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Blog: What's New
at the Bluebell Railway?

Preserved steam trains running through the heart of Sussex

Our public steam-hauled trains run daily until November 4th See the Timetable for full details.

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Latest Updates     -     Earlier updates     -     Latest Project News
Weekly train running information     -     Recent photo reports     -     Archive News

• Keith Leppard's portrait of 80151 at Kingscote on Saturday shows it shunting the GN Saloon onto the vintage set. The loco's owners were riding in the saloon for the day, and so when the loco changed sets at Kingscote (we're still using turnover engines there until the run-round is restored) so did the saloon. The loco was also used for the evening Golden Arrow service, and then bowed out of service at the expiry of its extended boiler certificate. It has been a superb performer over the last decade, and since this class of loco is both intimately linked to the history of our line and also an ideal loco for our services, there's a strong feeling that one of them will rise rapidly to the top of the restoration queue!

• Keith has an album of photos from Saturday, which also includes the photo (below) of ex-LBSCR Bogie First No.7598, which returned to service after an intermediate overhaul just over a week ago. Unlike its previous paint-finish, this time the lining follows the edge of the lower body panels, as well as the upper, in the early 1920s Southern style (the amount of lining was gradually reduced as the 1920s progressed into the 1930s!). This full lining accurately reflects that discovered on the coach when it was stripped down for its initial restoration in the early 1990s.

• Paul Pettitt has four new page updates covering the Southern at War event, and locos Nos.B473, 80151 and 92122.

• Martin Lawrence has a few new photos from the 16-19 May.

• There are quite a few images available online from Captain Baxter's visit to the Severn Valley Railway, where it participated in their "Victorian Experience" this weekend:
  • On arrival last week;
  • Its reunion with its former long-term partner, Head Wrightson No.1.
  • Top-and-tailing the passenger service with Furness Railway No.20 yesterday.

• Tony Sullivan provides the last three images below, all from Saturday. For a television programme which is being filmed for BBC 4, our President, Bernard Holden, now in his 105th year, swaps memories of the founding meeting with Chris Campbell and Alan Sturt at Sheffield Park, and is seen shortly before taking a ride the length of the line in the Brighton Bogie First, which is just 5 years older than Bernard! Finally, LBSCR Loco B473 is seen with the four pre-grouping coaches which made up one of the two service sets last weekend, and should do as well next weekend.

The Trains for the coming week page is updated weekly, with detailed information for visiting enthusiasts - but please note that notification of a train or service on that page does not necessarily imply that it is available to the public - all public services are listed in the Timetable.

Note: Throughout this site many of the photos are presented as small versions which can be clicked on to access the full-size image.

Latest Project News  

• Operation Undercover - Phase 3: Photo reports from Derek Hayward: "Above Workshop" Loco Dept facilities, Sheffield Park Carriage Shed and Loco Washout Pit - 12 May 2012
  Phase 4: Horsted Keynes - Carriage Shed Extension: Planning permission has been granted - December 2011
• East Grinstead Extension: Lorna's Marathon run, Open Days, and progress with the work itself - 10 May 2012 - Main Extension Project page
• Kingscote Goods Yard Project - last update 4 May 2012
• Sign up for our free e-mail Newsletter. Last edition 10 May 2012 - available via the eNewsletter archive.
• Loco Works News: updates on the overhaul of the SR Q-class No.541 and SECR P-class No.27, from the Brighton Atlantic project, the Maunsell Locomotive Society on S15 No.847 and 541, on the overhaul of SECR H-class No.263, the Standard Class 2 project, and work on No.73082 "Camelot" - 5 April, 8 March, 20 February, 16, 13 January 2012
• Carriage & Wagon Works News - overhauls of Bulleid composite No.5768, LCDR/SECR No.3188, LBSCR Milk/Fruit Van No.270, completion of SECR Birdcage Brake No.3363, SECR 2-plank Ballast wagon No.567, BR Mk.I wheelchair conversion, SECR Dance-Hall Brake No.11934, updates on the restorations of GWR 5-plank open wagon No.87782, SR 5-plank Open wagon No.12058 and LBSCR Stroudley Brake No.949 - 24 January 2012
• The latest news of the Horsted Keynes Re-signalling - 16 January 2012
• Permanent Way and Lineside News: March Sunday Tracks Newsletter
• Press Release - Pullman swap: Carina for the Bluebell and Doris for the Brighton Belle - 18 February 2011
• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) - Bluebell Railway honoured with Heritage Award - downloadable as PDF - 20 August 2010
• Archive news from the Bluebell

Take a tour of this web site

What's been updated on the Bluebell Web Site?

