Bluebell Extensions

[rf_ioliver]

Just noticed on the BBC a report about the Bluebell Railwayextension to East Grindstead:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-21720778

Congratulations and I wonder what is next? Via Ardingly to Haywards Heath as a remote possibility - not sure how far south from Sheffield Park they can go (but probably more chance reaching Lewes than the Uckfield line

At the end of the report I this paragraph appears:

"Chris Burchell, managing director of Southern Railway, said: "It's been a long time coming, but our East Grinstead passengers have finally got the station they expect and deserve."

Funny and Chris Burchell, managing director of Southern Railway, said: "It's been a long time coming, but our East Grinstead passengers have finally got the station they expect and deserve."

Ironic given that East Grindstead used to be quite a major junction at one time,

Anyway, congrats to the Bluebell Railway again

t.

Ian

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I Am looking forward to go on the Bluebell Line all the way from East Grinstead later in the year.

I think they are considering in the future going as you mention Via Ardingly to Haywards Heath much of the track bed and I think in some place the track itself is there, but there may be a bridge that would have to be replaced. If that link was put back, I don't know if they would run it with Steam, Diesel or may be eletric as they do have an electric unit, but that may be have to be diesel hauled rather than 3 rd rail.

Going further south from Sheffield Park to Lewis may be a problem owing to housing etc being built over the old track bed along the way.

 

[mr_jrt]

When discussing this before I pointed out that the Ardingly branch runs alongside the BML for a fair bit before joining, only for half a mile or so down the line sidings et al. to appear on the same side and run through Hayward's Heath station.

Plug the gap with some new rails, solve the H&S issue of running alongside an electrified railway, then all you need is a platform at the end of the old goods yard/car park and Bob's George's son.

 

[Monty]

The real problem is not a question of engineering or funding, dare I say the project should be relatively straight forward compared to the East Grinstead extension? No the real issue is there is still a working quarry on the site of the former Ardingly station and Hanson have no plans for quitting the site anytime soon.

 

[60163tornado]

Well they have completed the Connection to east grinstead, look on Bluebell railway website, then on news and theres a photo of the class 33 there after running from kingscote with a ballast hopper wagon.

Wel Done!

 

[steamybrian]

I Am looking forward to go on the Bluebell Line all the way from East Grinstead later in the year.

I think they are considering in the future going as you mention Via Ardingly to Haywards Heath much of the track bed and I think in some place the track itself is there, but there may be a bridge that would have to be replaced. If that link was put back, I don't know if they would run it with Steam, Diesel or may be eletric as they do have an electric unit, but that may be have to be diesel hauled rather than 3 rd rail.

Going further south from Sheffield Park to Lewis may be a problem owing to housing etc being built over the old track bed along the way.

Trackbed- Horsted Keynes to Ardingly is owned by the Bluebell Railway and the biggest obstacle to reopening is the reinstatement of a long bridge to replace the gap when Sheriff Mill Viaduct was demolished in the mid 1960s. There is then 2 miles of overgrown/muddy trackbed with just a minor underbridge to rebuild and repairs to Lywood Tunnel.
At Ardingly the station site is now occupied by Hanson Aggregates who receive Aggregate by rail from the single line from Copyhold Jn.

Rebuilding south of Sheffield Park will require the reinstatement of a bridge immediately south of the station. The next two miles are reasonably clear until the site of the next station at Newick and Chailey which has now been buried in an infilled cutting on top of which houses have been built. Accordingly any reconstruction will be seriously very big money.!

Finally-I plan to travel over the new extension to East Grinstead later this year after the initial opening festivals.

 

[mr_jrt]

Rebuilding south of Sheffield Park will require the reinstatement of a bridge immediately south of the station. The next two miles are reasonably clear until the site of the next station at Newick and Chailey which has now been buried in an infilled cutting on top of which houses have been built. Accordingly any reconstruction will be seriously very big money.

I do wonder if the easy(!) solution is to just use a different alignment and run east of the housing on the old cutting north of the A272, and west of the housing on the cutting south of the road.

 

[60163tornado]

Good News!!!!

They ran their first steam train over the extension yesterday!!
9F 92212 Did three return TEST trips to east grinstead and proved to be successful,F although surprisingly the 9F looked dwarfed by the large cutting.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Yes that is good news indeed. I shall look forward to going on that line later in the year.

 

[LE Greys]

Judging by BBC News today, there is a public service operating. I'm planning to head down to sample it sometime in April, and have two questions. When would other people recommend (i.e. when is the most interesting time to visit)? Can I buy a through ticket from Hitchin?

 

[hammerwood]

if you are visiting in April - check thoroughly their website. I think there is a planned closure on the EG-Kingscote section to finish off some work at some point after Easter.

