News From the Bluebell Railway
Archive - September-December 1999

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News update 20 December 1999

Bluebell Railway 2000 Timetable

The year's special events list (which has now been finalised, adding dates for the Victorian Evenings, a Twenties Evening, and the Military Vehicles day) kicks off with, between 31st December 1999 and 3rd January 2000, a special series of Vintage Trains, which will feature two sets of pre-grouping carriages hauled by pre-grouping engines.

31 Dec    8-00pm from Sheffield Park, return at 9pm from Kingscote
         10-30pm from Sheffield Park, return at 11pm from Horsted Keynes
 1 Jan   12-30am from Sheffield Park, return at 1am from Horsted Keynes

• Two new gradient posts have been installed on the stretch of line south of Kingscote.
• Structural inspection and de-rusting of the ex-Mitcham footbridge has been taking place, and the extent of repairs required is being considered. A survey of the West Hoathly site in preparation for its eventual re-erection has also been undertaken.
• The autumn civil-engineering work has gone well, with work progressing ahead of schedule, in spite of having been delayed initially to allow for the filming of "The Railway Children" in October. Improved under-track drainage and three new points have been installed at the south of Horsted Keynes, including one which will eventually form part of the extension to Ardingly but which will, until then, provide improved access to the long siding on the Ardingly trackbed.
• The bridge under the line just south of Kingscote has had two of its wing-walls rebuilt by volunteers from the Friends of Kingscote.

The Fire Service have a new recruits day on the 9th Jan 2000, when they are inviting people to come along who may like to join the department for all its many roles! Should anyone be interested then they can contact Julian Best in the first instance or drop in at the fire station in the weeks beforehand.

With our own two Bulleid Pacifics able to act as the Bluebell's "Flagships" over the coming two decades, with "Blackmoor Vale" expected out of the works in the next few months, and "Sir Archibald Sinclair" also likely to enter service during the next decade, "Port Line" will be missed, but not too much!

• Full details now available for our Golden Arrow Pullman Dining Trains for 2000.
• Updated and expanded details of Conference, Meeting, Dinner-Dance and Wedding Reception facilities in the Birch Grove Suite.
• Ordnance Survey map of the area, from their Get-a-map service, included to help with Access to the Railway.
• Tony Hillman's web site has details of our Toy and Rail Collectors' Fair, Sat 22 - Sun 23 July 2000.
• Gradient Profile to the South of Kingscote modified in accordance with Les Haines' survey, and the new gradient posts.

Finally, I'd like to wish all subscribers to the Bluebell's e-mail news service a Very Happy Christmas and a problem-free start to the New Millennium!

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Return to Bluebell Railway Home Page,
or to Mark Dewell's UK Heritage Railways or the Heritage Railway Association
See also Lewis Nodes' Loco Works News Photos and News from the Maunsell Locomotive Society.

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The film will be shown on ITV next year, and their publicity machine is already gearing up for it!

Visitor 'Maude' has returned to the wilds of the north.

92240, 73082, 75027, C1, 592, 473, 323, 65, 55, 3 operational.

Following the recent boiler repairs (new patch screws in the firebox doorplate seam) to 92240 is has been decided to operate the loco at reduced pressure. This is not because of any weakness in the boiler, but simply that it will reduce the amount of boiler maintenance. The safety valves are now set to 225lbs/sq in instead of 250. This also brings the boiler pressure in line with the other BR standards operational on our line. The theoretical tractive effort is reduced from 39,667lbs to 35,700.

Bulleid Q1, C1, is now back in service after repairs to the piston valves.

In the works...
34023 Blackmore Vale is progressing well. The tender chassis was re-wheeled last week after much work that has included fabrication of a complete new front dragbox. The tender wheels and journals have all been turned at Swindon. Unfortunately one wheel-set had a very worn journal and this is now at the minimum allowable diameter. The axle will have to be replaced at the next major overhaul. A great deal of other work has been done on the tender, which was actually in rather poor condition. A complete new tank will be fabricated in the next few months. In the meantime the brake gear is being refurbished. The main brakeshaft, which runs across the back of the tender and translates the force from the vacuum cylinders to a pull on the brake rigging, has been found to be bent. A new shaft is being made to replace this.

The loco is actually a 4-2-2 currently, with the leading and training wheel-sets away for tyre and journal turning. The piston valves are being examined.

