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Latest Updates     -     Earlier updates     -     Latest Project News
Weekly train running information     -     Recent photo reports     -     Archive News

• Laurel Arnison's photo from last Sunday shows the (air braked) B473 and Brighton Belle motor coach "Car No.88" forming a special train for the 5BEL Trust.

• A reminder about the forthcoming concert - Bluebell Serenade - at the Chequer Mead Centre, East Grinstead on 18th September.

  50th Anniversary Appeal Vice President Susan Fleet has coordinated 70 singers, and the CompÈre for the evening is another of our Appeal VPs, Nicholas Owen, the TV newsreader.

  All proceeds will go to emptying the tip. We have sold 200 of the 300 available tickets, so there is still time to get friends and family to attend if they would enjoy a musical evening.

• A total of 1488 tickets were sold at East Grinstead over last weekend as we celebrated the opening of our new station platform. This provided another welcome boost to our fund raising towards the clearing of the rubbish tip that still separates this new section of line from the remainder of the Railway. If you wish to support the project you can still purchase "Tenner for the Tip" certificates, or why not make a donation, under Gift Aid, to our 50th Anniversary Appeal.

• The IMechE website now carries a report and photos of their presentation to us of the Engineering Heritage Award.

• Ashley Smith's video from the first trains in and out of our new East Grinstead platform on Saturday 4th Sept, along with another video showing the four steam trains running on the main part of our line that afternoon.

• Booking details and timings now available for the Hastings Blue Belle excursion train on 6th November.

• Further coverage of the Open Weekend at East Grinstead: (the photo here is from Michael Hopps)
  • Meridian News, from Saturday.
  • Ashley Smith's photos, which also include the Four trains which were running on the Saturday on the main part of our line, with the E4, the C-class, the U and 80151 all in action.
  • Chris Dadson's videos recorded aboard yesterday's East Grinstead shuttle train showing the passing lineside and view from the viaduct: East Grinstead platform to Imberhorne Waste Tip (North) recorded on the west side, and Imberhorne North to East Grinstead on the east side.
  • Derek Hayward's photos of the weekend include the President's inspection at East Grinstead on Sunday.
  • Andrew Strongitharm's photos of the opening day, and a new collection showing the line between East Grinstead and Imberhorne North for which Andrew received special permission to go on the lineside (this section is not covered by our normal Photographers' permits/PTS).
  • Matthew Nightingale's video of the 3.10pm departure on Sunday, and some other photos in his album of "Project East Grinstead".
  • Video compilation of the first trip over the viaduct from Patrick Seale.

• Video of 73208 and 4VEP 3417 working the 5L23 - 12-50 Eastleigh - East Grinstead on Thu 2nd Sep 2010, as it crossed Riddlesdown Viaduct, also from Patrick Seale.

• Updates to the Kingscote track layout, schemetic map of our line, and the location map, taking into account the recent opening of the sections of line between Kingscote and Imberhorne South, and between East Grinstead and Imberhorne North.

• We now have a positive identification of the SER carriage body recovered from Pagham last week. It was one of the pair of saloons built in 1898, No.172 which was renumbered as Southern Railway No.7874 in June 1926.

• Congratulations to the Isle of Wight Railway for winning the 'Heritage' category in the National Lottery Good Causes Awards on Saturday night. The prize will be used to complete the restoration of 107 year-old LBSCR carriage No.2403, which is being adapted for the use of wheelchair-borne passengers.

