Bluebell sites: WAP/Mobile - Yahoo! group - Facebook: Page - Group - eBay for Charity - Twitter: News - General - RSS feed - Donate - BRPS

What's New at the
Bluebell Railway?

Why not Bookmark this page (or add to Favourites), and come back regularly to check the latest changes.
N.B.It may be worth refreshing/reloading this page in your browser to ensure you have the latest version.

Latest Updates     -     Earlier updates     -     Latest Project News and weekly train running information     -     Recent photo reports

• Chris Suitters' photo (right) was taken last night and shows No.78019 on shed at Sheffield Park. The loco is being disposed of after having worked the evening Regency Belle Pullman service. No.42085 rests in the background.

• Kids for a Quid - February Half Term (Saturday 13th to Friday 19th February) - all children (aged 3-15) travel for just £1 each. Valid on all timetabled service one train departures, for third-class travel.

• Don't forget you can book your Bluebell Bonus tickets at least 8 days in advance of travel and save 20% on our standard fares - please telephone 01825 720800, or visit the Sales and Information Office above the Shop at Sheffield Park.
  Bluebell Bonus tickets give unlimited travel on the day of your visit (discounts are also available on 1st Class and BRPS members fares)
  Further details available here.

• The Valentines Weekend Regency Belle Pullman trains are fully booked, but some seats in the Lounge Cars remain on the Wealden Rambler afternoon tea trains. Phone 01825 720800 to book seats.
  Both the Regency Belle and the Wealden Rambler Lounge Cars are operating in March as well - book up now!

• Matthew Nightingale has a few photos on his Flickr gallery of B473 and 78019 running on Saturday, and a YouTube video

• Tom Waghorn also has a gallery of photos from yesterday.

• Derek Hayward has uploaded more of his photos of 78019 from yesterday, as well as some more of B473, some showing work in progress in the loco works on P-class 178 and one of some recent work on P-class 323 plus some photos showing the work undertaken by the Friend of Kingscote in clearing lineside undergrowth around Birchstone Bridge.

• 78019 and B473 ran today, and photos are available as follows:
  • Andrew Strongitharm has a new album with some photos from today, including the photo on the right.
  • David Haggar provided these two videos of 9017 in a photo charter yesterday on YouTube: Departing from Sheffield Park and the second at Monteswood, and the photo below is from the latter location.
  • Derek Hayward has added two photos from today, with more to come later. The photo of 78019 below is also from him.
  • Martin Lawrence has provided the photo of B473 today, complete with its four matching coaches.

• Also today as part of pre-arranged engineering work on the visiting Fairburn Tank No.42085, one of its springs has been changed.

• During the week, the boiler has been put in the frames of SECR P-class No.178.

• Mk.I composite carriage No.16263 has been removed from our stock list. The carriage has been sold and has now left the Railway. It had been held in reserve in case we had decided that the overhaul of the Bulleid composite carriage No.5768 was not going to be feasible, but having started the work, we are now confident that the overhaul of 5768 will be fairly straight-forward, and the proceeds of the sale will help to fund this overhaul.

The Trains for the coming week page is updated weekly, with detailed information for visiting enthusiasts - but please note that notification of a train or service on that page does not necessarily imply that it is available to the public - all public services are listed in the Timetable.

Note: Throughout this site many of the photos are presented as small versions which can be clicked on to access the full-size image.