Overall it looks like the return to steam will be in time for the summer 2000 service.

The effort on Dukedog 3217 is still concentrated on the boiler. Almost all the crown stays have been re-drilled and tapped (it is good practice to leave a few in place to support the firebox whilst the others are removed). The few remaining ones will have to wait until we have some new stays to take over the support. The copper side are all unchanged in size (1" x 11 tpi), but the outer wrapper has been re-drilled and tapped to 1 1/8" x 11 tpi. The new stays will thus be compound. It is likely that the manufacture of the 112 new stays will be contracted out. The new smokebox tubeplate is complete, and we are almost in a position to place the order for the new angle ring that will secure the tubeplate to the boiler barrel.

The cylinder block for 'Fenchurch' has been re-assembled after repair and will shortly be replaced in the frames.

Initially preserved, from 1978, on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, and subsequently at Robertsbridge, it has now been bought for restoration to traffic by Bluebell C&W member Trevor Rapley, and moved to Horsted Keynes. Restoration work has already started on components of the mahogany panelled interior, although the magnitude of the task means that it will be several years before the vehicle returns to passenger duty.

Trevor's intention is to restore the vehicle initially as Southern Railway 3363, in lined olive green, to match the two SECR "hundred seaters" and the LBSCR First, No.7598, the restoration of which Trevor also led. When the Railway's other two Birdcage Brakes are restored, it might then be possible for our 60' brake No.1170 to take the place of 3363, which might then be returned to SECR livery, as 3363 is the correct length of vehicle to match our other "Ashford Gothic" 50' Birdcage Brake, No.1061 on the other end of a "Trio" set.

Starting 21st November: If wet: lifting and packing track in Sharpthorne Tunnel; if dry: lifting, packing and cant correction around Black Hut.
Meet: for 9.30 trolley departure, at PW Mess coach, Platform 1, HK. Return at time of last service train. Bring Packed Lunch.

The Carriage Works Extension was started on Monday. Excavations for the first of the foundations in the down yard car park have been made and approved by the building inspector. First pour of concrete was yesterday. There is enough money for the foundations and steel frame. Money is coming in from the appeal and I hope we can go straight on with the next phase straight away. Only about 20% of membership had the leaflet inserted into Bluebell News which was a bit of a blow. Details and a donation form are available on our web site.

Trevor's Birdcage arriving has highlighted how desperately we need this extra space. The existing shed is now full with carriages either restored or being restored. Nice to get some physical progress at last. Help if you can.

• We now have our own domain name, www.bluebell-railway.co.uk. The site however remains unchanged, so existing links and bookmarks will continue to work. Due to past unreliability, the use of the alias "www.visitweb.com/bluebell" is to be avoided.
• Update from Peter Richards with the latest news of the Horsted Keynes Re-signalling.
• Jeremy Ovenden has provided photos of the following carriages now on the Bluebell:
  • SR Bulleid Brake No.2526 in departmental service;
  • SR Bulleid Brake No.4227 at Bristol Docks;
  • SR Maunsell Buffet Car No.7864 at Horsted Keynes;
• New Signalling pages from Peter Richards explaining:
  • Electric Train Staff Instruments;
  • Electric Train Key-Token Instruments;
  • The Walkers Train Describers.
• Photos from Jon Bowers added to the report on the Giants of Steam special event.
• New page for the Newly arrived SECR Birdcage Brake Carriage No.3363
• Audio recordings of the S15, 847, added to Michael Taylor's Audio Page.

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Return to Bluebell Railway Home Page,
or to Mark Dewell's UK Heritage Railways or the Heritage Railway Association
See also Lewis Nodes' Loco Works News Photos and News from the Maunsell Locomotive Society.

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Visitor Info. - Catering - Contacts - News - Locos - Carriages & Wagons - Signals - History - Other - Links - Search the site

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Your ideal Film/TV location?