• More photos from the East Grinstead weekend:
  • Above, from Sunday: Our President and VPs conduct an inspection at East Grinstead - Tony Sullivan; BRPS President, Bernard Holden MBE, with Tim Baker, Bill Brophy, Sam Bee and Roy Watts - Derek Hayward; and from Saturday: After the inaugural train had returned to East Grinstead - Colin Duff.
  • Below, also from Saturday: Southern end of the platform and station throat trackwork - Colin Duff; Our Chaplain and Assistant Chaplain blessing the new platform - Derek Hayward; 73208 and the VEP on the viaduct - Michael Hopps

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

• East Grinstead Extension: Report and photos of recent work on the extension and the new fence for East Grinstead platform - 26 and 16 August 2010
• The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) - Bluebell Railway honoured with Heritage Award - downloadable as PDF - 20 August 2010
• Operation Undercover - Photos from Derek Hayward - August 2010
• Loco Works News: Newsletters from the Standard Class 2 project, the overhaul of SECR P-class No.323 Bluebell, the Brighton Atlantic project, the completion of No.55 Stepney's overhaul, the return to service of SECR P-class loco No.178, a report on the work on No.73082 'Camelot', an update from the Maunsell Locomotive Society, progress with "Baxter", the return to service of LBSCR E4 No.B473, and of SECR H-class No.263 - 26, 13 July, 28 June, 17 May, 1 May, 6 April, 28 &15 March, 30 January 2010
• Press Release - BRPS granted The Queen's Award for Voluntary Service - 2 June 2010
• The latest news of the Horsted Keynes Re-signalling. Last update 19 April 2010
• Report of the relaying of the track through the tunnel in February and March 2010.
• Carriage & Wagon Works News - Updates on the overhaul of the LSWR Brake 1520, SECR Birdcage coach, 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 - 5 March, 19 February 2010, 31 and 20 December 2009
• Progress report on work on the LCDR carriage project being funded through The People's Millions - 7 February 2010
• Archive news from the Bluebell

Take a tour of this web site

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Latest photographic and video reports:

• Open Weekend at East Grinstead:4-5 September 2010
  • Richard Salmon's video showing the breaking of the banner.
  • Robert Philpot's video taken on board the first trip.
  • Meridian News, from Saturday.
  • Ashley Smith's photos, which also include the Four trains which were running on the Saturday on the main part of our line.
  • Chris Dadson's videos recorded aboard yesterday's East Grinstead shuttle train showing the passing lineside and view from the viaduct: East Grinstead platform to Imberhorne Waste Tip (North) recorded on the west side, and Imberhorne North to East Grinstead on the east side.
  • Derek Hayward's photos of the weekend include the President's inspection at East Grinstead on Sunday.
  • Andrew Strongitharm's photos of the opening day, and a new collection showing the line between East Grinstead and Imberhorne North for which Andrew received special permission to go on the lineside (this section is not covered by our normal Photographers' permits/PTS).
  • Matthew Nightingale's video of the 3.10pm departure on Sunday, and some other photos in his album of "Project East Grinstead".
  • Video compilation of the first trip over the viaduct from Patrick Seale.
• Video of 73208 and 4VEP 3417 working the 5L23 - 12-50 Eastleigh - East Grinstead, as it crossed Riddlesdown Viaduct, from Patrick Seale - 2 September 2010
• Andrew Strongitharm's photos show 73208 "Kirsten" arriving at East Grinstead with our VEP unit - 2 September 2010
• Dave Clarke has photos of the SER Saloon carriage body being recovered from Pagham - 30 August 2010
• John Sandys' album featuring the new lamps at East Grinstead, along with 2 short videos (first and second) of work in progress at the Station Site - 26 August 2010
• Derek Hayward album covering the current state of progress at East Grinstead, during the offical visit of the local Mayors to the site - 22 August 2010
• Photos from the Vintage weekend, including official photos of the prize-winning cars and other vintage vehicles, available from Derek Hayward - 21-22 August 2010
• Neal Ball's photos of the Rail Ale train - 20 August 2010
• New page detailing the work on the new platform fence being done at Kingscote (preparations) and East Grinstead (installation) - 16 August 2010
• Photos from Derek Hayward on the HLF-funded buildings project at Sheffield Park, and Sussex Food Festival at Horsted Keynes - 15 August 2010
• John Sandys has a photo gallery and short video showing further progress at East Grinstead - 15 August 2010
• Photo Charter with FR 20 and the LBSCR and LCDR 4-wheel carriages: Andrew Strongitharm, Dave Bowles - 12 August 2010
• 50th Anniversary Gala - 6-8 August 2010:
  • Derek Hayward;
  • Daniel Hill - of Gala and Cavalcade;
  • Keith Duke - Friday and Saturday;
  • Andrew Strongitharm - Gala and The journey up to Imberhorne;
  • Stephen Hunt;
  • Neil Munro-Thomson; and
  • Keith Leppard.
  • Meridian West;
  • Dan Hamblin;
  • Dave Bowles;
  • Ken Upton;
  • Matthew Nightingale: Photos, and Videos from Saturday, from Sunday, plus the Cavalcade;
  • Michelle Scoates: Video 1 and Video 2
  • Video from Aidan Grant of 80151 departing from Kingscote
  • Further photos from Dan Hill: Saturday and Sunday
  • Ashley Smith has some photos from the weekend on his gallery, and Rebecca Parkes has a photoset on Flikr, including the second one below, showing the U-class leaving Sharpthorne tunnel.
  • 34027 Videos: Part 1 and Part 2;
  • 21C123's Videos: Part 1 and Part 2;
  • theonlyadsrulz productions: Part 1 and Part 2;
  • JBTEvans;
  • Chris Ward;
  • billhook72: Part 1 and Part 2;
  • JoeS231989: 34059 departs northwards from Horsted Keynes, The SECR locos arrive at Kingscote with the Vintage train, FR 20 arrives at Kingscote from the north, 80151 arrives at Horsted Keynes, B473 runs round at Kingscote, FR 20 again, U-class leaves Sheffield Park with the GN saloon leading the Vintage set, Baxter at Horsted, SECR Locos with the recently restored Bulleid brake coach leading the train, Blue Circle giving brake van rides, Three LBSCR locos with the SR carriages, 2 Terriers and 2 Brighton Belle Cars, The SECR C and P locos lead the newly restored LSWR carriage and the Victorian carriages, Baxter shunts wagons, All 10 vehicles in this train are 100 years old or over, Baxter and goods train, 15-inch gauge loco Typhoon, Typhoon again, Blue Circle, Locos run back through the station after the individual cavalcades, The cavalcade, from the Paddock field, Cavalcade reverses through the station, Blue Circle, Baxter and No.957 play their part in the cavalcade and The funal pass of the cavalcade through the station;
  • Rebecca Parkes has two videos of the cavalcade - running forward and back;
  • Ruth Hayllar: The small locos after their cavalcade.
  • Ashley Smith's videos - Part 1 and Part 2
  • Coverage in the local press
  • Photos from Linda Chen
  • Videos from Robert Philpot featuring FR No.20 hauling the Observation Car on the first day of the Gala - Horsted Keynes to the Tunnel, and from the Tunnel to Kingscote. David Haggar
  • Owen Hayward
  • Chris Ward: Saturday and Sunday
  • A sequence of videos from Paul Hicks, including footage of the smaller engines in the cavalcade: the Howard loco, Baxter, and Blue Circle.
• Web page on the Bluebell Museum web site for the 50th Anniversary.
• YouTube video of superb cine footage from the Bluebell early days, featuring Stepney, Primrose, Bluebell, the Adams Tank and the Mets, plus the BR electric trains at Horsted Keynes.
• Derek Hayward has been allowed access to the Northern Extension trackbed through to East Grinstead to enable us all to see up-to-date photos of progress - 5 August 2010
• Roger Haggar's 1960s photos.
• Progress with the roofing of the new carriage shed at Sheffield Park from Derek Hayward, including some taken with permission from on the roof, and also an update on the work being done in the Loco Works on No.323 Bluebell, and on preparations for the 50th Anniversary Gala - 28 July 2010
• The Bluebell Railway Museum's web site has a new 50th Anniversary gallery of photos of important Bluebell events, and other interesting shots from the last 50 years.
• John Kortland enjoyed a day at Horsted Keynes, and his gallery of photos reflects that, and the preparations in hand for the 50th Anniversary Gala - 28 July 2010
• Derek Hayward has an album showing preparations for the 50th Anniversary - 26 July 2010
• 34059 returns to action: from the Bulleid Society, Dave Bowles - 25 July 2010
• Collectors' Fair photos from Derek Hayward - 25 July 2010
• Martin Lawrence's photo gallery and Video show "Blackmoor Vale" being hauled up to Horsted Keynes - 24 July 2010
• John Sandys has some photos and a video showing work in progress laying the coping stones on the platform at East Grinstead - 22 July 2010
• The Signal Box from Withyham, now erected on its new brick base, is featured in detail on the Museum's web site - 21 July 2010
• Derek Hayward has updates available showing the completion of the structure of the carriage storage shed and museum at Sheffield Park, complete with the installation of the signal box which will be part of the exhibition, and more photos showing progress with the overhaul of 323 "Bluebell" - 19 July 2010
• Dave Clarke has updates on other Carriage restoration projects: LCDR 3360 (the People's Millions coach), SECR Birdcage Brake 3363, and some more of the same coach here, SR Bulleid Composite 5768, plus maintenance work on Pullman Car 64 and a repaint for Mk1 RMB 1838 - 19 July 2010

