I’m new!
Bluebell Railway has built a whole new steam train from scratch. It took volunteers 25 years to do it. The original train called the Beachy Head was broken up for scrap in the Sixties. They were able to find the original plans to work from and raised it from the dead. Or cloned it anyway.
Here’s some raw data about it. There’s an amazing story here that I can’t find online. Many of the things you need to build just don’t exist in modern Britain. Where did they go to cast the gigantic wheels? How many parts that were once mass produced had to be machined by hand?
Unfortunately, the kind of guys who build a steam locomotive from scratch are not the kind of guys who write blogs. I don’t think. I haven’t found one.
When we were in London, it was fairly easy to get to the Bluebell Railway. Of course it was. The country’s entire transportation system is historically built around getting things to and from London.
Incidentally – I’m sure I’ve mentioned this – it’s always “up” to London and “down” to wherever else. Very confusing to a furriner.
Moving between any two other points can be much harder. So when friends from London suggest meeting up in Brighton – because it’s just up the coast from you, innit? – they have no idea…
Posted: September 4th, 2024 under britain.
Comments: 4
Comments
Comment from The Neon Madman
Time: September 4, 2024, 9:14 pm
And a coal burner, no less. Wonder how they got away with that in these times?
Comment from Deborah HH
Time: September 4, 2024, 10:18 pm
Oh Stoaty! It’s wonderful. I bet a lot of wives are relieved 🙂 Twenty-five years. That’s amazing. I look forward to some great photographs from you and Uncle B.
This post triggered my memory for one of my favorite Neville Shute Norway books: Trustee from the Toolroom. And the tiny little engine that took a man half-way around the world.
Comment from Durnedyankee
Time: September 4, 2024, 10:37 pm
Not sure if it applies, but “Downeast”, meaning Maine, and the phrase ” going down Maine ” were phrases I heard my entire childhood, since the maternal family hailed from Rhode Island and Maine.
“Down East” and “Down Maine” referred to the direction of the prevailing sailing winds, and Maine is downwind of the other New England ports.
As a youngster I thought it meant Maine was physically lower on the earth’s surface 😁
Perhaps in your case, London is “up” river?
No longer bound by the vagaries of wind, tide, and current, we tend to forget where common directional terms that reflect pre-engine powered transport came from.
Comment from Deborah HH
Time: September 5, 2024, 11:10 am
@Durnedyankee—I think your explanation for “up to London” makes sense.
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