Bluebell Diesel gala

[miniman]

Anyone interested in BR 70s stuff?

I went specifically to see the 4VEP as I went to and from school on them in the 80s and it’s an amazing restoration.

[mac96]

Those door handles! You beeded a strong grip to open them, although I suppose commuters were retiring earlier then.

[48k]

I can smell some of those pictures.

[john2443]

mac96 said:

Those door handles! You needed a strong grip to open them, although I suppose commuters were retiring earlier then.

Joseph Kaye patent wedge lock - I worked for them a few years ago (oh!! 1976 ) when I was a student.

2 fairly hefty springs holding them shut. Not sure if people were retiring earlier, just learned to open the window and turn the handle on the outside - unless you had a very strong grip, opening from the inside was a challenge.

[Granadier]

The challenge was unlocking and slightly opening the door while the train was coming into your station, so you could push it fully open at the second the train stopped. It was much quicker to make your getaway than today, as the train stops and you wait a while for the doors to open.
I have fond memories of travelling on trains like that from the 80s onwards on trips up to town with my friends, but mainly going to and from university in the early 90s

[bigpriest]

Those seats - better than today's First Class! Not my area, I used the Altrincham electrics in the 80's but can see some similarities in build design.

[mac96]

Granadier said:

The challenge was unlocking and slightly opening the door while the train was coming into your station, so you could push it fully open at the second the train stopped. It was much quicker to make your getaway than today, as the train stops and you wait a while for the doors to open.
I have fond memories of travelling on trains like that from the 80s onwards on trips up to town with my friends, but mainly going to and from university in the early 90s

And if you were waiting on the platform back then there was a real reason to keep back from the platform edge - not wanting to be hit by an open door going at 15mph!

[miniman]

Granadier said:

The challenge was unlocking and slightly opening the door while the train was coming into your station, so you could push it fully open at the second the train stopped. It was much quicker to make your getaway than today, as the train stops and you wait a while for the doors to open.
I have fond memories of travelling on trains like that from the 80s onwards on trips up to town with my friends, but mainly going to and from university in the early 90s

Choosing the front of the train and exiting at 10mph = seat on the bus.

[Southerner]

Absolutely lovely isn’t it!

On the subject of those infamous door handles, the Hastings Unit - ‘Hastings’ & ‘Mountfield’ as photted above - has had a very clever central door locking installation with a second, locking latch built into the original doors fitted directly beneath the existing locks. Quite clever, and means a 1960s built slam door train now has doors which are locked and unlocked by the crew as per modern stuff.

[Rich1973]

Nice pictures. I saw the 4VEP at Derby a few weeks ago. Looks stunning and reminds me of summer holidays catching the boat train to Dover of Folkestone. I will treat myself to a ride when it's back on the mainline under its own power. Must be diesel gala weekend as there is one at Severn valley railway as well.

[miniman]

Southerner said:

Absolutely lovely isn’t it!

On the subject of those infamous door handles, the Hastings Unit - ‘Hastings’ & ‘Mountfield’ as photted above - has had a very clever central door locking installation with a second, locking latch built into the original doors fitted directly beneath the existing locks. Quite clever, and means a 1960s built slam door train now has doors which are locked and unlocked by the crew as per modern stuff.

Yep, I had a ride on the Thumper too, couldn’t work out why the door wouldn’t open

[48k]

3417 but with the livery of 1001 is my childhood era, going up to London, Three Bridges to Victoria, for exciting days out. Great memories.
Used to love visiting the Bluebell Railyway as a kid too. I've never been since the East Grinstead extension was opened. Must get back down there it's a lovely day out.

[miniman]

48k said:

3417 but with the livery of 1001 is my childhood era, going up to London, Three Bridges to Victoria, for exciting days out. Great memories.
Used to love visiting the Bluebell Railyway as a kid too. I've never been since the East Grinstead extension was opened. Must get back down there it's a lovely day out.

Same here, I don’t remember the dark blue, they were either in the blue & grey or later Network South East livery.

[48k]

miniman said:

48k said:

3417 but with the livery of 1001 is my childhood era, going up to London, Three Bridges to Victoria, for exciting days out. Great memories.
Used to love visiting the Bluebell Railyway as a kid too. I've never been since the East Grinstead extension was opened. Must get back down there it's a lovely day out.

Same here, I don’t remember the dark blue, they were either in the blue & grey or later Network South East livery.

I remember the dark blue but they were "old" and being phased out. The blue and grey livery was everywhere. I also spotted in the pictures the "secret" standard class compartment at the end of the first class although I remember it was usually full of smokers.

[miniman]

48k said:

I remember the dark blue but they were "old" and being phased out. The blue and grey livery was everywhere. I also spotted in the pictures the "secret" standard class compartment at the end of the first class although I remember it was usually full of smokers.

Yep I sat in the extra compartment on the run up to East Grinstead, we always tried to get in on the school commute.

[14]

I remember those carriages. I think they were fully phased out in 2005 on the routes that Southern trains now use, as I remember getting on those trains for a couple of years after I left school in 2003.

[Chrisgr31]

I have been following some of those involved in 4VEP on Twitter/X for some time.

I haven’t seen it in person but it has been real Labour of love.

[Southerner]

Chrisgr31 said:

I have been following some of those involved in 4VEP on Twitter/X for some time.

I haven t seen it in person but it has been real Labour of love.

They are an amazing bunch, it’s quite the success! They’re rightfully proud of saving what is indeed a rather iconic piece of railway history.

[Yertis]

Not really my cup of tea but an amazing job done on that 4-VEP. How were they propelling it – Class 33/1 or something?

[miniman]

Yertis said:

Not really my cup of tea but an amazing job done on that 4-VEP. How were they propelling it  Class 33/1 or something?

Yes, and their Class 73