What's been updated on the Bluebell Web Site?

Most recent updates: See top of this page

• The Open Weekend at East Grinstead kicked off this morning as seen in the photo, with the Class 73 electro-diesel and our Southern Region 4VEP electric unit carrying the first fare-paying passengers over the viaduct and down to Imberhorne North. The first two trains were well filled, so an extra train was put on at 11.40am.

• A video showing the breaking of the banner.
• Robert Philpot has a video taken on board the first trip.

• For the remainder of the weekend, trains will depart East Grinstead every hour from 10.10am until 5.10pm. In addition, our normal Service 1 steam-hauled timetable is in operation on the main section of the line between Kingscote and Sheffield Park.

• More information about the Open Weekend at East Grinstead tomorrow and Sunday:

  We are pleased to announce the opening of our new station platform at East Grinstead and the commencement of train services for about a third of a mile over the ten arch Hill Place Viaduct to Imberhorne North at the East Grinstead end of the in-filled Imberhorne Cutting.

  Trains (formed of a Class 73 electro-diesel and our Southern Region 4VEP electric unit) will depart East Grinstead every hour from 10.10am until 5.10pm. In addition to our normal Service 1 steam-hauled timetable on the main section of the line, an extra train will run on the Saturday from Sheffield Park at 9.00am, Horsted Keynes at 9.17 to Kingscote with a connecting bus at 9.40, arriving at East Grinstead Bus Station at 9.55. East Grinstead station is open from 9am each day. The first train from East Grinstead on the Saturday, being the first Bluebell Railway service south from there, commands a premium fare, but travel is otherwise unlimited on the remaining trains all weekend. Limited first-class accommodation is available on payment of a £1 supplement per trip. More information, and details of travel and platform ticket prices. All funds raised will be used towards the costs of completing the extension. Please note that car parking is only available in the town and Southern Trains station car park.

  The opening ceremony takes place at 10.45am on Saturday. Bluebell Railway Chaplain, Father John Twisleton, and Canon Clive Everett-Allen, Assistant Chaplain and Vicar of St Swithuns, East Grinstead will be invited to bless the new station, and the train will break a ceremonial banner. Our President Bernard Holden MBE, together with our Vice Presidents, will be inspecting the new works on Sunday afternoon.

• Another of Andrew Strongitharm's photos taken yesterday shows the class 73 and the 4VEP in our platform.

• The extension project and the platform opening is covered in Rail News.

