Bluebell Railway

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The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East Sussex and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between Sheffield Park and Kingscote, with an intermediate station at Horsted Keynes.

The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers, and has the largest collection of steam locomotives after the National Railway Museum (NRM) and a collection of carriages and wagons unrivalled in the south of England. In addition to the 30 locomotives resident on the line, one is on loan from the NRM (another has recently returned there), and a project to recreate a long-lost type of locomotive (a London, Brighton and South Coast Railway H2 Class Atlantic) from a few surviving parts is well under way.

The Bluebell Railway was the first preserved standard gauge railway in the world: it opened in 1960, shortly after the line from East Grinstead to Lewes was closed by British Railways. It also preserved a number of steam locomotives even before the cessation of steam service on British mainline railways in 1968.

2007 marks the railway's 125th anniversary.

Contents 1 History 2 Present and future 3 Stations 4 Claims to fame 5 Line to Lewes 6 Steam locomotives 6.1 Operational 6.2 Undergoing repair or restoration 6.3 Stored or on display 7 Diesel Locomotives 7.1 Operational 7.2 Undergoing repair or restoration 8 Carriages 8.1 Metropolitan Carriages 8.2 4 and 6-wheeled Coaches 8.3 Pre Grouping (Southern) Coaches 8.4 Maunsell Coaches 8.5 Observation Car, Royal and Directors' Saloons 8.6 Bulleid Carriages 8.7 SECR Hundred Seaters 9 External links

[edit] History

In 1877 an Act was passed to authorise the construction of the Lewes and East Grinstead Railway (L&EGR). The line was sponsored by a number of local landowners, including the Earl of Sheffield. A year later an Act of 1878 enabled the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company (LB&SCR) to acquire and operate the new line.

The line had six stations, but only the station at Barcombe was within walking distance of an existing village: the remaining five were in thinly populated areas. Chailey parish had two stations, one at Sheffield Park and the other at Newick and Chailey. It was traditional at that time for a rural railway line that was supported by a private company or notable individuals to have stations sited in close proximity to the residences of its sponsors. Thus Sheffield Park station was built for the Earl of Sheffield, and Newick and Chailey for Newick Park and Reedens, the residences of two other sponsors. The other stations on the line were at Kingscote, West Hoathly and Horsted Keynes. A branch line ran from a junction at Horsted Keynes to Ardingly and Haywards Heath on the LB&SCR main line.

Interestingly, the 1877 and 1878 Acts included a clause stating that:

Four passenger trains each way daily to run on this line, with through connections at East Grinstead to London, and to stop at Sheffield Bridges, Newick, and West Hoathly.

This imposed a legal requirement on the railway owner to provide a service, and it emerged much later that the only way to remove this obligation was to pass another Act of Parliament to rescind it.

After the passage of the 1878 Act, the new line opened in 1882, with the usual pomp and ceremony and a great deal of celebration. The whole line from East Grinstead was built to take double track, which was actually laid between East Grinstead and Horsted Keynes; however, south of the junction at Horsted Keynes the line was only single track with passing loops at the stations. Like a number of rural branch lines of that era, as well as conveying passengers a substantial quantity of local produce was transported: milk, farm products and coal, and timber to and from Albert Turner & Son, a local sawmill. Curiously, the only time Sheffield Park station received a substantial number of passengers was when Lord Sheffield entertained the Australian Cricket Team, with the inevitable match between them and Lord Sheffield's own team.

As early as 1954, and certainly long before Dr Richard Beeching (whose programme of railway closures and service cuts became known as the Beeching Axe) became Chairman of the British Railways Board, the Branchline Committee of British Railways had submitted a proposal to close the section of line from East Grinstead to Culver Junction near Lewes. This was challenged by local residents, but eventually the closure was sanctioned in February 1955, and a closure date fixed for 28 May 1955. The ensuing battle fought between British Railways and the users of the "Bluebell Line" (as it was known) became infamous, as a result of four years of acrimonious argument which the transport users conducted in opposition to the Transport Authorities.

Shortly after the closure a local resident of Chailey, Miss Margery Bessemer, discovered in the wording of the 1877 and 1878 Acts the clause (mentioned above) relating to the "Statutory Line", and demanded that British Railways honour this legal obligation and reinstate the services required by the Acts. On 7 August 1956 British Railways was forced to re-open the line, and so began the "Sulky Service", with the trains only stopping at the stations mentioned in the Acts. Meanwhile, in 1957 British Railways took the case to the House of Commons, resulting in a Public Inquiry. British Railways were sternly censured, but later the Transport Commission was able to persuade Parliament to repeal the special section of the Act. By this means the line was again, and this time finally, closed on 17 March 1958.