 

[LE Greys]

if you are visiting in April - check thoroughly their website. I think there is a planned closure on the EG-Kingscote section to finish off some work at some point after Easter.

Thanks, might be a good idea to delay the visit until May.

 

[robvulpes]

Can I buy a through ticket from Hitchin?

I'm willing to be corrected, but I believe there are no longer through tickets from NR. Hunted NR website the other day (as I'm planning to travel there by train this weekend sometime) and could find the equivalent for a number of other NR-connected heritage railways, but not Bluebell.

Rob

 

[Bedpan]

There's a two train service every day for the next two weeks, as it coincides with the school holidays. Its from Monday 15th April onwards that there are no trains north of Kingscote on weekdays, just 3 return trips from Sheffield Park to Kingscote, but still trains serving East Grinstead at weekends.

 

[theblackwatch]

I went to the Bluebell yesterday to do the extension. It's much easier to do my public transport now, with a 2 minute walk at East Grinstead rather than a bus ride from either there or Haywards Heath.

The services I travelled on weren't as busy as I expected. The cutting through the landfill site has yet to be landscaped, much is covered in black sheeting, but in other areas you can see old car tyres and other rubbish. I gather the plan is to finish this off in the next few weeks, hence the service being somewhat limited once the 2 week opening event is over. It's obviously taken a bit longer to finish due to the bad winter we've had, well done to the railway in getting it open in time for Easter.

 

[Daimler]

I'm willing to be corrected, but I believe there are no longer through tickets from NR. Hunted NR website the other day (as I'm planning to travel there by train this weekend sometime) and could find the equivalent for a number of other NR-connected heritage railways, but not Bluebell.

Rob

There aren't any through tickets available right now, but the Bluebell is working with the relevant authorities to reinstate them sometime fairly soon - I'm not sure exactly when though.

Judging by BBC News today, there is a public service operating. I'm planning to head down to sample it sometime in April, and have two questions. When would other people recommend (i.e. when is the most interesting time to visit)? Can I buy a through ticket from Hitchin?

If you want to sample the Bluebell at its most interesting, my advice would be to check the 'Weekly Train Information' page, as it tells you not only which locos are running but also the rolling stock used (stock lists for locomotives and carriages are available here and here respectively, so you can see which vehicles the numbers refer to. As for me the great joy of the line is its vintage rolling stock and locos, it's best to choose a day when pre-grouping locos and carriages are running - it makes it that much more special.

 

[JoeGJ1984]

Does anyone know from past experience if they tend to use their Metropolitan carriages often outside special events, i.e on 'ordinary' two-train running days? (I'd like to get a ride on these sometime).

 

[Daimler]

Does anyone know from past experience if they tend to use their Metropolitan carriages often outside special events, i.e on 'ordinary' two-train running days? (I'd like to get a ride on these sometime).

The heritage carriages (Metropolitan/pre-grouping) are used relatively often on two-train running days, usually in the summer months or in busy periods - they're often used for post-Christmas/New Year's services, for example. On two-train running days in colder times of the year, though, you're more likely to see two sets made up as shown in the 'Weekly Train Information' page I linked to above - one set of Mk1s/Bulleids and one set of SR Maunsell livery coaches - though do note that this second set contains two pre-grouping carriages at the moment anyway - the fantastic Brighton Bogie First (7598) and the SECR Birdcage Brake Third (3363).

You're always best off checking the Weekly Train Information page before planning a visit though, and even calling up just in case, if you're going especially to travel on particular rolling stock.

 

[LE Greys]

Thanks for the advice.

 

[sidmouth]

See attached useful link
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/pti/index.html
I think it is Set D is the one you want...

Edit
---------
Doh... Just notice that Damlier has already provided the link above to show which carriages are being used, including the Metropolitan set. Sorry.

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

I went down to the Bluebell Railway yesterday. It was running through to East Grinstead and I has a really enjoyable day out. It was good as they where running two trains, plus the Pullman Dining train too, hired for a wedding. So I was able to go behind two different locos and try out the varied coaching stock.

As well as the usual MK1 or MK2s, they do have some older and in some ways more interesting compartment stock from SECR and lovely open carriages, I presume just pre or post WW2 from the old SR or maybe LBSCR? They sometimes use I think old LT Met line stock too.

The atmosphere was great down there too as was the hot lunch & wine at Sheffield Park Station. It's good that at last they have made it to East Grinstead, although I think there is still some tidying up needed in the cutting.

I may try to get down there later in the year, I think at the end of June there is a model railway exhibition along the line so may watch out for that.

 

[Sun Chariot]

Belated congratulations to all at the Bluebell Railway. I visited on Bank Holiday Monday 6th May. A thoroughly enjoyable ride to and from the extension, then "chasing trains" along the line.

Attached are a few low-resolution photos: from south of Horsted Keyes, to Imberhorn Bridge.

Highly recommended day out.