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NEWS FROM THE BLUEBELL RAILWAY | 21 April 2019
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SR BY404 "Generator Van" Update: Call for Volunteers
The project to convert the
1937 Southern Railway BY 404 four-wheeled guards' brake van
to a generator van for filming projects is underway again now that the weather has improved. We are making progress; however, being out in the open doesn't help when you are trying to paint something properly, and the weather at the end of last year was not kind. We also had a few problems with the van being moved to the Up Yard while work was going onto site the new Horsted Keynes standby generator (which was somewhat ironic as the Up Yard doesn't have any power on hand nearby for power tools and the scaffolding wouldn't fit between the roads).
We are now back in our second home behind the Horsted Keynes signal box,with nearby power sockets, water, scaffolding, ladders, and even cups of tea on occasion when hosted by our friends in the S&T lobby. If the weather holds, we may be able to finish the outside of the van this season and get it back into traffic after years of enforced idleness.
Some jobs too difficult and precise to work on at lineside have been effected off site during the slack months and can be installed at a later date. Windows are being repaired and painted in more suitable surroundings, and two new step boards have been installed, having been made in a volunteer's workshop. There is still more to do. Having started on the north end, we have discovered that one of the end rails is rotten; fortunately, we have one in stock that will fit with a bit ofextra added“another off site job. I have just ordered hardwood for destination backing boards for the new metal plates that were made some time ago, but I have held off making these so they can be fitted straight after the sides are finished and the undercoat is on.
Although this is essentially an Infrastructure project, thanks must go to our friends in the Carriage & Wagon Department. They have been very helpful, providing some materials, sourcing others from their usualsuppliers, and looking for odd spare parts to repair locks and other specialist items that have been salvaged over the years and are meticulously catalogued for restoration projects.
So while we are making progress, the more help we have from anybody willing to wield a brush will shorten the time it takes to get BY 404 back into traffic. Some work has been done to the interior, particularly in the guards cabin, but there is still preparation and painting to be done in the two parcels cabins at either end. We normallywork each Wednesday, and if it is raining, we get a bit more done on the inside. We are not working on 24 April, 2019, but after that, if youcan come along to help, we will be pleased to see you.
For further details of the work involved and other arrangements, please contact me at
mikehopps@aol.co.uk
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By Mike Hopps
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Pat Acock getting the undercoat on.
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Volunteers are welcome to help convert the guards brake van into a generator van to assist filming projects.
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FOSP Update: Attention Turns to Newick Siding
Now that the Friends of Sheffield Park (FOSP) have finally completed thefit-out of the Above Works Facility (AWF)“an enterprise that has taken us the better part of nine months (the most extensive of our "Can You Just...?" exploits so far)“we are turning our minds to catching-up on myriad tasks that have gone largely untouched for a year or more.
Some of these tasks have languished too long“we were engaged on the Bessemer Arms canopy for six months prior to AWF“so there is a big list of things to do, large and small, and it's time to get the paint pots out.
One larger job that we were asked to look into is to rebuild the timber platform alongside the Newick Siding, which facilitates access for carriage cleaning and maintenance. The current structure, of indeterminate age, was evidently built in two phases with slightly different detailed methods of construction.
For some time the northern half has required periodic interventions to secure the timber boards forming the platform surface, as the underlyingtimber bearers have deteriorated to the point where the fixings have largely ceased to do their job. Such patching-up can only ever have a limited success, and we judged last year that decay in the bearers had reached a critical condition. Thus, a complete rebuild of the northern half of the walkway was planned and is now about half complete.
As usual, sound planning has been crucial to success, and a small group of us analysed the material requirements“"a lot of wood and screws!"“anddevised a cutting schedule to optimise the specifications and thus procure the minimum quantity, whilst using available standard timber lengths. Finally, we devised a construction method to minimise disruption and, hopefully, keep the whole walkway available for use between weekly working parties.
Having obtained three quotes from potential suppliers“a worthwhile exercise, as there was nearly £500 between the highest and the lowest quote“we ordered the timber. A small initial quantity was called-off so we could test our construction method on just one bay (there are 13 in all). Happily, we were able to verify the cutting plan“or "cunning plan!"“and everything worked-out nicely with a minimum of off-cut waste.
