WINTER 2020 Vol. 62 No. 4 £2.99 SteamLights SUCCESS!

Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage awards us £727,200 ‘Off the Rails’ gala Palmers Bridge replacement

JOURNAL OF THE

001 - cover.indd 1 16/12/2020 09:07 BLUEBELL RAILWAY Winter 2020 Sheffi eld Park station, nr Uckfi eld, Vol. 62 No. 4 East TN22 3QL. Tel: 01825 720800 Email: [email protected] Issue 287 www.bluebell-railway.com www.bluebell-railway.com/brps Filming Enquiries: Tel: 01825 720835 Editor: Colin Tyson www.bluebell-fi lming.co.uk ‘Westering’, 6 Kedale Road, Seaford, BN25 2BY [email protected] Tel: 07943 021585

Editorial team: Roger Cruse, Paul Bromley, Roger Price Design: Anita Waters

COPY DATE for the Spring 2021 issue is 1 March 2021. Front cover main: No 73082 Camelot heads our new SteamLights experience train at ree Arch Bridge on 5 December 2020. DAVE BOWLES

Rear cover: e goods train is being prepared at in readiness for the ‘O the Rails’ event on 24 October 2020. JAMES HAMILTON

Bluebell News is published quarterly at the end of March, June, September and December. Opinions expressed are not necessarily those of the society or company.

BLUEBELL RAILWAY PLC BLUEBELL RAILWAY PRESERVATION SOCIETY Chairman & Director President Gordon Pettitt OBE Chris Hunford Vice Presidents Bill Brophy, Graham Flight, Company Secretary Graham Flight Charles Hudson MBE, David Quarmby CBE, Roy Watts MBE C&W Director Bob Pamment Acting Chairman Steve Bigg Acting Vice Chairman Roy Watts MBE Communications Director Paul Bromley General Secretary Gavin Bennett Finance Director David Burch Membership Secretary Don Brewer Treasurer Jan Kozminski Infrastructure Director Barry Luck Trustees James Funnell, Robert Hayward, Roger Kelly, Commercial & Marketing Director John Knight, Mike Priestley, Chris Saunders, James Young Paul Lelew Chaplain Rev David Murdoch Operations Director Mike Ellis Web team Sophie Matthews and Richard Salmon - [email protected] Safety Director Martin Cresswell HRA Representative Roger Price Non-Executive Director Steve Bigg BLUEBELL RAILWAY TRUST Registered Charity No. 292497 Museum Curator Tony Drake Trustee BRT Trustee Ltd Archivist Roger Price Chairman and Administrative Governor Vernon Blackburn Funding Governor Trevor Swainson Governors Sam Bee, Steve Bigg, Terry Cole, Richard Salmon, Roy Watts MBE BRPS Governor Colin Tyson Company Secretary Lance Allen

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002-3 - flannel-welcome.indd 2 16/12/2020 09:10 Comment

O1 Class No 65 approaching Ketches with the 2.30 train from She eld Park on 31 October 2020. PETER EDWARDS

Welcome to the winter issue of Bluebell News. wagons had been overlooked for far too be a prime candidate for speci c heritage ere is a lot happening at the Railway as I long but it goes to show that when a band of lottery funding. Funding that would pay for write (mid-December), having just completed volunteers are able to get the bit between their its restoration o -site (candidates such as my  rst rostered SteamLights platform sta teeth then they can make great things happen. Statfold Barn or the which turn last night. It was so good to see lots of is seems to be a welcome trend at the is located in the city of the locomotive’s birth, happy visitors once again. moment; witness the volunteers from the come to mind) and again the story of the Following the end of ’s second Loco Dept who are moving fundraising contractor and associated navvies building the national lockdown in early December, our forward to accelerate the 9F’s position in the line could make a great educational story so sta , volunteers and visitors breathed a sigh restoration queue. that would be another box ticked. It is also no of relief that both East and were ere has also been much talk on social coincidence that there is a to be in ‘Tier 2’, which e ectively meant ‘Full media regarding other potential projects sized gap on the at the south end of Steam Ahead’ for our seasonal trains. e gathering pace for acceptance. Bear in mind SteamWorks! which, with a little attention, national situation remains  uid however that projects still have to be agreed by the could make for a great cameo of pick-axe and so we remain cautious going forward. e railway’s management in order to prevent shovel wielding mannequins and a push- second lockdown did shave o the start of a ‘scatter’ approach of undeliverable and button recording that tells the story of Joseph both our Santa Specials and SteamLights un nished projects. Like the wagons, again it is Firbank and his merry men. products and the latter was extended into non-revenue-earning vehicles that are attracting As it was only designed to pull a few mid-January and then the end of January attention because there are still many heritage wagons, full restoration would be costly and to meet demand but, as I write, this is not assets on our stock list that remain unloved. possibly needless, but a quick  x would be to a ‘given’. Fortnightly Government brie ngs e  rst is our Southern Railway Travelling get this locomotive inside from being out in continue to keep us on our toes! Post O ce carriage, abandoned a er its the elements at Horsted Keynes and letting During the last quarter we even managed restoration many years ago when its treatment the 9F Club loose on it when they are allowed to stage a mini ‘special event’ in the shape of using a ‘new’ etch primer didn’t etch and the to meet again. an ‘O the Rails’ gala, with visitors travelling  nished paintwork literally fell o in chunks. Meanwhile, stay safe and we look forward on socially-distanced managed trains that Its promoters rightly suggest that it has a to meeting you in 2021. paused at stations long enough to visit learning value for our schools/education various forms of heritage transport displays. visits as to how our post used to travel and be Providing a further link to various means sorted in pre-motorway juggernaut days. of cartage by road, was the return of our However top of the pile is the interest demonstration goods trains, ably put together being shown in doing something with by our recently-formed Bluebell Goods Sharpthorn – the little 0-4-0ST Manning Division volunteers. Well done to all of those Wardle contractors’ locomotive of 1877 responsible for maintaining and restoring our vintage that helped to build the & Colin Tyson wagon  eet. Here’s to many more examples Railway. Probably unique in Editor being brought back to operation. As non- its circumstance – a heritage line owning a revenue-earning vehicles, it’s fair to say that locomotive that built its line – it would surely

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002-3 - flannel-welcome.indd 3 17/12/2020 08:51 News

promote SteamLights in future years. anks to driver Jim Grant and SteamLights season  reman Ben Dingley who said that it was a challenge to run the train at the right speed to show o the lineside displays – but they did a terri c job. I have to thank two key sta members for their outstanding work on SteamLights; namely co-ordinator Julia Pique, who has put an enormous amount of planning into this new product and has spent countless hours organising every detail. Secondly hats o to Carriage & Wagon works manager Rowan Millard and his team of employees and volunteers. e promoter of the event, Andrew Pooley, said it was the best rigged train he had ever seen at any of the railways running similar events. SteamLights had to be moved from November due to lockdown No 30541 passes ree Arch Bridge with the 8pm SteamLights train from She eld Park on and is essentially being run 11 December 2020. NICK GILLIAM through December and until the end of January and we hope e SteamLights test train ran without a hitch with the exception equipment at Horsted Keynes that it will be one of our premier on Friday 13 November very of one string of LED lights which and the locomotive returned products going forward. successfully from She eld Park to failed on the locomotive Camelot. to She eld Park fully lit. e PAUL LELEW Horsted Keynes twice. e  rst run is was recti ed very quickly second run was  lmed for use in Commercial and marketing was a full dress rehearsal and went by our contracted supplier of the our future marketing activity to director

HELP YOUR RAILWAY AT £727,200 GRANT AID BOOST THE JANUARY SALES Hoping to bag a bargain in the January sales? A reminder that FOR GOING FORWARD you can shop online at over 4,000 e Railway has been successful in obtaining a grant of £727,200 from the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage. retailers to generate funds for the Apart from funding for the  rst phase of the refurbishment of Horsted Keynes station which was refused, Railway at no cost to you. To set we were successful in obtaining a grant for everything we asked for – a total of £727,200. However, like the up EasyFundRaising, simply go NLHF Emergency Grant, we cannot spend the money as we like – it can only be spent on the 28 speci c to www.easyfundraising.org.uk elements we included in the application. Some are ones that we wanted to do but, unless they were grant- and specify the Bluebell Railway funded, we would not have otherwise been able to a ord, particularly in the current  nancial climate. as your nominated charity. You Just over £400,000 of the total is to cover the salaries of our skilled heritage and technical sta and our can also shop online at Amazon marketing sta between December and March. It also covers various speci c overheads from October to while earning 0.5% of the value March including insurance, utilities, IT support, leasing costs, hire of and bank interest and of your shopping for the Railway, charges. e remaining £325,000 is for 19 separate elements designed to improve and diversify income, save again at no cost to you. To set up costs and encourage both previous and potential new visitors to come to the Railway. AmazonSmile, simply go direct ey include: to smile.amazon.co.uk or activate ● An integrated Electronic Point of Sale (EPOS) system to provide essential information on ticketing, AmazonSmile on your Amazon catering and shop sales so that  nancial returns can be improved. shopping app. ● Raising our online pro le by improving our website, expanding the shop website where sales have already increased by more than 20 times, increasing our online advertising, enabling us to produce our own videos and having online ‘virtual tours’ of various parts of the Railway including SteamWorks!, the loco and C&W Diary Dates taster for 2021 works, signal boxes and museum. 2-11 April STEM Family Fair ● Completing an energy audit and implementing its  ndings to save on our very large electricity bills. - BrickWorks! Adventure ● Carrying out a detailed feasibility study for the installation of solar panels at inconspicuous locations at 19-20 June Road meets Rail the Railway. 26-27 June Model Railway ● Modernisation of the shop at She eld Park, including new lighting to make it more attractive to visitors Weekend and encourage them to spend more. 7-8 August 60+1 Anniversary ● Construction of a 7¼in gauge miniature railway in the picnic area at She eld Park as an additional 24-26 September Giants of attraction for visitors and a training facility for youngsters. Steam ● Installation of electric car charging points at She eld Park and possibly Horsted Keynes. To be con rmed are ● e purchase of our own events tent to allow us to host more and larger revenue-earning events. beer festivals in May and More details of the projects will be published in the next edition. September, summer open air VERNON BLACKBURN live music, Diesel Gala (July) Chairman, Bluebell Railway Trust

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004-9 - news.indd 4 16/12/2020 13:45 Ghost trains at Grinstead New brooms sweep clean ahead of Santas in sponsor deal Completion in November of defective track near the Eye Hospital Our locomotive department between Kingscote and East Grinstead allowed the Railway to operate cleaners have happily chucked once again over this section. their threadbare brooms away ‘Ghost trains’ that carry no passengers ran once again over the and are as happy as a pig in ash, weekend of 28-29 November to East Grinstead for loco crew and thanks to a new sponsorship deal platform sta refresher training purposes, ready for Santa Specials for new brooms from Hillbrush. from 5 December which operated to Horsted Keynes from both Hillbrush, a British company She eld Park and East Grinstead. with a Royal Warrant, was founded in 1922 and are based in Mere, Wiltshire.  ey have very kindly o ered to sponsor all the yard brooms, some cleaning brushes and enough loco footplate brushes for every engine and those under overhaul.  e sponsorship is ongoing into 2021 and beyond. We hope to see members of Hillbrush management in late spring at the Railway to thank them for the support. Special thanks to David Hagelthorn of Ross Broadbridge sweeping the Hillbrush and the wider team for loco pit with his new broom. helping make this happen. BEN GRAY

No 73082 Camelot runs round its ‘ghost train’ at East Grinstead on Bluebell makes Heritage Sunday 29 November. COLIN TYSON Railway Awards shortlist  e Bluebell Railway has been shortlisted in two categories in the All change for emails prestigious Association awards. We are on the shortlist for: and blog posts Communications: ‘ e Bluebell Times’ newsletter, produced to keep members and supporters in touch during the months of lockdown All Bluebell Railway email addresses have changed to follow the when the Railway wasn’t trading. same domain name as the website. Email addresses follow the Innovative fundraising idea or Covid project: ‘Steam Returns to format: [email protected] Bluebell Railway’ reopening marketing video, narrated by Martin  is brings the communications under the same domain Clunes. with emails using dot-com to match the Railway’s website www. Plc chairman Christopher Hunford said: “We are delighted to bluebell-railway.com be shortlisted for these two prestigious awards. It recognises the In order to ease the workload of the customer service and signi cant work and dedication by the sta of the Bluebell Railway sales team and ensure enquiries reach the right people more during what has been a di cult year.” speedily, new inboxes and email addresses have been created for  e HRA is still speci c departments.  ese are: working on details [email protected] for sales and booking of the awards enquiries ceremony but it is [email protected] for wedding and charter likely to be held in enquiries March or April. [email protected] for press and marketing enquiries [email protected] for infrastructure matters  e popular Bluebell Railway blog has moved to a new web address and can be found on the BRPS section of the website at https://bluebell-railway.com/brps/whats_new/  e section also has updates from various departments including the locomotive works, carriage & wagon, and infrastructure. Blog contributions should ideally include photos as well as ABOVE: e words.  e names of the photographers should be mentioned so Bluebell Times that credit can be given and possibly used in our wider publicity. newsletter. All contributions to the blog should be sent to blog@bluebell- railway.com RIGHT: Bluebell PAUL BROMLEY re-opening video. Communications director

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004-9 - news.indd 5 16/12/2020 13:45 News Meet the Plc board

PAUL LELEW – commercial and marketing director From a career railway family, my grandfather worked for the LBSCR, and was awarded MIKE ELLIS – operations an MBE for his services to the director railway. My father spent all his DAVID BURCH – nance I joined Transport working life as a railwayman and CHRIS HUNFORD – chairman director in 1979 a er working for amongst many roles managed the and locomotive director I took my accounting exams Barclays Bank as an apprentice Royal Train for a period. A chartered civil engineer by whilst working for London groundsman. I joined as a I was born in and trade, I have been a working Transport in the 1980s. I then Railman later becoming Leading have spent my entire career in volunteer at the Bluebell Railway worked in the print industry in Railman, Signalman then Station the food industry. I started out for over 25 years, rst joining the various accounting roles before Foreman until 1987. I then as an accountant and worked for railway’s 9F Club before joining working for a membership became a Railway Instructor Sainsburys initially, followed by a the Locomotive Department. charity in 2005 ending up at White City Training Centre. spell in sales and marketing with Moving through the footplate as Director of Finance and In 1994 I became a Duty Train United Biscuits. I then entered a grades, I passed for driving in Corporate Services. Manager on the Metropolitan period of general management 2007 and joined the Plc board in I am currently Head of Finance Line until a transfer back to the for a variety of smaller food 2014 as Locomotive Director and and Operations for the Institute Training Centre to carry out a businesses. During this time I chairman since 2019. and Faculty of Actuaries. Outside specialist course until 1995. I gained a great deal of experience in of work I am a board trustee and then transferred to the Bakerloo how to turn an ailing business into Hon Treasurer of PACEY, an early Line as a Line Controller until a successful business and became a years charity based in Bromley 1999 when I was then promoted company turnaround expert. and am also a Rotarian. to Duty Operations Manager, Before retiring in 2012 aged 57, later to be retitled Service I spent my nal 10 years building Manager. I retired a er 35 years’ up a group of food businesses service in 2014. as Managing Director and I became a member of the shareholder. During this time I Bluebell Railway in 1975, nally spent a lot of time in Italy and the becoming a working volunteer rest of Europe as well as America in 2002 in the Fire Dept until its and travelled extensively seeking closure in 2006. I then became supply chain opportunities. a Guard, later Guards Inspector My passion is motor sport, but and nally Chief Guards I do have a so spot for steam Inspector. trains. I can remember seeing the I have a number of interests last steam engine running from including model railways both 00 London to Brighton just before it and G scale, speedway, football entered Clayton Tunnel. and , plus I am part owner My other passion is music of preserved London Transport/ and I am nance director and PAUL BROMLEY – Country bus AEC Regent III presenter with Uck eld FM and communications director RT604. I am married and live in broadcast a heavy metal and hard I am a journalist and broadcaster Shirley, Surrey. rock programme. with 35 years’ experience working for local, regional, national and international news MARTIN CRESSWELL – safety VERNON BLACKBURN organisations spanning print, director – Bluebell Railway Trust agency, broadcast, online, digital A Bluebell life member and chairman and social media. I am currently volunteer for 41 years, I am I have been a member and regular a freelance writer, blogger and married with two adult daughters visitor to the Bluebell Railway since lecturer having le my role as an and one grandchild. A career 1965 when I started volunteering editor at Sky News in 2019. railwayman with 41 years’ in the station bu et and polishing My involvement with Bluebell service starting with the BR carriages. I am a chartered goes back more than 20 years as Southern Region Civil Engineers accountant with a background in visitor, member and volunteer. Dept upon graduation in 1979. dealing with trusts and charities. I am a museum steward and Currently employed as an In 2014 I was appointed the education guide and also an operational safety advisor to one administrator of the Trust which award-winning magician and a of ’s key engineering supports the railway and in 2019 member of the Magic Circle. suppliers. I became chairman.

