Chappell showing the big shunt at Horsted Keynes on Tuesday - a complete re-arrangement of the long siding which extends from the North end of the station right down, past the back of the signal box and on to the end of the Ardingly spur. Carriages which need new tarpaulins have been extracted, along with carriages and wagons which are higher up the overhaul queue. The photo below shows the unusual sight of the empty siding behind the platforms.
Update to the Loco Works news pages, with a newsletter from the Standard 2 Loco project, and the latest from the Bulleid Society on 'Blackmoor Vale', and the preparation of 'Normandy' for its role as our ambassador at the NRM's "1968 and all that" exhibition (24 May - 1 June 2008) before going on to Barrow Hill until September.
David Chappell's photo taken yesterday shows the delivery to Horsted Keynes of our latest LBSCR coach body - an as-yet unidentified Stroudley 5-compartment third. It is seen being lifted over the similar No.328 (under the tarpaulin) onto an ex-SR van underframe behind.
The photos below, taken last Saturday by David Chappell, show the start of work on the clearance of scrub at our East Grinstead station site, which has now been fenced off from the Network Rail land so enabling us to work on the site. The photo on the left looks north from our existing compound. The one on the right shows the view southwards at the northern end of our station site.
Also last Saturday was the Society AGM. Amongst the presentations was one from Graham Flight, plc Chairman, indicating that the Share Issue documents should be ready to be sent out in the next few weeks, and explaining the complexities of getting to that stage. In essence, subject to raising £4 million, we should be able to open the extension to East Grinstead in Spring 2010. The first stage of that fund raising will be the share issue, which needs to raise £1 million in the first few weeks, so that we can start excavating the rubbish tip in July. East Grinstead here we come!
15 May:
Photos from Kingscote from the Southern At War Weekend from Tracey Wheatley, right and below, show the temporary Post Office esablished in the station waiting room, and a general scene of the military encampment there.
Photos from the weekend now available from John Sandys, taken most appropriately using an original 1940's Leica!
I can now positively confirm the arrival of Diesel Shunter No.13236 (D3236, or 08168) which has arrived on hire, from Shackerstone. It was at Horsted Keynes last night, and carries plain 1950s BR black livery with the early BR crest. Consequent updates to various loco pages.
With the impending end of the boiler certificate of LBSCR Terrier 'Stepney', Clive Groome's Footplate Days and
Ways courses are regrettably no longer based on the Bluebell. His courses have seen countless hundreds of participants and their families visit the Railway over the years, and provided the bonus of a visitor attraction with an additional small engine in steam, and highly visible to our visitors, at Horsted Keynes virtually every Saturday.
Updates to the Volunteering page with changes to contact details in Loco department.
14 May:
Photo album from the Southern At War Weekend from Dave Clarke (including photos on the right and below), and a video from Jon Bowers.
The Spitfire used on Saturday was P7350, a Mk IIa, the oldest airworthy Spitfire
in the world and the only Spitfire still flying today to have
actually fought in the Battle of Britain. She is believed to be
the 14th aircraft of 11,989 built at the Castle Bromwich
'shadow' factory. Sunday's (as featured in Dave's photo here) was, as previously notified, one of the last, Griffon-engined Mk19 PS915. The earlier one has the three-bladed prop.
Please Note: The Fathers' Day Ploughmans' Lunch is now Sold out.
12 May:
The sun shone for the Southern at War weekend, and the photos of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfires (different ones each day) are from Derek Hayward. The photos below are from Stephen Hunt, with some more from Derek. Click on any photo for an enlargement.
Albums of photos from the event have so far been notified from:
Details now available as to which Spitfire from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight will be taking part in this weekend's fly-pasts as part of our Southern At War Weekend - it is Mk19 PS915 - painted to represent PS888, the very last Spitfire to have flown in RAF service.
Update to Loco news report on overhaul of Baxter with photos from Trevor West.
Update to the Weddings page adding new photos of the room at Horsted Keynes which is licenced for civil ceremonies.