Most recent updates: See top of this page
 
18 May

• Peter Edwards' photo taken at Sheffield Park on Monday shows No.80151 carrying a red and silver smokebox number, to mark its retirement from service tomorrow, Saturday 19 May, as the same had been done before its withdrawal from service in 1966.

• Paul Gildersleve has a gallery of photos taken on Sunday during the 'Southern at War' event.

• Two videos showing Captain Baxter on the Tanfield Railway, from Kyle Allsopp and from AlansVids1.

• The last edition of the e-mail newsletter unexpectedly had links connected through Google Analytics, which failed to work for links onto this web site. These links have been corrected for the version in the Archive.
  Photos in e-mail newsletter: If you do not see photos in your e-mailed copy, they may be being blocked by your e-mail software - you may need to select "allow images" or open the e-mail in a new window.

• Update to the Football Competition page, with the final positions in this competition raising funds for the overhaul of our Southern Railway Maunsell Dining Saloon No.7864. Congratulations to our winning entrants.

• Patrick Plane's photo below shows, as of a week ago, the extent of the work being undertaken to the north of Kingscote. The formation has now been widened and the ballast base spread, ready for laying in the track and the new "Y" point.
  Derek Hayward also has an update on this work on Page 1 of his Kingscote collection, as well as an update to the Above Workshop Facilities at Sheffield Park, and the photo below showing some of the Home Guard during last weekend.

• As well as being shown below in David Chappell's photo of it on the inspection pit at Horsted Keynes a couple of weeks ago, the freshly repainted Bulleid Brake No.4279 is also the first carriage seen behind 80151 in the photo above.

• John Sandys provides: Photos from Tuesday, including continuing work on the loco lobby, canopy, work at Kingscote, and the finished cattle pens; a video of SECR H-Class No.263 leaving Sheffield Park yesterday, while being run-in (it still awaits completion of its paintwork), as well as one of it shunting at Kingscote, of Nos.178 and 80151 with the 3pm service leaving Sheffield Park and further photos from yesterday.

• Then there is a video from Martin Lawrence of the H-class at Kingscote with the engineers train yesterday, filmed from the other platform compared to John's.
  Nick Dearden also shot a video of it shunting the heritage wagons at Horsted Keynes.

• Update to the Safety news page, with links to Issue 2 of Bluebell Safety News and also this Circular letter to all UK Minor and Heritage Railways from the Office of Rail Regulation, the wide circulation of which the Heritage Railway Association are encouraging.

  

• Julian Heinemann supplies this set of photos showing recent progress with the overhaul of No.73082 "Camelot", the frames of which are currently in the workshops at Sheffield Park. The photo on the right shows the new dragbox under construction by Paul the Bluebell's welder, suspended from the works crane to enable welding of the gussets and addition of miscellaneous other items, and prior to the outside faces being machined.

  The first photo below (as always, click on any photo for an enlargement) shows the old corroded dragbox.

  The next shows a damaged roller bearing, which has been replaced by the South Devon Railway. The damage cannot be seen when the outer cover is fitted, so we would not have known there was a damaged race if we hadn't had to press off the driving wheels to attend to the excessive play/movement in the wheelset.

  The final two photos show preparations to cut out a damaged section of the main frames around the hornguides, and the sections cut out, and this also shows a crack which has been cut out and then welded up.

• Derek Hayward's photos illustrate the weekend's Southern at War event. The weather was kind, and the event saw a significant increase in visitor numbers compared to last year. On the right is 1944-built Spitfire Mk LF IX TA805 which performed a flypast on the Sunday. Below, Louise, who works on the Bluebell Railway, is seen with members of the Home Guard. The flypast on the Saturday was provided by the Texan T6 (Harvard), as also seen below. Derek has started to create a photo gallery for the event.

• Martin Lawrence also has a gallery of photos from Sunday, as well as some photos from last Friday, with the H-class being run in and tested at Sheffield Park, and doing some shunting, including adding the Brighton Bogie First to the pre-war SR set. This coach is back in service after an intermediate overhaul which included the replacement of its doors, improved steam heating, and a full re-paint.