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004-9 - news.indd 6 16/12/2020 09:39 BOB PAMMENT – rolling stock director I am a chartered mechanical engineer, career railwayman, family man with three children and three BARRY LUCK – infrastructure grandchildren and a volunteer on director the Bluebell since the early 1970s. I joined the railway in December I have been fascinated by railways 2011 as a carriage restorer, for as long as I can remember and, working on the Stroudley living in London’s East End, I spent STEPHEN BIGG - non- 4-wheeler known as ‘Betty’. I my youth trainspotting in London executive director Plc - acting GRAHAM FLIGHT – company fully retired the following May stations and steam sheds. chairman BRPS secretary having spent 40 years in the water During my railway career I have A career of  ve years in the food I quali ed as a chartered industry as a civil engineer. held a range of rewarding technical manufacturing industry was accountant in 1976 and have held In 2015 I joined the platform and managerial positions including followed by over 30 years in the numerous o ces on the Railway, sta at She eld Park, and passed Field Trials Technician on BR food retailing sector, mostly with starting with the old Extension as Leading Porter a year later, and Southern Region, Mechanical Marks & Spencer.  is included Committee and Company in subsequently Station Foreman. I Riding Inspector on the Western management roles in buying, 1982, through managing the started training as signalman in Region, Depot Manager at Old Oak marketing and sales development. conversion to a Plc in 1985 as 2016 and passed for Kingscote in Common, Fleet Manager London Following retirement, I started company secretary and director, 2018. I have been managing the and South East for Porterbrook, volunteering in the C&W Dept, and chairman of the Plc for 18 construction of the OP4 carriage Depot Manager at Reading where I learnt the heritage skills years until 2013. shed at Horsted Keynes since and Exeter, Depot Engineering of carriage upholstering. A period I wrote the original Bluebell 2017. Manager at Bristol SPM and spent on the Governance Review Trust Deed and served as trustee  e infrastructure director’s Engineering and Operations Group was followed by four from its formation until 2013. I portfolio is huge and varied, from Director for Yellow Rail. years as vice-chairman of the chaired the Northern Extension Permanent Way and buildings Now retired, I enjoy driving BRPS, then in March 2020 taking Project (NEP) leading to its to air-conditioning as well as trains on the Bluebell and on acting chairman following completion in 2013 and now everything in between. An supporting our wonderful C&W the resignation of the previous chair the Western Extension interesting challenge! Dept as Director. Society chairman. Project (WEP).

Progress on Horsted Keynes Heritage Skills Centre As we are heading towards the end of 2020, we are making great progress on the Heritage Skills Centre  t-out.  e space is intended to be a diverse space for the Railway, ranging from a varnish shop through to o ces.  e size and scale of the space is vast but is well provisioned with natural light and will provide full functionality to all users whether they are in the training room or the trim shop. We are currently working on the partitions with the electrics, plumbing and heating to follow. We are also installing two new staircases that will o er  rst  oor access at both ends of the building, along with toilets and shower facilities. Construction has continued during the second lockdown which has enabled us to maintain progress which will continue through into early 2021. Whilst we are maintaining some more traditional aspects, we are also exploring some more sustainable options such as air source heat pumps to provide heating to the building. MELISSA JORDAN e  rst  oor of the Heritage Skills Centre, looking south. is will look very di erent OP4 Project Manager shortly when the space is bisected with partitions for all of the rooms. MELISSA JORDAN

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004-9 - news.indd 7 16/12/2020 09:39 News UPDATE ON THE 2020 BRPS AGM AND EGM Several members have expressed concern that we have not yet held the location, not a virtual one. Curiously, there is no such requirement 2020 BRPS Annual General Meeting, a concern equally shared by the when it comes to holding an Extraordinary General Meeting and Society committee. there is some pressure to hold a virtual EGM as a webinar so as to e 60th AGM and the Extraordinary General Meeting were due to allow the proposed changes to the constitution of the Society to be be held on 23 May 2020 but of course the country went into lockdown implemented. It is however important to bear in mind that it has from 23 March for 13 weeks. Gatherings of more than 30 people were been custom and practice for at least 40 years to hold EGMs on the and still are banned. Venues were also closed and our usual venue, same day as the Society AGM so as to minimise postage costs for the Academy, only re-opened its doors in September for notices etc, and avoid inconveniencing members. students only. Until we can hold a physical AGM, the normal business including With a  xed indoor location ruled out for many months and a election of trustees will have to remain on hold. It might be possible meeting that, in any case, would be inquorate because of the 30 to hold an election meeting only at She eld Park on an operating people maximum, we have explored the option of holding a virtual Sunday early next year, but at the present time and as part of the meeting as a webinar – indeed, most of the Society committee Covid-safe measures of knowing who is on site, the company has asked meetings this year have been virtual via the Zoom facility. We all members to stay away unless they are booked to travel or on duty were conscious that a webinar would exclude many members who and this would interfere with the right of other members to turn up were not on the internet, though it would allow members who and vote. lived in other parts of the country or overseas to participate in the So far as the 2019 accounts are concerned, these were delayed meeting. e absolute key document for any consideration as to as there was a need for the company to include a Covid-19 impact how you call and hold a Society General Meeting is of course the statement and certify that it was still a going concern. Consequently, Rulebook. at stipulates that an Annual General Meeting must be they were not signed o until the end of August, thus allowing Knill held on a Saturday in April or May, at a location not more than 15 James to release all three sets of accounts. e combined accounts miles from She eld Park. e Society committee decided to seek booklet is currently with the printers and will be circulated to legal advice to see if the current pandemic would give us scope to members early next month along with the Notice for the 2021 AGM. hold a virtual AGM. at advice con rmed that a virtual AGM is GAVIN BENNETT ruled out by virtue of the requirement for it to be held at a physical General Secretary, BRPS Bluebell Railway Plc holds virtual AGM e Annual General Meeting of Flight explained that the AGM plus the Bluebell Railway concerning and that had made Bluebell Railway Plc was held would follow the normal Preservation Society’s majority the impact of coronavirus worse. in very di erent circumstances format and agenda although shareholding with votes to be cast He said the Railway now had this year compared with past shareholders had been advised by its General Secretary, Gavin the support of a Covid loan, shareholder gatherings. not to attend in person but to Bennett. the bank, the National Lottery e meeting took place at submit any questions and cast Present at the meeting were Heritage Fund and its Emergency 10am at She eld Park station any proxy votes in advance. Graham Flight, Chris Hunford, Appeal. He said the Bluebell on 1 October 2020 in a well- He said the quorum for the Lisa Boyle, Bob Pamment, Barry Railway was in a stronger ventilated, fully sanitised meeting was two shareholders. Luck, David Burch, Martin position than other railways and socially-distanced Birch ere were four individual Cresswell, Paul Lelew, Paul but it was not immune from the Grove Suite in line with Covid shareholders present (Graham Bromley, Steve Bigg, Gavin pressures of Covid. e accounts guidelines. Flight, Bob Pamment, Vernon Bennett and Vernon Blackburn. for the year ended 31 December Company secretary Graham Blackburn and Gavin Bennett) Apologies had been received 2019 were approved. Knill James from operations director Mike were re-appointed as auditors. Ellis. Plc chairman Chris Hunford BLUEBELL NEWS Six new directors had been thanked everyone in the room co-opted onto the board since the for the time and commitment BINDERS previous AGM and they had all they had put in to supporting in Bluebell Blue with gold put themselves up for re-election. the Railway in an extremely wording, holds 12 issues e AGM approved the re- challenging year. He said people (three years' worth), keeping election of the six directors: Steve were coming to the Bluebell your copies in pristine Bigg (non-executive director Railway although we were not condition. and Society acting chairman), out of the woods yet by any Paul Bromley (communications), means. £10.99 from Martin Cresswell (safety), Graham Flight proposed a vote She eld Park shop. Paul Lelew (commercial and of thanks to Chris Hunford for marketing), David Burch chairing the board in the last year Order by telephone ( nance) and Barry Luck and said he had done an excellent 01825 720800 (infrastructure). job. and follow instructions to David Burch outlined the e meeting ended at 10.55am. direct you to the shop.  nancial accounts for the year. He PAUL BROMLEY said falling income in 2019 was Communications Director

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004-9 - news.indd 8 16/12/2020 09:40 In the News

SEPTEMBER railway memories and when Much of the press coverage this asked if she could remember month was about the £250,000 her  rst ever train journey, she grant from the National Lottery replied: “Yes, my Gran took me Heritage Fund. ere was also on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. publicity for our own appeal I loved every minute of it.” passing £400,000. In Your Area online reported OCTOBER on the appeal and quoted Publicity this month was Trust funding governor Trevor dominated by the announcement Swainson as saying that plenty of the £727,200 grant from the of people thought the initial Culture Recovery Fund for £300,000 was over-ambitious. Heritage. He said raising £400,000 was “a ITV Meridian  lmed at truly remarkable response from She eld Park station for a report members, shareholders and which was broadcast on its 6pm friends of the Bluebell Railway”. bulletin. e report included Visit interviews with Lewes MP promoted the SteamLights service Maria Caul eld and Bluebell on the o cial tourist website communications director Paul for the region. It said: “Bluebell Bromley. Railway is running magical steam Sussex Express reported on trains covered by thousands of Maria Caul eld’s visit to the colourful lights this winter.” e railway and other heritage sites report added: “Feast your eyes on bene ting from Government Newhaven Fort to  nd out  rst an amazing light show on the way funding. She was quoted as hand how much this funding to Horsted Keynes. With festive saying: “I was pleased to be able will mean to them and their displays, music and narration, to visit both Bluebell Railway and plans going forward under the this is a steam train experience Covid-19 restrictions.” not to be missed!” Surrey Live promoted the Santa NOVEMBER Heritage Railway magazine Specials season describing it as “a e second lockdown and issue 271 featured the recreation wonderful winter experience”. It the cancellation of all services by the Railway’s museum team added the Bluebell Railway was between 5 November and 2 of the Elton John Tumbleweed “giving families an opportunity December was widely reported in Connection album cover. e to soak up all of the festivities on the local, regional and trade press. report said visitors were being board a Victorian steam train”. Rail Business Daily said the “o ered the chance to appear in e Guardian featured e lockdown would mean a delay to ‘remakes’ of the cover”. Rock star Cat Inn at in a the start of the railway’s festive Elton John and lyricist Bernie round-up of “the best cosy pubs train services which are “a Taupin were photographed with rooms for an autumn break”. popular annual treat for families”. outside the museum for the It said the pub was “quaint, with It quoted Plc chairman Chris album cover in 1970. plenty of beams, logs crackling Hunford as saying the second Railway Traveller website in the inglenook  replaces, lockdown was “disappointing interviewed Laura Hamilton and pewter mugs hanging news for everyone”. who presents A Place in the Sun everywhere”... and pointed out e Express website included on TV. She spoke about her best the pub was near the Bluebell SteamLights in an article on Railway. the “best 2020 Christmas lights switch-on events around the UK for post-lockdown festivities”. e article said of SteamLights: “Taking place on a steam train covered with thousands of colourful lights, this is truly a unique experience.” Railway Traveller highlighted broadcaster Michael Portillo’s list of railways which survived a er the . He said: “A er being closed in the 1950s, it was raised from the dead as one of Britain’s  rst heritage railways with the beguiling name of the Bluebell Line.” Visit Britain listed the railway as one of its destinations and said the Bluebell Railway in the heart of Sussex “o ers a window onto the world (of) yesteryear”.

PAUL BROMLEY Communications Director

BLUEBELL NEWS 9

004-9 - news.indd 9 16/12/2020 09:40 From the Chairmen

“So here it is, Merry Christmas, both  nancially and physically, very di cult decisions in order to everybody’s having fun...” so as we try to adapt and embrace ensure the Railway can not only says one of those well-known new ways of working and living. emerge  t and ready but also on a seasonal songs that gets annually Outside in uences will impact sound  nancial footing. resurrected to generate a feeling the way we work and live. History  is is an important stage but of fun and excitement over the will make great reference to one that sends out an important festive period. Yet the meaning 2020 and you can already hear message to our visitors, sta , will probably have worn the grandchildren asking “what volunteers and our members that somewhat thin by the time you’ve did you do during the great Bluebell is certainly no longer heard it for the 500th time! But pandemic Grandad?” dormant but alive and preparing what a fantastic business model. Re ecting over the past year, itself for what it does best, Make one hugely successful hit would, you think, be a relatively operating heritage rolling stock song when you are young and easy task. We ran trains for a supported by the best personnel. live happily ever a er for the rest month, only to close in March You will have seen the great of your life on the royalties, a and then reopened with great but success the Railway has achieved brilliant concept. somewhat subdued ceremony in in obtaining grant aid to help By the time you read this, glorious weather in August, only sustain the Railway during Christmas and 2020 will have to close again for ‘second-wave these di cult times and to aid passed. Many will say ‘not a lockdown’ in November, prior to its recovery. Add to that the moment too soon’, bringing the reopening with an amended set magni cent response to our start of a new year which more of festive services in December. Emergency Appeal, which leads than anything brings elements  at’s what can be seen on the on to our  rst thank you. Much of of hope. We can look forward outside, but as in all business, a the donations to our Emergency with some degree of certainty huge amount of work and time Appeal came from our members, that 2021 may just well bring a has gone on behind the scenes – families and friends - witness return to some form of normal the proverbial ‘swan’ syndrome. such acts as that of six-year-old life although the de nition of Preparing trains, learning new Alex Venton who donated his ‘normal’ has yet to be decided. ways of working, reassessing pocket money. We would like to However, it is very clear that , rolling stock and o er everyone our most sincere 2021 will still be a di cult year, operating sta and making some thanks for their support.