Update to the information given below about Birch Grove - the E4's last passenger working was in fact an additional 5.32pm departure from Horsted Keynes to Sheffield Park. The E4 was used to return the Observation Car to Sheffield Park for the following day's Bluebell Specials, but the train was made available to the public and did convey passengers back to Sheffield Park.
6 May:
Ken Upton's photo of Birch Grove yesterday shows it on its last scheduled train before withdrawal at the completion of its 10-year boiler certificate. Ken has further photos of the occasion, and also a couple of photos showing progress with Baxter's overhaul.
Derek Hayward has commenced a new photo gallery featuring the visit of 5199, following its entry into service on the Bluebell yesterday. Derek's photo to the right shows it returning its Pullman charter to Sheffield Park yesterday, and also illustrates the current use of the SR Van 'C' with the Pullman set whilst the LMS BGZ is adapted internally (and temporarily) as a service vehicle for the set.
An update on the Work on the Extension - completion of clearing the vegetation on the tip - has now been made available, with apologies for the length of time it takes to get news of the extension onto the web site. For members attending the AGM Nigel Longdon is hoping to have a presentation available showing the extension team's recent work north of Kingscote.
The photo on the right is one of 5 in a new album from John Sandys, and shows 5199 entering Bluebell service on the Sussex Belle private charter Pullman train today.
The photos below, from Derek Hayward, show today's Pullman train at Town House Farm Bridge, and Stepney on the Bluebell Special North of Rock Cutting - click on any of the photos for enlargements.
30 April:
One of Kate James' photos from the "Built at Brighton" event from Saturday is on the right. Several more below - click on any for enlargements.
29 April:
Photo on the right, and one below (both from David Haggar) from yesterday's photo charter with the E4 - the last for the forseeable future with it in BR black livery.
One of Nick Talbot's photos from the "Built at Brighton" event, below, showing Blackmoor Vale at Horsted Keynes on Saturday.
Further photos of the weekend from:
More photos available from the "Built at Brighton" event:
Ashley Smith: "... a few pictures from around Horsted Keynes on the Sunday of the Gala."
Ken Upton: "... a few photos of Sheffield Park yard on Saturday morning with the engines coming into steam."
The photo on the right, from Saturday, is from Stephen Hunt, and shows Birch Grove on one of the goods turns. A good display of primroses on the lineside too. Stephen's photo below showing 80151 also on Saturday, shows that the Bluebells are ready for this week's Bluebell Specials.
Yesterday's report of the arrival of Diesel Shunter 13236 was a little premature - the source of that report had in fact seen freshly repainted 08016 waiting to depart!
27 April:
Photo albums available so far from this weekend's "Built at Brighton" event from:
Derek Hayward: "An excellent event, much enjoyed by everyone."
Tony Pearce: "Once again a great event put on at the Bluebell. The Railway doing what it is best at."
and a video from Jon Bowers: "Very well done to everyone involved in the planning and operation of this
event."
The photo on the right, taken yesterday, is from David Haggar, and shows the terriers paired on the Victorian set.
New web page for visiting GWR Prairie Tank loco No.5199, including a photo of it at Llangollen earlier this month, and on the low loader on arrival at Sheffield Park - from a gallery of photos from John Sandys. The photos below show it on Bluebell metals, from Andrew Strongitharm and Derek Hayward.
25 April:
Details of first and last trains each day added to the "Built At Brighton" event details.
Update to the Loco Roster, covering May and June, and showing that visiting locomotive GWR 2-6-2T No.5199 (which has now arrived at Sheffield Park, on loan from the Llangollen Railway) is due to enter Bluebell service on 1st May, subject to testing and gauging.
23 April:
Photo of 32473 'Birch Grove' in action today from Andrew Strongitharm - this serves as a reminder that this weekend is the "Built At Brighton" event where we have five Brighton-built locos running, as a farewell to 'Birch Grove' and 'Stepney', both of which will be bowing out of service in the next few weeks at the end of their current boiler certificates.
Details now available for the SOUTHERN at WAR weekend on Saturday 10th & Sunday 11th May 2008.
