Christmas is a magical time
at the Bluebell Railway
Make your Christmas extra special by joining us on one or more of our
special trains to suit your family's requirements.
Postal booking opened for our 2008 Santa Specials on 1st July, and telephone bookings (01825 720806) are taken from Monday 6th October 2008.
Booking is also open for the Victorian Christmas trains, and the
Christmas Golden Arrow Pullman Dining Train.
These will run on 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 22, 23 and 24 December.
Our Santa Specials will leave Sheffield Park and head for Kingscote, some 9 miles away. Meandering gently through the delightful Sussex countryside, the journey will take you through the atmospheric Sharpthorne tunnel on the way to Kingscote.
Your return trip with us will last around 90 minutes. At Kingscote, there will be time to see the locomotive move from one end of the train to the other for the return journey to Sheffield Park.
The Bluebell Railway's Santa Specials are very popular, and for this reason we ask you to book in advance. We reserve seats for your journey at the time of booking with the traditional layout of "facing" or "back" to the engine.
Booking is very easy: Telephone us on 01825 720806 with your credit card number for an immediate confirmation of your reservation - further details are included below.
On-line bookings through the Bluebell Shop are also available (for third-class tickets only). First Class or Observation Car tickets can be booked by phone or post - further details are included below.
All our Santa trains (except for the Victorian Christmas specials) start from Sheffield Park Station where we have the Bessemer Arms bar restaurant. Festive and other luncheon menus will be available. Our self service restaurant "Puffers" will also be open, where you can enjoy anything from a cup of tea to a full meal and no reservations are necessary.
OBSERVATION SALOON: Adults £24.00, Child (1-13 years) £12.00
A beautifully restored vehicle built in 1913 with panoramic side and
end windows affording the best possible view of the line (photo, right). A very
popular Christmas choice with traditional carol singing - so book
early!
FIRST CLASS: Adults £20.00, Child (3-13 years) £12.00,
Toddlers (1&2 years old) £5.00 (Seats are not provided
for toddlers)
That extra touch for Christmas with generous seating, some in
six-seat compartments, some in 4 and 2 seat bays adjoining a central
aisle.
THIRD CLASS: Adults £15.00, Child (3-13 years) £8.00,
Toddlers (1&2 years old) £5.00 (Seats are not provided
for toddlers)
More comfortable than the name implies! The pleasantly
upholstered seating is mainly in 4-seat bays either side of a central
aisle. This saloon style enhances the feeling of anticipation as
Father Christmas approaches.
Cheques should be made payable to Bluebell Railway, or if you wish to pay by UK Maestro, Credit or Debit card please add the card number, expiry date and 3 digit security code to the booking form.
Telephone Credit/Debit Card Bookings:
Call 01825 720806 between 10.00am and 4.00pm Mondays to
Fridays, and 11.00am to 3.30pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Quote your Mastercard, UK Maestro, Visa, Delta or Solo card number
for an immediate, confirmed
reservation. Your tickets will be posted to you.
Online:
On-line bookings through the Bluebell Shop are also available, for Third-class seats only.
We will consider refunds on their merits if cancellations are made at least 7 days before the date of travel. Unfortunately refunds cannot be considered after this time (except in emergencies). Requests for refunds must be notified by telephone and immediately confirmed in writing. An administration fee of £10.00 will apply to all refunds.
Obviously every effort will be made to run the trains according to this timetable but unforeseen circumstances may entail alterations or cancellations. Bluebell Railway plc reserves the right to vary any of the provisions contained within this web page without prior notice.
Victorian Christmas - Christmas Golden Arrow Pullman Dining Train
Updated 8 October 2008 by Richard Salmon.