The new line to East Grinstead is open and running on a regular basis. The new line ran through a garbage dump (a "rubbish tip" in the queen's English) that was blocking the line when it was abandoned by BR. I would advise anyone planning to visit to put it off for at least a year as, yes, the rubbish blocking the line is gone but the banks of the cutting aren't exactly scenic. Wait until the lineside has overgrown a bit as it's ugly as hell right now. What a job that must have been, taking all that crap away. A fine railway, I must say. I also did the Nene Valley and the Kent and East Sussex, all worth a visit. There was a classic car show on at the Bluebell which was well worth seeing. A 1934 Riley roadster is a fine sight indeed!
>> I would advise anyone planning to visit to put it off for at least a year as, yes, the rubbish blocking the line is gone but the banks of the cutting aren't exactly scenic. Wait until the lineside has overgrown a bit as it's ugly as hell right now. <<
If everyone does as you suggest , the line might be closed again by the time you feel like you might drop by there ...
= J =
I highly doubt that will ever happen judging by the loads on the trains when I was there. My point is, if you plan to cross the Atlantic for the specific purpose of seeing the Bluebell, you might want to wait until the garbage is grown over by vegetation which they are currently planting. Right now, it's ugly, no question about it. Old tires, millions of plastic bags, you name it. Hideous! My friends say that "track-bashers" won't visit on a regular Southern service train as they are waiting for an excursion that will run over the new connection which the Bluebell and Southern Trains don't normally do. The Tornado is supposed to visit on a trip from Victoria station in the near future, that would be the way to do it style.
>> The Tornado is supposed to visit on a trip from Victoria station in the near future, that would be the way to do it style.<<
Now wait a minute , on 'steam & preservaton' - 1361 - we are just disussing what about a K4s replica or modernized replica or just modern K4s - when it's in steam and all ready to go , we might bring it over the Alantic and then
*t-h-a-t*
would be the style to do it .
No ?
Why not ?
Oh , the loading gauge .. yep - that's the problem .
Well , then we might go Continental - a K4s over the Semmering *) , that would be like going over the rainbow ..
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ccCnL8hArW8
and going into venerable old Vienna at the blue Danube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBPUundF1dA
( the pictures going with the music are not strictly Vienna and the Danube as you may realize when the palm trees are up )
Regards
(* Austrian Railways had the k&k profile which would be large enough for a K4s - and if their Gölsdorf 310-23 did it why not the K4new ?)
A K4 "could" maybe run on Brunel's old Great Western lines as they were originally built to a 7-foot gauge. The remnants of the Great Central out of Marylebone station were built to the continental gauge as they envisioned a channel tunnel back in the 19th century when the line was built. Part of the new HS2 will be built on the GCR right of way where it still exists so there are possibilities as well as fantasies! By the way, the Tornado isn't a replica, it has been given a sequential serial number from the A1 series of Pacifics.
The funny thing is, Thomas beat you to it.
I believe they introduced a character based on a K4 in one of the seasons, and as such was much larger than any of the British steam.
I think you might have a problem with a K4 on the Bluebell. Admittadly I rode it only in 1962, connecting by chartered bus since the connection was a long way from being built, from an MU Pullman ride on the Brighton Bell, with a Rail Research International tour, and things may have changed: CLEARANCES
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