jnjkerbin
Member
Wondering what to day that weekend, on Friday 22nd March we remembered that tomorrow, the Bluebell Railway was opening to East Grinstead. Neither of us had gone on the Bluebell before and so we decided we might as well.
We met not too early on the 23rd and made our way to the station to board the 0839 to Orpington, operated by a pair of 465s.
Despite the snow we were off on time and even rolled in to Orpington a minute or so early, giving us plenty of time to get over the footbridge on to the 0854 service, which brings us into London Bridge a little before quarter past nine. The train is surprisingly empty and when we get to London Bridge we go via the footbridge to the terminus platforms. I don't think I've ever been over the footbridge this far before and I'm surprised how quiet it is compared to the subway. We pass through the barriers on to the main concourse an wait for our train to be given a platform. Before long the boards tell us that it will leave from platform 11, where 377458 and 377159 are waiting for the run to East Grinstead.
We're off just one minute down and we are soon rushing through the attractive kingdoms of Penge, Sydenham and Anerley before passing a 442 at Norwood Junction, indicating the line must be shut at Selhurst. The train is well filled but no too busy beyond East Croydon and we run down to Oxted and East Grinstead through particularly nice scenery where we arrive one minute late. By this point it's stopped snowing but it's still cold.
We easily find our way to the Bluebell station and buy tickets just as the Breakfast train is pulling out. A cold, albeit enjoyable wait is had on the platform before 92212, which I am informed is a 9F by my more steam savvy friend, puffs in.
We board a very well packed train, (the only time I've ever been on a heritage railway which is standing room only) and a few minutes late, we puff out over the surprisingly grand Imberhorne Viaduct and into the infamous cutting, the occasional plastic bag still poking out of the sides. Before long we arrive at the lovely station of Kingscote which gives a taste of things to come...
To be continued...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Here we go with part 2...
Leaving Kingscote, we carry on running through pleasant countryside to Horsted Keynes where we get off, just as another train is pulling in for East Grinstead and Stepney pulls in with a brake van special.
At Horsted Keynes, it really does feel like we've stepped back in time. It's certainly the best preserved station I've visited.
With snow coming down, we get a few more photos before our 1 and a half hour time there is all too quickly up.
We left on the 1318 and travelled onwards south towards Sheffield Park, where a train back was waiting, but first we decided to have a look around the museum and station first.
Rather tired, but after a great day out, we got back on the train to go home to East Grinstead, and from there back on the same pair of 377s to a cold London Bridge. We arrived at Orpington on time, but the fast Hastings train which is meant to run ahead of us is late and pulls in to the platform just as we're pulling out. I notice one of the train dispachers shrugging her shoulders at the driver of the fast train as it arrives. He's going to have a slow run to Sevenoaks!
We met not too early on the 23rd and made our way to the station to board the 0839 to Orpington, operated by a pair of 465s.
Despite the snow we were off on time and even rolled in to Orpington a minute or so early, giving us plenty of time to get over the footbridge on to the 0854 service, which brings us into London Bridge a little before quarter past nine. The train is surprisingly empty and when we get to London Bridge we go via the footbridge to the terminus platforms. I don't think I've ever been over the footbridge this far before and I'm surprised how quiet it is compared to the subway. We pass through the barriers on to the main concourse an wait for our train to be given a platform. Before long the boards tell us that it will leave from platform 11, where 377458 and 377159 are waiting for the run to East Grinstead.
We're off just one minute down and we are soon rushing through the attractive kingdoms of Penge, Sydenham and Anerley before passing a 442 at Norwood Junction, indicating the line must be shut at Selhurst. The train is well filled but no too busy beyond East Croydon and we run down to Oxted and East Grinstead through particularly nice scenery where we arrive one minute late. By this point it's stopped snowing but it's still cold.
We easily find our way to the Bluebell station and buy tickets just as the Breakfast train is pulling out. A cold, albeit enjoyable wait is had on the platform before 92212, which I am informed is a 9F by my more steam savvy friend, puffs in.
We board a very well packed train, (the only time I've ever been on a heritage railway which is standing room only) and a few minutes late, we puff out over the surprisingly grand Imberhorne Viaduct and into the infamous cutting, the occasional plastic bag still poking out of the sides. Before long we arrive at the lovely station of Kingscote which gives a taste of things to come...
To be continued...
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Here we go with part 2...
Leaving Kingscote, we carry on running through pleasant countryside to Horsted Keynes where we get off, just as another train is pulling in for East Grinstead and Stepney pulls in with a brake van special.
At Horsted Keynes, it really does feel like we've stepped back in time. It's certainly the best preserved station I've visited.
With snow coming down, we get a few more photos before our 1 and a half hour time there is all too quickly up.
We left on the 1318 and travelled onwards south towards Sheffield Park, where a train back was waiting, but first we decided to have a look around the museum and station first.
Rather tired, but after a great day out, we got back on the train to go home to East Grinstead, and from there back on the same pair of 377s to a cold London Bridge. We arrived at Orpington on time, but the fast Hastings train which is meant to run ahead of us is late and pulls in to the platform just as we're pulling out. I notice one of the train dispachers shrugging her shoulders at the driver of the fast train as it arrives. He's going to have a slow run to Sevenoaks!