A festive Stepney awaits our young visitors in SteamWorks! on 22 November 2020. PHIL BARNES

10 BLUEBELL NEWS

010-11 - from the chair.indd 10 16/12/2020 09:14 BR Standard No 73082 Camelot on Freshfield Bank with the luncheon train on 11 October 2020. PETER EDWARDS

In return, we are pleased to accommodate people! Gavin the woods yet. It’s abundantly protocol as the demands imposed confirm that all membership Bennett, our General Secretary, clear that we will have to work on the Railway need prompt, benefits will be reinstated with explains elsewhere in this issue to a much stricter budget and effective, defined action. Note the effect from 1 January 2021 and, but please remember; we can financial plan. Whilst emerging updated ‘wheel’ on page 2. as promised; other additional only work within the framework news from retailers on the high While there will be new ways offers such as special trains are of our existing rules. The good street looks pretty bleak, we also of working, we need to ensure being planned and will be duly news that a vaccine will become have to prepare our business. Key the best of Bluebell is protected. communicated. widely available makes the has to be the protection of our There will be new opportunities A second note of thanks should possibility of a proper AGM staff and volunteers and whilst to embrace and develop and it’s a go to the editor of Bluebell News, in 2021 a far more realistic it was very hard to tell people to great time to review what we do Colin Tyson, on negotiating a opportunity. stay away, it was done so with and retain our proud heritage of deal for printing not one but all You will be reading this very good reason. doing it well. three 2020 editions in one hit after the end of the slightly Feedback from our passengers There will be new people to which, judging from feedback, curtailed Santa season but on the new ways of booking and welcome and more importantly has gone down exceptionally well with the continuation of the travelling has been positive. They new customers to attract and with the membership and upheld new SteamLights services. It is haven’t had to ‘fight for seats’ and we have excellent tools and a promise we made, especially for pleasing to report that all Santa they like ‘their compartment’. But equipment to do just that. those without computers! trains were sold out and many if we just run compartment stock, Very much new world, new We will ensure that there will people are rebooking their what future is there for buffet cars? opportunities - even the Oxford be an update on how the monies SteamLights trip into newly- When can we return to our premier Dictionary has over 600 new raised have and are being spent in available dates going forward product - the ‘Golden Arrow’? words, including Covid-19... the next edition of Bluebell News. through January. Although there There are a number of conundrums It only remains for us to again It’s quite far-reaching and actually will be plenty of pictures of the to be explored and resolved as we offer our most sincere thanks very interesting. train, seeing the real thing is a go forward, hopefully returning to to everyone involved in and In the last edition of Bluebell superb spectacle and whilst we what we would call ‘normal’, such supporting our Railway and we News, reference was made to pride ourselves on our heritage, as planning for special events and look forward to seeing you at the difficulties the Society in its it’s new ventures like this that will galas. some stage in 2021. To you and current form faces in concluding help sustain and help grow our There has been a real step your families, we wish you good its annual AGM business and offer. With sustainable operation change over recent months with health, happiness and above all, a is currently seeking advice as comes some diversification if we the three entities; The Society, safe year. to what we can and cannot do. are to survive. Plc and the Trust working much ROY WATTS We are still heavily regulated And so as we enter 2021, we closer together than before, Acting vice-chairman BRPS on meeting numbers, let alone still face an uncertain future because decisions cannot be CHRIS HUNFORD finding a suitable location to and we are by no means out of made and then delayed because of Chairman Plc

BLUEBELL NEWS 11

010-11 - from the chair.indd 11 16/12/2020 09:15 Filming on the line

Odessa Young ready for action. MICK BLACKBURN Titherton station. MICK BLACKBURN 8 October Church, and a day of feasting to Odessa Young, is a maid in the comprised the 09 shunter and the Mothering Sunday break up the Lent fast. Only in Niven household and has the disabled coach (S4941) which has A feature lm based on the the last century or so has it had Sunday o to go and visit her a li so that all the equipment novel by Graham Swi and set anything to do with motherhood, mother, but she was orphaned at could be wheeled on board. in Beechwood in England on 30 a tradition that evolved from birth and has no mother so she  e rst job was to set up all March, 1924. Mothering Sunday the day that girls in service were takes the opportunity to spend the camera positions - six in all - falls as the middle Sunday in allowed o to go and visit their the day with her lover Paul, the four at the coach door droplight Lent, and in the early church it own mothers. son of a wealthy family. openings and the other two xed was a day to celebrate the Mother Jane Fairchild, played by At She eld Park, which to the front of the 09 and on a became Titherton station, all tripod in the rear door of the the maids of the household, coach. Leaving She eld Park dressed in their Sunday best and about midday, two complete trips carrying posies for their mothers, were made to East Grinstead are lined up along the platform - one in daylight and one a er awaiting the arrival of their train, dark; with stops at Kingscote and the Q Class No 30541 and the Horsted Keynes to change and Metropolitan set.  e Q Class charge camera batteries. Hopefully is a little modern for 1924, but this will be a thing of the past it doesn’t feature heavily in the once the generator van BY 404 shot. All seemed to be going well goes into lming service. Apart and the rst take was a promising from lming, the most memorable one – except that two of the thing about the day was the fact maids were still wearing their that this ‘train’ was the rst to face masks. Later in the day they reach East Grinstead since the were all lmed again in the same lockdown in March; and how position on the platform, but this very cold it was because all the time in their maid’s uniforms. windows in the coach were open She eld Park booking hall and and there was no steam heating! waiting room were painstakingly MIKE HOPPS Maids in their Sunday best, waiting for the train. MICK BLACKBURN transformed into the interior of an Oxford tea shop, with period tables and chairs, crockery, candles and table linen.  is took two days of set dressing to achieve, but on the day the unit ran out of time and the set was never used. Many of the unused props were discarded – we were the richer by four candles at the end of it. HEIDI MOWFORTH 19 October Backscenes for the fi lm industry. the Mob Film Co (TV) Ltd. An interesting day was spent going up and down the line recording lineside footage to Recording lineside footage to provide backscenes for the provide backscenes for the lm Nine maids awaiting! MICK BLACKBURN lm industry.  e ‘train’ was industry. MIKE HOPPS

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012-13 - Filming-ops.indd 12 16/12/2020 09:16 Operations report

is year, unlike any year I would suspect any of us have experienced in our lifetimes, is now drawing to a close and we can all but hope for a better 2021 and some resemblance of ‘normal’ returning towards the  rst quarter of the year. e Railway, having resumed as planned in August with visitor numbers looking promising on both the service train and catering trains, towards the end of October with school half terms taking place we ran a modest gala ‘O the Rails’ with displays at She eld Park, Horsted Keynes and Kingscote stations of traction engines, road rollers and other vintage vehicles. A demonstration Goods Train ran over both weekends with a on the Saturdays and D4106 on the two Sundays, something we haven’t done for some time. Being the Goods Guard on the Saturday of the  rst weekend it was good to run a Goods once again. e opportunity was also taken to carry out assessments for those of us who were ‘out of ticket’ for working goods. Demonstration shunting was carried out at She eld Park and Horsted Keynes over both weekends. e Goods train was made possible by the very hard working members of the Bluebell Goods Division who have done a superb job on the wagon  eet and continue to do so. Two service trains ran on each of the weekends, but the down side was the weather was not the best for the event, but it was pleasing to see that our passengers seemed to be enjoying the event, as indeed were our sta . Sadly, however, from 5 November we were all once again subject to a second national lockdown and the Railway was once again closed until midnight on 2 December. However during the lockdown, preparation took place for the SteamLights event which included  tting up  ve Mk.1s with lights and one Bulleid coach, along with BY Van No 404 as a generator van – having only just been restored to a high standard by Mike Hopps and his team. Once the complete train had been assembled on 11 November a test run was carried out and a further test carried out on 12 November. e tests were generally satisfactory and a couple of areas highlighted which required attention, a full dress rehearsal was due to be carried out on 2 December, this would be followed on the 3rd with our  rst SteamLights passenger service. e whole programme towards SteamLights has required a great e ort by all and I am sure the event will be a great success along with, of course, our Santa Specials, reduced this year for obvious reasons. Another pleasing event to report during November, was the completion of the defective track near the Eye Hospital e rain did its best to dampen our Goods Train running either side of autumn half term, allowing us to reopen once again to East but surely adds to the atmosphere of a real ‘working’ railway? HENRY MOWFORTH Grinstead, and ‘ghost trains’ ran once again over the weekend of the 28-29 November and Driver Stuart Marks and Loco Inspector Railway through this extremely di cult year between Kingscote and East Grinstead and Driver Pearce on passing their and continue to do so. We can all but hope for crew training purposes ready for our 6371 Assessor awards. that 2021 proves to be a better year for our Santa Specials from East Grinstead from 5 In closing I would like to place on record operations  nancially, plus of course our 60 + December. my thanks to all those sta , both paid and 1 anniversary. On the training front I would like to volunteers, for the extremely hard work and MIKE ELLIS congratulate Loco Superintendent, Inspector long hours they have all put in to get the Operations Director

BLUEBELL NEWS 13

012-13 - Filming-ops.indd 13 16/12/2020 09:16 Locomotive Department

Fenchurch’s boiler with the throatplate and inner  rebox removed. e new  rebox outer wrapper plate for Fenchurch. TOM JAMES TOM JAMES

Following the return from the rst lockdown, two locomotives were prepared with lights,  e nal snagging items on the our services ran to a revised timetable, with batteries, electrical connections to the train and maintenance shed are complete and the ASH the bulk of the trains being handled by Nos switchgear to allow the locomotive lights to be project nal account is agreed. 73082, 80151, 30541, 65 and 263. No 847 was powered from the generator vehicle in the train, One of the qualities that the Railway is used on a few occasions as required whilst but switch to battery when running round, justly renowned for is the cleanliness and No 263 was in use following return from an allowing the lights to remain on. Various polished appearance of our locomotives.  e intermediate mechanical overhaul. brackets and fastenings were made in the SECR locos in particular have a multitude It is planned that Nos 73082 and 30541 locomotive workshop to carry the equipment of brass parts, both in the cab and visible will be used for SteamLights services. During on each locomotive, while the electrical system externally – most notably the domes and safety the lockdown period in November, these was designed and built in the C&W works. valve covers. Keeping the brass work bright is a never-ending task. For the last few years, passed cleaner Ben Gray has been maintaining the brasswork on the SECR locos with a weekly clean, for which Peek brand metal polish is preferred – in Ben’s words, “in comparison with other products, Peek produces a far more impressive nish, and allows the job to be completed in almost a quarter of the time. As well as this, a little quantity of Peek will go further than a large quantity of an alternative well-known metal polish product.” Seeing the good work that Ben has been doing on the brass and copperwork and knowing money is a little on the tight side, Loco Department member Andy Taylor set about looking at how we could use larger amounts of this excellent product for the department. Peek is a British brand product still made in the UK but, like other well- known brands, it is owned outside the UK. A er a short search he found the webpage and a sales contact email address so wrote a short email explaining about the Bluebell Sir Archibald Sinclair has been li ed from its wheels. TOM JAMES and our new-found bene ts of using Peek

14 BLUEBELL NEWS

014-15 - loco dept.indd 14 16/12/2020 09:17 Looking up to the roof of Sir Archibald’s  rebox, showing the stays that remain to be  tted around the thermic syphon. TOM JAMES

within the locomotive department. He le his contact number and also dropped a small hint about supplying some product free of charge.  inking nothing more about it, later in the day a call  ashed up from California! It was Robert Peek, the owner of the company. e complete inner  rebox for Blackmore Vale at South Devon Railway Engineering. A er a lengthy discussion about the Bluebell, JOHN FRY Robert agreed to supply a large quantity of Peek for free. We are now in discussions about the South Devon Railway.  e plan now is not start.  e decision was made there and then a longer sponsorship deal and also using for Blackmore Vale to be gradually stripped to change all 48 cells which was achieved in  ve some of the photos of our locomotives on pending commencement of an overhaul, hours. By late a ernoon, the locomotive was Tri-Peek’s international website.  is would which is likely to be signi cant in both running and was used to complete the shunt at create a joint bene t to both parties and look mechanical and boiler terms. Horsted Keynes. It was subsequently available at building the relationship further. We are in for use on engineering trains in November. di cult times and companies want to help the Stroudley A1x Terrier Bluebell. To a company like Tri-Peek this was No 72 Fenchurch Personnel a small gi but for us this has been a massive Fenchurch’s boiler has now been completely Cleaners John Hutchins and Ben Gray help. Long may it continue. stripped. A new outer wrapper has been have been promoted to Passed Cleaner – rolled and delivered – on a small boiler congratulations to both of them. Overhauls like Fenchurch, a complete wrapper sheet is Russell Pearce has stood down as Loco Bulleid Battle of Britain Class cheaper than buying the material for just the Chief Clerk, and Tim Gray and Andy Kelly No 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair sides (which are wasted) and welding them are standing down from their joint role as Around 80% of the crown stays have now to the upper part of the existing wrapper. Yard Foremen. Our thanks go to all of them been  tted, with the  nal stays ordered and  e front tubeplate blank has been ordered; for the work they have put in over the past awaiting delivery.  e next task is to  t the sponsored by a generous supporter. It requires few years. Nominations are being sought ring of  exible stays around the base of the tube holes to be drilled. from within the department to appoint the thermic syphons. All the side stays and  e parts for the inner  rebox and their successors. If you are interested, please combustion chamber stays have been  tted, foundation ring are on order, and the contact Locomotive Superintendent Stuart and are in the process of being knocked over. throatplate is also ready to order. Marks at She eld Park.  e tubes have been ordered and are CHRIS HUNFORD expected to be at the railway by the time you Running fl eet Locomotive Director read this. BR Standard 5MT No 73082 Camelot, 4MT and TOM JAMES Mechanically, the locomotive has been No 80151, Maunsell S15 No 847, Q class No li ed from its wheels.  e frames are in good 30541 and Wainwright H class No 263 are all order and just require cleaning and painting. available for tra c. Camelot has had some of  e axle box crowns are in good order; the the injector pipework replaced. No 541 has thrust faces (which bear against the insides of had attention to its regulator. the wheels when the locomotive is traversing Stirling O1 No 65 is awaiting its annual a curve) have been re-whitemetalled and are steam test. It is planned that the awaiting  nal machining. New driving axle brake rigging will be overhauled over the springs have been delivered and await  tting. winter; the loco also requires some attention New oil pads will be  tted to the axle box to its reverser.  e aim is to have the work underkeeps; these are on order. completed ready for next season.  e cylinder bores are in good order; new Wainwright P class No 178 has now been piston rings will be  tted but the piston heads withdrawn from service a er over ten years in can be reused. New valve heads and valve tra c. On its last weekend in tra c, it hauled rings will be  tted. ‘ e Pioneer’ service each day, double-headed  e lubrication pipework has been with No 263. removed; it will be thoroughly cleaned and D4106 – the 09 Group had decided to annealed, and can then be re tted. replace the 14-year-old batteries which were life-expired.  e new batteries arrived on the Bulleid ‘West Country’ Class  ursday before lockdown.  e shunter was No 21C123 Blackmoor Vale due to run a goods train at the ‘O the Rails’  e new  rebox – constructed as part of a event on the last Sunday of October, but due batch that included the same for Sir Archibald to water getting into one of the marker lights, Sinclair – has been signed o as complete at causing a short circuit, the locomotive would e new batteries in D4016. MIKE HAWKINS