Hence, we were able to confidently call-off the remaining quantities of materials, and with good weather and steady work over a number of weeks,it has usually been possible to replace two bays of the platform in a single day. At the time of writing, we have completed about half the task, progressing steadily northwards.
Once complete, we shall consider the best way to create a non-slip surface to keep carriage cleaners safe, as much of their work involves squirting water and chemicals around, making wooden surfaces slippery.
Elsewhere, routine maintenance is being undertaken. Among these jobs, a small working party is tackling a refurb of the station fire buckets andtheir hanging racks. This task has challenged ingenuity when it comes to getting the lettering just right. Technological proposals using modern materials to make stencils hasn't quite worked-out, so it is necessary to revert to the tried and tested "steady hand and small paintbrush". Watch around the station for the results!
By Chas Melton
Photo: The impromptu workbench alongside the Newick walkway (trains were not running!) (R. Lowe).
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WHAT'S ON?
Here are some exciting spring and early summer event dates for your calendar ...
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11 May:
Toy and Rail Collectors' Fair
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25-27 May:
STEM Fair at Sheffield Park
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9 June:
Classic Vehicle Show at Horsted Keynes
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14-16 June:
Road Meets Rail, plus the Sussex Ales Beer Festival
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29-30 June:
Model Railway Weekend
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Bluebell Specials Are Coming in May
Travel in the Railway's unique Observation Car and see how the Railway got its name!
Bluebell Specials take place 1-3 and 8-10 May, 2019, when the 1913 Observation Car will be added to normal service trains.
Trains depart at 10:45 a.m., 1:30 p.m., and 3:30 p.m. from Sheffield Park Station for the 1 hour and 40 minute return journey to and from East Grinstead.
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"Mayflower" in March: A Photographic Report
On 23 March, 2019, the Bluebell Railway was the destination for "Steam Dreams" railtour from Southend hauled by LNER B1 No. 61306 "Mayflower".
Julian Clark’s photo (bottom left) shows "Mayflower" leaving Horsted Keynes on its way to Kingscote, where the loco and its passengers would transfer to the railtour stock to return to Southend.
The remainder of the report
covers the tour, using those photos submitted for use on the Bluebell Railway blog, in chronological order through the day.
It also includes Julian's photo of No. 33207 "Jim Martin" (bottom right), only the second Crompton to run on the Railway. It is one of the“Slim Jims” built to the narrower profile required for operation on theline to Hastings.
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Roger Cruse's photo shows the boiler from No. 80151 being lowered into its frames on 10 April, 2019. "Since this photo, the tanks have been reinstated, and the team is working on returning the fittings and pipework. Thank you to Workshop Manager Chris Shepherd for permission."
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YOUR PAINTING: "WAVERLEY"
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FROM THE MOVIETONE ARCHIVE: NEW ELECTRIC TRAIN
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FROM THE GEOGRAPH ARCHIVE: CREWE
South end of Crewe station in summer 1959, by Ben Brooksbank. Engines visible (
in the full photo
) include Black 5s nos. 44750 and 45056; No. 4120 "Princess Royal"; No. 46212; and No. 78030.
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Footplate Tasters
The Footplate Tasters have proved so popular that all original 2019 dates sold very quickly. More dates have been added in May: 7, 13, 14, 20, and 21. If you fancy being an engine driver or know someone who’s always dreamed of being one,
why not snap up a date
?
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Filming Services
The Bluebell Railway is in frequent demand as a film and television location. To discuss your requirements, please contact the Filming Team at our Sheffield Park Office on 01825 720835 or at
filming@bluebell-railway.co.uk
.
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Father’s Day Carvery
Why not bring dear old dad to the Railway on Father's Day (16 June, 2019) and treat him to a mouth-watering
three-course carvery
? The Catering Team has devised
a special menu
for this special day.
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Go Behind the Scenes at Horsted Keynes
Following on from the success of last year’s "Behind the Scenes" tours of the Carriage & Wagon Works every Saturday, C&W volunteers will again be running these tours every Saturday from 27 April, 2019, until the end of September (except on Model Railway Weekend, 29 June).
The start time is slightly changed to 1:45 p.m. to fit in with this year’s revised timetable. Visitors can eat at Sheffield Park or East Grinstead and then hop on the 1:15 p.m. from the Park or the 1 p.m. fromEast Grinstead to Horsted Keynes to see what’s going on in the workshops.