This year the event features the superb 23rd Sussex (Hastings and Bexhill) Battalion of the Home Guard, and (weather permitting) a SPITFIRE FLYPAST.
21 April:
Reminder that as an adjunct to this weekend's "Built at Brighton" event, on the Sunday evening, the Social Sub-committee present a Film Show, 7.30pm Bessemer Arms, Sheffield Park Station
This film show is open to all Volunteers, Members and the General Public; proceeds will go towards the Northern Extension Tip Removal. Food available in the Bessemer Arms before the show; bar available. More details here.
Nick Beck has updated the web pages for the two LMS 3-plank drop-side medium open goods wagons: M474558 and M480222. The additional information was provided by Martin Skrzetuszewski.
16 April:
Bryan Benn supplies today's photo - 21C123 'Blackmoor Vale' on the 11am departure from Sheffield Park yesterday, seen emerging from the tunnel.
Update to the Lounge Car service details - Afternoon Tea (on the 3pm departures from Sheffield Park) will be available over the bank holiday weekends in May and August.
Updates to the web pages for BR Mk.I carriages 1818, 1838, 4824, 4957 and 4941, and also the introduction to the carriage fleet and stock list, acknowledging the fact that the designation "TSO" was only used for BR 64-seat open seconds as from 1967, and thus 4941 and its ilk should correctly be designated "SO".
14 April:
Andrew Strongitharm's silouette of 'Blackmoor Vale', hauling the 1pm ex. Sheffield Park earlier today, is from a new gallery illustrating the three locos running today (the other two being 'Stepney' and 'Earl of Berkeley').
Apologies to Simon Barker over last week's confusion on the Who's Who page. Simon remains as Catering Manager; Rob Salmon has joined us as the new Head Chef.
13 April:
Stephen Hunt's photo (right) from yesterday shows the Dukedog ready to leave Sheffield Park.
Locomotive 21C123 'Blackmoor Vale' returned to service today after its winter break, which was followed by major attention to its regulator, a boiler exam and renewal of its brake-blocks.
Matt Allen's new book "The Bluebell Railway" (details as pdf)
will be launched with a signing in the shop at Sheffield Park on the Saturday of the
Built at Brighton weekend (26th April) between 1pm and 3pm. A 144 page
photographic journey along the Bluebell Railway, the book is priced at
£14.99, and will be available through the Bluebell's shop.
Sadly we have to report the death of Derek Winkworth on Friday 4th April. Derek was the well known author of Bulleid's Pacifics, probably the definitive volume of Bulleid pacific performance, as well as the author of Maunsell's Nelsons and The Schools 4-4-0s.
Derek was a quantity surveyor by profession but was also a prolific writer and author, who always credited his correspondents for the assistance received. In addition to his writing skills, his work was enhanced by his own talented photographic skills.
Derek Hayward's photo of 80151 with a down goods train on the double-track section at Leamland bridge amid the primroses from Saturday is seen on the right - Derek has now completed and captioned his gallery of photos from the Goods Train Weekend.
Update on the Bulleid Society web site from John Fry and Richard Green, with a round-up of the recent boiler work on Sir Archibald Sinclair, and other work on the engine, and an update on Blackmoor Vale detailing, amongst other things, the work carried out to sort out the incomplete closing of the regulator.
One of Derek Hayward's photos from today is seen on the right - the Dukedog was in charge of the main goods train today. His other photos from today are starting to appear in his gallery for the event.
One of Jon Bowers' photos from today, the first day of the Goods Train Weekend. More photos to follow when I get time to deal with them - many thanks to everyone who's sent me photos today!
If members of the 9F club are experiencing difficulty in contacting the railway to sign up for activities, please be assured that we are working with our telephone service providers to try to rectify the problem. It appears that the phone system works correctly from a land-line and the problems are confined to phone calls made from mobiles, so please try to use a land-line to make your activity bookings. Sorry for the inconvenience.
The big news is that we have been given the Stage 2 pass from the Heritage Lottery Fund for Phase 3 of the Operation Undercover project at Sheffield Park which will see covered accomodation for carriages, a new museum building, a new loco washout pit, and the repair and reconstuction of the platform buildings and canopy and provision of toilets on platform 2 at Sheffield Park.