BLUEBELL NEWS 15

014-15 - loco dept.indd 15 16/12/2020 09:18 Stowe’s boiler work sub-contracted No 928 Stowe As mentioned in our previous report, an agreement has been reached that has enabled Stowe’s boiler to be sent away to an outside contractor, Heritage Boiler Steam Services, based on Merseyside, to conclude the bulk of the outstanding work. Stowe’s boiler and inner rebox were loaded on Monday 12 October 2020 and delivered to the contractor the next day. Stowe’s three valve rods were returned from Statfold Engineering in September a er work was undertaken to machine them back to the correct pro le. Stowe’s exhaust steam injector returned to She eld Park in October and we are indebted to the Mid-Hants Railway for the work they undertook to t new cones and to ensure it is now in full working order. Agreement in principle had been reached for a small group of the working party to be able to return to mid-week activities at She eld Park but unfortunately the second lockdown in November prevented us from restarting – but we hope we might be able to return soon. Materials are being ordered to enable the working party to rebuild the wooden footplate. One hundred countersunk bolts have been purchased to enable us to bolt down two new sections of footplate that were fabricated prior to lockdown. Q Class No 30541 and S15 class No 847 Both the Q and the S15 were declared t to run and saw service a er the Railway re-opened in August. No 847 had some repairs undertaken

Stowe’s boiler inside HBSS, prior to work commencing. HBSS

to its superheater elements in September. It is hoped that they will see further use over the Christmas period. No 847 was booked for a photo charter on 7-8 December and it was requested to run without smoke de ectors for this event. U Class No 1638 Still ‘in store’ at Horsted Keynes. U Class No 1618 No 1618 remains at She eld Park. We intend to oversee this overhaul a er the work on Stowe is complete. Fundraising for Stowe  e work to Stowe’s boiler is being joint-funded by the Bluebell Railway and the Maunsell Locomotive Society. £41,000 has been committed by the MLS, which has used up the bulk of our reserves. We would like to help fund purchase of tubes and stays to help complete the boiler overhaul. So if supporters can spare a ‘little extra’ for the Maunsell Locomotive Society this would be much appreciated. Contributions towards this cost will be gratefully received. Please make cheques payable to ‘Maunsell Locomotive Society’ and send to the Treasurer, 312 Riverside Mansions, Milk Yard, London E1W 3TA. For donations over £50, we can reclaim Gi Aid if you make your cheque payable to ‘Bluebell Railway Trust’. Please enclose a current Gi Aid form (downloaded from Bluebell website) – indicating you would like the donation to be towards Stowe. Again, please send such cheques to the Treasurer, to enable an acknowledgement to be sent. New members are always very welcome. No 847’s superheater elements being repaired. HENRY MOWFORTH STEVE PILCHER

16 BLUEBELL NEWS

016-17 - maunsell-atlantic.indd 16 16/12/2020 09:19 Brighton Atlantic Report

I am writing in early November, sheet to extend fully to the ends. just as we are about to enter  ese look thin but it takes the second period of lockdown three people to move each one, and as yet I am not sure of its being rather unwieldy as well implications for our project, but as surprisingly heavy. A lot of rest assured once we are able we careful work will be needed on will be pushing forward with the these to get them to  t accurately construction of Beachy Head. to our boiler with cut-outs for At the beginning of September, hand rail knobs and splashers, Atlantic sta who are Trust etc, needed. One of these latter funded were allowed back to cut-outs actually straddles the work under strict conditions joint between two sheets and has due to the pandemic. Our shed a boiler band running over it. is basically a pod on its own and  e  rebox clothing sheets we all are (or at least members of have su cient paint on them our families are) in the vulnerable now to allow them to be placed category, so we have been extra in position on the boiler, careful throughout regarding primarily to allow us some more hygiene and distancing and this room in the shed so that we can Although the background is rather cluttered the steam feed, obviously continues. Under no undertake further work on the delivery and (unseen here) over ow pipes have been made up and circumstances are visitors allowed barrel clothing as well the tender  tted to the injectors. to Atlantic House unless we have clothing. All the insulation prior knowledge and there is good material to wrap the boiler is in reason to visit. To look around is stock and is now being stored not one of those reasons. in the tender coal space. Work Unfortunately due to lockdown is starting on the corner sheets from the end of March to the that bridge the gap between the beginning of September with all  rebox sides and the backhead the lovely weather we had, we and also the  rebox sides to the were unable to maximise our throatplate.  e work involved in progress on the boiler lagging these parts seems never-ending. and clothing as planned.  e It is di cult to work with and result is that although any  nish has to be right as it is blatantly on date has been severely set back show for all to see. we have managed to make some All of the coal rails and their progress up until now. in ll pieces plus the beading  e steam feed, delivery and around the top edge are now over ow pipes have been made all  xed and the heads of the up and  tted to the injectors. fastenings will be painted shortly,  e remaining sections going but we are going to purchase the to the combined injector steam  rst two of the tender clothing  e basic boiler clothing sheets have been laser cut and rolled. and non-return valves on the sheets and work on riveting backhead will have to wait until various pieces to them before  e front handrails are  tted and for the vagaries of the weather. the boiler is installed.  tting. Only then will we obtain work is now taking place on the I am not sure when our next  e basic boiler clothing sheets the next two sheets which curve cab doors and the toolboxes. update will be but rest assured have been laser cut and rolled. round the back. Again handling is We have managed to install we are still here and will, when Each has about 8in of excess a problem as each plate is 10 6in all the superheater elements into possible, be working towards the material on each end that we long, 4 6in high and 3mm thick the boiler so moving forward completion of this wonderful need to remove.  is is needed - each weighing about 200 lbs. yet again. Fortunately we have a project of ours. to allow the radius of the rolled (100 kilos for the younger folks). range of work open to us to cater FRED BAILEY

 e  rebox clothing sheets have su cient paint on them to allow All of the coal rails and their in ll pieces plus the beading around All the superheater elements them to be placed in position on the top edge is now all  xed and the heads of the fastenings (seen have been installed into the the boiler. above as silver spots) will be painted shortly. boiler. ALL: FRED BAILEY

BLUEBELL NEWS 17

016-17 - maunsell-atlantic.indd 17 16/12/2020 09:19 Carriage&Wagon

Two vehicles which had not run for several years were seen at the ‘O the Rails’ event on 31 October 2020. SR pillbox brake No 55993 has recently had new eye-bolts  tted and LMS-designed 3-plank M480222 has not seen use for  ve years. RICHARD SALMON

e C&W Department were kept No 21246 has had further taken from No 25769 (which No 4957, together with freshly busy through October and early attention to replace some loose is now out of service pending overhauled Van C No 404, November preparing a side- bodyside  ller and Corridor overhaul). e remainder of the equipped as a generator van. corridor rake of carriages to Second No 25728 received a train is formed of one Bulleid and e last team to return to be used for the SteamLights replacement door and seven two Mk.1 Corridor Composites C&W duties between the two services. Mk.1 Brake Composite compartments’ worth of seating and wheelchair accessible lockdowns was that working on

H Class No 263 leaves Horsted Keynes with the 10.55 Kingscote to She eld Park train on 31 October at the ‘O the Rails’ event. During the layover at Horsted Keynes, the Camelot Society’s CCT No 2531 and SR Milk Tank No 4430 were added to the Metropolitan carriage set - the  rst service use of the CCT since restoration. ALEX MORLEY

18 BLUEBELL NEWS

018-19 - carriage and wagon.indd 18 16/12/2020 09:21 Just before the second lockdown, the east side of Maunsell Hastings On the inside of No 3687, Compartment A is almost complete, with Line brake No 3687 received its rst undercoat. RICHARD SALMON the cushions in place. ALEX MORLEY

New timber door-checks Ex-Bicester Mk.1 TSO, No 4754, is also making progress, with the are being tted to No 4754, A sample of the skilled work on last structural repairs being to the north end. RICHARD SALMON and then the doors are being Pullman Car 54 taking place to re-hung, and tted with new stain (so that they all match) Stroudley  ird No 328, where years been unavailable for use internal trim. and then French polish the new roof timbers, prepared by joining on goods trains whilst storing RICHARD SALMON and repaired marquetry panels. two narrow boards to make the 1957-built BD type Goods replacement boards the same Container BD49908B which have now been cut to size for sheeting has been trial tted width as the originals, are now awaits a rebuild.  e container the individual openings. On to the west side a er having starting to be tted following a lot would, once overhauled, be an the inside, the plywood ceilings been etch primed, undercoated of work to ensure the roof hoops appropriate load for this wagon. and associated mouldings have and top coated on the reverse are all to identical pro les and During the layover at Horsted now been completed in ve of side.  e painting of the inner height. On Stroudley Brake  ird Keynes, the Camelot Society’s the six compartments, and in roofs of both saloons has No 949, both sets of double doors CCT No 2531 and SR Milk the corridor. Compartment A been completed.  e specially are nearly completed. Glazing Tank No 4430 were added to is almost complete, with the designed loose chairs for the mouldings for the guard’s end are the Metropolitan carriage set. cushions in place.  exible area in the south saloon being repaired, shaped, trial tted  is was the rst service use of are being constructed from and painted. the CCT since restoration, and Mk.1 TSO No 4754 beech.  e double doors on the the Milk Tank had also received  e ex-Bicester Mk.1 TSO, west side have been hung, and Wagons roll some attention from the wagon No 4754, is also making the wheelchair li has been trial  e big event for the ‘Wagon’ gang to return it to service for progress, with the last structural tted on that side.  e partition side of C&W was the operation this event. repairs being to the north end. between the south saloon and of goods trains at the ‘O the On the other door openings, the wheelchair li area has been Rails’ event which bracketed brake new timber door-checks are constructed and the wide sliding half term. It included two Just before the second lockdown, being tted, and then the doors door for it is being made.  e vehicles which had not run for the east side of Maunsell Hastings are being re-hung, and tted section of the original carriage several years. SR pillbox brake line brake No 3687 received its with new internal trim.  oor which it had been intended No 55993 has recently had new rst undercoat.  e internal to retain has now been removed eye-bolts (spring hangers) tted and external sidelight (window) Pullman Car 54 and replaced. and LMS-designed 3-plank frames for this side, which had  e work on Pullman Car 54 M480222 has for the last ve been machined some time ago, continues apace.  e aluminium RICHARD SALMON

BLUEBELL NEWS 19

018-19 - carriage and wagon.indd 19 16/12/2020 09:21 From the Archive DELIVERING THE GOODS e recent re-emergence of Bluebell goods trains caused PHIL BARNES to select some goods workings from the past. Poignantly, each of the ten locomotives depicted are currently ‘cold’.

Q1 class loco C1 is seen in the cutting approaching ree Arch Bridge with the 1.40 She eld Park to New Coombe goods on 12 During the two-day SECR 100 event in August 1999, Baxter was September 1992 during the Autumn Steam Gala. e loco had just displayed on a short goods train at Horsted Keynes consisting of re-entered tra c on 9 September with a rededication ceremony. LBSCR and SECR wagons.

At the beginning of the Bluebell’s 40th event, the day started with a goods train working. No 75027 is seen near Horsted House Farm in BR black livery passes through ree Arch Bridge working the 9.15 Horsted Keynes to Kingscote goods on 14 March with the 12.49 Kingscote to She eld Park goods on 9 April 2005, 1998. the Spring Goods Train Day.

No 9017 Earl of Berkeley approaches Horsted Keynes whilst working the 4.30pm She eld Park to Horsted Keynes goods on 27 March 2004.

20 BLUEBELL NEWS

020-21 - Centre.indd 20 16/12/2020 09:24 No 1618 climbs Fresh eld Bank with the 4pm She eld Park to New No 672 Fenchurch dri s under  ree Arch Bridge in sunny Coombe goods on 12 September 1992, during the Autumn Steam conditions with the 11.33 Kingscote to She eld Park goods train Gala. during the Spring Goods Train Day of 9 April 2005.

During the SECR 100 event in August 1999, No 323 Bluebell is in unlined SECR green livery at the head of a short goods at Horsted B4 No 96 Normandy, viewed from the top of the cutting Keynes on 7 August.  e consist had just worked to Kingscote and approaching  ree Arch Bridge with the 11.54 Horsted Keynes to return. She eld Park engineers’ train on 27 March 2004.

9F No 92240 climbs Fresh eld Bank with the 12.15 She eld Park to Kingscote goods on 26 October 2002, during the Giants of Steam event.

