RMweb Gold Oldddudders Posted January 23, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 23, 2019 Hotel booked for that weekend, thankyou. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted February 7, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted February 7, 2019 Further details are now available - in as much as there will be some loco changes taking place at Horsted Keynes, details here: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/branch-line-weekend-2/ This from the "what's new" page on the website: The second visiting locomotive for our 15-17 March Branch Line Weekend is Beattie Well Tank No.30587, which is visiting us courtesy of the NRM. It is seen here on a photo charter back in 2006. The timetable for this event will be different each day, and will be available soon. On the Friday we will be operating an increased frequency timetable between East Grinstead and Sheffield Park, featuring shorter trains hauled by a selection of locomotives. On both the Saturday and Sunday it will be a case of "All Change at Horsted Keynes" with an intensive timetable of trains between there and both Sheffield Park and East Grinstead and with frequent changes of locomotives. There will also be brake van rides available at Horsted Keynes. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted February 15, 2019 Share Posted February 15, 2019 Timetable for the Branchline Weekend: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/Branch-Line-Timetable-2019.pdf?fbclid=IwAR0RXfN-Mwed5IxZRNZffkli4_Cyd-v1S5Ta7Qa1FD012IdX-iXKIk6KGd0 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 First the bad news, Bluebell has had to be withdrawn from the event. Updated timetable is available https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Branch-Line-2019-Final-Timetable.pdf The good news is that the two remaining Metropolitian Railway carriages and Bulleid composite carriage No. 5768 return into service this weekend. 5768 is on Set B on the Friday and Set C on the Saturday & Sunday. The four Metropolitian Railway carriages form Set D on the Saturday & Sunday. Full carriage sets details are on: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Branch-Line-Carriage-Set-Formations-2019-v2.pdf 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steamport Southport Posted March 12, 2019 Share Posted March 12, 2019 The Radial looks excellent. Jason Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
60526 Posted March 16, 2019 Share Posted March 16, 2019 It was a blustery day, a bit of fine rain but it was worth it. Is this Lewis Nodes? And the not so good. Mind you in comparison with the USA tank and 80100 this was quite good. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
G-BOAF Posted March 17, 2019 Share Posted March 17, 2019 Just been to Sunday's iteration Branchline Weekend. Fantastic! Although 30587 did sadly fail (late morning?) and was replaced on duties by P 178. Had a great run southbound with the Beattie and W24, followed by W24 and 263 to East Grinstead. Shuttles between HK and Kingscote were a great idea, combined with the required shunting at Kingscote gave the place real energy. Fantastic Gala, with icing on the cake of riding in the Bulleid Society's newly restored Bulleid Composite. This was the Bluebell at its best, but I said that during the 60103 and 60009 visits as well. Since things have settled down post 2014 Extension opening, the extra Bluebell Energy has gone into delivering great shows! It is lovely to see/experience. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted June 15, 2019 Share Posted June 15, 2019 The visiting locos for the Giants of Steam event (11-13 October) are: 6233 Duchess of Sutherland 70000 Britannia Info from https://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 (edited) The Duchess has been replaced by Mayflower for Giants Of Steam Timetable is on: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/giants-of-steam/ Edited September 12, 2019 by Paul.Uni Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calidore Posted September 12, 2019 Share Posted September 12, 2019 I was afraid this might happen when I read of 6233's valve issue; a month seemed pretty short order to fix something like that. Disappointing but one of those things! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 Giants of Steam timetable with loco allocations: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/GoS-Public-Timetable-with-locos-1.pdf Giants of Steam carriage sets: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/Set-Formations-Giants-of-Steam-2019.pdf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted October 13, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 13, 2019 There are some great photos around of Brittania and the B1 at the Bluebell this weekend. Shame I couldn't get over for it. http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted October 13, 2019 Share Posted October 13, 2019 I was there on Friday and had a great day, the Bluebell really is a superbly run railway. I do have one complaint however; They really must do something about the weather ! 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 2020 Events: Branch Line: 3rd – 5th April Road Meets Rail: 13th – 14th June Model Railway Weekend: 27th – 28th June Diamond Event: 7th – 9th August Giants of Steam: 25th – 27th September Full list of events on https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats-on/all-events/ 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfsup Posted November 9, 2019 Share Posted November 9, 2019 18 hours ago, Paul.Uni said: 2020 Events: Branch Line: 3rd – 5th April Road Meets Rail: 13th – 14th June Model Railway Weekend: 27th – 28th June Diamond Event: 7th – 9th August Giants of Steam: 25th – 27th September Full list of events on https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats-on/all-events/ A Shame to see that the Diesel weekend has dropped off the Calendar completely. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted November 9, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 9, 2019 3 minutes ago, surfsup said: A Shame to see that the Diesel weekend has dropped off the Calendar completely. Not a surprise - apart from the 1st Deltic event, visitor numbers were very poor - plus they have been blighted by failures of the hired in diesels - during the last one that was held the S15 had to be pressed into service as a steam thunderbird! Diesel galas on the Bluebell will always be more expensive to hold than on other railways due to the railway not having a home diesel fleet thus requiring significant hire costs to bring enough locos in for the event. on the likes of the Severn Valley, having a loco fail is not usually too much of a big deal as the existence of a home fleet means there is a decent back up in place - and of course more variety with more locos running in the first place. Unless we get enough visitors, then holding diesel galas is simply pouring good money down the drain which could be more effectively used for other projects or bringing in steamers for the other galas. Yes people can complain about the choice of motive power and the date in the calendar selected for previous events - but ultimately we simply didn't get enough visitors. Therefore I predict it will be a long time before another diesel gala is held - if you wait long enough then the 'novelty' effect will build up and will help with visitor numbers. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Neal Ball Posted November 10, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted November 10, 2019 There is an issue next year.... in as much as the East Grinstead line is having major engineering works carried out. this means that the majority of the summer the railway will not be able to accept any movements at EG. On that basis the decision was made not to gave the diesel gala in 2020, Ive been advised that it will return in 2021. With regard to the 69th anniversary celebrations, whilst it us confined to a weekend in August, I also understand that there will be other events during the year. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltic17 Posted November 21, 2019 Share Posted November 21, 2019 (edited) a I will look forward to the Diesel Gala in 2021 then.... It is obviously not easy for starters as the railway has no mainline diesels. If it is to run properly and attract bigger crowds then you need a decent number of diesels present - it was risking it last time with 1 x 31 & 2 peaks trying to run a frequent service as one failure instantly means things are stretched and if I recall both Peaks ran into trouble at various times. GBRf have done a superb job of supporting such events but I personally think you have to watch you don't end up with too many GBRf locos as happened in a previous year. It is important to include the heritage diesels and maybe other rare traction such as a Colas 37 or 56 but if you run the event in cold weather then they can't provide train heat. I would love to see classes 33 & 73 (for Southern fans) represented along with say a 31,37,55(Deltic) again or 52(Western) and say one 66 or other modern traction to tow them there if required. Not easy of course, and all diesel fans would want the Bluebell to have a successful event but sometimes you have to go out and get good traction in to really pull in the crowds. Any best wishes and I will look forward to my next visit to the Bluebell in 2021. Edited November 21, 2019 by deltic17 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted November 22, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 22, 2019 On 10/11/2019 at 07:18, Neal Ball said: On that basis the decision was made not to gave the diesel gala in 2020, Ive been advised that it will return in 2021. It is rumoured that to prevent the gala being marred by failures, the need to employ steam thunderbirds and to generally make the thing more exciting to the diesel enthusiasts up to 6 locos are being looked at for next time. Thing is its prohibitively expensive to bring that many in separately by road - the only way it comes close to being economically viable is if they come in as a convey by rail. With the Oxted line having a loco ban slapped on it for most of next year while NR strengthen / repair the metal viaducts on the route, as you say, no diesel gala will thus be possible till 2021. Hopefully though when it does happen it should be a much more interesting event if the tentative plans become reality. Again, I point out that if the Bluebell had a resident diesel fleet and only a couple of extra visiting locos were needed then it might have been possible to do something with the visiting locos coming in by road. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Zomboid Posted November 22, 2019 Share Posted November 22, 2019 7 hours ago, phil-b259 said: Again, I point out that if the Bluebell had a resident diesel fleet and only a couple of extra visiting locos were needed then it might have been possible to do something with the visiting locos coming in by road Steam only was their USP for some time (is it still the case, or have they got a shunter now?), so not having a home fleet is entirely understandable. Even as someone who has been involved in diesel preservation I'm not sure I'd advocate that they should collect a bunch of diesels. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium phil-b259 Posted November 22, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 22, 2019 2 hours ago, Zomboid said: Steam only was their USP for some time (is it still the case, or have they got a shunter now?), so not having a home fleet is entirely understandable. Even as someone who has been involved in diesel preservation I'm not sure I'd advocate that they should collect a bunch of diesels. Oh don't get me wrong - being steam only as far as passengers are concerned (yes we do have an 09 shunter) is a definite plus in terms of having a USP - and if truth be told something I would like to continue. However in the context of holding diesel galas, that same USP does make them harder and more expensive to put on than other railways (even if NR hadn't banned locos from the Oxted line for the whole of next year). 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold greatcoleswoodhalt Posted December 16, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 16, 2019 News from the Bluebell Railway dated December, 15th: - https://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-the-Bluebell-Railway.html?soid=1108082818574&aid=F0qbVsPgixw 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted January 6, 2020 Share Posted January 6, 2020 (edited) Taff Vale Railway no. 85 from Keighley & Worth Valley Railway, has been announced as the first visitor for the Branch Line Weekend (3-5 April) https://www.bluebell-railway.com/whats_on/branch-line-weekend-3/ Edited January 6, 2020 by Paul.Uni 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold greatcoleswoodhalt Posted January 20, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 20, 2020 News from the Bluebell Railway dated January, 19th: - https://myemail.constantcontact.com/News-from-the-Bluebell-Railway.html?soid=1108082818574&aid=ieyvb_yzEC4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul.Uni Posted January 28, 2020 Share Posted January 28, 2020 41312 from the Mid Hants has been announced as the second visitor for the Branch Line Weekend. In addition to 41312 and Taff Vale no. 85, the following Bluebell locos will be in use: 65 178 263 30541 80151 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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