Spring 1959 saw the formation of the Lewes & East Grinstead Railway Preservation Society, the forerunner of today’s Bluebell Railway Preservation Society. Its initial aim was to re-open the whole line from East Grinstead to Culver Junction, and to run it as a commercial service. This was envisaged as using a diesel railcar, a two-car DMU, as soon as funds allowed. These plans sadly came to nothing, for two reasons: firstly, the Society failed to purchase the whole line; and secondly, most local residents were not that interested. So in the interim, the re-opening of the section of line from Sheffield Park to Bluebell Halt just south of Horsted Keynes (which was at first leased and eventually purchased from British Railways) as both a steam railway and museum was planned and approved.

[edit] Present and future

The Bluebell Railway Preservation Society completed an initial extension from Horsted Keynes to Kingscote in 1994, which included relaying track through Sharpthorne Tunnel (731 yards, the longest on a UK heritage railway), and is now working to reinstate the remaining two miles of line from Kingscote to East Grinstead.

Work has now started on the final northwards push towards East Grinstead, where the line will once again join to the National Rail network. A major problem to be overcome is the former landfill site that fills a 50 metre deep cutting for part of the route. Some 300.000 cubic metres of rubbish will be removed by convoys of road freighters, although some of the clay is being taken south by rail to help fill the site of a removed bridge and embankment on the old Ardingly spur.

It is hoped that in the future the Ardingly spur will also reconnect with National Rail at Ardingly, and thus gain access to the London to Brighton main line at Copyhold Junction. This will restore a bypass of the London – Brighton line which proved very useful in the past (during the Second World War the signal box at Horsted Keynes was manned both night and day, to provide an alternative route for troop trains). There is also occasional speculation about long-term plans to extend south towards Lewes; but the removal of the road bridge just south of Sheffield Park station, the in-filling of the cutting and route under the A272 road, and the housing development that was built on the site of Newick & Chailey station makes this whole idea a very distant prospect.

The stations have been restored to show different periods of the railway's life. Sheffield Park has been restored to a generally Victorian ambience, as close as possible to how it would have appeared during the time of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (up to 1922); Horsted Keynes tries to emulate the style of the Southern Railway (1922 – 1948); and Kingscote echoes the early British Railways period of the 1950s.

Between Horsted Keynes and Kingscote the line passes through the site of West Hoathly station, at one end of Sharpthorne Tunnel. West Hoathly station is now in the middle of a modern housing development, so remains closed in deference to the wishes of the local residents.

Christmas is a peak time for bookings, as the Santa Special is very popular with families. Complimentary Clown entertainment, a children's visit from Father Christmas, mince pies and refreshments are served during the journey. Also running during the Christmas season is the Luxury Golden Arrow Dining Train which serves traditional Christmas Dinner on 13 different evenings throughout the season.

Dogs are welcome, and there is even a special ticket available for them. The only restrictions are the buffet/restaurant building and Golden Arrow Pullman Dining Train, for obvious reasons. Guide dogs are most welcome, and travel free.

[edit] Stations

• Sheffield Park
• Horsted Keynes
• West Hoathly (closed)
• Kingscote
• East Grinstead (extension under construction)

[edit] Claims to fame

The Bluebell Railway has been used as the location for several films and television programmes. In October 1999 the film The Railway Children based on the book by E Nesbit was filmed at the railway.

The Bluebell Railway is also featured in The Railway Series written by the Rev. W. Awdry. The book was called Stepney the "Bluebell" Engine , with Stepney as the main character, visiting the fictional Island of Sodor.

[edit] Line to Lewes

The line originally extended beyond Sheffield Park to Culver Junction (at Culver Farm just south of Barcombe Mills), with intermediate stations at Newick and Chailey and Barcombe. At Culver Junction it joined the 1858 Lewes to Uckfield line (part of which is now restored as the Lavender Line), thereby gaining access to Lewes. The section from East Grinstead to Culver Junction was closed in 1958, and the Lewes to Uckfield line in 1969.

[edit] Steam locomotives

[edit] Operational

• SR 4-6-2 West Country No 34028 "Eddystone". On long term Loan from the Swanage Railway for the 2007 season, boiler ticket expires in 2013.