BLUEBELL NEWS 21

020-21 - Centre.indd 21 16/12/2020 09:24 9F Club

9F Club alumni (from le ) Steve Goldsmith, Alex Widdowson, Matt Lander, Jack Gregory and Laurie Anderson. THOMAS HUSSEY 9F Club alumni make wagons roll Due to the Covid restrictions of wagons so club members have a contacted me with his proposal Laurie Anderson writes: We our 9F Club activities in 2019 good background in this area. for a new wagon gang and have had a strong intake from curtailed at a very early stage whether I would want to be a the 9F Club, members who have and there won’t be the usual In each of their own part of it and it went from there. come to the end of their time participation of members as elves words: Since then I’ve worked on the in the club who are looking for and assistants to Santa this year. overhaul of the SR Bulleid 5 departments to join. It has been We are unsure as to when Having spent many occasions Plank No 12058, stripping down wonderful to see them continue we will be able to resume any over seven years in the loco and repainting the chassis.  is in the Railway family by joining activities as ‘socially distanced’ department, the opportunity arose was a great opportunity to get up us to work on bringing back supervising in a ‘safety critical’ of working within Carriage & close and personal with wagons goods trains and learning new environment isn’t really feasible, Wagon at Horsted Keynes. It was learning what all the parts are skills from working on wagons. and we can only consider a chance to experience a totally and how they work. Fast forward  e ‘O the Rails’ event in returning when all restrictions are new area of the Railway, seeing to 2020 and the lead-up to the October was the result of the over and the Railway welcomes a department you don’t see very ‘O  e Rails’ event, there was team’s hard work and if it wasn’t back non-essential volunteers. much of. When I le the 9F Club a big push to get a goods train for the ex-9F Club members All 2020 subscriptions will be and didn’t have much time to do in service. My main focus was pushing to start the gang up again ‘rolled over’ into 2021 but in the the shi s in the loco department, on the SR Milk Tanker, using we wouldn’t have a team to start meantime the waiting lists have got Laurie approached me to see if I soapy water and brushes to clean with so a big well done to them. longer and indeed the new 2020 was interested in working with the algae o the tank. We then As well as the above both Harry members haven’t even completed him restoring and maintaining stripped and repainted bits of the Shopland and Paul Booth have their initial assessments. Sadly, the Bluebell’s historic wagons. chassis ready for it to enter service helped with wagon restorations. the 9F Club is suspended for the Having enjoyed the times I have again. Matthew Lander, 23. foreseeable future. been down there in the past it was Hopefully, their e orts Wondering what to write about a de nite YES. Another advantage In the 9F Club I’d always been will continue and the Goods the club, I came across the above was that it turned out to also be interested in more than just Division will grow. We are photo from the newly reformed very bene cial in conjunction cleaning engines. I spent a lot of always looking for others to Wagon Group and noticed that with my college engineering time there working on the cosmetic join. Department Director Bob four of the people in the photo course. Having seen comment and restoration of the steam Pamment, Works Manager were all ex 9F Club members. reaction to the goods trains on which was a greatly enjoyable and Rowan Millard and David I therefore thought it might be social media following the ‘O the satisfying project as well as doing Rydderch, the Wagon Team interesting to members to hear Rails’ event, it felt very good to be P.Way work at Horsted Keynes.  e Leader, have all been very how they progressed from being a part of the group and what we are wagon gang was born out of pub helpful and supportive with nine-year-old with an interest in doing. Alex Widdowson, 18. talk between myself, Laurie and the gang. If you are interested railways and joining the 9F Club another ex-9F Club member about in joining please get in contact to being part of this group which I joined the 9F Club when I how nice it would be to have goods with David at david@rhydderch. facilitated the reintroduction of was nine. During my time with trains of the same quality as some co.uk goods trains at the recent ‘O the the club I did the usual jobs at other railways. A er all we have As a member of the 9F board Rails’ event. It was such a shame She eld Park; emptying pits, the stock for it, just no one to do it is always rewarding to see ex- that in these restricted days more loco cleaning and pallet breaking the restorations and maintenance, members staying and volunteering people couldn’t have witnessed the etc, and cosmetic work on the and so the idea was born. Laurie on the Railway. Our Plc chairman, very welcome sight. In the past steam crane. Once I reached 16, put the footwork into creating the Chris Hunford, is an ex-9F Club the 9F Club have been involved I became a young supervisor for gang and it went from the pub to member, so it just shows that in restoration work on the ‘Dance a few years. I helped with the reality and as such I became part of any quiet, shy, new nine-year-old Hall’ brake van, the Ransome groups when the club was asked the physical group and am looking member really can achieve great & Rapier breakdown crane and to join in with the winter track forward to the future of the group things. various other tasks involving relay work. as we have many plans for it. MARTIN WIDDOWSON sanding, painting, red oxiding etc In 2019, Laurie Anderson Jack Gregory. 9F Secretary

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022-23 - 9F club wagons-wagon group.indd 22 16/12/2020 09:25 S15 No 847, less its smoke de ectors, heads the goods away from She eld Park with a Jon Bowers photographic charter special on 8 December 2020. DAVE BOWLES The strategy for the future e Railway completed 60 years of operation railways’ and also operate sustainably in the for the future and surprisingly, it has meant in 2020 and over that period it has built up 21st century setting? is will involve our more work than originally thought and covers a reputation with our visitors, members and original objectives but embrace changing a range of subjects that include strategic supporters for the authentic way it portrays circumstances and increasing regulation, as policy objectives, preservation policies, railways in the late 19th and early 20th well as meeting the demands of visitors and heritage management, business development, centuries. It is not just the individual historic members. is was a question that the Society environmental responsibilities, management atmosphere of our stations but the collection trustees re ected on during the summer as of assets and sustainability – in every sense. of locomotives, carriages, wagons and other we approached our diamond anniversary in e current position is that lot of work has artifacts that make it what it is, including the August. It’s an important question and one been done by SAPG to create a framework people who make it happen either ‘front-of- that goes to the heart of what we want the to hang co-ordinated policy, business and house’ or behind the scenes. Railway to be in the short, medium and long heritage strategy on, but a lot more work What is clear is that behind every successful term. is needed to develop and complete it. e organisation there are strategies and processes e Society trustees resolved to form a result will be a set of joined-up goals to work that set out clear guiding principles that tripartite committee, the ‘Bluebell Strategy to and help inform the Company’s business de ne the actions people in the business and Policy Group’ (SAPG), to formulate plan. ese together will enable the Railway should take; the matters that should be strategy and policy for the Bluebell Railway. to make decisions for the short term (0-5 addressed and prioritised to achieve desired is is being done with the full support of years), the medium term (5-10 years) and in goals and deliver business objectives. at the Company and the Trust as it’s the three the long term (10-20+ years) to ensure that might sound too much like being ‘corporate’ entities seamlessly working together that will the Railway can operate and develop in a but there is no getting away from the fact that make the Railway a success. SAPG is chaired sustainable, coherent and organised manner. the Bluebell Railway is a business that needs by Michael Priestley with Steve Bigg, Robert is work will be gra ed, as part of working to consider and plan its future seriously to Hayward and John Knight representing the in unison with the Company, into the process ensure that it continues to be successful and Society, Paul Lelew representing the Company that will inform and facilitate the Company’s sustainable. and Vernon Blackburn representing the Trust.  rst business plan and it is hoped that this will What is the strategy for the future of the De ning how each part plays its role has be  nalised by next summer. ere will be Bluebell Railway so that we can continue to been a thought-provoking exercise identifying more about this project in due course. authentically represent the ‘Golden ages of what are the respective ‘goals’ and ‘visions’ MICHAEL PRIESTLEY

BLUEBELL NEWS 23

022-23 - 9F club wagons-wagon group.indd 23 16/12/2020 09:25 Correspondence Dr Beeching visit I RECALL in Bluebell’s earlier days, an early morning cycle ride from Steam or diesel? Sutton, Surrey, along deserted roads to She eld Park station, where I AGREE both with Brian Barry’s we witnessed Dr Beeching declaring something or other ‘open’ from a letter ‘Diesel traction on the small dais on the platform. Bluebell’ and the editorial reply in Unfortunately I do not recall what or when exactly. Can you help Bluebell News Summer 2020. please with con rmation of what I witnessed? Yes, supporters visiting the R.F GEORGE Railway from afar should be able Reply to rely on steam haulage on the Doctor Beeching visited the railway on 1 April 1962. He joined the trains they wish to travel on, ‘Blue Belle’ special pulled by GNR No 1247 at  ree Bridges with his barring emergencies of course. wife.  e train then ran via to Horsted Keynes. From Most of the income from running there it was hauled by Stepney to She eld Park, stopping at Holywell trains is generated from non-steam for Beeching to open Holywell Halt (as a change from closing stations!) era passengers who come for the On arrival at She eld Park Dr Beeching visited the ‘new’ signalbox travel experience. Trains hauled by constructed by Norman Gillett and then gave a short speech with steam locomotives are generally words of encouragement for Bluebell and preservation in general. preferable but diesel traction is No 1247 performed well on the main Brighton line with the ‘Brighton better than trains being cancelled. Doctor Beeching opening Belle’ relegated to the slow line at Coulsdon for it to pass! If, as predicted, summers become Holywell (Waterworks) Halt in ROGER PRICE hotter and dryer, a ban on the use 1962. BLUEBELL ARCHIVE Archivist of steam-hauled trains due to  re risk is ever more likely. So having enough diesel locomotives able to operate the timetable makes good sense.  is does not mean Bluebell’s Pullman car fl eet  ooding the Railway with diesels! PAUL DAVISON’S letter in the Autumn edition of Bluebell News raises some interesting thoughts, but in It is an imperative for the Railway part based on misunderstandings, which it is worth taking the time to properly explore. to maximise operating income, Kitchen Car Carina is at present very much a ‘strategic reserve’ – we will eventually need a second kitchen resulting in less reliance on car, but for the next decade the train can be serviced by Fingall’s kitchen, together with the scullery facilities supporters’ pockets for things like within the LMS BGZ. It was indeed obtained in place of Doris (released for the 5-Bel project) since we could track renewals, station restorations not leave ourselves without the potential for a second kitchen car for the long term. However the immediate (and another Wickham Trolley?). priority was for a higher capacity vehicle with wheelchair access, which is to be provided by Car No 54.  e It is recognised that it costs less to substantial donation we received was indeed initially intended for work on Carina, but with Car 54 a higher use diesel traction on trains than priority the donor was very happy for the money to be used on that project instead, since it would not have steam locomotives so that trains been anything like su cient to complete Carina which is virtually a bare skeleton. early and late in the day and at Car No 36 is to be a replacement for Car No 76 (Lilian) which we are currently o ering for sale in the the ‘shoulders’ of the operating hope that a group with the metal-working skills to tackle it will be interested.  e current plan is that, season could be pro table using subject to funding being available, Car 36 will receive the intermediate overhaul it requires once Car 54 is diesels instead. If diesel traction complete. We have seats available for it without stripping those from Car 76. is used on trains this should be  e /underframe overhauls required on Car No 64 (Christine) and Fingall should take just six clearly indicated in the published months, and the aim is to complete these in early/mid 2021, whereas overhauling Car 36 and Carina will be timetable or widely publicised in a much more lengthy projects. ‘high  re risk’ alert. RICHARD SALMON RODNEY F HALL Support from the preservation era’s fi rst ‘lady of steam’ I HAVE been a Bluebell member for many I regularly visit the Bluebell, living years as was my late husband. We both came in , but not recently. to the opening day of the preserved Bluebell I keep in touch with what is Railway in 1960. We were both  remen on going on via online news.  e the Railway and came with a group model engineering society I of other TR  remen to show our support for belong to has a bi-monthly journal the  rst standard gauge preserved railway. I which members can have online was the  rst lady  reman on any preserved or printed. I was very pleased when the Bluebell member Ann Hatherill on the railway, starting on the Talyllyn in 1957, my Bluebell sent information out online during Talyllyn Railway in the 1950s. husband started on the Talyllyn in 1953. lockdown - I hate throwing away things I had previously  red Prince on the which I could have had on line - my family in 1956 and 57 and are all Bluebell members so can’t pass on to Reply eventually did 11 years on Talyllyn locos them. ank you for your suggestion, which is before having children. My grandson is a Could I suggest that, especially in these something we are already investigating and boiler shop apprentice on the Mid-Hants times of decreased income, the Bluebell gives will look into further, but it would be some Railway and due to start a permanent post members the choice of an online or printed project to dissect those members that would there in 2021. My younger grandson, John Bluebell News? prefer an online copy only from a c10,000 Hatherill, is a member of your 9F Club. ANN HATHERILL database. Ed.

24 BLUEBELL NEWS

024-25 - letter-reviews.indd 24 16/12/2020 09:41 INFRASTRUCTURE UPDATE As I write it is six months such as the requirements for Astor. is has been a complex since I took over the role of the eventual replacement of the project, made more di cult by Infrastructure Director – a She eld Park signal apparatus the cessation of work during the challenging, but rewarding six which is nearing the end of its  rst lockdown. However, this is months. e infrastructure folio life. e lineside clearance gangs gradually coming together, and will is enormous and wide-ranging, have done an excellent job in yield great bene ts for the whole and basically, if it doesn’t move, catching up with the backlog of the currently underpowered it is infrastructure – everything from earlier in the year. Horsted site. from the permanent way, e permanent way team Elsewhere, members of the signalling equipment, power, have also been busy with the infrastructure team have been to maintenance of our tenanted completion of the reconstruction working on van BY404, restoring properties, not forgetting major of Palmers Bridge, and the it and making it available for use projects such as OP4. associated track relay (see page as a generator van for  lming. It With only two paid sta , the 34-37), a second relay south of is currently being used to provide department is very reliant on its New Road Bridge, and some power for the SteamLights train. keen, motivated volunteers. e remedial work south of East e recent grant from the Friends groups worked hard to Grinstead. e next major project Culture Recovery Fund includes prepare their respective stations will be remedial works on New  nance for several infrastructure e next major project will be for the reopening in August, Road Bridge, followed by a track related projects. ere are three remedial works on New Road and continue to maintain their relay from the bridge north into projects which relate to our Bridge. VERNON BLACKBURN areas to the high standard that Horsted Keynes. electricity usage: replacing C&W our visitors expect. e electrical e completion of the Palmers lighting with LEDs; an energy to see this at least partially open team has likewise been catching Bridge section (delayed from audit and works to reduce energy by April. up on various maintenance tasks March) has released su cient consumption; and a feasibility Finally, one gap in the team is in following the  rst lockdown, track panels to enable roads H study on the installation of solar the management of our buildings. and is now in the  nal throes and J in OP4 to be laid. is is due photo-voltaic panels. We have Is there anybody who might be of  tting lights in readiness for completion during the next extensive roof areas on OP3, interested in the (voluntary) role for our Christmas activities. few weeks, enabling more heritage OP4 and AWF which could of Buildings Manager? ere is a e Signalling & Telecoms stock to be stored in the shed. potentially be used without being brief job description here www. department have continued with I’m very pleased to welcome visible from the heritage sections bluebell-railway.com/volunteer-at- their regular maintenance, and Melissa Jordan to the team as the of the Railway. e largest of bluebell-railway/ and if you think have also been progressing new new project manager for  tting the projects is the proposed this might the role for you, please projects such as the replacement out the Heritage Skills Centre. Mel miniature railway in the picnic contact volunteering@bluebell- of the up inner home at Horsted joined us in August, and progress area at She eld Park. Plans are railway.com. Keynes (and the development in the HSC since then has been well advanced and the ground Here’s hoping that 2021 will be of its new hydraulic operating substantial (see ‘News’). Another survey has been completed. a little less fraught than 2020! system), together with the project at Horsted is the new power Provided planning permission BARRY LUCK development of major projects supply, being managed by Tony can be obtained in time we hope Infrastructure Director Bookshelf Southern Style – The Southern Railway By John Harvey, published by the Historical Model Railway Society, on Tavender’s work, with 2020, £35, 240pp, colour and mono photos and drawings, plus folder copious illustrations. of specimen colour samples. I have already is fourth volume of Southern Style follows volumes covering consulted it to resolve the LSWR, LBSCR and BR(S). It includes the Lynton & Barnstaple online discussions Railway from 1898 to 1935 and the passenger stock of the regarding ‘light’ and & Dorset Joint Railway from 1923 until 1930. ‘dark’ Olive, and the e result of many years careful research, and superseding the experimental olive green HMRS’s Livery Register No.3 - LSWR and Southern (L. Tavender, which only appeared on 1970), the acknowledgement section credits the assistance of many a handful of carriages individuals, starting from people who kept contemporary records and did not weather well, whilst they worked for the SR, through to the HMRS and NRM, the immediately replaced Maunsell Locomotive and Bulleid Societies, the Bluebell Railway by Bulleid’s Malachite. Archive, and the Bluebell’s C&W, amongst others. I still remember Covering wagons, my own contribution, probably 20 years back, when John and I departmental stock, road chipped paint from underframes of stock at Horsted Keynes to vehicles, uniforms, ships’ uncover fresh samples of original paint covered over many decades  ags and funnels and buildings as well as locomotives and carriages, before. Liveries and the exact shades of paint colours are always whilst being aimed more at modellers, it provides real academic di cult issues, creating much discussion, but John takes care to pull rigour to reinforce (and against which to check) our own practices in together documented facts, measurements, reported observations preservation. going back many years, always building on and hugely expanding RICHARD SALMON