Latest Project News

• Progress report on work on the LCDR carriage project being funded through The People's Millions - 31 January 2010
• Loco Works News: report from the Brighton Atlantic project, the return to service of LBSCR E4 No.B473, on the overhaul of SECR P-class loco No.178, of SECR H-class No.263, on the start of No.55 Stepney's overhaul, and a new page for P-class No.323 Bluebell's overhaul, - 1 February, 30, 24, 6 January 2010
• East Grinstead Extension: Report and photos from the last four months work on the extension - 28 January 2010
• Carriage & Wagon Works News - Updates on the rebuilding the LBSCR Milk/Fruit Van, restoration of GWR 5-plank open wagon No.87782 and the overhaul of LMS 3-plank wagon No.474558 - 31 and 20 December 2009
• Operation Undercover - Site clearance and appointment of main contractor - updated 21 November and 5 October 2009.
• Loco Works News: an update from the Maunsell Locomotive Society on the overhaul of S15 No.847, from the 73082 Camelot Locomotive Society, from the Bulleid Society: an update about the award for the restoration of Sir Archibald Sinclair and also pictures of Blackmoor Vale being pulled around a muddy field in Dorset; and the latest on the Standard Class 2 Loco project - 8 November, 28, 17 September 2009
• Carriage & Wagon Works News - Updates on the start of work on the Bulleid Society's carriage No.5768, the completion of the overhaul of Bulleid brake No.2526, the repair of SR Bo-rail No.57949, the overhaul of 3-plank Wagon M480222, and the restoration of Maunsell Brake Third No.3687 - 3 November, 23 October, 28, 3 August, 14 & 7 July 2009
• East Grinstead Extension: Report on the open weekend at East Grinstead - 14 October 2009
• The latest news of the Horsted Keynes Re-signalling. Last update September 2009
• Loco Works News: from the Bulleid Society on the visit of 'Normandy' to Eastleigh, and photos of "Camelot" lifted and the S15 re-wheeled - 1 July 2009
• Press Release - Fifty years of the Bluebell Railway - Celebrations start - 9 June 2009
• Carriage & Wagon Works News: the return to service of SR Maunsell open third No.1336 - March 2009
• Report, photos and videos from the Branch Line weekend - 21-22 February 2009
• Report on the East Grinstead Open Day - 17 January 2009
• We now have our Main-line connection at East Grinstead - report and photos - Track laying at East Grinstead - 16 January 2009
• Share Issue raises over £ ²/3 Million! - report 12 January 2009
• East Grinstead Extension: Trial phase of the tip excavation completed successfully - reports and photos - 17 December 2008
• Archive news from the Bluebell

Take a tour of this web site

---

Latest photographic and video reports:

• Golden Arrow promotional Video produced for us by Rail TV UK - Jan 2010
• Ashley Smith filmed the 1.02pm service at Horsted Keynes on Saturday 16th January 2010 - available on YouTube, and also has some stills taken that day.
• Some new YouTube videos:
  • Sam Brown's video is a compilation of a series of different shots from the last couple of years.
  • Our train services on January 2nd - Part 1 and Part 2, including the Victorian Train, from Daniel Green.
  • Proposed "YouTube get together" at our 50th anniversary event.
• Dave Clarke's latest photos of various Carriage & Wagon department (and other) projects: BR Mk.I TSO No.4941, LSWR Lavatory Brake Third No.1520, SR (Bulleid) CK No.5768, SECR Birdcage brake third No.3363: 1, 2, C&W infrastructure: 1, 2, the retrim of the first class in Mk.I CK No.16210, LCDR/SECR carriage No.51/3360, SR GBL (Gangway Bogie Luggage van) No.2462, GWR 5-plank wagon No.87782 - 1, 2 and 3, SECR 100 seater No.1098, SR Maunsell brake third No.3687 - 1, 2 and 3, No.39617, the SR Conflat D and drilling out the S15's copper firebox stays - 2nd photo - November, December 2009 and January 2010
• Martin Lawrence's videos on YouTube show the three locos in use on 3rd January climbing Freshfield Bank: the Dukedog, the C-class which was hauling the last Pullman service until February, and the Standard tank 80151 - 3 January 2009
• Derek Hayward has a gallery of photos showing the Victorian Train on January 2nd.
• John Evans' new album of photos - 2 January 2010
• Paul Pettitt has updated his albums with photos of the Santa Specials in the snow, of Standard 4 No.80151, and of 'Dukedog' No.9017 - 1 January 2010
• Andrew Strongitharm's "Best photos of 2009".
• Derek Hayward has put up a new gallery from 1st January, including quite a lot of photos of the locos currently in the works. Derek has also re-organised his photos of our locos, largely creating a separate gallery for each loco, with new galleries for locos: No.9017 "Earl of Berkeley", No.34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair", U-class 1618 U-class 1638, P-class 178's overhaul, North London 27505, Baxter, Brighton Atlantic 32424, Adams radial 488, Q-class 541, Stepney's overhaul, C-class 592, Fenchurch, the Standard 4 tanks 80064, 80100, 80151, 2MT tank 84030, 9F 92240, Stowe, Normandy, B473's overhaul, D3023 and 13236, WD1959 (USA 30064), plus the Wickham trolleys and the SEG's 4 Cor motor coach.
• YouTube video of No.80151 near Town House Farm from Martin Lawrence - 27 December 2009
• Mark Andrews' photos showing all four of the trains running on Christmas Eve, in the snow
• The Bulleid Society page for 'Sir Archibald Sinclair' has several photos of the loco hauling Santa Special services in the snow - 19-20 December 2009
• Dave Clarke's photos of Horsted in the snow - 18-20 December 2009
• Mike Floate's video of 34059 in the snow - 20 December 2009
• Photos from Andrew Strongitharm - 20 December 2009
• Gary Smith has a YouTube video, featuring the U-class emerging from the Tunnel - 20 December 2009
• Ashley Smith's photos in the snow - 19 December 2009
• Matt Allen has a very nice small gallery of snow shots - 19 December 2009
• Keith Duke's album of photos of Horsted in the snow - 19 December 2009