• In preparation for the shuttle service over the viaduct as part of this weekend's Open Days at East Grinstead, our VEP has returned from storage at Eastleigh, behind 73208 "Kirsten"; our thanks indeed to Bruce Knights for looking after it under cover for us for the last 18 months. Andrew Strongitharm's photo (more photos available in his gallery) shows it arriving this afternoon, behind our platform just before it crossed onto Bluebell metals (where it became the first movement signalled onto the Bluebell by our new ground/shunt signal which has been commissioned this week). The photo also shows the new platform, which was surfaced yesterday.

• A sequence of videos is available from Paul Hicks, covering the Sunday of the 50th Anniversary Gala, including footage of the smaller engines in the cavalcade: the Howard loco, Baxter, and Blue Circle.

• Over the bank holiday weekend, a team from the Carriage & Wagon Department, coordinated and led by Tony Clements, and comprising Dave Clarke, Paul Hailes, Robert MacMillan, Tom Simcock, David Chappell, Deborah & Richard Salmon, Ed Owen and Tony Silcock, released a 19th century SER first-class saloon from the bungalow in Pagham of which it had been a part since the 1930s, and which was kindly donated by the owners who were redeveloping the site to the Bluebell Trust. Thanks are also due to the Trust for funding the transport; it arrived at the Railway on Tuesday 31st August.

  The coach is 33 feet long, and would have been a 6-wheeler. Positive identification is awaited, but it appears to be one of four saloons, two constructed in 1893 and two in 1898, each comprising a first-class saloon and a first-class compartment, with a toilet at one end, and a servants' compartment (a coupe in ours) at the other. The servants' compartment was later converted to a luggage space, and finally (as evidenced by the end windows) a guard's brake.

  This carriage provides us with the first class accommodation for our eventual SECR train to run with the P-class locomotives, for which we already have four vehicles of LCDR origin, restored brake No.114, semi-saloon conversion No.3360, currently under restoration, plus brake third No.48 and full third No.668 which await restoration.

  Dave Clarke's photos show the SER coach at Pagham, on the left the exterior before the external bathroom was detatched, and the rendering removed, and below, the interior of the saloon, looking towards the compartment (the original internal doors are still in place). David Chappell's two photos show the carriage after arrival at Horsted Keynes. The missing end structure at the toilet end had been removed to make a longer room in the bungalow, but had been incorporated into the structure of the bungalow, so has been recovered for re-use in the eventual restoration. A tarpaulin is on order, and the body will be lifted onto an underframe later in the year.

  Dave Clarke has more photos of the coach in his album.

• This photo from Peter Austin shows 'Sir Archibald Sinclair' at the head of the Nine Elms Enginemens reunion train on 11th August. Regrettably this loco has again succumbed to firebox problems, although with the replacement section already to hand there is not expected to be anything to prevent to loco appearing at 'Giants of Steam'.

• Photos from the 50th Anniversary Gala from Chris Ward: Saturday and Sunday.

• Thanks to Michael Hopps, we have another update on the extension progress at East Grinstead; a slightly delayed report, but interesting to see the process of creating the new station platform features.

• More recently, Derek Hayward has been able to update his album covering the current state of progress at East Grinstead, during the offical visit of the local Mayors to the site on Sunday.

• John Sandys has provided the photo below, taken today, as part of an album featuring the new lamps at East Grinstead, along with 2 short videos (first and second) of work in progress at the Station Site.
  The new lamps, the provision of which has been organised by Les Haines and paid for by the Bluebell Railway Trust, are a mixture of salvaged and newly cast LBSCR-pattern columns, fitted with new SR-pattern swan-necks and original SR shades. Extra columns were also cast for planned use at Sheffield Park.

• Two more photos below from Derek Hayward, representatives of the East Sussex MG Club attending the Vintage Transport weekend show on 22 August, and on the same day, the P-class No.178 giving brake van rides at Horsted Keynes.

• Tony Sullivan's photo below shows the re-erected ex-Isfield LBSCR waiting room at Sheffield Park, this morning. As part of the re-organised facilities on Platform 2 it will form the new Bulleid Society shop.