BLUEBELL NEWS 25

024-25 - letter-reviews.indd 25 16/12/2020 09:41 Infrastructure

e Wednesday Gang (North) clearing the lineside between Horsted e new tamper on driver training duties at Kingscote station. Keynes station and Leamland Bridge on 25 November. NIGEL MENZIES ‘GRIZZ’ SR Van C (BY) No 404 linkages were all taken down, the felling and removal of pipes that had got bunged up Work stopped on the lm greased and adjusted, vac system several trees that were su ering with assorted combinations of generator van when we were checked and new bags tted, axle from disease. We also took leaves, cut vegetation, mud and locked down just as we were boxes serviced and electrics tested. the opportunity to trim back a ballast. A number of preventative hopeful of better weather a er a Finally, with time pressing for number of trees where branches maintenance tasks have also prolonged period of rain when imminent service, it was necessary were getting dangerously close to been undertaken, including we couldn’t get much done. What to patch another hole in the south the track.  is resulted in plenty completing the shplate oiling followed was a really dry spell cabin  oor so that the generators of logs removed to West Hoathly along the section between West when the nal exterior painting could be loaded safely. Cable ports using the Wickham. Hoathly and Kingscote station, as could have gone ahead but it was have also been made and tted in We have now moved to work well as jacking and packing the possible to work o -site and a lot the end walls as well as a custom north of Horsted Keynes starting usual problem spot at Vaux End. of time was spent nishing o the designed fan unit which can from Horsted House Farm Meanwhile the ‘can you just...’ necessary repairs on the droplights be tted to any of the droplight crossing.  e track here is due jobs have generally involved and periscope mirror frames for openings depending on whichever for renewal soon and we have shovelling ballast (lots of it!) in the guard.  e droplights were also generator is working.  e original strimmed and tidied all along the advance of both phases of the painted and varnished in more intention was to vent the generator section from the foot crossing Palmers Bridge relay as well ideal conditions away from the exhaust through the existing stove under the farm access bridge as around the new A-points in van. Once we could return a er chimney, however the size of the towards the cutting.  ere was a Horsted Keynes down yard. restrictions were eased, exterior generators for SteamLights has lot of weed growth on the bridge JON BOWERS painting continued along with precluded this and so exhaust so we have taken the opportunity repairs to the periscope housings ports have been tted in the cabin to clear that. As usual this was Wednesday Gang and mechanisms. SteamLights roof at each end in place of a mainly ivy and moss which isn’t (North) has added to the excitement torpedo vent. So BY404 is now always easy to reach! We plan to It’s di cult to be topical with No 404 being used as the entering service at last and will be continue northwards in the period with reports of our lineside generator van – which has been available for lming at the earliest leading up to Christmas.  ere activities, since, as the reader the intention all along for lming; opportunity in 2021. are a number of fallen trees that will appreciate, they relate to but it also needed checking for MIKE HOPPS need addressing along the way work undertaken during the tness to run. Being moved to and at the time of writing we have previous quarter and are written E road in the C&W works gave Tuesday Gang removed the rst of those ready some weeks before they appear another opportunity for exterior Following our last report, we for logging. Leaf fall was blocking in print, by which time they are painting in the dry as well as completed clearance of the the drainage ditch in the cutting usually out of date. However, getting a full mechanical service lineside between She eld Park and we have made good progress picking up from where we le by the maintenance crew. Brake and Ketches.  is also involved in clearing that and it is  owing o in our autumn report, we do nicely a er all the recent rainfall! seem to have been stuck in a time KEITH LAWRIE warp, having spent an inordinate number of hours working at West  e Sunday Gang spent the Hoathly. Although Lew Lewis autumn undertaking a range continues to maintain the former of routine maintenance tasks station area in pristine condition, as well as helping out with a it has been a few years since the number of ‘can you just...’ jobs. gang was there last, so there was  e former have mainly involved much to do. It’s pleasing to report correcting faults identi ed by the that clearance work has now been weekly track inspections, such completed on both sides of the as replacing a number of rusted line between Deans Crossing and panlock fastenings in the tunnel, the tunnel, once again opening replacing life-expired sleepers up views of the line from Station at She eld Park, cursing stuck Road above. Sadly, ash dieback shplate bolts at various locations has been identi ed in a number along the length of the line of mature trees close to the tunnel (and sometimes replacing them entrance and, at the time of 1892-1914 map of spur. too), and unblocking drainage writing, are due to be felled.

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026-27 - permanent way.indd 26 16/12/2020 09:27 Permanent Way

Old A points and new A points. JON GOFF

During our time at West kindly allowing us to park at his railway, we obviously got that correct line for the track down Hoathly, strimmer operators were Town Place Farm property. track repair right! to where Sheri Mill viaduct called upon to assist with removal One disappointment is the  e tamper has also been was, especially as there are so of vegetation close to the running disappearance, now assumed active in Horsted yard, mainly for many other more urgent and line in other areas, where this stolen, of a number of rakes and training, mostly up and down the more important things to use our could not be accessed by the rail- pitchforks, which we thought new long siding, now named ‘New limited resources on. Although we mounted ail or tractor mower, we had le securely out of sight Road Siding’. It also tamped the are not going to relay the track in in an attempt to reduce  re risk under cover. running-in road,  nally producing the foreseeable future, its correct during the hot summer weather. JOHN DREW the smooth gentle curve we position has been accurately In October, the strimming team planned some time ago. We plotted because we need a cleared the west side of the Matt Crawford's expect a second similar tamper to boundary fence beside the track. line between New Road Bridge group arrive in the new year and should Looking at old maps we found and  ree Arch P-way hut, in  e principal focus of Matt’s be able to get our winter relay an old 25in map dated 1892 to connection with the photo charter group this quarter was clearly tamped by one of them. 1914 which best showed the old planned for 7-8 December. Palmers Bridge and the two-  e A road point is also  nally Ardingly track. From this we In November the full gang phase track relay over it, as in the  nished. By the time you read could work out that curvature was returned to Horsted Keynes, separate report. However, that this, it will also be connected to A 29 chains (583m). A er surveying where both sides of the line have was not the only task worked on. road in the shed and  nished. It the existing track which has a been cleared between the station A road points were  nally will have the best, smoothest and straight in it and a very sharp and Leamland Bridge.  nished, the Ardingly spur and gentlest curve into the shed that it curve, too sharp for some stock, At the end of November, we Kingscote goods yard layouts has ever had but will still be a bit a new curve was set splitting returned to our usual pre- were surveyed and some planning tighter than we would like it at just the radius into two due to the Christmas location, working carried out. over 6 chains radius. To get the current di erent arrangement south through  ree Arch  e tamper seen here is for curve up to our preferred minimum by the signal box and the signal Cutting, which we customarily driver training and for machine of 9 chains we would have to move placed at the other end of the prepare annually in readiness for approval before it is allowed on the running-in road over so far formation.  e two curves meet the spring wild ower display. Network Rail’s system. It is brand that the main line would have to be to within quarter of a millimetre! BRIAN KIDMAN new, just arrived from Plasser & moved over as well, together with One other area to be surveyed is  eurer in Austria and has not yet the dock road points, the points Kingscote goods yard. Trying to Wednesday Gang been signed over to Balfour Beatty. into platform 5, the dummy signal get good curves and pointwork to (South) It won’t be signed over until all the and even the water tower, so we’ll get three sidings in, including one As Bluebell management teething problems are ironed out stick with the 6-chain radius. for the crane around the builder’s con rmed that lineside clearance which is why Network Rail don’t It may at  rst seem a silly thing yard fence line has proved to be was considered an essential want it on their tracks yet. Balfour to work out now, but some e ort di cult. More on this next time. activity during Lockdown 2, the is paying us for the use of our has been spent on plotting the JON GOFF Southern Gang decided it was rails for the training and approval safe enough to carry on, given the exercise and we also get tamping precautions in place. Since then done for free. It has already the team has continued working tamped the Palmers Bridge relay ‘down’ from Sloop and Town Place and the A road point in Horsted Bridges, clearing areas not dealt Keynes down yard although it will with by the summer ail. In so need tamping again when more doing we have also cleared an area ballast is put down. in preparation for a forthcoming It does a measuring run Jon Bowers photographic charter. before doing a tamping run. It We have now reached our walking can then do another measuring limit going south and are in the run and from the results make process of returning to Sloop a recommendation for the Bridge on the ‘up’ side. While maximum speed of any particular working in this area we have piece of line. One section near bene ted from the generosity of the eye hospital came out at over Bluebell neighbour, Charlie, in 100mph! Not bad for a 25 mph New curvature, with o sets from datum lines.

BLUEBELL NEWS 27

026-27 - permanent way.indd 27 16/12/2020 09:27 Special events ‘OFF THE RAILS’ GALA WEEKENDS

e goods train consist being assembled at Horsted Keynes on 24 October. JAMES HAMILTON

e Railway ran its  rst post- BR 4MT No 80151. On each passenger stock for authentic currently in the process of being lockdown special event, entitled Sunday the 09 D4106 was branch line e ect. completely overhauled by Ian ‘O the Rails’, either side of the shunting at Horsted Keynes, On 25 October a small Langley. autumn half term holidays, on however on Sunday 31 the diesel celebration took place at Horsted Ian has the use of the Searle October 24-25 and 31-1 November. wouldn’t start and the rostered Keynes to celebrate the 125th family of Horsham’s Fowler B5 Consisting of a gathering of passenger locomotives SECR H anniversary, to the day, of the road locomotive crane engine vintage road vehicles, including Class No 263 and SER O1 No completion of Fowler A4 6nhp No 8920 of 1901 e Great North traction engines, at Horsted 65 undertook some shunting traction engine No 7459 of and with so few opportunities to Keynes and She eld Park during their scheduled one- 1895 Endurance. e engine has use it in 2020 was keen to attend stations whilst the Railway ran hour stop at Horsted Keynes. been in the ownership of the the Bluebell event with it and take goods trains on the Saturday Also a couple of goods wagons Langley family of South the partially complete Fowler of each weekend, hauled by were attached and run with the for several generations and is traction engine on a heavy

e goods train preparing to leave She eld Park behind No 80151. A Bristol bus, Fowler traction engine No 8781 of 1900 Monty and JAMES HAMILTON RT 2043 at She eld Park on 24 October. JAMES HAMILTON

28 BLUEBELL NEWS

028-29 - Off the rails gala.indd 28 16/12/2020 09:28 ‘OFF THE RAILS’ GALA WEEKENDS

haulage trailer. At about 8am on ABOVE: Aveling & Porter Saturday 24 October, Ian and his road roller No 10574 of 1923 signi cant other, Sam Gunn as Lionheart at Horsted Keynes. steerswomen, le Chailey with JAMES HAMILTON a long road train behind the Fowler consisting of the haulage LEFT: e road train on its way trailer, trailer and large living van. to Horsted Keynes from South Considering the narrow lanes Chailey, hauled by Fowler No and steep hills of the route they 8920 of 1901 e Great North. did well to cover the ten miles to JAMES HAMILTON Horsted Keynes in a little over two and a half hours. To mark the occasion a cake RIGHT: Under restoration in the form of the engine was cut Fowler No 7459 of 1895 and shared with those present to Endurance made a rare public celebrate Endurance’s 125th. appearance out of its shed to celebrate its 125th birthday. JAMES HAMILTON JAMES HAMILTON

Jim Hat eld steamed his 1930 Sentinel DG6 waggon to Kingscote from his base. COLIN TYSON A 1969 Royal Mail van on the dock at Kingscote. COLIN TYSON

BLUEBELL NEWS 29

028-29 - Off the rails gala.indd 29 16/12/2020 09:29 Signal & Telecommunications Future needs – Sheffi eld Park Signal Box options

Option 1: is illustrates how things may look in the future, the signal box image is from Lewes although it has been reversed to reposition the stairs to the le . It is also a little longer than we would require and we need to negotiate any changes with the listing authorities. e building had its lower windows bricked up during the Second World War and we would restore these to original Victorian condition. What is not depicted is the ‘cottage’ housing the ‘techy’ kit but this would likely be behind the signal box but nearer the proposed archive facility. Montage by Mike Hopps.

In the Autumn Bluebell News use a spare or hire in a temporary the north end was technically operated points are furthest from S&T report I suggested that plans replacement. To prevent a a ground frame working under the signal box, the closest being were afoot to replace She eld future damaging breakdown of the instruction of the south end power operated. Any proposal Park Signal Box. I am pleased to the signalling system we need signalman.  is was not the most must sidestep this temptation expand on the background of this to predict how long we can e cient deployment of sta but I of piecemeal development by project and would be delighted guarantee a safe and e ective guess in reality with a very light carefully considering possible to correspond with members working system and subtract that and predictable train service future enhancements alongside who have constructive ideas or from the time any replacement the two ‘signal boxes’ could be full consultation with all are interested in helping with the would take to design, approve, worked by one signalman. When concerned experienced in the scheme. install and commission.  is, of the Southern Railway came on present operation. For a number of years the course, is not an exact science but the scene, they replaced the two  e current signal box condition of She eld Park Signal I am using the broad experience ‘signal boxes’ with a lever frame occupies a critical position on the Box has been giving the signal of my fellow engineers to ensure behind railings on the platform platform creating a serious pinch engineering team increasing reliability is maintained. such that one person could point for visitor  ow, a particular concerns. Its  tness will soon My priorities on any solution operate the points and signals, risk when considering opening reach a point where major are to maintain and improve issue tickets, deal with the sta of carriage doors. On the other component replacement will be safety, uphold preservation exchange and dispatch trains. hand, of course, this setting has required. Subsequently I was standards, enrich the visitors' Once the Bluebell took control, a superb bene t for the public tasked to research options and experience including the disabled the lever frame evolved, going to witness a working signal box gather the ideas from as many and ensure the  nal product can through many incarnations into and must have encouraged many people as possible on how we be easily maintained to modern a full-blown signal box we all visitors to research the black art could deal with the developing standards. now enjoy. Alas, it has involved of signalling. Within the signal situation. When built, She eld Park piecemeal development using box, access to much of the safety Signal boxes and their had two so-called signal boxes, kit that was available at the time. critical devices requires the associated infrastructure must one at the south and one at the  is has resulted in the use of signalman’s  oor to be removed, be considered slightly di erent north end of the station. Strictly illogical technology and obsolete not appropriate for even minor from other assets, if serious issues the south end was the block post equipment. A classic example is maintenance and even less develop it is not possible to just and thus considered a signal box, that the only set of mechanically suitable for major reconstruction.