Details available for Starlight Special and Giants of Steam

Starlight Special: 23rd October

• Four Pre-Grouping steam engines in action
• Experience the romance of STEAM trains after dark
• Hourly Departures from Sheffield Park, from 11am to 8pm
• Trains formed of Pre-grouping and SR Maunsell carriages
• Goods Trains formed of SECR and LBSCR vehicles
• Special photographic opportunities and flood-lighting

Giants of Steam: 24th October

• The Bluebell's larger steam engines show their metal
• Intensive timetable with three train service.
• Featuring visiting North British Railway Locomotive No.65243 "Maude"

Other News in Brief

• A further section of trackbed on the Extension to East Grinstead was purchased in September.
• Work is now well under way on the northern section of the Horsted Keynes Platform 1/2 canopy.
• Re-signalling of Horsted Keynes: New main timbers are now in place in the signal box, and the new Up Inner Home bracket signal has been commissioned
• The platforms have been re-numbered at Horsted Keynes; we now have a "Platform 5" in regular use.
• The BASH web pages (Metropolitan Carriages restoration) have been completely revised.

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Return to Bluebell Railway Home Page,
or to Mark Dewell's UK Heritage Railways or the Heritage Railway Association
See also Lewis Nodes' Loco Works News Photos and News from the Maunsell Locomotive Society.

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Visitor Info. - Catering - Contacts - News - Locos - Carriages & Wagons - Signals - History - Other - Links - Search the site

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Why not become a BRPS Member?     -     Get more involved as a Volunteer

Your ideal Film/TV location?

It has the advantage that it comes with a substantially complete underframe (unlike the LBSCR coach now completed), and doors which are all in fairly good shape.

Once restored it will provide a brake coach, in lined olive green, for the current SECR/LBSCR vintage train. Completion of the LSWR Brake Third (see below) could make this a 5-coach set. Subsequently, once other SECR vehicles are completed, it is the correct diagram to go at the other end of a Trio set with our existing short birdcage, exactly matching the body-style, so could be re-painted to match.

As with our existing 50' birdcage brake, No.1061, it has six passenger compartments, originally a 2nd/3rd composite. In addition it has a pair of lavatories, serving two compartments.

We have also re-fitted some of the internal partitioning. The section between the brake end and the southern-most compartment, which had one-third cut away in 1948 to allow internal access to the brake end, is now virtually complete. All the surviving original partitioning has been retained, and for any passing observer it was difficult to tell what was new and what old, so good is the original material. Half of the partition between the next two compartments, all of which was also removed in 1948, is back in place. This already makes the inside of the vehicle look very different - less like a parcels van and more like the passenger vehicle it is.

We expect to fit a further east-side bottom-rail section, plus re-fit the other Guard's Ducket, before the year-end. This Ducket needs more replacement wood, but still has some original material.

An order has been placed for plywood panels to clad the brake end.

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Return to Bluebell Railway Home Page,
or to Mark Dewell's UK Heritage Railways or the Heritage Railway Association
See also Lewis Nodes' Loco Works News Photos and News from the Maunsell Locomotive Society.

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Visitor Info. - Catering - Contacts - News - Locos - Carriages & Wagons - Signals - History - Other - Links - Search the site

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Why not become a BRPS Member?     -     Get more involved as a Volunteer

Your ideal Film/TV location?

The memory of the Somerset and Dorset line will be re-kindled with trains hauled by engines appropriate to the line, with suitable locomotive combinations, headboards and carriage destination boards. Our BR Standard class 5 locomotive will carry the Name and Number: 73087 "Linette", and the other locomotives should be Standard 4 No.75027, and, we hope, 9F No.92240. On the Saturday a mixed Passenger and Van train will run in between the two main trains which will maintain an hourly service between 11am and 4pm. On the Sunday, the Golden Arrow Pullman dining train will run, for pre-booked luncheons, and double-heading of the service trains will occur as per S&D practice.

Normal fares apply. Event Guide and working timetable available for £1 from booking offices.

Please ring 01825 720825 (24 hours) for further information.

7.30 pm, Willington School, Worcester Road, Wimbledon SW19 (approx. 5 mins walk Wimbledon BR/LT station).

Wivelsfield Historical Society has a meeting, which is open to the public, on Thursday, 21st October at Wivelsfield Village Hall (off the Chailey to Wivelsfield/Burgess Hill Road and by the playing fields), Wilvelsfield Green, opposite Slugwash Lane. It will cost a £1-00 to get in.

According to the leaflet: "Bill Gage, Assistant County Archivist, is giving a vdeo presentation on early railways in Sussex to include archive footage of steam trains and a look at the lines no longer in use."

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Return to Bluebell Railway Home Page,
or to Mark Dewell's UK Heritage Railways or the Heritage Railway Association
See also Lewis Nodes' Loco Works News Photos and News from the Maunsell Locomotive Society.

