HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME !!

A slightly indulgent post, but it is my birthday as the late Rik Mayall once said (Bottom episode) and aside from a card from "All the lads on the Ark Royal" I will probably have to find something to do myself today. 

Have already been out racing this week to Ascot but might pop down to Goodwood for the day as it's the only convenient meeting on aside from Newmarket which is a fair trek from this side of London. 

Else it's a trip to Bristol for a model railway exhibition in Thornbury, or it would be a ride over to Stevenage to watch the mighty Wombles play their penultimate league match, but all being well secure a play off berth to extend the season further. A trip to Wembley for the play off final would be a welcome late present I must say (football gods are you listening). 

Any better ideas are gratefully received (and ignored if no good). 



Have already decided to get myself a new "toy" for this year and have ordered a new Bass Guitar similar to this beauty. 




Whatever else I get for myself will probably depend on how well our day at Ascot pans out but since no one else will be getting my anything I better make sure I have enough for a nice drink if nothing else. 

Happy Birthday Me !! 

BLUEBELL RAILWAY DIESEL GALA APRIL 2016

Diesel Weekend

The Bluebell Railway and GB Railfreight are proud to announce the details of their forthcoming jointly organised Diesel Gala on Friday to Sunday 15th to 17th April 2016. This builds on previous successful diesel events at the Bluebell, into a fully-fledged multi-loco Diesel Gala. 

GB Railfreight (GBRf) are celebrating 15 years of operation in 2016 and this is the first of several events involving trains this year, where money they raise will be donated to charity.

Locomotives will be drawn from a selection regularly used by GBRf and it is planned (subject to availability on the day) to use examples from Class 20, 47, 66, 73/1 and 73/9.   Rolling stock will be a mix of the Bluebell’s own coaches and a 4-TC unit kindly provided by London Underground Ltd.    

An intensive 3-train service for all three days are planned, with evening Beer Trains on the Saturday. The lines resident Class 09 loco is expected to be making additional Brake-Van trips for a small additional charge. A selection of Sales stands will be in attendance, including a special GBRf stand where limited edition GBRF 15th Anniversary memorabilia will be available to purchase. 

A full timetable and loco diagrams will be published on the bluebell railway website nearer the time. 

Locomotives visiting for the event

Class 73

73 107 "Tracy"

73 119

73 136

Class 73/9

73 964

Class 20

20 901

20 905

More locomotives to follow ...

 Brakevan Rides Hauled by the Class 09

 A round trip from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead hauled by 09018 and travelling in our Southern Railway Queen Mary brakevan departing Sheffield Park at 08.15 each day (return to Sheffield Park 10.22). Places are limited to 15 passengers each day and must be booked in advance a supplement of £10 per person applies on this train.

Friday Evening Beer Train

Evening train service between East Grinstead and Horsted Keynes will be serving a selection of Real Ale from local breweries, Harvey’s and Dark Star.

Special price of £3.00 a pint.

Open to anyone who has a ticket for the day plus all volunteers.

Sausage and Mash will be available for £6.25 in Horsted Keynes Buffet 6pm till 8pm.

The Buffet will be open till 9.30pm serving Real Ale.

East Grinstead Depart       6.30pm     8.15pm    10.05pm
Horsted Keynes Arrive      6.55pm     8.45pm    10.24pm
Horsted Keynes Depart     7.20pm     9.20pm
East Grinstead Arrive         7.45pm     9.43pm

Please purchase your tickets in advance from the Bessemer Arms or email megan.laughlin@bluebell-railway.co.uk

Saturday Evening Beer Train

The bar at Sheffield Park station will be open for the evening with a special evening train service between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead only.

The bar will be serving a selection of Real Ale from local breweries, Harvey’s and Dark Star.

Special price of £3.00 per pint.

Open to anyone who has a ticket for the day plus all volunteers.

In the Bessemer Arms at Sheffield Park we will be serving curry 7pm till 8.30pm

Choice of either Chicken Korma or Spicy Lamb Jalfrezi served with rice, Chota Nann and Mini Poppadoms - £9.95

Vegetarian option available.

HILLINGDON RAILWAY MODELLERS OPEN DAY -- SAT 9th APRIL 2016

The first confirmed date for the hall is on Saturday 9th April, I will update the site when the others are confirmed but they tend to be every couple of months. 

Yiewsley Baptist Church
74 Colham Avenue
West Drayton
UB7 8HF

* the entrance is at the side of the church down a path and the doors at the end should be open, don't try and enter the main doors of the church. 

These are excellent events laid on by the members of the society, but we must stress they are NOT exhibitions, but an Open Day to show off their various layouts and test tracks, and an opportunity to see many fine models running. 

Visitors are more than welcome to bring their own stock and give them a run there is a small cover charge to contribute to the cost of the Church Hall and refreshments are on sale throughout the day. 

Doors open from 10am and there's activity throughout the day until about 4pm. 

Here's a few pictures from some of last years Open Days, though I personally tend to focus on the O Gauge track there are also Test Tracks available for OO and N Gauge too.  

People will bring a wide variety of stock to run, nearly all are kit built though and the skills / detail is incredible. 

Everyone will get their turn I promise.

This picture gives a good idea of the size of the O Gauge test track, you can give your models a really good work out here. 

This can also transform into an exhibition layout called Grindley Brook a scenic section replaces the long straight down the back 

This layout will be shown at the Chatham Model Railway Club Show in June.

HOW TO GET THERE:
If you are Travelling by Car

Check here for Parking Options.

Nearest Railway Stations :

West Drayton [0.34 miles]

THE DEVON BELLE -- UK RAILTOUR -- SATURDAY 2nd APRIL 2016

A Tornado in the ‘Land of the Three Cylinder Pacifics’ – down the Blackmore Vale and over Honiton Bank to Exeter!

Peppercorn Class A1 Pacific 60163 ‘Tornado’ will set out from London Waterloo station and head for Devon and the historic city of Exeter via the ‘real’ West of England Main Line. With the assistance of our friends at South West Trains we will be making a fast turn from London to Woking via Surbiton and Woking to Basingstoke. We then continue via Andover to Salisbury where the locomotive takes water. Our route is then via the former LSWR route via Yeovil including the steep climb to Honiton Tunnel, a real test for 60163.

After a break in Exeter of over two and a half hours our return route starts with the climb to Whiteball Tunnel which marks the border between Devon and Somerset. Heading back towards the capital we take the former Western Region route via Castle Cary, Westbury and Newbury, a line with fast running and long climbs. After Reading ‘Tornado’ takes us to London Victoria station via Ascot and Richmond.

Station	Depart	Arrive
London Waterloo	08.00 CONFIRMED	N/A
Basingstoke	09.05 CONFIRMED	N/A
Reading	N/A	20.13 CONFIRMED
London Victoria	N/A	22.12 CONFIRMED