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030-31 - s&t-obit.indd 30 16/12/2020 09:29 Future needs – Sheffi eld Park Signal Box options To protect the future safety and signalling widely to the LBSCR, room) required to house the (ex-Newhaven Town) will allow operating facilities at She eld the UK and around the world, telecommunications, signalling passive provision for any future Park, doing nothing is not an A Saxby and Farmer Type 5 interlocking and power supplies. requirement at the south end of option. A er considering various signal box style has been a long- It's proposed to construct this the station. Where the signalling possibilities, we have settled standing Bluebell ambition for building in the style of a Myer’s and points are within the view on proposing a replacement any replacement and so we began railwayman’s cottage to disguise of the general public they will be Victorian-styled signal box in looking for a suitable donor it from its real purpose.  e site operated mechanically and where a new position. I could devote structure of this style. Newhaven considers any future platform possible in the style of classic columns of text explaining Town could have been ideal but extensions. We have already LBSCR design.  is will include the technical reasons for the its all-timber condition was very moved the signals and the a mechanical facing point layout decisions but I am sure of most poor so I turned my attention to visitors' viewing area will need to adjacent to the foot crossing. interest to members is revealing Lewes. A site visit con rmed in migrate towards the river bridge. Major challenges remain of what the nal proposal could my mind that this was a strong Visitor access to this viewing course; how the project is nanced look like, its bene ts and how it contender but a number of point would be via a footpath is the most acute and, if the will be achieved. One thing that obstacles were likely to become to the rear of the signal box and Lewes option is pursued, how is certain, whatever solution is a challenge. As a listed building I this will permit the possibility do you recover a listed building nally decided on it will not be was pleased to discover the listing of including an observation from a site adjacent to a working cheap and we are obviously in sponsor was broadly supportive window revealing the secrets of National Railway, but of course nancial competition with other of its relocation and reuse.  e the lower  oor of a signal box any progress at present is hindered deserving projects. council conservation adviser was including a demonstration layout by the damned virus.  e building, although also on board although having a of vintage electrical equipment. If any member would like speci ed by the signal engineer, number of issues to resolve. Also Similarly, a window in the relay to assist me in developing any requires construction expertise supportive are the Sussex Coast room will allow visitors to view a element of this project I would be from the civil engineers and Rail Partnership and Network demonstration heritage telephone pleased to hear from you. I can therefore there is a need to build Rail but a collective site visit was system, using dial operated be contacted on brian.hymas@ up a specialist team to oversee vital before we could make any telephones. bluebell-railway.com this work. An important early further progress. Frustratingly  e size and layout of the Finally, it is expected that any consideration is to decide on the the virus halted a proposed early signal box would allow an area modern project has a branding size and style of the building. site meeting and then again for the signalman’s domestic name. Any suggestions gratefully A bespoke ‘new build’ signal when the second lockdown was needs and an area for invited received, a few ideas so far: box could be very expensive. announced. visitors to witness the operation SPARS (She eld Park Area Alternatively, and perhaps  e proposed signal box site has without interfering with the Resignalling Scheme) cheaper, would be the re-use generated much dialogue debating signalman’s duties. I am very RASP (Resignalling At of a suitable decommissioned the options with the operating conscious the existing signal box She eld Park) Network Rail structure.  is authorities and considering the does allow for disabled visitors to ROSP (Resignalling Of could also attract heritage technical requirements. In reality experience signalling processes so She eld Park) donations. the north end of platform 2 is a li is proposed, secreted away ROSBOX (Replacement Of John Saxby was an important the only practical location along at the rear to provide similar Signal Box) local entrepreneur providing with an equipment room (relay access.  e frame of 40 levers BRIAN HYMAS

A much respected and much missed Bluebell driver, John Padgham, OBITUARY died in April 2020. JOHN PADGHAM John was a reman at  ree Bridges shed during the 1950s and early 1960s and he brought to the Bluebell the relaxed, con dent skills which the true ex-professionals had. Barbara Watkins recalls ‘his wicked sense of humour. Was irreverent, extremely funny and rolled o his tongue without hesitation…his quick wit had no bounds.’ A day with John was always an instructive, relaxed and rewarding experience. He was a natural teacher, which was notably illustrated when we worked together on the driving and ring experience courses, from which the candidates gained unique insight and much enjoyment. When Clive Groome was obliged to use quali ed help to assist with his ‘Footplate Days and Ways’ courses, John was a natural to be employed as one of his assistants and this relationship lasted many years. It continued also when Clive conducted courses on other railways up and down the country. Following his railway career, John was an HGV driver, then for some years ran his own landscape gardening business before latterly working extensively with Matt Crawford on Bluebell P-Way tasks. For a number of years John also made a large contribution to the running of the at Is eld.

MICHAEL TOPLIS A typical Padgham pose! Senior Fireman, retired

BLUEBELL NEWS 31

030-31 - s&t-obit.indd 31 16/12/2020 09:30 Bluebell Modeller Dapol's operating semaphore signals Back in my youth train watching watch the trains streaming south was quite a respected hobby whilst keeping a watchful eye on – I was yet to become a train the northbound fast line signals. spotter. In those early days my It was a very busy railway on rst unaccompanied adventures those Saturdays I spent there, one were watching the GNR N2 train a er another, and all steam. class 0-6-2Ts on the coal train I don’t ever remember seeing a that served Mill Hill East gas diesel. When the two arms of the works and the coal depots at the short post of the northbound wayside station goods yards on signal went up it was time to what is the overground section look the other way and peering a of London Underground’s mile down the line you could see Northern Line.  ese trains through the tunnel and beyond. were also to in uence a boy in  e excitement began as a dot on Highgate who now has a much the horizon grew bigger and you bigger train set than mine.  at could see the billowing steam as it boy became the famous rock raced towards the tunnel, then all star Rod Stewart and his model went dark as the tunnel lled with railway is legendary, and what is smoke. Moments later with a gush ironic, is he likes American trains of white steam, the train burst out and the Pennsylvania Railroad the tunnel and grew larger and – I have those same trains too, larger heading straight towards it must have been something in me. It was time to step back from the smoke that the N2 emitted! the platform edge and savour When Santa squeezed a bike the sight as it roared through the down the chimney I broadened station with its chime whistle my horizons and discovered the blasting.  ere was nothing quite close proximity of the LNER like seeing a Gresley A4 streaking main line. Mum and dad never north from just a couple yards challenged me when I said I was away… awesome!  ere were also going to Oakleigh Park, little did lots of A1s, A2s, A3s, V2s and B1s Dapol 00 gauge SR lattice starter. they know it was just the name and each time those signals went of a surburban station with ve up I wondered what would appear week doing lineside photography the few enthusiasts in the know. tracks passing through it.  e next! on the lonesome Settle & Carlisle  ere were no hordes of train northbound island platform was Signal magic returned in full railway.  is was back in the days enthusiasts to swap information just the spot for here I could volume when I was spending a when the line had no status but to with and the memorable joy was just that, the peace and quiet of being alone in God’s Country. One just had to keep a good eye on the signals and that was all part of the excitement. Suddenly that peg was o , a quick check that all on the camera was set properly, shutter speed, aperture and focus… and of course that the lm was wound on! I knew what time those Jubilees would come by but nothing else… wow what’s this coming? A Britannia, snap and it’s in the can I hope! Similar memories remain indelibly etched from days linesiding steam on the Southern. I had become aware that these signals, whilst constructed purely for functionality, were in themselves fascinating features of the railway infrastructure and very di erent over the regions.  ey were built in all sorts of permutations according to the Dapol’s 00 gauge LH bracket signal. requirements of the location, but

32 BLUEBELL NEWS

032-33 - bluebell modeller.indd 32 16/12/2020 09:32 Clear road ahead: Rail-built signal in detail.

LEFT: Dapol 00 gauge SR rail-built home signal. Dapol N scale GWR wooden post distant signal.

even the humblest of single post dominant across the nation, Various permutations are now if the cable operating them signals were just so pretty and good models of signals always available and the most recent should break, the arm would now just so rare. I loved those presented a serious challenge. addition to the range is the 00 automatically drop back to the very tall LSWR lattice posts with For years the only quality models branch danger position by virtue of their ornate cruciform nials. were kits in 00 available from line, or loop line bracket. As the kinetic energy stored in the Each company had its own Ratio which took considerable operational models they have an counterweight.  us when the distinctive nial. skill to paint and assemble and LED lighted lamp tted into a signalman hurriedly released the  e evolution of the railway at best, being very delicate, were housing that is the correct shape lever from the o position, the signal is a fascinating journey challenging to make operational. of a para n burner signal lamp. signal arm would drop rapidly and through a period from when Some modellers have built Maybe a bit bright for some but then ‘bounced’ as it settles back policemen were employed to their own signals but these very pleasing to all and our N in its danger position. Even this stand with their arm out to warn rare but stunning models were scale / 00 / 0 gauge loco drivers ‘bouncing’ movement has been a train driver when and when constructed with a watchmakers will be hard pushed to excuse a replicated in the latest of Dapol’s not to proceed based on time delity and most of us don’t SPAD by not seeing the light. signals. lapse intervals. I’m glad they had have that sort of time on our Having watched many real A plug and play set of disbanded that system by the hands. Modern day production signals over the years whilst connectors make the models time the A4s came out! techniques have now allowed for waiting to photograph a train, operational in minutes. For fun One of the most eye-catching these fascinating items to be made there are characteristics of value of what they add to a layout accessories on a model railway durable in large numbers and operation of semaphores that tell and for what they cost, in each of are the signals. For those Dapol have to be commended for you a lot about the temperament the scales, these models represent modelling the pre-diesel era grabbing the initiative. Available of the signalman. Semaphore stunning value for money. when the semaphore signal was in all scales, N, 00, and 0 gauge. signals had been designed that CHRIS KAPOLKA

Dapol N scale GWR wooden post home signal. Dapol signals plug and play control unit.

BLUEBELL NEWS 33

032-33 - bluebell modeller.indd 33 16/12/2020 09:32 Infrastructure HOW PALMERS BRIDGE BECAME PALMER’S PALMERS BRIDGE e infrastructure team have built a bridge which they are very proud years ago with a di erent type of brick which doesn’t blend in well despite of and with good reason. In proportion to its size, it is probably one being in good condition. However, locally sourced matching bricks have of the best constructed, strongest and long-lasting on any UK railway been purchased for the work required this time. – including Network Rail. It is probably also one of the cheapest. is It was decided early on to reinstate the whole of the bridge deck, is the story of the homemade bridge from start to  nish, its reasons i.e. the full double track width. is was for several reasons: one being for replacing the old one, its construction and installation. To see infrastructure does not do jobs by halves these days and likes to do a a time lapse video of the construction go to: www.youtube.com/ ‘proper job’. On a previous deck replacement exercise years ago, the down watch?v=uCP1ClNJpP8 side was not replaced and so extra fencing around the ‘hole’ was required. Like all heritage railways, Bluebell’s track is wearing out. Some of it By replacing the whole deck, the safety aspect over the ‘missing half’ was dates back over a century. We are one of the few railways that are running completely removed. In addition, having the down side in place provides a major programme of track replacement to ensure we stay as a working access for safety vehicles and maintenance machinery as well as making railway and not just a static museum. e increased tyre wear on the the overall job of rebuilding the bridge easier and safer. rolling stock and the increase in the number of broken springs, causing We are fortunate to have our own friendly bridge design engineer, locos to fail in service, was causing signi cant concern, hence the major Dick Beckwith, who has designed many bridges of all sorts during his replacement programme. career. Following his sketched design, Andy Palmer (no relation to his e bulk of the track between She eld Park and Horsted Keynes has namesake’s bridge!), who is paid sta and Matt Crawford’s right-hand been replaced already and one of the interfaces between the old and new man, set about turning the drawings into the major components required track has gradually been moving down Fresh eld Bank over several years. for the bridge replacement. is required some major design and timber e last section of straight track to be replaced here, thirteen panels construction work in itself to create the moulds in which the concrete immediately before the curve through Ketches, passes over a frequently would be cast. e majority of the work was carried out by Andy Palmer used cattle creep, a farmer’s access bridge called Palmers Bridge. and Garry Whitaker although additional help was given at some point by e bridge was showing its age. Although surveyed and deemed safe most members of the team. by expert bridge engineers, it was agreed that it wouldn’t have a lot of As there were to be more than one piece of each shape, the moulds years le . erefore, it would be sensible to replace the bridge deck before were designed to be reusable. ey were built quite ruggedly to ensure laying the new track over it as the new track would certainly outlast the they would take the weight without sagging or bowing at any point, even old bridge by many years. a er being used several times. In fact, they were made so strong that they e bridge abutments are built of brick nearly a metre thick and only could probably be used for several bridges if required, not that we have needed some facing bricks replaced. Some were replaced around thirty that requirement. e old bridge relied on just two riveted steel beams to take the weight of passing trains. ese were getting rusty and the bridge would  ex and shake when a train passed over. Although technically still perfectly safe, it was not an enjoyable experience when the S15 passed over when I was underneath doing some measuring. e new bridge has 24 I-beams embedded in the concrete rather than just rebar as the reinforcement, although the weight of a train would be distributed over only 15 of them at once. e I-beams or RSJs were slightly smaller than the old beams but made of stronger more modern structural steel rather than three wrought iron plates and four pieces of angle iron riveted together. at meant that the bridge could be made slightly thinner and yet be much stronger and ensure that no headroom was lost under the bridge – and still give a good depth of ballast on top of the bridge. e bridge design was broken down into a total of nine separate castings. e deck was made up of three main  at section each with six I-beams inside and two smaller sections with three beams inside but with a parapet wall upstand on one side. ese had to be cast in two separate pours, with the  rst pour scabbled and primed before the second pour e  rst deck panel, cast on 18 March 2020. CLIVE WHITCROFT could take place. e deck sections would sit on two new sill beams which in turn would sit on top of the existing brickwork. To make handling much easier, each of these were cast in two sections with an approximate one third, two thirds split. e reason for the uneven split was so that the east side of the bridge could be  tted in place without disturbing the west half of the existing bridge and trains could run una ected. e existing bridge with the rails still on it could be used to build the east side one third, but signi cantly when the old west side bridge was being replaced and the track was cut, the new east side could be used for plant and worker access. at also massively reduced the construction time, complexity and plant hire costs and made the work safer. e formwork for the moulds started a year ago using H road in OP4 as a  at level base to work. H road only reached halfway down the shed and J road didn’t exist then either as the space was required for access to build the Heritage Skills Centre on the side of OP4. It was under cover, out of Li ing the I-beams into the parapet sections. CLIVE WHITCROFT the winter weather and out of the way tucked behind the observation car

