FRIDAY 26th JUNE 2015
After a quick trip to the hospital first thing we were still able to get ourself away down to Sussex and have a very enjoyable time on the Bluebell Railway.
Haven't been here since I was a young lad, and although I am a very nostalgic person this is an essentially new experience. Now we are able to take a Southern Railway service from Clapham Junction all the way through to East Grinstead and start our steam day out from there.
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| Arriving at East Grinstead |
East Grinstead.
It's only a short walk to the platform and while facilities are naturally basic they are keeping to the period of the railway and you have to start somewhere.
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| Temporary Ticket Office and Refreshment Coach |
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| End of the line, Platform and new waiting shelter |
When I was last here so many years ago it was just Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes and back with a much smaller amount of stock to see.
Now we'll have a nice run from East Grinstead to Sheffield Park taking in stops at Kingscote and Horsted Keynes along the route.
When you also add in the old West Hoathly station, the platforms you can easily make out just before you enter Sharpthorne Tunnel and all in all you are in for a very pleasurable afternoon.
The first train on the day was due out at 12:00 and arrived nice and early so I could get some shots of him coming over Imberhorne Viaduct and into the platform which soon filled up with passengers ready for a day out.
The Network Rail line connects with the Bluebell railway here for traffic movements and special trains, was recently used to accommodate the Deltics that formed the Diesel gala.
The locomotive power was provided by Class S15 No 847, which was a model my late father built from a brass kit and styled on this specific loco. The real one certainly shows the skills my father had creating such a realistic representation
And we're off...no need for water
Kingscote Station
Our first stop after a short ride over Imberhorne Viaduct (below) is Kingscote.
This station was of course the end of the line for some years while the northern extension was completed and has improved facilities here. Has been restored to Southern Region 1950's style, each station has been styled to a particular era.
Our stay was brief so only enough time for a few station pictures, we'll try and get a few more on the way home.
Leaving Kingscote our next feature on the line is the site of West Hoathly station and Sharpthorne Tunnel, which is described as running 731 yards (668 m) long underneath the village, and is the longest on a preserved Standard Railway put-together.
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| APPROACHING THE TUNNEL HEADING TO HORSTED KEYNES |
Horsted Keynes Station.
After a pleasent meander throught he Sussex countryside we come into the delightful station of Horsted Keynes. Set in the Southern period of mid 1920s this was a busy junction station with a spur to Haywards Heath still a possible further extension via Ardingly. The station is also known for it's use in the popular period drama Downton Abbey.
The Bluebell railway have safeguarded the route and this includes rebuilding some bridges and have an agreement with the owners of the current aggregate site at Ardingly to prevent any damage or change of use to the current line there.
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| The Wickham Trolley and wagon in Platform 1 |
The Bluebell have also extended the "branch" to be a double siding for additional stock storage. On special events such as the recent Deltic Diesel gala there were brake van rides up and down the branch from Platform 1.
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| The Spur / Branch in the direction of Ardingly and Haywards Heath. A future extension .... |
We depart Horsted Keynes station on to our final stop of Sheffield Park, on the way out there are a few unusual items of "stock" including a Tamper.
PART TWO -- the voyage home, will follow on soon. We'll have images from around Sheffield Park station as we had plenty of time here though sadly the engine shed was closed while the roof was being replaced.
