BLUEBELL RAILWAY TO REOPEN IN AUGUST - 60TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS

So with news that the Bluebell Railway plan to re-open on 7th August 2020 does this signal (pun intended) a return to public visits on Heritage Railways around the Uk. Now this is excellent news and very welcome for the Bluebell Railway in particular as it will allow them to have their celebrations for their 60th Anniversary on that date.

So, how has the Bluebell Railway been preparing to reopen? The generosity of our members, shareholders and others has meant our appeal target of £300,000 has been met and exceeded and now stands at more than £330,000. This is a fantastic achievement and thank you to all those who have contributed. This success, plus a review of other funding sources, has allowed the Board to produce a very detailed financial model for the remainder of 2020. This model includes all the reopening costs, predictions on revenue for the remainder of this year and a detailed review of all costs. Using this model alongside several other measures the Board have taken, I can now proudly announce a provisional reopening date of Friday 7 August 2020.

As you know this also happens to be our 60th anniversary and what better way to celebrate that milestone than to reopen for business. I’m also pleased to announce that the first train on 7 August will be for members only and pre-booked on a first-come, first-served basis.

This phased reopening will start on 7 August and for the foreseeable future trains will run at weekends only. This will allow the railway and volunteers to gauge the potential demand, take small steps and follow the Government guidance. Having carefully reviewed what we can offer and taking into account the layout of our station sites, our service trains will run from Sheffield Park to Kingscote only (NB they not be stopping at Horsted Keynes). East Grinstead Station will remain closed due to the restricted nature of the station site and to adhere to social distancing rules.

In addition to this we plan to run three or four dining trains per day, with our daytime services starting at Horsted Keynes and our evening services starting at Sheffield Park. This avoids any potential conflict between our public trains and our dining customers at Sheffield Park. As we take these small steps, all of the above will remain under constant review and should public demand be there, we will add further trains mid-week starting on a Friday and working backwards.

To provide the public with the very best offering while also complying with the latest Government guidance, our service trains will be formed of compartment stock. Compartments will be sold as a whole and all tickets will be pre-bookable – our intention is to have these available for purchase about two weeks before the reopening. There will be no ‘turn-up-on-the-day’ ticket sales available on any services for the rest of the year.  In line with other transport bodies and following best practice, face coverings will be required to travel on our services. This includes travelling on dining services although coverings can then be temporarily removed while eating. All our carriages and station environments will receive an enhanced cleaning regime including door handles. The Railway’s priority will be on providing everyone with a safe and enjoyable day out.

BLUEBELL RAILWAY TO BATH SPA RAILTOUR - SATURDAY 5th OCTOBER 2019

BLUEBELL RAILWAY TO BATH SPA

This weekend there's a chance to experience not only a wonderful heritage railway but also the beauty and heritage of Bath via a Steam powered rail tour. It's an early start for a 7am departure from Sheffield Park with the service being driven by visiting Class B1 locomotive Mayflower. After leaving the Bluebell at East Grinstead the train makes it way around the Southern Region towards Clapham Junction where it will head across the River Thames on the West London Line and onto the Great Western metals at Old Oak Common arriving in Bath early afternoon, sounds like a long trip so suspect it's not a direct run through Reading and Chippenham it's more likely to tour around and come back via Bristol. 

Mayflower will be back at the Bluebell Railway the following weekend for their "Giants of Steam" Autumn Gala on 11th, 12th & 13th October. This year’s event, two very special locomotives will be visiting the Bluebell Railway:

•  BR Britannia Class No. 70000 ‘Britannia’
•  LNER Thompson Class B1 61306 ‘Mayflower’

So if you cannot get onto this tour perhaps have a trip down and enjoy these beasts along with all the Southern Hospitality that the Bluebell Railway is famous for. 

Expected Departure / Arrival Timings

Historic Bath Spa

Bath is in the valley of the river Avon, 97 miles (156km) west of London and 11 miles (18km) south east of Bristol. The city became a Spa with the Latin name Aquae Sulis ("The waters of Sulis") c.60 AD when the Romans built baths and a temple in the valley of the river Avon, although hot springs were known before then. The City became a World Heritage Site in 1987.

ROYAL CRESCENT BATH

Bath is also home to several museums including the Museum of Bath Architecture, the Victoria Art Gallery, the Museum of East Asian Art, the Herschel Museum of Astronomy, Fashion Museum, and the Holburne Museum. The city has two universities – the University of Bath and Bath Spa University – with Bath College providing further education. Sporting clubs include Bath Rugby and Bath City F.C.