---

Visitor Info. - Catering - Contacts - News - Locos - Carriages & Wagons - Signals - History - Other - Links - Search the site

---

Why not become a BRPS Member?     -     Get more involved as a Volunteer

Your ideal Film/TV location?

HK-SP 10.40 am
SP-KC 12.30 pm
KC-SP 1.33 pm
SP-KC 2.30 pm
KC-SP 3.33 pm
SP-HK 4.30 pm

The show is at Croydon Fairfield Halls, Park Lane, Croydon, CR9 1DG.
Box office: 0181 688 9291.

Right:The SER O1 in action at the SECR Gala Weekend
Photo © Jon Horrocks

The SER O1 No.65 turned heads at the SECR Centenary Gala. To look at, it's very much a 7/8 scale C-class, so they make a good combination when double-headed. Also entering service at the SECR Centenary Weekend, after an overhaul, was SECR Passenger Luggage Van No.153, which can be seen behind the loco in this photo.

Since the SECR Centenary events the O1 has been in frequent use for the last month, having been in regular service, often double-heading with the C-class. It has also been running solo; on the Bank Holiday Monday it hauled the three-coach SR Maunsell set, forming the Vintage Branch-line train for our three-train peak service.

Left:The SER O1 and Birch Grove at Kingscote
Photo © Jon Horrocks

The SECR Centenary Gala weekend itself was a great success, although the complex timetable (much the same as the Winter-steam-up, which ran to time) did result in some late running. Vintage coaches, the SECR freight train (complete with another newly overhauled SECR wagon making its first outing) together with three SECR (and several other) locos made for a splendid event, with four different sets of coaches ensuring that one could spent the entire weekend coming across some combination you'd not previously seen.

Jonathan Horrocks has put several of his photos of the event on his website.

Birch Grove has been on its summer holiday to the Isle of Wight

Right:W11 and 473 at Haven Street, 21st August
Photo © Lewis Nodes

Peter Richards and Lewis Nodes have provided photos and a web page which gives an account of the visit of Birch Grove to the IoW Steam Railway this summer. By all accounts, the visit has been a great success, swelling visitors to the line, especially for the gala weekend when they had three Brighton locos, plus the LSWR 02, in action.

Encouraging news for the proposed stock storage sheds. The Lottery Heritage Fund application has been approved in principle, and the next stage is to submit the detailed application.

My thanks to those of you who sponsored my wife and I; we raised £215, most of it from recipients of this news service. I'm told that the total is nearing £2000, which will go a good way towards the funding required for the LSWR coach project for the coming year, and with more money still coming in.

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Return to Bluebell Railway Home Page,
or to Mark Dewell's UK Heritage Railways or the Heritage Railway Association
See also Lewis Nodes' Loco Works News Photos and News from the Maunsell Locomotive Society.

---

Visitor Info. - Catering - Contacts - News - Locos - Carriages & Wagons - Signals - History - Other - Links - Search the site

---

Why not become a BRPS Member?     -     Get more involved as a Volunteer

Your ideal Film/TV location?

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Into 2000

Vintage Trains
Vintage Style

Celebrate the turn of the century by travelling in the
style your great-grandparents would have experienced.

A special timetable (using two vintage trains) will operate on these days, and will also include the use of a vintage goods train. Train times will be as the timetabled Service 2.

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Return to BRPS Home Page, to the Timetable or to Special Events

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News from the Bluebell Archives:
2006: Jan-Dec
2005: Jan-June, July-Dec
2004: Jan-April, May-July, Aug-Dec
2003: Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept, Oct-Dec
2002: Jan-March, April-June, July-Sept, Oct-Dec
2001: Jan-March, April-July, Aug-Dec
2000: Jan-April, May-Aug, Sept-Dec
1999: Jan-April, May-Aug, Sept-Dec
1998: Jan-June, July-Dec
1997: Jan-June, July-Dec
1996: Jan-July, Aug-Dec
1995: June-Dec

Other archives of online news and newsletters:

Bluebell Times (March 2020 - Present) on the Bluebell's main site

Archive of e-Newsletters (November 2011-August 2020) maintained by the Bluebell's Museum and Archive team.

Archive of "What's New/Blog" (1997 - Present) on this server