What's been updated on the Bluebell Web Site?

Most recent updates: See top of this page

• 78019, the BR 2MT 2-6-0 built in 1954 at Darlington, which is visiting us from the Great Central Railway for our Branch Line weekend in two weeks time, will be sharing the two-train Service 1 timetable this weekend with newly returned to traffic LBSCR E4 B473. Jon Horrocks' photo shows 78019 at the Great Central last summer.

• Work started on 20th January on our LCDR carriage project (Carriage Works News update available) being funded through The People's Millions. Thanks to Dave Clarke for the pictures and story. His own photo site goes into much greater detail than is possible here. His photo below shows the carriage being shunted longside our operational LCDR coach, after being craned onto a temporary underframe on 20th January.

• Andrew Strongitharm's photo shows B473 on its relaunch train on Saturday.

• Update from Fred Bailey on the Brighton Atlantic Project, with photos thanks to Boro Foundry in Stourbridge, showing the progress they are making on the machining of the axle boxes and coupling rods.

• Paul Pettitt's photo of the month could be nothing other than B473! He has also updated his galleries for B473 Birch Grove, his Fenchurch page, his C class No.592 page, his North London Dock Tank page, and added a new Black & White photographs page.

• During January 2010, there were 64,392 total hits on this page, from 35,397 unique visitors.

• The relaunch into service of our LBSCR E4 0-6-2T No.B473 (Birch Grove) took place yesterday, and the sun shone, resulting in lots of great photos! That on the right is from Tony Sullivan.

• Galleries of photos of the relaunch available from:
  • Derek Hayward
  • Ray Wills
  • Neil Glaskin
  • Ashley Smith - plus a Video on YouTube also featuring clips of 592 on the service train.
  • Video from David Haggar (and one of the C-class)
  • Andrew Strongitharm
  • Videos from Martin Lawrence of B473 and of the C-class 592.

• Below are some more photos from Saturday. Derek Hayward's photo in the yard at Sheffield Park shows that the Fairburn Tank has arrived ready for Branch Line weekend, seen here standing next to the BR Standard 4, the design which displaced the Fairburns from the ex-LBSCR branch lines.
• Three more of Derek's show the residents of Birch Grove who were invited to take part in the re-launch of the locomotive named after their hamlet, Father Dr John Twisleton, the Rector of St Giles Church, Horsted Keynes and Chaplain to the BPRS, blessing the locomotive, and later in the day, a spirited departure from Sheffield Park.
• The last photo below, from Michael Hopps, shows the engine at Kingscote in the dark, on the special evening train run for working members of the Railway.