LOCOMOTIVE

Built for the London & North Eastern Railway, 61306 Mayflower is one of two surviving B1 Class locomotives. The B1's were designed as mixed traffic locomotives capable of hauling express passenger trains as well as freight traffic. As powerful, go anywhere engines, the B1's worked across most of the UK rail network from East Anglia to Scotland.

Mayflower was built in 1948 by the North British Locomotive Company in Glasgow but was delivered post-nationalisation and acquired the number 61306 by British Railways. She was first allocated to Hull Botanic Gardens Depot followed by a spell at Hull Dairycotes Depot before being finally transferred to Low Moor Depot, Bradford. She was the last B1 in service, her final trip was hauling the 'Yorkshire Pullman' from Leeds in September 1967.

Mayflower was immediately purchased for preservation and was initially based at Steamtown in Carnforth. She was fully restored for mainline operation and worked a number of railtours in the 1970's. Acquired by Steam Dreams owner David Buck in 2014, she returned to the mainline in 2015 before being withdrawn for an extensive overhaul. Resplendent in the early British Railways apple green livery as she was originally given when delivered in 1948 she returned to full mainline operation in early 2019.

BLUEBELL RAILWAY - MODEL RAILWAY WEEKEND 29th - 30th JUNE 2019

8th Model Railway Weekend
The Bluebell Railway, Sheffield Park Station, 
NR Uckfield,  East Sussex  TN22 3QL

Enjoy steam train rides, explore their superbly restored stations and visit the exhibitions. This year’s show will see more exciting layouts, and new traders. The main elements of the show will be at Horsted Keynes and Sheffield Park stations. Exhibitions will be open from 10am – 5pm on Saturday and 10am – 4pm on Sunday.

Gauges represented will include N, OO, HO, O, P4, Gauge 1, 3 1/2″ and 7 1/4″. Usual site facilities of Cafe, Gift shop, Visitor Centre and Heritage transport displays all available.  In the picnic area at Kingscote station, there will be a 7¼ inch miniature steam railway running.

The Bluebell Railway is always worth a visit and will be running an extensive three train service over this weekend and the timetable for this can be found the the Bluebell Railways Website.

The weekend will also be the first occasion for the public to view inside our brand new maintenance shed at Sheffield Park, where some of the exhibits will be located.

Many layouts on show including:
Plumpton Green LB&SCR P4
Detford OO -- Detford is a fine scale layout in "00" gauge which represents a small terminus station on the western edge of the Southern region at the end of a branch line serving a fairly large rural community. The period is the late 1950's and early 1960's and is approximately 18ft x 2ft 6in in size. All the trackwork is hand built, including 3rd rail electrification of the platforms and single line.

Newchapel Junction O -- (above) Newchapel Junction is a large privately owned finescale “O” Gauge exhibition layout representing a railway in the post grouping period somewhere in the Yeovil area where the SR and GWR ran together. The layout recreates the operation of a busy railway in its heyday with frequent arrivals and departures from the main station. The locomotives in use vary from large mainline express passenger types to humble tank engines of both SR and GWR origin. Engines from trains arriving at the main station proceed to the loco yard to be turned before either going on shed and being replaced by a fresh engine or returning to their trains for the next outbound movement. A large 5-road goods yard enables continuous shunting and re-marshalling of freight trains. A complex triangular junction connects the main station and good yard to a double-track mainline circuit where trains can be seen running at speed. 

Forest Green Diesel MPD OO (right) -- The setting is a former Midland route through South Gloucestershire in the early 60s so several diesels are now appearing and the boundary changes mean that both Midland and Western Region motive power are in evidence. The Cotswolds location features Forest Green, a through station, near the junction with the branch to Kemble. Traffic is mainly local with some through workings from Gloucester and the North to Chippenham, Westbury and the South Coast.
Charlton OO
East Grinstead OO

Eastbridge MPD OO -- Southern 00 gauge MPD, running either Southern Railway (1930/40s) or BR (1950/60s) period locomotives. (Left) Eastbridge shed depicts a small but important depot situated at a busy junction in southern England. The layout is partly based on Redhill. The shed has three roads, as at Redhill, the other trackwork being adapted to fit in the space available. 

Hastings Tramway Museum OO
St Mellion OO
Hawksbridge OO
Meyers Hill OO
Hollywell Sidings OO
Victoria Old Dock and New Fish Harbour N
Hookwood N
Godon Yard N
Kiln Lane OO
Lidlhoe OO9
Holmill OO
Invicta Gauge 1
Arun Vale OO

From Budget Model Railways:
New Longmoore OO
A Mendip Moment, Eve of D-Day OO
Hampton Park Station OO
Tenapenny Junction OO
Sompting OO
Argwin Maintenance Depot OO
Mendip Vale OO

Entry to the Model Railway Show is free of charge with a valid ticket to travel on the day of your visit (see below). For those not wishing to travel admission is by platform ticket for the station you want to visit. The main areas of the show are at Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes;
  * Sheffield Park - layouts, Traders and Exhibitors will be found in the Loco Works, ASH Project, Birch Grove Suite, the New Maintenance Shed and on the platforms.
  * Horsted Keynes - Layouts, Traders and Exhibitors will be found in the Carriage Shed, Waiting Rooms, Paddock Marquee, Cattle Dock and Platforms.
  * plus at Kingscote where there will be a 7 ¼” 'ride on' miniature railway.