• SR 2-6-0 Maunsell No 1638 U Class. Returned to traffic in 2006 following an extensive restoration from Barry Scrapyard condition, boiler ticket expires in 2016.
• GWR 4-4-0 Dukedog No 9017 "Earl of Berkely". Returned to traffic in 2003 after an overhaul which included a number change.
• BR 2-6-4T No 80151 Standard 4. Returned to traffic in 2001 and is in regular use, boiler ticket expires in 2011.
• LBSCR 0-6-0T Stroundley Terrier No 672 "Fenchurch". Returned to traffic in 2001 after a rebuild and is in use on Victorian trains, boiler ticket expires in 2011.
• SER 0-6-0 Stirling No 65. Returned to traffic in 1999 and is in regular use on Victorian passenger trains, boiler ticket expires in 2009.
• LBSCR 0-6-0T Stroudley Terrier No 55 "Stepney". Returned to traffic in 1998 and is sometimes used on passenger trains, boiler ticket expires in 2008.
• LBSCR 0-6-2T E4 No 32473 "Birch Grove". Returned to traffic in 1998 and is in use regularly on passenger trains, boiler ticket expires in 2008.
• BR 4-6-0 Standard 4MT No 75027. Returned to traffic in 1997 and has been in use regularly ever since, boiler ticket expires in October 2007.

[edit] Undergoing repair or restoration

• SR Unrebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific 4-6-2 No. 21C123 "Blackmoor Vale". In the railway's main workshops for attention to areas of the firebox: new parts are now on site and fitting of these is underway. The engine will be in traffic in the coming months.
• SR 4-6-0 S15 No 847. Undergoing overhaul by the Maunsell Locomotive Society, the wheels are going to be sent away soon for attention to the tyres and axleboxes, the frames, boiler and tender will enter the railway's main workshop soon, the boiler has recently been grit-blasted so an inspection can take place, completion date is 2008.
• SECR 0-6-0 Wainright Goods No 592. Overhaul started in 2006 and is making good progress, the frames, wheels, tender and boiler are in the workshops, the engine's boiler is a spare one and its re-staying has recently been completed, fitting of the new tubes is underway, the frames have been completed and are receiving many coats of paint, almost no work has been required on the tender and attention is currently focussed on the wheels, completion is expected in May 2007.
• SR 4-6-2 Rebuilt Bulleid Light Pacific No 34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair". Restoration from Barry Scrapyard condition is nearing completion, everything but the boiler and pipework is complete, the smokebox and cab have been fitted on the newly-completed frames, motion and wheels, the boiler is undergoing final attention to its firebox and the steam pipes are being fitted, the locomotives is planned to return to steam in 2007.
• Fletcher Jennings 0-4-0T No 3 "Baxter". The frames have recently been re-wheeled and work is now being done to fit the front bufferbeam on the frames and then the boiler will receive attention, it requires some replacement platework to be fitted which should be done soon, once complete the engine will be fitted with vacuum brakes for the first time. Target set for August 2007
• LBSCR 4-4-2 Atlantic No 32424 "Beachy Head". Work on the frames is underway currently with new holes being drilled into the tender frames, re-tubing of the boiler is also underway.
• BR 2-6-0 (Will be 2-6-2T) Standard Class 2 No 78059 (will be 84030). Comstruction of the engine is underway with work currently focussed on the frames.

[edit] Stored or on display

• LSWR 0-4-0T Adams Dock Tank No 96 "Normandy". Shunted stock regularly until July 2006 when its boiler ticket expired.
• NLR 0-6-0T No 58850. Awaiting overhaul. Has been on display at Barrow Hill Roundhouse until 2006 when it was moved back to the Bluebell.
• BR 4-6-0 5MT No 73082 "Camelot". Withdrawn in 2005 for a ten-yearly overhaul, the Camelot Locomotive Society plan to start the overhaul in the short term future.
• BR 2-10-0 9F No 92240. Withdrawn in September 2002 for a ten-yearly overhaul with work required on the firebox and front tubeplate. Presently on display at Sheffield Park Station.
• SECR 0-4-4T Class H No 263. Stored on static display awaiting overhaul, last worked in 1998.

• LSWR 4-4-2T Adams Radial Tank No 488. Static display in Sheffield Park display shed with a whole new boiler barrel needed.
• SR 4-4-0 Schools-Class No 928 "Stowe". Owned by the Maunsell Locomotive Society, its tender has recently had a new body fitted making it fit for display condition, Overhaul planned to start once No 847 is complete by the Maunsell Locomotive Society.
• LSWR 4-4-0 Class T9 No 120 "Greyhound". On long term loan from the National Railway Museum, at the Bluebell due to a shortage of space at York, the loan period has now been extended.
• SR 2-6-0 U class Maunsell No 1618. Last worked in 1994 and is on static display awaiting overhaul.
• SR 0-6-0 Maunsell Q Class No 541. Not worked for a while but overhaul is planned.
• SR 0-6-0T USA Dock Tank No 30064. Recently been painted in WD grey, on static display awaiting Overhaul.
• BR 2-6-4T Standard Class 4 No 80064. Stored on static display in the engine shed awaiting a major Overhaul.
• BR 2-6-4T Standard Class 4 No 80100. Awaiting major restoration from Barry Scrapyard condition.
• SECR 0-6-0T Wainwright P Class No 323. Overhaul is currently suspended while work concentrates on the bigger locomotives, it is planned to paint the locomotive "Bluebell Blue" once finished.
• SECR 0-6-0T Wainwright P Class No 27. Awaiting restoration.
• SECR 0-6-0T Wainwright P Class No 178. Overhaul currently suspended while work concentrates on the bigger locomotives.
• Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST No 641 "Sharpthorn". On static display at Horsted Keynes Station awaiting restoration.

