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Post by drummsman on Mar 11, 2013 11:47:23 GMT -5
Just wanted to express my gratitude for your unwavering coverage of the Bluebell extension, especially this winter with the appalling conditions. I realise just how much of a commitment this is so thanks. Paul
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Post by stevo76 on Mar 12, 2013 6:05:55 GMT -5
Ill second that, your unwavering commitment over the years to bring us info not available elsewhere! Has been truly amazing, like a dark knight...lol......lets vote for a Sir Philpot for going beyond the call of duty to keep the public informed. Rise Sir Philpot.......
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Post by Railway Trains on Mar 12, 2013 13:36:34 GMT -5
Thanks obviously for your comments - we do our best! These pages are to criticise as well as praise us. We are by no means perfect but do try our best with the updates. If you want to discuss other railway topics please feel completely free - the Bluebell Railway is only one of many steam railways in Britain - although it thinks itself the centre of the railway universe!
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Post by Mark [Bluebell Shareholder] on Mar 13, 2013 11:41:29 GMT -5
I posted this in your other 'Commentary Suite', but it is worth posting again; Robert Philpot, you have earned a place in the history of heritage railways, by your persistence, your dedication to duty in keeping many of us informed of the Bluebell Railways' Northern Extension project. I am a Bluebell Railway shareholder and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for the enormous amount of time and effort that you have spent keeping many of us completely informed. Yes, it would have been a magnanimous gesture of gratitude from the Bluebell Railway establishment if you had been invited to the final joining up phase, under the Bridge and out of the rain, while you, as usual and dedicated to the task at hand, were on the Bridge and in the rain. However, this is the making of you, Robert Philpot, the legend that you are! For two years, come rain, high winds, snow, cold, damp, sleet, in the heat and dry, you set out valiantly from home and spent your time recording classic railway history in the making. That dedication by you Robert, can be seen on your website, by your followers around the world. For many, that is what makes you the 'Classic Hero' and would be just the type of script for a Clint Eastwood movie! Just imagine if the film was made, with Clint Eastwood playing your role, as the 'Lone Cameraman'? I would hazard to guess, that deep within the Bluebell Railway establishment 'psyche', there is undoubtedly a sense of secret admiration for what you have achieved, in your own honest reporting of events. One day I am sure, that Bluebell Railway establishment will be selling your DVD, with great pride in their book store at Sheffield Park, when it is finally compiled and completed. Robert, you may not have thought about producing a DVD compilation yet, but rest assured, I will buy one from you and I know of others who have expressed an interest in doing so too. Keep up the good work Robert. I salute your efforts, in recording for posterity, the efforts of those who undertook the clearance of a waste tip, back into a railway line again. Thank you always.
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matty
New Member
Posts: 6
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Post by matty on Mar 14, 2013 11:59:40 GMT -5
thanks robert for all your updates great work by you well done mate ;D
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Post by martinclift on Mar 15, 2013 17:12:36 GMT -5
I have to agree with the above, Robert, you are a star. I only joined the Yahoo group for some info on the NEP progress as the official site is, quite frankly "rubbish". You have kept us well informed and saved me many trips to look over the parapet. I have now left the Yahoo group as, in my opinion, their behaviour is disgraceful.
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andy
New Member
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Post by andy on Mar 16, 2013 14:04:04 GMT -5
Yes well done Robert, I check your site EVERY day. I do shift work so getting to the Bluebell extension is very difficult for me on a regular basis & the Bluebell (like many preserved railways) were not updating their website even on a weekly basis. Well done.
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Post by HowardGWR on Mar 19, 2013 10:03:20 GMT -5
Thinking back to the 'woodpecker' tool that was used on the east side of the cutting, it was not used uniformly and I was just wondering if it was done to provide 'refuge' places for line side workers. From the videos it did not appear that trains come anywhere near the side of the cutting.
I even wondered if it was done to provide variety in appearance of the cutting walls - it certainly succeeded!
Good that you are continuing coverage, thank you.
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Post by Mark2 on Mar 19, 2013 14:12:20 GMT -5
Assume you mean "pecker" - never heard it called a woodpecker! If you look at the first of the "Earlier in February" photos at www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/extprog.html#4mar13you'll see that the excavation was to enable the conduit to pass along the base of the cutting. If it's un-even it's because the rock was cut back in a line, but where there was softer material between that was removed to prevent it falling.
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Post by howardgwr on Mar 20, 2013 8:12:19 GMT -5
Ah I see now, thank you. That had not 'hit' me when I saw the original video of the action. In fact I think the soubriquet does originate from the woodpecker style of operation. I always wonder why they don't have migraines!
Btw, I gather the somewhat struggling nature of the trial steam trips was due to speed restrictions preventing a decent run, at what I think is about 1 in 55?
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Post by Mark2 on Mar 20, 2013 12:08:53 GMT -5
This has been discussed/explained on the Bluebell e-mail list... yes until today's final tamping there's been a 10mph restriction on the 1 in 55, so the locos are not strugling (as some commentators have incorrectly stated), they're just not trying very hard, since they don't have to, to climb it so slowly!
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Post by howardgwr on Mar 26, 2013 12:42:49 GMT -5
Thanks for the videos going both ways. Yes, I noted the bulges at the cutting north side, but one hopes that is a weather problem of temporary nature. Perhaps when the seeding takes effect.....
I was most impressed with the work done on the new KC platform, someone worked very hard to achieve that - congratulations. The plants already look at home.
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Post by Jeff S on Mar 26, 2013 17:58:18 GMT -5
Why do you persist in being so carping about everything Bluebell does? You are not a supporter. You are pathetic
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Post by Bluebell Passenger on Mar 27, 2013 10:11:15 GMT -5
I was there on Monday for a ride, and bought the book and tee-shirt. Fantastic achievement, all.
I too wonder about the west face of the cutting, but I am sure the steepness of the slope will have been approved by a professional civil engineer and the cutting will be inspected frequently by the linemen. We dont want to reenact a scene from the Railway Children. ;D
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Post by Mark [Bluebell Shareholder] on Mar 27, 2013 10:40:36 GMT -5
Jeff S, Thank you for posting and expressing your opinion. Please don't be shy, come and fully join the board and make a positive contribution here. ;D I'll attempt to respond positively to your comments. The fishing section on the Bluebell is poor, you say... Perhaps if you start a fishing thread here, noting the inadequencies and then suggest alternatives, that would be a start. Keep smiling. Have a good day.
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