• Richard Salmon's video also shows some of the Spitfire flypast on Sunday.

• This weekend's Southern at War event appropriately features all-pre-war carriages on our two service trains. The timetable is basically our peak Service One timetable but with the addition of an 11.17am train from Horsted Keynes to Sheffield Park, and a 4.47pm train from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes.

• Update to the Kingscote Goods Yard Project reporting the completion of the Cattle Pens project, undertaken by volunteer apprentices from Mears Ltd.

• John Sandys has a video from Thursday showing the top-and-tail operation currently in place mid-week, while the north end of Kingscote Station is prepared for the opening of the Northern Extension next year. Interesting to note the whistle codes in use to ensure the drivers of both locos are clear on what is happening.

• Pat Plane's photo shows the mode of operation employed midweek at present, whilst the trackwork at the north end of Kingscote is being renewed (see extension report, later) with Nos.1638 and 178 top and tailing the mid-week main service train at Kingscote. The second train running midweek has been the Bluebell specials, with the Obo being propelled to Kingscote and hauled back, appropriately by No.323 "Bluebell". At weekends, with a more intensive service (2 service trains plus the Wealden Rambler or Golden Arrow) we've employed 4 of the larger locos, top-and-tailing the first up service of the day, then using a turnover engine until the last service of the day returns from Kingscote with a loco on its tail. Over last weekend, with the C and E4 both due a washout, the locos used were the 9F, Standard 4 tank, the U-class, and the pair of 'P's.

• This coming weekend, 13-14 May, is our Southern at War Weekend. The trains will be operating to our peak Service One timetable, and the weather forecast actually looks rather beter than it has been recently! Don't forget that we have flypasts organised with a Spitfire (Sunday) and a Harvard (T6 "Texan") on Saturday (as seen in this video of one of its passes over Horsted Keynes from last year). A Photographic Competition is being run in conjunction with the event this year. The closing date will be 18 May. More details in today's issue of the eNewsletter (which will appear on the Newsletter archive soon).

• No.80151, the Standard 4 tank, is celebrating its last two weeks in operation by running daily until AGM day, 19 May, when it will finally be withdrawn at the expiry of its boiler certificate.

• News Update on the Northern Extension Project, featuring the ongoing work at Kingscote, the latest from the remodelling of the tip, and Lorna Webb's London Marathon run reported in full.

  

• Hard on the heels of the London Marathon, The Sussex Living Marathon took place on 5 May, when a team of five runners represented the Railway in the East Grinstead 10-mile race, the first race in the inaugural Sussex Living Marathon Weekend. Lorna Webb reports that this time the course was mostly off road, and due to the recent weather was incredibly muddy. In some places, runners had to run through mud deeper than their ankles, standing water, and at one point what was effectively a stream bed. The mud made it very heavy going, but despite that, all five managed to finish with times ranging from a very impressive 1 hr 13 min (Andy Stadden) to a less impressive 2 hr 05 min (Lorna herself). The "after race" photo on the left shows (left to right) the mud-splattered James Bright, David Bright, Adam Fink, Lorna Webb and Andy Stadden.

• Martin Lawrence supplies a gallery of photos of activity at the railway including all the fun from the Fish & Chip train last Friday, and a video of the dining train being retrieved from the carriage shed at Sheffield Park by U class No.1638 in preparation for its evening run to Kingscote.

• Keith Duke supplies this collection of pictures from Saturday 5 May, featuring the moving cloud of steam that is the 9F first thing in the morning!

• John Sandys has a few photos Monday 7 May, including a ride on the GN Saloon, the latest state of the track renewal at Kingscote, and some shots of the 9F. Then he has a set of photos from his regular Tuesday visit, including the Loco Lobby progress, shunting at Sheffield Park, Cattle Pen progress at Kingscote, including shots of the flooring going in, and a feature of the new stock and displays in the Shop at Sheffield Park, plus a video of 178 shunting the Directors' Saloon into the Shed, the 12 noon train from Sheffield Park arriving at Horsted Keynes, and the 1pm departure from the Park. His photo below shows the Mears' apprentices working on the cattle pen at Kingscote on Tuesday.