• Update to the Loco Works News pages for the overhaul of SECR P-class No.178 and H-class No.263, and various web pages updated as a result of today's return to steam of the LBSCR E4 No.B473.

• Dave Phillips' photo shows the star of tomorrow's show ready for its relaunch. See relaunch details here.

• There was an update last week on the Bulleid Society's page for Sir Archibald Sinclair, including some new photos and a note to say it has been winterised.

• New web page recording information about the boiler now fitted to the C-class loco No.592.

• Minor update to the pdf file of the Teachers' Information Pack for school visits to the Railway.

• Major update to the Extension progress page, with photos from Michael Hopps, covering work undertaken over the last 4 months.

Stop Press - B473 Launch - Saturday 30th January
Our newly overhauled LBSCR E4-class loco will be relaunched into service on Saturday, with a ceremony at 2pm at Horsted Keynes.

The special train that afternoon will be formed of four coaches in matching Southern Railway livery, and is principally intended for the volunteers and staff who have worked on the project, and our invited guests. However, 80 seats in ex-SECR carriage No.1098 will be available to the public on a first-come - first-served basis. The train will leave Horsted Keynes at 2.45pm for a round trip of the line, and tickets (at normal all-line return fare) can be booked by ringing our Sales and Information office on 01825 720800.

The special train will then leave Sheffield Park at 3.30 for Kingscote, leaving there at 4.30, returning to Horsted Keynes at 4.45 and then back to Sheffield Park. A special evening train for all working members (i.e. Volunteers and Staff) will also run.

B473 will also haul these matching coaches in public service on Sunday 31st January. Timetable service 2 will be in operation for the public services.

• The 2010 dates for the Golden Arrow are now available here. The Golden Arrow re-starts on 3 April - so a reminder that the Pullman Dining Train is running in February and March as the Regency Belle.

• The main Golden Arrow page has been updated with this Golden Arrow Video produced for us by Rail TV UK.

• Quite a bit of publicity generated on radio and the Internet, thanks to one of our supporters who is "selling" the rubbish from the tip on eBay to raise funds to help clear the 90,000 tons of rubbish, which is all that is between us and our extension to East Grinstead.

  You can buy a shovel-full for 99p, or a whole barrow load! (In fact 99p pays for 25kg and £10 for a quarter of a ton of rubbish to be removed). Do it now!!!

  If you want to give larger sums of money, for the development of the railway, why not donate directly to our 50th Anniversary Appeal, or purchase a "Tenner for the Tip" certificate.

  If you are not yet registered in eBay, if you register to raise funds for us through EasyFundraising, and then join eBay, the Bluebell gets ANOTHER £4.50.

  In case you haven't heard, we now plan to take the rubbish out by train, 1000 tons per day, each train saving 50 lorry movements. We will be starting this later in the spring, once we have laid track down from East Grinstead to the north end of the tip.

• Michael Hopps' photo taken in December shows that, following the waterproofing work, the ballast has now been laid right across the viaduct, along with the cable ducts for the signalling.

• Derek Hayward's photo (taken last year) shows the rebuilt lever frame in the Horsted Keynes signal box, to which No.25 points are now connected - see news reported yesterday, below.

• Nick Talbot took this photo from the footplate of the C-class at about 12.30pm today, showing the fields of water on the approach to Sheffield Park. The waters were starting to subside by the end of the day.

• On Saturday Ashley Smith filmed the 1.02pm service at Horsted Keynes - available on YouTube, and also has some stills taken that day.

• Used postage stamps: The Maunsell Loco Society now have a suitably labelled box for collecting used postage stamps in the Waiting Room at Sheffield Park. The money raised by the MLS in this way at the present time will go towards the overhaul of SR Schools-class loco No.928 "Stowe".