The photo from David Chappell shows Maunsell open third carriage No.1309 outshopped from the Carriage Works at Horsted Keynes after a full re-paint. The carriage has been in service 24 years now since its overhaul - Operation Undercover will help to conserve carriages like this for the future.
The Social Sub-committee present: Film Show - Sunday 27 April 2008, 7.30pm Bessemer Arms Sheffield Park Station
This event is open to all Volunteers, Members and the General Public; proceeds will go towards the Northern Extension Tip Removal. This is the evening of the second day of the "Built at Brighton" weekend.
Update to the FAQ, explaining better the distinction and arrangements for photography/video work for professional uses.
Apologies for the down-time on our web site earlier today - the result of a combination of two problems, and in the end another server in the cluster had to be restored off tape.
Reminder that there are several special attractions over the Easter weekend.
19 March:
Update to the Extension Progress page with the photo (right, taken yesterday) showing that the chipping of the brash is now under way. This phase of the work should be completed tomorrow.
Yesterday (Sunday) was the occasion for our President's official 100th birthday party, and Captain Bernard Holden MBE (Retired) inspected a guard of honour formed by members of the Royal Engineers Association on his arrival, and there followed an afternoon of special events at the Railway for him and the invited guests who stretched back to the committee elected at the inaugural meeting of the preservation society which Bernard had chaired on his birthday 49 years ago.
In a first for the Bluebell Railway, a bell team from the Society (another photo below) rang 1260 Grandsire Triples at St Andrew's, Steyning, on Saturday as a 100th birthday compliment to Bernard. Further details are here.
The two cakes (photos below) were quite splendid! One featured a page from the LBSCR Occurrence Book detailing
an outline of Bernard's life so far, and the second was decorated in the form of the number plate of an LB&SCR Locomotive.
They were made and decorated by a member of the Society.
15 March:
Today is the 100th birthday of our President, Bernard Holden MBE. A number of Bluebell members visited him in the morning to sing 'Happy Birthday', 'For he's a jolly good fellow' and 'Sussex by the Sea' to him at his house. He wore the LBSCR hat which had been issued to his father in the year he was born (1908), and is seen here with one of the 70+ cards already received by that stage. Later in the afternoon there was to be a family party, and tomorrow the official celebration at the Railway.
14 March:
Details now available for the June Family Fun Weekends - Traditional English Summer Fair with activities taking place at all stations, including Clowns, Punch and Judy shows, Face Painting, The Squire and his Stocks, Fancy Dress Competitions and a Miniature Railway.
Tickets are now available and if booked before 31st May are HALF PRICE! Details of
fares and how to get your tickets also available
The photo is one of Paul Pettitt's, from his 80151 gallery - this one taken on 17th February, hauling the Golden Arrow Luncheon train.
12 March:
This Weekend: To mark the 50th anniversary of closure of our line, locomotive No.80151 will be operating as 80154.
Also this coming weekend we celebrate the 100th birthday of our President, Bernard Holden MBE. Details on the Members' Information page - the celebrations start at 2pm on Sunday at Sheffield Park. If anyone wishes to send him a card or gift then please do so via the General Office at Sheffield Park Station, and we will ensure he gets it on the day.
Update to the Carriage Technical pages, with updates for the information available from the LMS Carriage Association and the LNER Coach Association.
11 March:
Update to the details of the Goods Train Weekend (29-30 March) with a slight change to the planned loco line-up.
Matt Allen's recent photos from the Branch Line Weekend, and other photos from February. The one on the right shows the SECR O1 No.65 with a mixed train of LCDR, LBSCR, SECR and SR carriages, plus goods vehicles, from the Branch Line weekend.
Two useful webcams in Horsted Keynes village, particularly handy for seeing what the weather is like in the area added to the links page - always bearing in mind that it can be snowing at one end of the carriage shed and brilliant sunshine at the other, and the village is much further away than that!
Correction to the text of the entry for S15 No.830 on the page for locos which have left the railway.