• Roadworks with temporary traffic lights on the A22 on the northern side of East Grinstead (at the junction with Imberhorne Lane) are causing frequent gridlock in the town at present. Visitors may wish to use alternative routes!

• The other photos below, thanks to Paul Jarman, show "Captain Baxter" at the NRM Shildon over the Bank Holiday weekend. It was again able to pose with Coffee Pot, and the two will meet again shortly at Kidderminster.

• New news page created for the Kingscote Goods Yard Project which explains more about the cattle pens being constructed as the first major development on the ground for the project, seen in Richard Clark's photo on the right, which was taken last Friday.

• There is a great review of our Golden Arrow Pullman dining service in Andrew Kay's Food & Drink.

• This weekend:
  • The Great Northern Directors' Saloon will be attached to the 11am, 1pm and 3pm departures from Sheffield Park on each day over the coming Bank Holiday Weekend. Enjoy a coffee or a cream tea - no need to book in advance - just buy a first-class ticket, or upgrade to first on board.
  • The Bulleid Society Shop at Sheffield Park will be open on all days over this Bank Holiday weekend - new stock has arrived; DVD's and books etc, along with the usual lines.
  • There will be guided tours of carriage works at Horsted Keynes each lunchtime.
  • On Sunday, we have the next of our Find Out More Days - if you're interested in becoming a volunteer, take the tour - phone the General Office on 01825 720800 or e-mail Volunteer Recruitment leader Clive Soper. The day's look behind the scenes runs from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., starting from the Sheffield Park Training Centre in the top car park. David Chappell's photo below shows the participants of the April FOMD outside the Carriage Works.

• Update to the Loco Roster showing expected loco usage to the end of May.

• Congratulations to Lorna Webb who completed the London Marathon, raising about £6,500 for the Northern Extension Project. The photos below show Lorna in her "Bluebell" running gear, at the East Grinstead Open Day the day before the run (photo: Adam Fink) and with Adam after they completed the marathon together. If you've not yet done so, please consider sponsoring her here, or see the main appeal site for other ways to support the Northern Extension Project.

• John Sandys' photo shows the SECR H-class No.263 being steam tested yesterday at Sheffield Park. There is still a little work to do, not least the completion of the ornate SECR lining and lettering. John's photo gallery from yesterday includes more photos of the H-class, continuing work on the Loco lobby building and canopy at Sheffield Park, then at Kingscote continuing progress on trackwork and the new cattle pens nearing completion, plus 3 further engines in steam. He also has a short video showing the H-class in steam.

• Further details, including flypasts, now available for the 12 & 13 May Southern at War Weekend - we have flypasts by a Harvard on the Saturday and a Spitfire on the Sunday.

• This gallery of photos on a wedding photographer's blog (see the entry for 20th April) shows just what a Bluebell wedding can be like!

• Ben Gray provides a set of photos taken at the Bluebell on the 28th April including coverage of our Toy & Collectors fair that day.

• A selection of photos from various events over the last few weeks from Tom Waghorn, mainly from the Rail Ale train, and also showing of the GN Saloon, back in service after her winter break, when she received some mechanical maintenance.

• Dave Bowles has some photos from Jon Bower's recent photo charter with Terrier 32655 and the Birdcage brake.

• John Harwood has a video showing lots of activity at Kingscote on 30 April.

• Our next lineside photographers PTS course dates are Friday 15 June, Tuesday 24 July, Saturday 25 August and Wednesday 26 September.

• Mark Maguire's photo below, taken on 19th April shows No.323 "Bluebell" in charge of a Spring Observation Car Special.

• The other photos below, thanks to Paul Jarman, show "Captain Baxter" at Tanfield on the 21st April, where yet again it is winning new friends.

• During April 2012 there were 86,587 total hits on this page, from 48,932 unique visitors. Apologies for the recent lack of updates - everyone needs a holiday some time though!

• Derek Hayward's photo shows why Jon Bowers dived into the Carriage Shed on Sunday to scrounge an off-cut of plywood, and emerged with the reporting number carried here.

• Funeral details for Alan Closs are now available on the BRPS Members' Notices.

• Matt Price managed to get a photo of 73204 heading the VEP down to East Grinstead earlier today in preparation for this weekend's open days. The unit was moved from Wimbledon Park last night, and was then worked down to East Grinstead from Tonbridge West Yard today.