[edit] Diesel Locomotives

[edit] Operational

• British Rail Class 08 0-6-0 No D3023. On long term Loan from Peak Rail and is being used for the railway's "Monday shunt" until a steam engine is available.

[edit] Undergoing repair or restoration

• Howard petrol-engined locomotive 4w Class 2 No 957. Nearing the end of its restoration with several test runs completed, it only requires minor jobs to return it to service.

[edit] Carriages

[edit] Metropolitan Carriages

• • Metropolitan Composite Coach No 368. Returned to traffic in 2002 after rebuild and in use with other Victorian Coaches. Will go in the works after 394 for tyre turning.
  • Metropolitan Brake 3rd Coach No 387. Returned to traffic in 1999 after rebuild and in use with other Victorian Coaches. Currently in the works for attention to its roof, to have a re-varnish and attention to its letters.
  • Metropolitan Full 3rd Coach No 394. Returned to traffic in 1999 after rebuild and in use with other Victorian Coaches. Will go in the works after 387 for similar repairs.
  • Metropolitan Composite Coach No 412. Returned to traffic in late 2006 after rebuild and in use with other Victorian Coaches.

[edit] 4 and 6-wheeled Coaches

• • LCDR 6-wheeled brake No 48. Stored awaiting major restoration but the underframe has received some attention.
  • LCDR 4-wheeled brake 3rd No 114. Returned to traffic in 2006 after an extensive Restoration, was previously used as a bungalow, in use with the Metropolitans and 661.
  • LCDR 4-wheeled brake 2nd No 51. Basically identical to 114 it is presently stored under a tarpaulin on a temporary underframe.
  • LCDR 6-wheel 3rd No 668. Stored on a temorary underframe awaiting restoration.
  • SER Southern Railway 3rd No 1050. Stored awaiting restoration, eventually planned to be part of a planned Birdcage train in the future.
  • LBSCR 4-wheel Stroudley Coach No 661. In use after rebuild and is in use with the Metropolitans and 114, it is planned to eventually be part of a Stroudley train pulled by the Terriers Stepney and Fenchurch.
  • LBSCR 4-wheel Stroudley brake 3rd No 676. Stored awaiting restoration, restoration planned to start once No 949 is complete.
  • LBSCR 4-wheel Stroudley brake 3rd No 949. Undergoing Restoration, a new underframe has been found and the structure is complete and the bodys framework is thought to be in good condition, planned to work with 661 once finished.
  • LBSCR 4-wheel Stroudly 3rd No 328. Stored awating Restoration to working order, planned to go into the works once 676 is complete.
  • LBSCR 4-wheel second class Carriage No 35. Stored awaiting restoration, work planned to start once the other 4-wheel Stroudley Carriages are finished.

[edit] Pre Grouping (Southern) Coaches

• • LBSCR Bogie first No 142. Returned to traffic in 1999 and won the best coach of the year award for 2002/03, used sometimes on regular passenger trains.
  • LSWR Lavatory 3rd No 320. Stored under an overall tarpaulin, proberly requires new doors but has a complete interior.
  • LSWR Corridor 3rd No 494. Stored under a tarpaulin in the sidings.
  • LSWR Brake 3rd No 1520. Under restoration which is well underway, the body, frames and wheels are complete and the floor, roof and sides of the inside of the coach have been painted, the fabrics for the seats are now starting to arrive, return to traffic is expected in 2007.
  • SECR Birdcage Brake No 1061. Stored underneeth a tarpaulin, requires major restoration.
  • SECR Birdcage Brake No 1084. Undergoing restoration, the first compartment has been completed and the fitting of the replacement framework is nearing completion.
  • SECR Birdcage Brake No 1170. Awaiting Overhaul with the roof requiring major attention.

