‘Scotsman’ Bluebell visit hanging on Network Rail gauging solution

Time is running out and the pressure is being felt as celebrity engine’s trips draw near.

FLYING SCOTSMAN mania has gripped the Bluebell Railway, with £150 tickets for the railway’s three ‘A3’-hauled Pullman dining trains and a £75 ‘Breakfast Special’ in April selling out within days of going on sale on January 12. To cope with public demand, the railway has had to add an extra breakfast train to the schedule, to run on April 13, ahead of the booked dining specials from April 14-18.

But whether the muchlauded Gresley ‘Pacific’ reaches the Bluebell Railway for its week-long, first-ever visit to the line appears to be an open question, for with a little over ten weeks to go, gauging issues at Dormans station, immediately north of East Grinstead, which would prevent the locomotive from accessing Bluebell metals, remain unresolved. Additionally, the restricted clearances through the curved two-platform station at Lingfield, Surrey, have been on Network Rail’s agenda for action since at least November, though they have been well known to Bluebell management for several years. When the railway was excavating the former West Sussex council rubbish tip at Imberhorne on its East Grinstead extension in 2011-2012, ballast trains via the network could only be operated by Class 73 electro-diesels, the preferred Class 66 diesels being ‘out of gauge’ at the time. Similarly, when the Bluebell came to despatch its SECR ‘C’ class 0-6-0 No. 592 and vintage train to King’s Cross in February last year for a filming assignment, passage through Dormans station was only possible after steps and footboards had been removed from the locomotive and its stock. Network Rail’s May 2016 failure to ‘gauge’ Flying Scotsman for specials on the Edinburgh-Tweedbank ‘Borders Railway’ and its initial ruling - later reversed following a huge public outcry - that the ‘A3’s’ trains were to be cancelled, remains fresh in the memory however, and Bluebell supporters will be keen to find out whether No. 60103’s visit to West Sussex will be unhindered during the second week in April. Bluebell Railway Operations Manager Chris Knibbs commented: “The platform clearances at Dormans are an issue that has become more apparent to us since we opened to East Grinstead and started allowing stock movements in and out. We’re working with Network Rail and other parties to make Flying Scotsman happen. We’re aware that the clock is ticking, but we need to let them get on and do their jobs.” In response to a request from Steam Railway for a statement about progress with the Dormans gauging issue, a Network Rail spokesman said: “We work as hard as we can to enable steam charters to run as planned. There is a plan in place to correct issues at Dormans for Flying Scotsman’s move to the Bluebell Railway. The full route is currently being assessed for any

other issues. A full plan will be available in the coming weeks.” The Bluebell Railway described the statement as “reassuring.” Using the outline dimensions of Flying Scotsman provided by the National Railway Museum, the Bluebell Railway has decreed that the curvature and restricted clearances of Platforms 4 and 5 at Horsted Keynes station are ‘too tight’ for the ‘A3’ class ‘Pacific’. The other platform lines will be used instead. The Bluebell Railway is already reaping the rewards of Flying Scotsman’s allure - but its ultimate triumph still rests on being successfully gauged. No. 60103 passes Wetheral on August 14 2016. JOHN COOPER-SMITH