The First Northbound Bluebell Spoil Train - 06/07/2010

66707 'Sir Sam Fay' shunts the first northbound East Grinstead spoil train around the Bluebell station site. This is the first of a trial excavation to prove the costings of removing spoil from Imberhorne Lane by rail.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Bluebell
• Railway
• East
• Grinstead
• Spoil
• Train
• Imberhorne
• Lane
• Northern
• Extension
• Class
• 66
• 66707
• 707
• Sir
• Sam
• Fay
• GBRF
• Shed
• freight
• wagons
• first
• diesel
• engine
• train
• Justin
• Bieber

[Strawberry7Lynn]

I don't know much about the Bluebell Railway, but they seem to be building an extension and a new station. One thing that I noticed from that clip was the platform seems to be faced with breeze block, an invention of the late 20th century. I would rather the BB Railway had used traditional materials and tried to make it look as though the platform's been there for over 100 years, a bit like the Tanfield Railway has done with theirs.

[SPINNER673]

@Strawberry7Lynn It's a shame they couldn't have put a layer of bricks in front of the breeze blocks to make it look older, but this is the finish that has been chosen.

[4beatlefans]

Coo! Great to see progress on the Bluebell. I joined the society three years ago although I am too committed at another railway to help (and too far away) I guess my subby helps in a small degree. Not too sure why they aren't building a joint station though, like the FR one at Blaneau or even in a similar vein to the Mid-Hants at Alton for instance. Anyone know why?

[SPINNER673]

@4beatlefans Your membership is already appreciated, volunteering is a bonus. The Bluebell and mainline stations are separate due to limited space available. But a combined Bluebell and Southern Trains booking office may be built when the current booking office comes up for redevelopment.

[applecounty]

Ahhh! The realities of running a modern railway - diesel electric traction built in the USA.

Next stop Lewes (only kidding - I think). Thank you for posting.

[SPINNER673]

@applecounty Thanks for commenting

[Strawberry7Lynn]

@applecounty Non-the-less, it doesn't look right. They've spent all that time and money removing a vast amount of infill, only to get it very wrong in the smaller detail. They'll no doubt put one of those bus shelter things on the completed breeze block platform.

The Bluebell is a HERITAGE railway, something that the directors of that line seems to have forgotten. They've cut one corner too far

[applecounty]

@Strawberry7Lynn Hmmm? The Southern Rly pioneered the use of concrete in many areas of construction (I believe Pinhoe Sta was the 1st 'concrete sectional sta' - someone may correct me here). See Journal of the Construction History Society

VOLUME: 21, article 'Breeze Blocks and Bolshevism…1917-1921'

(Mark Swenarton). Available online as a PDF (Google for link)

[bermudarailway]

@applecounty Don't kid Firbank got to Lewes with Navies and wheeel barrows be positive !

[488scooby]

GREAT SEEING A 66 ON THE BLUEBELL LINE , LOVE THE SHEDS.

[freqeist]

read the description!! This was a first trial excavation to prove the costing of removal of spoil.

[freqeist]

@mecrazy5 no you are not but you are what is termed a troll

[freqeist]

a lot of moaners on here we just thankful for small mercies like getting (eventually) the tip cleared.

not about breeze blocks or a particular diesel engine, those are minute details compared to clearing hundreds of tons of waste material and the logistics of it all.

[freqeist]

@Strawberry7Lynn we are just glad to get our connection back.

[dajwilkinson]

@davejaffa I suspect to show the public. The spur onto the national network is, from this video's viewpoint, behind the platform (clearly seen around 0:06 - 0:15). The train would have to reverse out of the Bluebell station (e.g. if it is securely stabled there or the engine is running round) onto Imberhorne Viaduct to join the national network but would *not* then come straight back to the platform!