[edit] Maunsell Coaches

• • Maunsell Open 3rd No 1309. In service and used on passenger trains on a regular basis.
  • Maunsell Open 3rd No 1336. Undergoing Overhaul, almost finished with all the panels and windows in place, the interior is nearing completion, it is expected to return to traffic by 2007.
  • Maunsell Composite Dining Saloon/Open Third No 1365. Stored awaiting overhaul after being used on passenger trains regularly.
  • Maunsell Corridor Third No 2356. Awaiting overhaul, currently used as the Carriage and Wagon Department Mess Coach.
  • Maunsell Corridor Brake 3rd No 3687. Undergoing overhaul, the Brake compartment interior is nearing Completion and the doors have had all their timberwork overhauled and fitted, once the brake compartment is finished work on the rest of the coach's interior will continue.
  • Maunsell Corridor Brake Third No 3744. Stored awaiting restoration with rotten timberwork, during its eventual restoration it is planned to be a disabled coach on passenger trains so people with wheelchairs can enjoy themselves.
  • Maunsell unclassed brake No 4441. Awating Overhaul with a seriously damaged underframe but a good body, it is planned to swap underframes with 4444 in the near future so this one can be restored.
  • Maunsell Unclassed Brake No 4444. Out of service awaiting Restoration, planned to donate its underframe to 4441 which surives in much better condition.
  • Maunsell Travelling Post Office No 4922. Stored awaiting a restoration but it has been given low priority as it is a non passenger carrying vehicle.
  • Maunsell Corridor Composite No 5624. Stored awaiting Restoration, its restoration is expected to be programmed at some stage as it is one of the Core Gems of the Maunsell Coach fleet.
  • Maunsell Corridor Brake Composite No 6575. Stored awaiting a fairly major Overhaul particularly at the brake end.
  • Maunsell Corridor Brake Composite No 6686. In service after returning to traffic in 1997, it won the highly commended coach of the year for 1998/99.
  • Maunsell Kithchen Buffet No 7864. Awaiting Restoration but will proberly be one of the next to be restored as its underframe is in better condition than the other stored Maunsell Coaches.

[edit] Observation Car, Royal and Directors' Saloons

• • GNR Directors' Saloon No 706. In traffic and is used fairly regularly on passenger trains on Bank holidays and the Summer Months.
  • LNWR Observation Coach No 1503. In traffic and is used regularly on passenger trains, painted in LNWR livery it provides a unique view of the Railway.
  • LNWR Semi Royal Saloon No 806. In service in LMS Maroon and was used as part of the Golden Arrow train but Pullman Car Christine relived it from much of the work but is still used on the train and as a saloon for special events.
  • LBSCR Directors' Saloon No 60. Stored awaiting restoration under a waterproof Cover but its restoration should start soon.

[edit] Bulleid Carriages

• • Bulleid TO Open Third No 1456. Awaiting Overhaul. It is most likely that this will be the next Bullied Coach to enter the works as it is in fairly good condition, once 2526 is complete this will hopefully be tackled next.
  • Bulleid TO Open Third No 1464. In service and used regularly on passenger trains, had major repairs to its outer panneling in 2005 but this has been completed and the coach can be used for another 20 years.
  • Bulleid TO Open Third No 1481. Out of service awaiting a fairly major Overhaul with the outside paneling and roof sheets needing major attention.
  • Bulleid TO Open Third No 1482. In regular service on passenger trains following a major Restoration that was completed in 2000.
  • Bulleid SOBT Semi-Open Brake Third No 2515. Returned to traffic in 1998 and is now in regular use on passenger trains, it has run more times on the railway than it did on BR.
  • Bulleid SOBT Semi-Open Brake Third No 2526. Nearing the end of a major Overhaul which is expected to be complete in 2007, all of the outside pannels have been fitted apart from one door that will be fitted soon, the interior is nearly there, the toilet and the small corridor towards the brake end are nearly finished and the first two side lights have been fitted along with the wiring which will be completed once the remainder of painting of the interior has been completed which is nearly there.
  • Bulleid SOBT Semi-Brake Open Third No 4227. Awaiting major restoration, this is planned to start in the not too distant future.
  • Bulleid SOBT Semi-Brake Open Third No 4279. Used regularly on passenger trains after its restoration was completed in 1997, it has now run more days on the Bluebell than it did on BR.
  • Bulleid CK Corridor Composite No 5768. Stored awaiting a major Overhaul after being used on the railway for 20 years.

[edit] SECR Hundred Seaters

• • SECR Hundred Seaters Nos 971 and 1098. Both are operational and are used occasionally on passenger trains on the railway.

[edit] External links

• Bluebell Railway Preservation Society
• Web site covering Horsted Keynes; the village at the centre of the line
• Photographs, Description and Map