• Resignalling progress at Horsted Keynes: Following weeks of backroom work, at 5pm on Saturday No.25 points (the dock siding points) were officially transferred to the lever frame and their switch on the back wall of the signal box removed.
  Charles Hudson operated these points for the first time using the refurbished frame by pulling lever 25. Charles now has the honour of being the last person to use the old frame before it was put out of use and the first person to use the new frame.

• Update on yesterday's photo - whilst this will be the first time that 178 has been operational in preservation, the boiler pictured is actually the one which arrived on No.323, so was in steam on our first day of public service in August 1960. This boiler has however not been used for the last 40 years.

• We can now confirm that we will be running a (steam heated and steam hauled) train service the full length of the line this weekend, Service 2 as timetabled.

• Duncan Bourne's photo shows the boiler for SECR P-class No.178 undergoing its (successful) out-of-frames steam test yesterday. Now the push is on to get the loco back together and ready to run at the Branch Line weekend next month. This should be the second of six locos to return to service this year!

• We can confirm that we will be running a (steam heated and steam hauled) train service this coming weekend.

  Whilst the ice and snow on the local roads is melting, as of today access to and parking at Horsted Keynes remains less than ideal, so visitors this coming weekend are advised to use Sheffield Park station if possible, although we hope the situation will continue to improve throughout the weekend.

  An inspection of the tunnel will be made in the morning, and if it is clear then Service 2 will operate as normal. If we are unable to run through to Kingscote, then we will operate a Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes shuttle service.

• Update to the FAQ page.

• Visit our Facebook Page for a competition: We'd like to know.... What's your favourite part of Bluebell and tell us why? Be it our rolling stock, locomotives, lineside or people? Best answer wins a Bluebell 2010 calendar!

• David Warwick's photo of No.34059 in the snow on a Santa Special service is Fotopic's front page photo today.

• Derek Hayward has completed two more galleries, featuring the Dukedog No.9017 "Earl of Berkeley" and Battle of Britain Pacific No.34059 "Sir Archibald Sinclair". This photo shows the latter engine leaving Sharpthorne tunnel with its train on 15th August 2009.

• Yesterday the station platforms at Horsted Keynes were cleared of snow to prepare for the operation of trains this coming weekend, but 3" of fresh snow has fallen overnight, and reports today indicate that Horsted Keynes is again virtually inaccessible due to icy road conditions, with problems also on the A22 and A272 in the area. A thaw is apparently expected on Friday - check this web page for updates later in the week.

• On Sunday, four of the Carriage & Wagon department made it in to Horsted Keynes, and David Chappell supplies the photo below showing their contribution to clearing the snow from the platforms...

• Part two of Daniel Green's YouTube video of train services on January 2nd is now available.

• Full details now available for the Victorian Picnic Evenings on 2 & 4 July and 11-12 September. Bookings now being taken.

• Further details confirmed for the 5 weekends of Timetable Recreations from 1963, 1972, 1983 and 1990, which we are staging during the closure of the line north of Horsted Keynes whilst we re-lay the track through the tunnel in late February and March.

• Some new YouTube videos:
  • Sam Brown's video, right, is a compilation of a series of different shots from the last couple of years.
  • Our train services on January 2nd, including the Victorian Train, from Daniel Green.
  • Proposed "YouTube get together" at our 50th anniversary event.

• Dave Clarke's photo shows B473 (Birch Grove) in steam for its formal steam test on 30th December. The planned relaunch (postponed because of the weather) is now 30th January.

• More of Dave Clarke's latest photos of various Carriage & Wagon (and other Bluebell) projects:
  • New gallery showing what we're starting from on the People's Millions-funded overhaul of LCDR/SECR carriage No.51/3360.
  • Matthew Cousins has completed the repairs to and repaint of the SR GBL (Gangway Bogie Luggage van) No.2462, which he uses as an art gallery. It is now located in the dock near the carriage works.
  • GWR 5-plank wagon No.87782 - overhaul has commenced with removal of rotten timber, the needle-gunning of the underframe and replacement of some non-authentic staunchions
  • SECR 100 seater No.1098 has been rewired and is again available for traffic.
  • SR Maunsell brake third No.3687 - veneer panelling being fitted to the internal partitions - 1 - 2 - 3.
  • A joint volunteer gang from PWay and C&W temporarily realigned some track at Kingscote to enable No.39617, the SR Conflat D, to be removed from an isolated track panel, and is hopefully the next wagon in line for overhaul.
  • The drilling out the S15's copper firebox stays is continuing - 2nd photo.