9 March:
Update to the Extension Progress page with a photo from Stephen Fairweather and report from Nigel Longdon. After last Wednesday's working day, Nigel adds:
"We really have been blessed with good weather these last five and an half
weeks. The volunteer support has also been excellent with 25 working
yesterday."
Photos from today (four locos in service with four trains running) from Ashley Smith, including that on the right, which shows 'Fenchurch' hauling the Metropolitan coaches up the 1-in-75 towards the tunnel.
7 March:
Paul Pettitt's photo from the Sunday of Branch Line Weekend shows our GWR Dukedog paired with Auto-coach 178.
The Bluebell Railway is currently advertising the following job vacancies:
Carriage and Wagon Fitter
Carriage Painter
Expressions of interest for: New engineering apprenticeship - starting in the Autumn
These two photos from Tom James illustrate the more unexpected side of the Branch Line Weekend - the GWR tank paired with the Observation Car and Met carriages, and BR road vehicles outside Horsted Keynes station, both taken on the Sunday.
5 March:
Photos from Branch Line Weekend (23-24 February) from:
Also the photos here: on the right 'Fenchurch' and 32473 with the LCDR carriage from Stephen Hunt;
the black and white one below from Nick Talbot;
and the second one below, showing 32473 with the LMS BGZ and the two new carmine and cream Mk.Is, from David Haggar
Update to the Loco Roster for March from Lewis Nodes. Consequent update to the page for the Goods Train weekend, showing the locos we expect to be using.
At the Vintage Transport Weekend (16 - 17 August) this year there will also be a vintage motorcycle section - space
is limited so book early if you have a suitable motorcycle which you wish to exhibit, using this form (pdf).
The photo on the right is another of Stephen Hunt's from Branch Line Weekend, showing the O1 shunting wagons at Horsted.
Note about the dress code for the Golden Arrow Pullman Dining Train updated and moved from the FAQ to the Golden Arrow Reservation page. The dress code is 'smart casual' (so not jeans and trainers which simply spoil the 1920s' ambience - but the days when full evening dress was the norm have sadly passed!)
Update to the web page for Maunsell carriage 3687, with further details of the two 'Emergency Control Trains' of which it was a part.
28 February:
Preliminary details available for the 2008 Santa Specials - Postal booking opens on 1st July, and telephone bookings will be taken from Monday 6th October 2008 - full details will be available in the late spring.
Details for the Sunday 20th April one-day Toy and Rail Collectors Fair at Horsted Keynes now available. Starts at 10am, entrance by platform ticket - stalls on station and dock. Car Boot section in field from 8am. More details from Barry Jones, 01903 244655.
Update to the details of the Going Dutch 2008 BRPS members' trip to Holland in May, with a revision of the travel arrangements and consequently the cost.
Details available for the Summer Toy and Rail Collectors Fair on 19/20 July 2008 - please note there is no "car boot" section this year.
Thanks to Mark Tewkesbury for some additional information about the renumbering of Loco No.178 as s1178 from March 1948 (while the loco was based at Brighton).
Booking details for Going Dutch 2008 -
Thursday 22nd May to Monday 26th May 2008
In connection with the 40th Anniversary of the Museum Stoomtram Hoorn Medemblick, with which we are twinned in the Netherlands, and a steam festival in Friesland, we are putting together a short break for BRPS members to Hoorn.
Brian Easter has a gallery of photos from last Sunday, and the photo on the right showing 1450 and the autocoach on Freshfield Bank, is also one of his.
Details of fares (discounted if purchased before 1st April) now available for the Built at Brighton weekend at the end of April.
Bernard Holden MBE (BRPS President) will be 100 on 15th March. Details of how we are planning to celebrate the occasion are available in a note to members from Chairman Roy Watts on the BRPS Members' Notic
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will be launched with a signing in the shop at Sheffield Park on the Saturday of the
Built at Brighton weekend (26th April) between 1pm and 3pm. A 144 page
photographic journey along the Bluebell Railway, the book is priced at
£14.99, and will be available through the Bluebell's shop.
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