This is an opportunity to see ongoing restoration work to the historic collection of carriages and wagons in areas that are not normally open to the public, as well as to catch up with the latest developments with the OP4 shed.
Other attractions at Horsted Keynes include the Elephant Play Van for younger children and the art display from Rail Artists South East, adjacent to Platform 5. As before, the tours are free, although donations towards the Maunsell Restaurant Car are always very welcome!
By David Rhydderch
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Project 27 Update: Riveting Stuff!
(
11 April, 2019
)Some of the team spent the week's annual leave making a start at riveting No. 27's frames. Both of the two frame stretchers have now beenriveted home, as well as the six running plate supports, with the fronttwo needing to be in place before the new cylinder block is fitted.
Attention was then turned toward making a start at fitting up the rear buffer beam and drag box and preparing this for riveting next.
Offsite at Statfold Barn, the cylinders“now completed“were duly collected at the end of the week, despite the best efforts of the British motorway system and exceptionally bad congestion, but the effortwas worth it!
Thanks must go to Statfold Barn for the excellent work they have done machining our cylinder block, as well as to the guys who took the week off to work on No. 27 and to Stuart and Paul for their valued help with riveting at the beginning of the week.
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The two frame stretchers and six running plate supports are now riveted in.
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The cylinder block after its journey from the north ready for unloading.
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The Railway on 11 April, 2019, by Olivier Janneau.
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The S15 on 15 April, 2019, by Heritage Railway Productions.
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@XtinaG (14 April, 2019)
: "Such a cool weekend on the @bluebellrailway for their murder mystery evening! Would definitely do another one!"
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Congratulations to Trevor Summerfield, who sits atop the
football league table
with only a few games left. Hot on his trail and vying for Champions League places are MJ Overbury, Peter Richards, and Jon Elphick. Funds raised from the Railway's football competitions will help the restoration of Maunsell Restaurant Car No. 7864.
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Blast from the Past: Bluebell Railway Faces
Tony Davies takes us on a trip down memory siding with this nostalgic photo essay featuring some Bluebell Railway personalities and scenes.
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3 March, 2003: Dave Ratcliffe outside Borough Market SB in its National Railway Museum location. "Dave had gone to York to assist with a 'Cab It' event at the NRM."
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6 April, 2002: Dick Riley is on the left. "You may know that he 'had something to do' with the 'Fenchurch' chimney!"
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7 Aug, 1999: "Dave Ratcliffe was driving No. 73082, and I asked him for a photo!"
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Summer 2002: Dave Ratcliffe and Mike Toplis. "I knew Mike when he lived at Beckenham. I last saw him in March 2018 when he had moved to Biggin Hill area, I think."
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Lance Allen (16 April, 2019): "123-years old 01 class No. 65 is prepared at Sheffield Park for another full day's work."
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On Twitter,
Donna Redding writes
,"Q class No. 30541 at the Bluebell Railway today (10 April, 2019) at Sheffield Park. All coaches steam-heated today and cosy and warm. Nice day had. Had a tour of SteamWorks! too“it's great. Something for everyone @bluebellrailway."
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John Sandys
(12 April, 2019): "The Q class on Set A hauling the Mets, with No. 847 in charge of the Mk.1s on another bright sunny day, although with a chilly wind blowing."
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Richard Salmon's 12 April, 2019, photo shows No. 847 steaming again after her service.
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Derek Hayward's
updated photo gallery
for BR Standard class 5MT No. 73082 includes this lovely image of "Camelot" drifting round the bend north of Sloop Bridge with a goods train on 15 July, 2017.
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Richard Salmon's photo shows the 01 with the Metropolitan coaches at Hosted Keynes“the lunchtime train on 16 April, 2019.
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FOLLOW THE RAILWAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA: FACEBOOK, TWITTER, OR YOUTUBE
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Thankyou for reading our eNewsletter. It's because of you--our members, volunteers, visitors, and supporters--that the Railway continues its success.
Pleasecontinue to support us by passing this issue onto your friends, family,and/or colleagues by forwarding using the social media links above, or encourage others to sign up for the twice-monthly eNewsletter
at this link
.
If you ever have a question, comment, or contribution, don't hesitate to get in touch with me at
Sincerely,
John Walls
Editor-in-Chief, eNewsletter
Bluebell Railway
© Bluebell Railway Preservation Society 2019
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