Bluebell Steam Railway Edwardian Weekend 23rd June 2013 East Grinstead-Horsted Keynes-Sheffield Park
With the opening of the extension to East Grinstead in March, the Bluebell Railway in Sussex has never been easier to get to. Under an hour by train direct from London Victoria. This Edwardian Weekend was a new idea for the railway this year which saw most of it's older rolling stock, dating between 1880 and 1935 used in a three train service. This included the coaches used in the filming for the popular TV series Downton Abbey where Horsted Keynes station becomes Downton. Also seen is the Chesham Set or Metropolitan Railway carriages which were steam hauled on the London Underground back in January, to celebrate the 150th anniversary of it's opening. See my other films for that event. Traditional fairground rides (16:50), sideshows and swing boats, were provided by the Harris family fair which is still owned by 5th and 6th generations of the same family. They bought the swing boats in 1907 and they're still going strong. Music was provided for the people taking afternoon tea by the East Grinstead Concert band aka The Bluebell band. We hear them play The Galloping Major. A tune appropriately written in 1906.
The most enjoyable part of the day for me was finding myself alone on Kingscote station (27:33). To sit and enjoy the peace and quiet and experience a country station as it would have been is to be highly recommended. Away from the crowds you really get time to look around and appreciate the detail that makes the Bluebell railway so special. Kingscote is one of the best assets the railway has in my view. Try it next time you visit. Maybe have your picnic lunch there.
Each station is set in a different railway era. Sheffield Park in Victorian years of the late 1800s, as opened by the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. Horsted Keynes in Southern Railway days of the 1920s and 30s and Kingscote in British Railway's days of the 1960s.
We end with a view from the 1913 built L&NWR observation car (34:30), through the cutting recently cleared of near on 100,000 tons of domestic waste dumped there in the 1960s and 70s, the last and greatest hurdle in the 43 year battle to get the railway back to East Grinstead. bluebell-railway.co.uk
Bluebell Railway - First (and Last?) Public Trip on Ardingly Branch since 1963
Yes, see what's Round the Bend in Horsted Keynes! This was the first trip of the day hence the first public trip on part of the Ardingly branch from Horsted Keynes since closure of the electric service from Haywards Heath in 1963. A brake car trip pulled by Fenchurch which takes an express non-stop trip South through Horsted Keynes Station and on to the start of the Ardingly branch on 15th August 2009. Here we see some of the stock awaiting restoration stored on the parallel line before stopping (fortunately !) at the beginning of the gap where the missing Sheriff Mill viaduct was blown up by the army. You can also see two service trains and the diesel loco hidden away behind the scenes. As you can see the track was rusty and unused. Trip in aid of the Northern Extension Fund which hopes to reconnect with East Grinstead main line. Tickets cost just £3 and represented excellent value. After getting to East Grinstead and a bit of a rest, we hope the Bluebell will push Westwards to Ardingly and eventually back to Haywards Heath! This would give a spare route to the coast in event of an incident on the main London line and could be a nice little earner for the Bluebell. The large mound between the Sheffield Park and Ardingly lines is the site of the new picnic area created with some of the spoil from the Northern tip. It will be a great place for photographers - as long as the inevitable fencing isn't too intrusive! Sorry about the video quality, I only had my still camera with me so it's 4:3 and lower resolution than my other videos.
UPDATE: I had been told that due to Health and Safety further short trips on the Ardingly branch have been banned (since corrected) so we will have to wait for the first trip to Ardingly to travel again. Oh I should live so long!
A Walk Through Penzance Railway Station, Penzance, Cornwall, United Kingdom
The station was opened by the West Cornwall Railway on 11 March 1852 as the terminus of its line from Redruth. Perhaps prompted by a serious fire in 1876 which destroyed the goods shed the wooden station was replaced by the current buildings in 1879 which were designed by the architect, William Lancaster Owen. The new platforms were used for the first time on 18 November 1879] However, the new station suffered from teething problems, as by 1880 it was reported that some settlement in the masonry and shrinkage of the iron in the roof had caused several sheets of the glazing to break.
Further alterations were made in 1937 and again in 1983 when new a ticket office and buffet were opened.
The blocked-up archway in the wall that retains the hillside behind the platforms was used by the railway as a coal store. Freight traffic, especially the busy fish trade, was handled in the former goods yard, where cars are now parked, adjacent to the bus station. An engine shed was also situated here before being moved to the opposite side of the line near the end of the retaining wall. It has since been replaced by the new Penzance TMD outside the station at Long Rock.
From 1996, South West Trains operated a weekly weekend service from London Waterloo as an extension of its service to Exeter St Davids. This ceased in December 2009.
In 2012/13 the station's roof was refurbished.
Penzance is both the southernmost station on the National Rail network and the westernmost station in England (although not Great Britain as some stations in Scotland are further west. The station, like all others in Cornwall, is operated by Great Western Railway.
Platforms 1, 2 and 3 are within the main train shed; Platform 4 on the south side is in the open air. A large stone at the end of this platform welcomes people to Penzance in both English and Cornish. This side of the station is built on the sea wall near the harbour; the other side is cut into the hillside.