• Dave Clarke's photo of LSWR brake 3rd No.1520 taken on 3rd January shows that Paul Welch has finished the lining and sign writing of the east side. It now awaits two or three coats of varnish, some more work to complete the interior, and then final mechanical set-up over the pit. It is hoped to have the carriage finished by the end of March.

• Dave Clarke has also now published his latest photos of various Carriage & Wagon department projects:
  • BR Mk.I TSO No.4941: The lavatories and the northern saloon have been stripped and the asbestos removed by contractors. A grant of £10,000 towards the cost of fitting wheelchair lifts has been received and will help fund the conversion to make 4941 match 5034.
  • LSWR Lavatory Brake Third No.1520 - nearing completion
  • SR (Bulleid) CK No.5768 - work has started on the overhaul.
  • SECR Birdcage brake third No.3363: the roof has now been canvassed and the roof furniture fitted. The coach has been lifted at the brake end and the northern bogie removed for overhaul of the wheelsets and axleboxes.
  • Installation of a substantial re-inforced concrete pad for the overhauled jacks, north of the inspection pit; warmer weather is required before the concrete can be poured. 1 - 2
  • The first class on Mk.I CK No.16210 is part-way through a re-trim using a 1950s first-class moquette.

• Andrew Strongitharm has assembled an album of his "Best photos of 2009".

• In view of the uncertainty about the weather next weekend, it has been decided to put the re-launch of B473 (LBSCR E4 "Birch Grove") back to 30th January. Consequent update to the Loco Roster.

• Trains cancelled this weekend
  Because of the problems staff and passengers would have faced in reaching the Bluebell Railway this weekend, we have taken the decision to cancel all our trains, and close to visitors, on 9-10 January.

• No trains were scheduled to run today; Gary Saunders took these two photos (right looking south, and below, looking north) in the snow today at the West Hoathly foot crossing.

• In view of the likelihood of continued bad weather over the weekend, Saturday's Volunteer Recruitment "Find out more" day has been cancelled, and participants are invited to attend on one of the future dates instead.

• Derek Hayward has a gallery of photos showing the Victorian Train on January 2nd.

• I've just been informed that the current Bluebell Railway exhibition in East Grinstead is at the Chequer Mead Arts Centre rather than at the Library. It runs until 16th January.

• Ashley Smith's photo of 34059 at West Hoathly in the snow last month will be fotopic's front page photo on Friday 8th January 2010

• Update to various Locomotive pages, including the Loco Works News pages, with the start of No.55 Stepney's rapid overhaul, which should see it back in steam for the 50th Anniversary of hauling its first train on the Bluebell in May 1960. Also a new page for P-class No.323 Bluebell's overhaul, and an update on the overhaul of P-class No.178 with thanks to Duncan Bourne.

• John Evans took the photo below of 80151 on Saturday 2nd January. More in his album of photos taken that day.

• The next dates for Photographers' Personal Track Safety training sessions, required to qualify for the new certificate (which acts as a lineside photographic pass) are: Friday 15th January, Saturday 6th February, Saturday 13th March and Sunday 21st March.
  To book a training session please contact the General Office.

• An exhibition, illustrating The Bluebell's operations and the impending extension from Kingscote to East Grinstead, has just opened at [East Grinstead Library] Chequer Mead Arts Centre in East Grinstead. The exhibition also includes material relating to the services this year, and the opportunities for volunteering which help the railway to provide the extensive range of activities on offer.

• Derek Hayward's photo on the right shows the volunteer crew of our Victorian train at Kingscote on Saturday, and the first photo below is also from Derek from Saturday, showing the Victorian train arriving at Kingscote.