• Dave Bowles' provides photos of Saturday's Vintage Goods Train.

• The Book Sale previously advertised to be held at Kingscote on 21-22 April will not now take place.

• John Harwood provides a video of the 1pm Spring Special departure on Wednesday.

• John Sandys visited the railway yesterday morning, the photos show progress on the staff accomodation at Sheffield Park, continuing work on the canopy, and the Spring Special. He also provides a video of 592 shunting at Sheffield Park, and one of 323 "Bluebell" running up to take water.

• Derek Hayward's two photos below show the other two locos running last Sunday - the C with the Lunchtime Pullman, and the E4 with its matching Southern set.

• Clive Emsley provides this photo from last Friday, showing Sheffield Park signalman Brian Peacock conducting the token exchange with the 9F's driver Steve Squire before the departure of the 1.03pm service.

• David Haggar's photo on the right shows the C class at Rock Cutting with Saturday morning's Vintage Goods Train photo charter. David's photo below is from Monday's photo charter with 32655 (Stepney), seen here at Vaux End.

• Loco Works Working Group update on the overhaul of the SR Q-class No.541 - the loco's tender has been re-wheeled.

• It appears that our 4 VEP unit, 3417 Gordon Pettit, should move from Wimbledon Park to East Grinstead tomorrow, ready for the weekend's East Grinstead Open Days.

• Two new events added to the Special Events chronological listing:
  • 1 July: Pooh Bridge Excursion - Travel from London to East Grinstead, and join our a vintage luxury coach and steam train excursion through the Ashdown Forest.
  • 7 July: Beer, Brass and Steam with real ale, a picnic supper, Horsham Borough Band and a ride on a steam train. Phone 01825 720800 for more information and to book tickets.

• Derek Hayward provides a photo below showing the steelwork erected for the southwards extension to the new loco lobby - this section will have toilet, laundry and shower facilities on the first two floors, and loco operations facilities plus a balcony on the top floor, and will also incorporate the main staircase for the above workshop facilities. Derek's second photo below shows RT 3775 sitting at Kingscote during Sunday's East Grinstead Bus Running Day. Derek also now has a final gallery covering the HLF-funded construction of Sheffield Park Carriage Shed, which is now fully operational.

• On Monday Jon Bowers staged another photo charter with Stroudley Terrier 32655 (Stepney) in fully lined out BR black livery, hauling the SECR Birdcage coach. Andrew Strongitharm provides the photo on the right, and David Haggar has a photo gallery and three video clips; run-past at Rock Cutting, the second just south of Kingscote and passing Vaux End.

• Martin Lawrence has a gallery of photos from yesterday afternoon, showing that the Spring Observation Car Specials are proving very popular.

  

• This photo shows "Captain Baxter" at work at Beamish over the weekend. Paul Jarman, the museum's "Keeper of Transport" reports that they had a superb event, attracting 15,000 visitors. He says it really is a stunning little locomotive and reports that Tanfield is looking forward to having it this coming weekend (it moved there yesterday morning). Paul has put many more photos on Beamish Museum's flickr site.

• We had a name check and a web link in satirical IT journal, The Register, yesterday!

• Mike Lee was on the footplate of the 9F for Saturday evening's Golden Arrow Pullman train, and provides the sequence of photos below: coming off shed, on the head of the train, with the setting sun glinting off the loco, and in the dark.

• Stephen Leek's photo shows the C class No.592 paired on the vintage wagons on Saturday morning's photo charter (as ever, organised by Jon Bowers). Stephen has more photos here.

• David Haggar also has a web gallery and a video clip from the photo charter.

• Northern Extension Project News update - the latest progress report, news of the next NEP book sale, and Lorna Webb's preparations for her run in the London Marathon next Sunday.

• Roger Carpenter has put a few pictures of Baxter on holday at Beamish Museum on Friday.

• Derek Hayward has a small selection of photos from Sunday on pages 1 and 2 of this album, and also supplies the photo below showing 'RF' MLL 533 at The Plough at Dormansland on Sunday's East Grinstead Bus Running Day.

• Neal Ball and party came to Friday evening's Rail Ale Train, and has some photos on Flickr, plus the one below, showing the 9F on the train at Sheffield Park. The original of this is also in Neal's gallery.