Chesham Set heads for London
On Wednesday July 23, 2014 Fred Ivey filmed the Bluebell Railway's Chesham Set on main line metals for the first time since 1963 when they were hauled by rail to Neasden for Met 100.
Rail and Road event. Bluebell Railway 14th - 16th June 2019
The Bluebell Railway put on a steam powered event, with road vehicles supplementing the steam railway. The use of steam powered transport drove the industrial revolution and all manner of different commercial applications were on show and in action over the weekend. including steam powered deliveries to and from the station.
Opening sequence. Class 09 0-6-0 diesel shunter prepares the demonstration goods train.
Class S15 4-6-0 Express Goods and mixed traffic engine runs in to Horsted Keynes and departs noisily for East Grinsted and seen en route powering up to Sharpthorne tunnel.
Q class 0-6-0 goods engine 30541, comes under Leamland Bridge, saluted by a traction engine, pulls uphill past Black Hut and is seen drifting down back through Sharpthorne tunnel with the goods train.
Standard Class 5 4-6-0 73082 'Camelot' eases through the temporary speed restriction at Horsted Place and pulls away up the curve to the tunnel and onto East Grinstead
Onto the Road vehicles, Traction Engines, driving saw benches, road making machinery and hauling heavy loads. Steam Rollers - in use right up until the 1970s in some areas - demonstrate their power and weight in skilful hands. The bulk of the ploughing engine with the underslung winch stands next to the huge reversible towed plough. Steam delivery lorries and tractors were kept busy delivering coal to the engines
The weather changed and made the field very soft in places and the versatility of the machinery was put to good use winching out stuck machines.
All in all a comprehensive look at how steam power was used in all aspects of transport.
Well done Bluebell Railway.
Bluebell Railway 1983 Timetable Weekend Sunday 21st March 2010
Video from the 1983 service day with running between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes only due to engineering work in Sharpthorne Tunnel. U no.1638 was on the service trains and P no.178 (as P 'Pioneer II') and Terrier no.672 'Fenchurch' were on the afternoon 'Wealden Rambler' trains.
Photos here...
Locations and Locos...
U 1638 at Freshfield Lane Bridge.
P 178 & Terrier 672 'Fenchurch' at Three Arch Bridge.
U 1638 at Three Arch Bridge.
P 178 & Terrier 672 'Fenchurch' at Three Arch Bridge.
P 178 & Terrier 672 'Fenchurch' at Waterworks Bridge.
U 1638 at Waterworks Bridge.
The Bluebell Railway is currently extending from the current terminus at Kingscote to a main line connection at East Grinstead. A cutting full of Household waste is blocking the path, for more details and to donate please see...
Bluebell Giants of steam 2010
A video of the Bluebell Railway's annual 'Giants of Steam' gala. We visited on Sunday (24th October) when No:34059 'Sir Archibald Sinclair' hauled a number of trains although later in the day No:55 'Stepney' failed.
For more information visit: where you will also find links to photos.
73082 'Camelot' Bluebell Railway steam
'There and back again' features Std 5MT 73082, before it regained its 'Camelot' name plates, on a notional journey on the Bluebell Railway between Sheffield Park, East Grinstead and back.
Filmed during 2016, 73082 is seen coming 'off shed', collecting the coaching stock and watering, then coupling up and ready for the off with the sound of coal being shovelled into the firebox. The Guard waves the green flag and 73082 makes a noisy departure from Sheffield Park with cylinder cocks open ,en-route to Horsted Keynes, up Freshfield bank, over Tremaines Crossing and into a busy Horsted Keynes station.
There follows a Horsted Keynes departure, under Leamland Bridge, with the temporary speed restriction carefully observed. (You may just be able to hear a Southbound departure from Horsted Keynes in the distance) and then out into open country around Horsted House, whistling for the Horsted House Farm crossing and up the grade to Sharpethorne Tunnel.
An arrival and departure from Kingscote is shown and then back on the train over Holden Summit between the Imberhorne Lane and Hill Place Farm Bridges. The sharp eyed might spot the muntjac deer crossing and recrossing the track and then scampering up the bank
Arriving at East Grinstead over the viaduct into the station the train glides to a halt adjacent to the mainline. The engine runs round and then heads back, tender first, over the viaduct and up the bank to Hill Place Farm over bridge.
Through the countryside back to Horsted Keynes where the H class tank engine is impatiently waiting for the road north.
Southbound from Horsted, note the deer trying to outpace the train approaching Three Arch Bridge and down the gradients to Sheffield Park for a gentle arrival, the uncoupling and back on shed at the end of the day.
Thank you to the crews, volunteers and staff of the Bluebell without whom this video would not be possible.
Bluebell Railway Sheffield Park.wmv
A quick visit to Sheffield Park to view the arrival and departure of trains about the summer of 1994. Southern Railways steam at its finest........A lovely place to spend some time. The Brits do it well......Top class restoration......Well Done to all concerned!
Sheffield Park Gardens
Views of Sheffield Park in Sussex, UK