New Years Eve at the Bluebell Railway - 31.12.11

[shooting4fun]

Subscribed...love your stuff!

[dgraw95]

@shooting4fun

Thanks very much :)

[cogidubnus1953]

I'd like to take the opportunity to thank you for all your efforts in posting these...gives an, alas infrequent, visitor, like me to keep up with what's going on...all the best to you for 2012...

[dgraw95]

@cogidubnus1953

Thank you very much, nice to know that it brings enjoyment to others, all the best to you too :)

[matthume43]

like the gun shots after about 1-45 mins

[dgraw95]

@matthume43

Haha thank you, they were shooting in a very nearby field, having passed them preparing to go out when walking to the bridge.

[windsoord]

6:17 to 6:57 one very good reason as to why Photographic PTS aren't allowed in the tunnel :D

[dgraw95]

@windsoord

Yes certainly, it was still emitting smoke when we drove off and probably for a while after also.

[balmesh]

Great way to spend the day. No rain? I like your new location - coffee machine installed?

[dgraw95]

@balmesh

Thanks Alan, it rained a bit at Horsted Keynes whilst I was on the train, but generally I stayed nice and dry!

And not yet, I don't think the local farmer would like that very much. :/

Happy New Year :)

[balmesh]

To dgraw95

Hi Dan. I was born at Folkestone and spent much of my life at Ashford so I know your haunts - or at least some of them. Bluebell only went to Horsted, then. As for coffee machines, you'll just have to take a battery-operated one! :)

[dgraw95]

@balmesh

Oh wow, small world eh?! I love looking back in time, I was reading archived Maunsell Society mags last night, loved the bits on raising funds to buy 847, and the line saying 31625 will be scrapped being beyond economic repair... No one could guess what would be achieved! It's even more interesting for me, as let alone being born, I hadn't even been thought of then! :D

[balmesh]

To dgraw95

I think 1625 was on the Mid-Hants when we lived in Alresford. I worked on it for a short time in my hols. 1618 was he one I was treasurer of when we hooked her out of Barry.

We got her in steam at Tenterden - all the lads went up the pub for lunch, I stayed and was lucky to be the first to see her in steam (she steamed on wood a lot sooner than we expected and steam was coming from everywhere!

[dgraw95]

@balmesh

It is indeed still there, that is why I liked the irony of reading that in the mag :) 1618 I have never had a chance to see steam, and will maybe be a while with 1638 out unfortunately.

And that's a nice thing to be able to say, shame she never ran there but obviously impossible, must've been a great thing to be involved with :)