• Ashley Smith had a day on the lineside on Saturday for the Goods Train day and to catch the 9F, resulting in these photos and a video.

• Chris Ward also has a set of photos from Saturday, although he missed the goods train, which unfortunately did not make it to Sheffield Park, as repairs to the point motor damaged by Wednesday's lightning strike limited the capacity to handle extra trains there in the morning.

• Keith Duke also supplies a set of photos from Saturday.

• The Bluebell Railway features in a BBC website article and video on Research into Parkinson's disease.

• Another of Jan Kool's photos of No.92212 from Good Friday - Jan now also has a gallery of photos from the railway taken over the last month or so.

• This Sunday is the annual East Grinstead Bus Running Day, which always has lots of free bus links into Kingscote station. As a result we are running an extra early train south from Kingscote station at 10.55am on Sunday morning. More details of the bus event here on the Country Bus Rallies site.

• Dave Bowles has some photos of the 9F on Good Friday with its first service train.

• Our Sussex Food Festival at Horsted Keynes on 23 & 24 June is a celebration of locally produced food and drink.

  It is being supported by Ashdown Park, FoodLovers Britain.com, Haywards Heath Co-operative and Plumpton College.

• Graham Court's photo shows No.92212 on the 3 pm departure from Sheffield Park on Good Friday.

• Don't forget that on 21 & 22 April we have our East Grinstead Open Days. Due to work that will then be taking place on the line in preparation for opening the Bluebell's Northern Extension right through to there next year, these open days will be the only occasion this year to visit the new station site at East Grinstead.

• Nick Burgess has a number of photos taken around the railway yesterday.

• Martin Lawrence's photos from 8, 9 and 10 April.

• John Sandys' photos from his visit yesterday, featuring mainly the 9F, also ongoing work at Sheffield Park, and B473 shunting, plus a video largely taken on board the 11am service yesterday.

  

• The timetable shown on the right is for Saturday's Vintage Goods Train, which will be hauled by the SECR C-class (which will then take the afternoon Wealden Rambler tea train). This is all in addition to our hourly 2-train Service One public timetable.

• Two photos from Tony Sullivan taken yesterday, below. B473 is seen with the 1pm ex Kingscote shortly after leaving Horsted Keynes, and 92212 with the 1pm ex Sheffield Park at 3-Arch Bridge. Peter Edwards' photo shows "Captain Baxter" ready to leave Sheffield Park by road for Beamish.

• David Haggar's photo shows No.B473 with its first train of the day on Friday, very smart with loco and four coaches all in matching Southern Railway pre-war livery.

• Reminder that Bluebell volunteer Lorna Webb needs our sponsorship for her London Marathon Run which is in aid of our Northern Extension Project. The Marathon is just over two weeks away!

• Keith Duke enjoyed his day on Friday travelling behind the guest 9F, and provides this great gallery of photos.

• John Sandys provides photos and a video from his visit Thursday, including filming of a Mexican TV ad at Horsted Keynes with the C-class and Met coaches, progress on the new Loco Staff facilities at Sheffield Park, and continuing trackwork at Kingscote.

• Derek Hayward's first photo below shows No.92212 approaching Kingscote on Friday.

• Derek also provides photos of the current state of the track works at Kingscote (where there will be no significant work next week, although the work there will continue into May) and additional pictures of the garden and current floral displays there.

• The second photo below shows the loco works, on Friday, with the wheels for the Q-class tender, with on the left a glimpse of the SECR H-class No.263. Further photos from Friday are available here.

• Jan Kool's photo on the right shows that BR 9F No.92212 entered service on Bluebell Railway trains yesterday, and is seen with the 3pm service as it climbs Freshfield Bank. Not surprisingly there are already lots of photos and videos available, including:
  • Photos from Martin Lawrence
  • Photos from Derek Hayward
  • Video from Bluebell 9F Club member Ben French
  • Video from Aidan Grant.

• Photos below showing the trains running on Friday, from Paul Furlong (92212 with the 3pm ex-SP at 3-Arch Bridge, and 592 with the Wealden Rambler approaches HK), Derek Hayward (92212 approaches the tunnel, Portrait of 92212 at Kingscote, and B473 exits the tunnel), Tony Sullivan (92212 arrives at Horsted Keynes with its first train), David Haggar (92212 with the 3pm service, on Freshfield Bank) and Aidan Grant (92212 ready to leave Sheffield Park).