Admission to the Bluebell Railway
All Day Rover Ticket 
Adult - £19.00   |   Child - £9.50
Family (2A+3C) - £49.00   |   Family (1A+3C) - £35.00

BLUEBELL RAILWAY DIESEL GALA MARCH 2018

This year’s Bluebell Railway Diesel Gala will be held over the weekend of 23rd-25th March.

Three locomotives will be visiting:-

• Class 45 45041 
• Class 46 D182 
• Class 31 31271 

These fantastic locos have never hauled passenger trains on the Bluebell Railway before. Book your trip behind them through the Sussex countryside for an experience not to be missed!

(Class 45 45041 & Class 46 D182 courtesy of Peak Locomotive Comany Ltd, Class 31 31271 courtesy of A1A Locomotives Ltd)

Highlights of the weekend include:

• Packed timetable with 3 different carriage sets
• Daily Brake Van rides at Horsted Keynes station (with D4106)
• Early morning Brake Van Trip
• 12 carriage (loadex) train on Friday and Saturday afternoons
• A sausage and mash supper in the Bessemer Arms following the last Saturday train

Details & timings of trains over the weekend can be found in the 2018 Diesel Gala Public Timetable

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Early Morning Brake Van Trip

Photo Credit: Andrew Crompton

Enjoy a return trip along the whole line between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead stations aboard ‘Queen Mary’ Brake Van 56290.

Our own Class 09 Diesel Shunter D4106  will haul this special service. Your journey will take around 1 ¾ hours and your ticket price includes a lovely bacon butty. (Your butty can be collected from the Bessemer Arms either before or after your trip)

This trip is bound to be very popular – don’t miss your chance – book your place now!

Please note: Tickets for this Brake Van Trip are not valid for travel on other trains during the day, a separate ticket will be required.

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Prices

Thinking of coming for more than one day? Save money and buy a 2 or 3 day ticket

Adults

• 1 day – £25
• Any 2 days – £40
• All 3 days – £50

Children (3-15yrs)

• 1 day – £12.50
• Any 2 days – £20
• All 3 days – £25

DELTIC PRESERVATION SOCIETY 40TH ANNIVERSARY @ BLUEBELL RAILWAY

October 6th - 8th 2017

2017 is the 40^th Anniversary of the foundation of the Deltic Preservation Society and the Bluebell Railway is delighted to host the very special Anniversary Gala over the weekend Friday October 6th to Sunday October 8th.

This is a Deltic only event and will now feature only three working Deltics;


D9002 -- 'Kings Own Yorkshire Light Infantry' 

D9009 -- 'Alycidon'
Already a visitor here to the Bluebell will be good to see them all lined up in mix of liveries. 



55019 -- 'Royal Highland Fusilier'

55022 -- 'Royal Scots Grey' was down to attend but didn't make it sadly. 








There will be an intensive timetable throughout the weekend with a 12 car set due to run on the last train of the day on both Friday and Saturday evenings.

Adults:

One day £25
Two days £40
Three days £50 – buy two days and get one free!

Children (3-15):

One day £12.50
Two days £20
Three days £25 – buy two days and get one free!

Brake van ridesAvailable on the first train of the day from Sheffield Park Station. Cost is £15pp which includes a bacon butty but must be booked in advance through the Customer Service Team on 01825 720800.

Please note this covers only the journey in the brake van – additional tickets are required to travel through the day.

On Saturday 7th October why not take a trip on the special a ‘Beer Ex’ will operate – timings to be confirmed. A special brew from the local brewers Harveys of Lewes will be available on board. Pie and Mash will be available in the Bessemer Arms.

Event details in a nutshell

All 3 days:

• Intensive 3 set train service, locos rotating in turn.
• Cab visits at Sheffield Park.
• Full line brake van trip behind D4106. Booking essential.
• Brake van rides at Horsted Keynes.

Additionally

Friday:

• Photoshoot with 4 loco line up, one in each platform at the north end of HK around 2pm.
• 12 car run on final up service of the day.

Saturday:

• 12 car run on 5.30 up service
• Evening ‘Beerex’ and pie and mash available from the Bessemer Arms at Sheffield Park Station.