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034-37 - Palmers Bridge.indd 34 16/12/2020 09:33 HOW PALMERS BRIDGE BECAME PALMER’S PALMERS BRIDGE

e two 1/3 sill beams  tted as the track is being li ed and laser Brickwork required. BRUCE HEALEY bulldozed in the background. JON GOFF

which had been shunted in the shed to dry out for the winter. While waiting for ballast, everything was transported to site for the e plan was to gradually build all the sections a er the winter relays track relay of 13 panels and the bridge replacement. With that done and were  nished so that all the castings had at least two months of concrete still waiting for the ballast, we decided to have a ‘poke’ with the bridge hardening time before the bridge was replaced in September. We were on the missing east side. By the end of the day we had removed most on track with the  rst concrete pour taking place on 18 March 2020. masonry required down to the level needed for the new sill beam. e However, just  ve days later on 23 March, Covid-19 stepped in and spoilt two corroded steel beams originally intended to carry the down rails for that plan. Fortunately, limited work could resume a er the  rst lockdown the double track were removed together with their sandstone pad stones. with only a two-month delay. e bottoms of these marked the level on which the new sill beams would e concrete used for the bridge could not be homemade as regulations sit. stipulate that the concrete must be a certi ed mix. erefore, a pre-mixed e sill beams are very much larger than the original pad stones which load was shipped in and initially poured into the ballast box on the digger were only 25 inches square. e two halves of the beams together will trailer. is was then driven into the shed and poured into the moulds spread the weight evenly over the entire width of the bridge. By the end of slowly, a digger bucket at a time. Vibrating pokers were then used to the next day, the surface on which the sills would sit was cleaned back to ensure that the concrete  owed consistently onto all corners, nooks and the full 3 thickness of the abutments and a pair of levelling plates were crannies within the moulds. e vibration also li ed out any surplus mortared into place on each side of the bridge using a laser to match the water within the mix which consolidates the concrete into a stronger, heights exactly. e next day the two sill beams for the east side were in denser form. place, levelled and fully mortared in. With all the sections made, they were transported to site ready for use Some of the brickwork on the abutments required a bit of attention but were allowed a little extra hardening time while the  rst part of the although largely cosmetic. is was mainly on the east side where there track relay was completed. has not been a bridge deck to protect it for many years. Some of the e rail replacement either side of the bridge was carried out in two brickwork only required repointing fortunately, but some bricks did sections with the  rst planned to be carried out in the  rst week in need replacing as well. In the picture it can be seen that on the right- September when there were no weekday trains. However, a further delay hand side the eroded bricks have been removed ready for replacement was encountered due to the shortage of ballast required. with matching bricks. On the le the bricks replaced some years ago Due to the unusual weather patterns this year, Network Rail had unfortunately do not match and look out of place despite being sound. su ered an unusually large number of land slips and had taken all Before the autumn half term when trains ran midweek, seven panels available ballast to repair them. We only use small quantities of recycled of track were relaid, extending the relaid track on Fresh eld Bank stone by comparison and can only get a supply when a recycling run is down to immediately before Palmers Bridge. Within just three days, it being carried out for someone else. A er various negotiations regarding was reconnected and ballasted. Because of the constant re ning of the funding, authorisation was given to purchase a large enough quantity techniques we now use to relay and align replacement track, we can do for the reprocessors to do a run speci cally for us, and hence a large pile these relay projects quickly and to a standard that passenger trains can of ballast has appeared at West Hoathly which will cover several relay run over the fresh track even before being tamped, albeit with a speed projects. restriction. Network Rail admit to not being able to do that! For details on

Old and new: Two old wrought iron beams versus 15 new to support each train. BOTH: JON GOFF

BLUEBELL NEWS 35

034-37 - Palmers Bridge.indd 35 16/12/2020 09:34 Infrastructure

Li ing the main section of sill beam. TIM CRUMP Li ing in the central deck section. ANDY PALMER

how we do the relays see Bluebell News Spring 2019. concern about the overall condition of the bridge. However, the pair With the rst half of the relay completed, attention turned to the bridge. of beams that supported the deck on the west side were in much better Initially one deck section and one parapet section were laid on a thick condition although they did show some corrosion. rubber mat on top of the sill beams. Drainage channels and pipes were put More surprising was the original bridge design and the fact that just in beside the beams ready to accept any water from the deck sections. these two beams took all the weight of the passing trains. Even our bridge engineer, a er looking at them, was heard to say “Would you want to put Replacing the existing bridge a train over them?” It has clearly been safe although it didn’t look like  e rst task in replacing the old bridge was to remove the track over it. Trains of all sizes and weights have passed over them for 140 years. it. A minimum length section was cut and li ed out to give just enough  e original riveted wrought iron design is very common in the UK and space to clear the abutments but leave as much rail as possible in place obviously plenty good enough, but when compared with what we have so that the road railers could get as close as possible to the bridge.  e put back in their place, we were all lled with huge con dence that we railer on the south side then scooped up all the ballast from the old have built a very good bridge indeed! wooden deck and put it to one side for reuse later.  is revealed a deck  e two remaining pieces of the sill beams, 2/3 of the overall bridge in an unexpectedly good condition. It also showed that the deck was not width, were placed next. Being very heavy, a big road railer was hired in screwed down or attached in any way. Surprisingly the timbers were just for the job and was parked on the south side of the bridge where the new laid on the two wrought iron beams with just a thin rubber strip under bridge sections were stored. First, the north beam had to be li ed across them. the gap and although the road railer was rated to be able to li that weight A er li ing o all the timbers, which were in good enough condition that far, as a safety precaution, a section of old track was li ed and placed to be used again elsewhere (but not on a bridge) the top brickwork was across the gap rst and then the beam li ed across onto it.  e second broken out so that the beams could be removed. It could be seen that railer could then li it into position with the jib close in.  e method they sat on 25in square pad stones, quite a contrast to the new sills for reduced the possibility of either road railer tipping up due to the heavy spreading the weight of a train onto the brickwork. With them removed, weight at the end of an extended jib. the rest of the brickwork could be removed down to the level of the A er a PVA bonding mix was washed over the whole of the area bottom of the old pad stones and cleaned up. Levelling plates were then under where the sill would sit, a full bed of wet mortar was spread out mortared into place using the laser to get the sills absolutely level easily and levelled to just above the top of the landing plates.  is was so that when being lowered into place. when the sill was lowered in place the mortar would squeeze down to the A er the old beams were removed, they were put on one side and correct level and the sill would become an integral part of the abutment inspected.  e beams that were on the east side and had not been covered walls. by a deck for decades were in quite poor condition – one reason for the Next was the two remaining deck plates. Before they could be lowered into place, the heavy rubber mat was rolled out and cut to size.  is prevents the concrete plates grinding against each other over time with thermal expansion and contraction. It also provides vibrational isolation, which also prevents the grinding action and takes up the tiny level di erences due to any irregularities or roughness in the concrete.  e two deck sections were placed with a 6mm gap between them in which expansion foam matting was inserted. Finally, the second parapet section was placed with its cranked hand rail to comply with modern train clearance regulations. If we had double track, we would have cranked the east side hand rails as well.  e only alternative to cranking the hand rails would be to widen the bridge with wider parapet deck sections, which would require a total rebuild of the wing walls on a wider pro le. With all the major components in place, the next job was to stitch them all together. Provision was made in the castings for large ‘U’ shaped rebar sections to be let into the top of the deck and cemented in, e ectively stapling all the sections together.  e edges of the sections were then grouted above the expansion foam and all the li ing/support eye sockets lled, eventually giving a smooth unbroken surface between the two parapet walls. Waterproofed and ready for ballast. TIM CRUMP  e gullies and drainage pipes were next nished o at the side of the

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034-37 - Palmers Bridge.indd 36 16/12/2020 09:34 bridge with a DPC lapping up onto the top surface of the deck. Keeping water o the bridge, or at least down to a minimum, is the secret to the longevity of the structure and so extensive waterproo ng was applied. Instead of just the usual bitumastic paint being applied, a two-part mix was used which still looked like 90% bitumen and 10% PVA. It chemically reacts like epoxy and hardens, and is supposed to be much better and longer lasting than bitumen. Only our great grandchildren will know if it worked! Before the epoxy hardened, a protective layer of 18mm thick composite board in one metre squares was laid down on top, overlapping the gully PVC at the edges.  e epoxy was also painted on the parapet walls and covered with the protective board up to the approximate  nal level of the ballast.  e waterproo ng task proved to be a very sticky one.  e following day everyone who worked on it seemed to be wearing new trousers! For Operations Manager Chris Knibbs helps with the line marking. me, my trousers, my 30-year old striped, baggy and holey jumper and my TIM CRUMP gloves were all donated to the local council, who may well end up with a waterproof land ll site! out a curve, or take a kink out of a straight. To  nish o , sealing strips were laid over the joints on the protection One of the line markers was Operations Manager Chris Knibbs. He boards with a special primer which makes it work like impact glue. likes to join the infrastructure team whenever he gets the chance and is  roughout the whole job, one thing we had to work around and be obviously very welcome.  ough measuring the line can be done by one careful not to damage, was a pair of cables that ran over the bridge as person alone, it is easier, and more pleasant, with two. seen laying on the  nal protective layer.  ese carry the signal and token A string line was pulled taut and measured from the post to what was machine information and must not have been broken otherwise tokens to be the end of the sleepers and then a spray marker sprayed over the could not be issued to drivers and some signals would not work. In other length of the line. words, no trains!  e sleepers were then laid out one panel at a time against the line and With the bridge essentially  nished, apart from some cosmetic a tape measure with green dots on it at the precise sleeper spacing, again brickwork which will be organised in the new year, phase two of the to within 1mm laid over the top.  e sleepers were then adjusted to the track relay could be carried out.  is was just six new panels including correct spacing and then the rails dropped straight into place.  is works the track over the bridge. First, the saved ballast from the old bridge was very easily with  at bottom rail but requires a lot more  ddling with spread out over the new bridge which allowed the tracked vehicles access bullhead as it has to be hooked into the jaw of each chair. over the bridge without causing any damage. All rails were laid in place and clipped down.  e last pair were cut into Very simple ballast retainers were piled into the embankment, either the existing bullhead at the beginning of the curve so that not an inch of end of the parapet wall, before any more ballast was placed.  ese were new rail was wasted which is true for every piece of new  at bottom rail very simple. Two scrap concrete sleepers held in place by two pieces we have laid in every relay undertaken. of scrap rail driven down into the embankment.  is stops the ballast With all the track in place, three ballast trains were required to drop ‘leaking’ away down the embankment over time. enough ballast not just for the six panels freshly laid, but further up where All the remainder of the old track to be replaced was then li ed and phase 1 of the relay required a bit of  nishing o . Finally, it required placed out of the way.  e end of the old track that was to join onto the new tamping to consolidate the ballast under the sleepers and to smooth out track was cut long, leaving about half a metre overlap to be cut precisely and fully align the track perfectly straight. when the rest of the track was laid.  e whole section was laser bulldozed We are in the fortunate position that there is a brand new £4.2m tamper  at and then whacked to produce a good even trackbed. Before the track at the railway at the moment straight from Plasser &  eurer. It is here for could be put down, just like the  rst phase a few weeks before, a line had to operator training and for approval and a shakedown of the new vehicle be painted on the track bed up to which the sleeper ends could be laid. before it is allowed to be let loose on Network Rail. We are being paid for Before any relay is started, as part of the preparation, marker posts are it to be here and allowing it to train over whichever part of the line serves placed beside the old track, typically 10 metres apart on straight track the training best. Balfour Beatty get a cheap training track which serves and 5 metres on curved.  ese are set at an exact distance from the their requirement well and we get free tamping... a true win-win. running face of one of the rails, normally 2 or 3 metres or 1.5 metres if the Palmers Bridge, now Andy Palmer’s version of Palmers Bridge, or embankment falls away too quickly. A nail is hammered in the top of the Palmers’ Palmers Bridge  lmed by Andy Palmer is all set to last longer post so that the back of the head of the nail is within 1mm of the chosen than probably any other part of the Railway before any maintenance is distance.  is gives a very good reference line when putting the track required. It is certainly a bridge to admire. back. We can choose whether to follow it precisely or vary it to smooth JON GOFF

Dropping ballast over the bridge. TIM CRUMP Tamped and nished. ‘GRIZZ’

BLUEBELL NEWS 37

034-37 - Palmers Bridge.indd 37 16/12/2020 09:34 Membership matters

As we venture into more Covid-19 should send it to the membership o ce. restriction tiers and the Railway starts its Any received a er this date cannot be Christmas festivities we can look back collected. You will be asked to make the USED AND on a very strange year. It started well payment by cheque or by card, by calling when January and February produced the membership o ce.  e information will UNUSED STAMPS a steady stream of renewals.  en, the be retained for payment by Direct Debit the lockdown struck. However, it has been following year. FOR very encouraging that during the last nine Finally, Peter Rickard, one of our months we have received a steady stream membership team, who has been in post far of new members, including quite a few for longer than I have as membership secretary, BLUEBELL FUNDS  ve years and three new life members. has decided to step down. I would like to With the  rst lockdown in March the say thank you to Peter for all the help you Stamps, albums, picture railway closed and the site was made have been over the years and I wish you secure.  e membership team were not well. postcards, phone cards, etc. able to access the o ce. Over time limited  e draw for the free year’s membership access has been possible. Now, by limiting has been held over until the spring Bluebell Please do not leave at access to one member of the team at a News when there will be two tickets drawn She eld Park time in the o ce we have slowly been as we have not had any visitors available to BUT SEND DIRECT TO: clearing outstanding queries. I thank the carry out the draw. Tony Pond, 26 Hesketh House, Cawte Dinky Triumph Herald dealer’s membership for their patience. Hopefully, Do take care and keep safe. Corgi Avengers Gift Set. come 2021, we shall be working as normal. DON BREWER Road, Southampton SO15 3SN promotional model. Matchbox Pickfords Removal Van. A few gentle reminders: on the front Membership Secretary Tel: 0792 300 6375 Sold for £900 Sold for £750 Sold for £150 of the renewal notice, please check and [email protected] correct your email address. If it’s not shown, please  ll it in. You will also see a date when the form with your payment VOLUNTEER ‘FIND OUT MORE’ DAYS should be received by your assigned assistant membership secretary.  e Unfortunately these are currently suspended due to ongoing social average cost of posting the  nal reminder distancing regulations. costs us around an extra £100 in postage. Member’s lineside photographic permit half-day safety courses are also on UK’s longest established Please also include your stamped address hold until further notice. Current valid lineside permit holders should now envelope. Toy & Model Auctioneers On the back you will  nd a Direct Debit ‘sign in’ and ‘sign out’ at the Customer Service and Sales O ce. mandate form along with the date you [email protected] 01273 480208 wallisandwallis.co.uk Bringing rare items to the collectors Competitive commission rates

Britains Police Car. All our auctions are live online with Corgi US Export VW Pick-Up. Sold for £220 LOGO and LOGO Sold for £1100

Corgi pre-production BOAC Mini Van. Dinky Racing Car Gift Set. Dinky Joseph Mason Paints van. Sold for £650 Sold for £700 Sold for £750

West Street Auction Galleries, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2NJ 38 Published by Bluebell Railway, She eld Park, East Sussex TN22 3QL BLUEBELL NEWS

038-39 - membership matters-ad.indd 38 16/12/2020 09:36Wallis&Wallis.indd 1 09/07/2020 10:01 Dinky Triumph Herald dealer’s promotional model. Corgi Avengers Gift Set. Matchbox Pickfords Removal Van. Sold for £900 Sold for £750 Sold for £150

UK’s longest established Toy & Model Auctioneers [email protected] 01273 480208 wallisandwallis.co.uk Bringing rare items to the collectors Competitive commission rates

Britains Police Car. All our auctions are live online with Corgi US Export VW Pick-Up. Sold for £220 LOGO and LOGO Sold for £1100

Corgi pre-production BOAC Mini Van. Dinky Racing Car Gift Set. Dinky Joseph Mason Paints van. Sold for £650 Sold for £700 Sold for £750

West Street Auction Galleries, Lewes, East Sussex, BN7 2NJ

Wallis&Wallis.indd038-39 - membership 1 matters-ad.indd 39 16/12/202009/07/2020 09:37 10:01 040 - back page pic.indd 40 16/12/2020 09:38