• The new Sheffield Park Carriage Shed is now in use, as seen in Martin Lawrence's photos and a video (taken on his mobile phone). The Pullman set is in there (as planned the Mk.1 Lounge Car set is now to live in the Dock next to the Loco Shed), as was the Maunsell set (strengthened with the SECR 100-seater), which was the second service set running on Thursday, "put away" by the E4 after its passengers had disembarked. The photo album also includes some shots of Tuesday's test run with the 9F.

• A video from Gary and Philip Bull, shot last Saturday (31 March) showing No.80151 which was running as 80032.

• Derek Hayward's photo below, from yesterday, shows the main roof spans now in place for the above workshop facilities. The corner pillar is necessarily very close to the tramway track used for road-rail transfers, and although it will be very tight, will not unduly inhibit such movements.

• Derek Hayward's photo from Tuesday shows No.B473 at the Sheffield Park advance starter with the three Maunsell coaches.

• Friday of next week (13th April) sees the first of this year's Rail Ale Evenings. The proposed selection of beers includes brews by Hammerpot, WJ King, Rudgate, Brains and Broughton, with differing selections on the train and at Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes stations. Tickets include supper, train ride and jazz band - come along for a great evening!

• Clive Emsley's photo below shows the rear stretcher of SECR No.27's frames, that has been built up with weld to its original cross section. There is a full report on the Loco News pages

• Visiting 9F No.92212 undertook a test run to Kingscote yesterday, and is all set for entry into service on Good Friday. It is seen here, on the right and below, at Sheffield Park in Derek Hayward's photos, taken yesterday. Derek has started a gallery for his photos of the 9F during its 4-month stay.

• Dave Clarke and Richard Salmon will be conducting free guided tours of the Carriage Works at Horsted Keynes over Easter. They will start from the entrance to the works (at the south end of platform 5) at 12.20 and 1.20 on Good Friday and Easter Monday, and at 12.20 on Holy Saturday and Easter Sunday.

• Update to the Football Competition page, with the latest positions in this competition raising funds for the overhaul of our Southern Railway Maunsell Dining Saloon No.7864.

• John Sandys has a photos taken yesterday, covering construction of the new accommodation above the loco works, renewal of window frames and running in board, and repairs to the canopy on platform 1 at Sheffield Park, the new trackwork at Kingscote, continuing work South of Imberhorne Lane Bridge on the Extension, and the arrival at Kingscote of the 9F on its test run. He also supplies videos, showing general scenes around the Railway, work south of Imberhorne Lane, and video taken on board the 1.55pm ex Kingscote, as it leaves Horsted Keynes.

• Derek's second photo below shows progress yesterday with the erection of the last main floor-beam at the south end of the above workshops facility at Sheffield Park. He has added 37 further photos to the gallery for this HLF-funded project.

• Alan Pragnell's photo below shows the GN Saloon on the new electric jacks, which are ideal for lifting this vehicle (it could not be lifted with the previous hydraulic ones, the hand crane being used instead). The carriage is currently receiving attention to its drawgear, and this will prevent it making its usual appearance in service over Easter.

• No.80151 is seen again as 80032, this time with Dogfish ballast wagons in Stephen Leek's photo from Friday's photo-charter.

• East Grinstead Extension News: DDD raises £200k - Project News

• Our 1877-built Fletcher-Jennings loco, "Captain Baxter", is off on tour shortly, with visits planned as follows:
  • Beamish Museum, Great North Steam Fair, 12 to 15 April
  • Tanfield Railway, Light Railway Weekend, 21 to 22 April
  • NRM at Shildon, Spring Steam Gala, 5 to 6 May
  • Severn Valley Railway, Victorian Weekend, 19 to 20 May.

• Martin Lawrence has a great album of photos taken with his pole-cam on Thursday, including the first one below, showing the loco yard, including the newly arrived No.92212.

• Steelwork is starting to be erected at Sheffield Park for the "above workshop facilities" as seen in David Chappell's photo taken yesterday.

• This coming Friday sees the official completion of our new carriage shed at Sheffield Park. The Sunday Permanent Way Gang are seen visiting in their Type 18 Wickham Trolley to do some last minute tidying (again the photo is from David Chappell).