• The second photo below (from Martin Lawrence) shows the Dukedog, one of the three locos running on Sunday. Martin has videos on YouTube of all three climbing Freshfield Bank: the Dukedog, the C-class which was hauling the last Pullman service until February, and the Standard tank 80151.

• More photos from yesterday:
  Paul Pettitt's photo on the right shows the morning Victorian Train on its departure from Horsted Keynes;
  Mike Hopps' photo below shows the Dukedog making its entry to Horsted Keynes;
  Martin Lawrence's shows 80151 hauling its train into the distance.

• Paul Pettitt has updated his albums with photos of the Santa Specials in the snow, of Standard 4 No.80151, and of 'Dukedog' No.9017, and his January 2010 Picture of the Month is of S.R. U-class Mogul No.1638 at Nobles Farm with a Santa Special.

• Derek Hayward has put up a new gallery from 1st January, including quite a lot of photos of the locos currently in the works. Derek has also re-organised his photos of our locos, largely creating a separate gallery for each loco, with new galleries for locos: 1618 1638, 178's overhaul, 27505, Baxter, 32424, 488, 541, Stepney's overhaul, 592, Fenchurch, 80064, 80100, 80151, 84030, 92240, Stowe, Normandy, B473's overhaul, D3023 and 13236, WD1959 (30064), plus the Wickham trolleys and the SEG's 4 Cor motor coach.

• Also below is Derek's photo showing that the sidings leading to the Woodpax site are clear, ready for the contractor to move onto the site next week to commence construction. (Note: This area is strictly out of bounds - as official photographer for the project, Derek will keep us up to date with visual progress.)

• Update to the web page for the February 20-21 Branch Line Weekend, with details of the locos expected to be in steam, and a couple more attractions which have been notified to me.

• Photos today from Tony Sullivan showing the Victorian Train at Horsted Keynes, together with the reformed Scrooge and Bob Cratchit who were also there, giving out presents to the children.

• 2010 is the Bluebell Railway's 50th Anniversary year:
  • 50th Anniversary Events
  • All special events in 2010
  • 2010 Timetable
  • Please support our 50th Anniversary Appeal

• Tomorrow (2nd January) we are able to offer passengers with All Line tickets purchased for travel before or on the 2pm train the opportunity to:
  • Visit Mr Scrooge in his office where all children will receive a gift
  • Play the Victorian games (Hoop-la, Splat-a-rat and the shooting gallery)
  Passengers wishing to take advantage of these activities must obtain supplementary tickets, priced at £2.50 per adult and child, available from Sheffield Park & Horsted Keynes Booking Offices or the Sales and Information Office at Sheffield Park.
  Note: Mr Scrooge's office will close at 3pm.
  Visitors wishing to travel on the Victorian Train and receive the refreshment hamper must instead book specifically for the Victorian Train service.

• Mike Hopps noticed that we'd not had any photos from the Remembrance weekend on here, so here to make up for it are his photos of the two poppy-bearing engines from 7th November 2009.

• During December 2009, there were 32,905 unique visitors to this page.

Older updates are in the What's New Archive
or the 2008, the 2007, the 2006, the 2005, the 2004, the 2003, the 2002, the 2001, the 2000, the 1999 and the 1997-8 "What was new" archive pages.

---

Return to Bluebell Home Page, to the Timetable, our Special Events or our Shop
See also Latest News, the Loco Works News, Latest progress on the Extension, and News from the Maunsell Locomotive Society.

---

Visitor Info. - Museum - Trust - Catering - Contacts - What's New - Projects - Locos - Carriages & Wagons - Signals - History - Other - Links - Search - FAQ

---

Why not become a BRPS Member?     -     Get more involved as a Volunteer

Your ideal Film/TV location?

reports the number of unique visitors to this page as since 1 February 2010
During January 2010, there were 64,392 total hits on this page, from 35,397 unique visitors.
During December 2009, there were 32,905 unique visitors to this page.