'HAYWARDS HEATH 175' SUNDAY 18th SEPTEMBER 2016

Haywards Heath 175
Dolphin Leisure Centre, Pasture Hill Road, 
Haywards Heath, West Sussex RH16 1LY

OPENING TIMES:  SUN 10am - 5pm
ADMISSION:  Adults £5.00  Concessions £5.00   Family £10.00  

In Haywards Heath on 18th September the town celebrates 175 years of railway history. There will be several events and one of these is the model railway exhibition. Also there are branch line services to Ardingly, four Miniature Railways, and the Bluebell Railways Stepney in attendance

As part of the celebrations there will be a grand Railway Model Exhibition at the Dolphin Leisure Centre from 10am – 5pm on Sunday 18th September. The focus will be the Brighton Line and the many different trains which have run over the last 175 years; from the early London Brighton & South Coast to the arrival of electrification, Southern Railway, British Railways Southern Region, Network South East and the current return to Southern.

Local model railway societies will be displaying layouts that convey the atmosphere of bygone days in Haywards Heath as well as layouts from further afield.  Famous trains such as the “Brighton Belle” will be running, plus other electric units, Bullied pacific steam locomotives and diminutive “Terriers” and, of course, we’ll also be reminded of the freight traffic that used to feature at Haywards Heath.

Click on the link for the Model Railway Exhibition Guide 
GUIDE LINK

Take a train ride down memory lane…

For everyone who loves train rides, there’s more than just the Bluebell’s Stepney to purr over during Haywards Heath’s 175th Anniversary celebrations!


Departing on the hour every hour, from 11.00 am to 3.00 pm, you can take a round train trip to Ardingly on one of the ‘Thumpers’, a British Rail Class 201 (or 6S) six-car diesel-electric multiple unit (DEMU) – duly nicknamed because of the noise they made while in motion. These units were built with a narrow body profile to accommodate the restricted tunnels on the London-Hastings line, for which they were built.  Although passengers won’t be able to alight at Ardingly, they’ll have the satisfaction of knowing they’re the first travellers to ‘take the train to Ardingly’ for many a long day….!

Here's hoping that one day this journey can become a regular thing with a branch extension to the Bluebell Heritage Railway at Horsted Keynes.

The Ardingly return trip will take around 20 – 30 minutes and the fare will be £5 per head (free for young children), all of which will go to charity.

BLUEBELL RAILWAY MODEL RAILWAY SHOW 2016

Bluebell Railway
  - 5th Model Railway Show

Sat 25th June 2016 - Sun 26th June 2016

The Bluebell Railway
Sheffield Park Station, 
Uckfield, East Sussex TN22 3QL

OPENING TIMES:  SAT 10am-5pm, SUN 10am-4pm

The Bluebell Railway will be holding it's 5th Annual Model Railway Show over the weekend of the 25th and 26th of June 2016. As in previous years admission to the show will be free to those purchasing a valid ticket to travel on the Bluebell. For those not wishing to travel a platform ticket will be required at Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes to gain entry.

The main car parks are located at Sheffield Park Station with secondary parking available at Horsted Keynes. The railways two train service will be in operation for the weekend and will be strengthened with a shuttle train running between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes between the service trains. The shuttle train service will be the first use of the Bluebell's four 4 wheeled coach set.

There is disabled access to the majority of the show including a stair lift to the Birch Grove Suite at Sheffield Park.

Catering is available at both Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes but it should be noted that the main restaurant is at Sheffield Park.

HASTINGS DIESELS RAILTOUR -- BLUEBELL RAILWAY SATURDAY MAY 7th

THE HASTINGS BLUEBELL

Our first excursion of 2016 will take our train onto the Bluebell Railway.

Our train will start from Hastings, collecting passengers at the usual stops (plus Robertsbridge) to Tonbridge and our last pick-up point at Redhill. From there we proceed via the Croydon area to East Grinstead, where we will run on Bluebell Railway metals through to Sheffield Park: we expect to have around 4½ hours’ layover there giving time to explore the railway and ride on a steam train if you wish.

The excursion will then run back to Hurst Green before visiting Uckfield, thence returning to Hastings. Stops in each direction will be made at Eridge where it is hoped a connecting DEMU might be available on the Spa Valley Railway. We will also call at Roberstsbridge (home to the Rother Valley Railway) so that our train links together three preserved railway lines in one day.

Finalised timings have now been published.

Travellers wishing to bring bulky items (mobility scooters or buggies) are asked to seek guidance from us at the time of booking, as space is very limited. We regret that at present it is not our policy to convey bicycles, either full-size or folded.

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.