• David Haggar's photo shows No.80151 running as long-scrapped class-mate No.80032 in Lindfield Wood with Bulleid coaches on Friday's photo-charter, which was organised by Jon Bowers. David has an album of photos from the charter, showing that it was clearly a very good day! He also has three videos, a run past shows the loco paired with some Dogfish wagons near Horsted House Farm, a second run past which shows the loco now paired with the three Bulleid carriages at the south end of the Tunnel, and a run past along Monteswood.

• Alan Closs, former Trustee, Station Master, member of the Wednesday and Extension Gangs passed away peacefully in his sleep early yesterday aged 84.
  Alan was the first duty Station Master at Kingscote when the station opened back in 1994 and is one of only a few who have held SM positions at all three stations having started at Sheffield Park back in the 1970s.
  He and the late Ralph Piper were instrumental in the 'GLASPs' project to erect suitable gas lighting back in the late 1980's, which we still use today. He and Ralph were always on hand for other "DIY" projects around Sheffield Park station with Alan's familiar Transit Van on hand to pick up materials, from hardware supplies to signalling equipment!
  Alan leaves his wife and daughters and grandchildren.

• Sam Brown has a set of photos from yesterday, showing that No.80151 was still posing as 80032, along with others from around the railway, showing Nos.B473 & 592, the new point laid over the last fortnight at Kingscote, and the re-graded formation to the south of Imberhorne Lane Bridge on our extension.

• Chris Eden-Green has produced a Steam Locos In Profile video looking at the LBSCR A1/A1X 'Terrier' tanks, heavily featuring our own "Stepney" and "Fenchurch".

• Update, adding a photograph by Rob Faulkner, to the web page for our "small boiler trolley", Flatrol SB Wagon B900036. The Flatrol SB is carrying the tender from the Q-class, and whilst this photo was taken last December before the repainting of the tender commenced, it can be confirmed that, since the Qs never carried anything other than plain black livery, the photo earlier today was indeed, as you may have guessed, specially posed for this year's April Fool's day update.

• Derek Hayward's first photo below shows C-class No.592 leaving Kingscote with the Maunsell set a week ago today.

• Derek's other two photo below show the nicely tended flower beds at Kingscote, and the station-master's garden where a new drain has been laid to help alleviate the flooding to which the station, being at the foot of a hill, is prone.

• So that our own 9F doesn't get forgotten, here is Derek Hayward's photo showing how the re-painting of No.92240 at Horsted Keynes is progressing, as of 20 March.

• Derek's first photo below shows Michelle Barton working on the tender of No.75027, it being very convenient to work on the loco in platform 1 at Horsted Keynes.

  This is conservation rather than simple repainting, and the engines are being taken back to bare metal, and then various layers of undercoat built up after any rust is killed with Chelade. Rubbing down has shown that the original undercoats on 75027 have largely failed and turned to a chalky texture, whereas the original undercoats on 92240 are in slightly better condition. Prepared sections that have been fully rubbed down, and treated or painted, are now smooth to the touch.

  The 9F Club are also continuing with their invaluable work on the engines, and they have been working to clean the wheels and motion. It is pleasing to see our younger members taking part in this conservation project. Derek's next photo below shows the other side of No.75027, where the 9F club have been helping with the wheels.

  Derek has 14 new pictures on pages 1 and 2 of the gallery specifically featuring this work.

• Q-class No.541's tender is now nearing completion, and with the wheels almost ready to be refitted, the topcoat is being applied. When the Loco Works Working Group finished previous engines, many people expressed surprise that we were not painting at least one loco in BR lined black, as this is the most popular livery with enthusiasts. With No.80151 nearing withdrawal, the railway will be left without any lined black engines, so we decided now would be the right time. It will also allow No.1618's tender to be swapped for 541's at short notice if necessary. The final photo below shows Duncan Bourne starting to paint the lining during the group's last working day. The group are working in the Sheffield Park workshop today, so more lining should be finished soon, along with the lion emblems.

• During March 2012 there were 83,238 total hits on this page, from 48,657 unique visitors.

Older updates are in the What's New Archive
or the 2011, the 2010, the 2009, the 2008, the 2007, the 2006, the 2005, the 2004, the 2003, the 2002, the 2001, the 2000, the 1999 and the 1997-8 "What was new" archive pages.

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