• David Haggar's photo shows part of the nameplate display the 50th Anniversary gala, including the rare 75G shed plate from the short-lived Eastbourne Shed (which was downgraded to a sub-shed of Brighton in 1954).

• The last photo for today was taken by Neal Ball last Friday and shows the C-class at Horsted Keynes with the evening's sell-out Rail Ale train. See also Neal's album from the evening.

• The photo from David Jones shows Sunday's presentation, by Keith Millard to BRPS Chairman Roy Watts, of The Institution of Mechanical Engineers' Engineering Heritage Award.

• Photos from the Vintage weekend, including official photos of the prize-winning cars and other vintage vehicles, available from Derek Hayward.

• We currently have 48 Railway Books for sale through Amazon in aid of our Northern Extension Project. Some of them came from Bill Howe, who was a Station Master at Horsted Keynes in BR days and is now approaching his 100th birthday.

• A reminder that on Friday 10 September, as just one of three separate special trains running that evening, we have Beer, Brass & Steam! - a late Summer's evening on the Bluebell Railway with the Petworth Town Band.

• The day before, Thursday 9 September we host An evening with the Yetties for the final time. Advance booking discount on tickets purchased by 31 August.

• The Bulleid Society is hoping that someone might have a photo taken at Horsted Keynes over the last couple of weeks which they could have use of, showing their three locos (Normandy, Blackmore Vale and Sir Archibald Sinclair) together in the same shot. If you can help, please contact John Fry or Richard Green, via their web site.

• More 50th Anniversary Gala photos, from David Haggar and Owen Hayward

• Derek Hayward has an update on the HLF-funded carriage shed at Sheffield Park, where the second half of the floor has now been laid.

• Apologies that this web site has been unavailable for the last day; it appears to have been a problem with the name-server directing traffic to us, since the server on which the site is hosted was fine.

• More photos from Derek Hayward from the Vintage Transport Weekend:
  • Above: Traction Engines, Vintage cars, and a Works Rally Car;
  • Below: Surrey branch of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club, 1910-built motorcycle OA 729, and an Austin Swallow.

• Press release from The Institution of Mechanical Engineers (IMechE) - Bluebell Railway honoured with Heritage Award - downloadable as PDF.
  The Institution of Mechanical Engineers will present the Bluebell Railway and its volunteers with an Engineering Heritage Award (EHA) on Sunday 22nd August at Sheffield Park Station. IMechE Heritage Awards are granted to artefacts, sites, landmarks or groups that are either one of a kind and/or of significant engineering importance. Immediate past President of IMechE, Keith Millard, said: "Some of these items are the only existing examples. It is truly the dedication of the Society, its volunteers and the work they have all done that has made Bluebell undoubtedly one of the most famous heritage lines in the UK."
  The presentation ceremony will take place from 11am at Sheffield Park Station.

• The photo from Tony Sullivan shows the arrival of the 1.55 departure from Kingscote today at Sheffield Park, behind BR 4MT loco No.80151.

• Three more YouTube videos of interest: The Bluebell Railway Band playing "Sussex by the sea", the sequence filmed on the Bluebell in 1972 from Adolf Hitler - My Part in his Downfall, and the Sheena Easton video of "9 to 5".

• Another change to the planned loco roster. In addition, No.178 will be giving brake van rides at Horsted Keynes this weekend (the Vintage Transport Weekend), and the Victorian train (Metropolitan Railway carraiges and the two 4-wheelers) are in use every day at present, and at least for the next week as well.

• The Railway will have a display stand at the Edenbridge and Oxted Show on Sunday 29th and Bank Holiday Monday 30th August 2010.
  A small display of carriage restoration carpentry/joinery work will be part of an Arts and Crafts Exhibition on Saturday 18th September as part of the 150th Anniversary celebrations at St Mark's Church, Alma Road, Reigate.

• Filling in the gaps in the coverage of the 50th Anniversary event - on the right is the SECR P-class 178, back in passenger service after some attention to its vacuum ejector feed, seen during the cavalcade, with part of the display of out-of-service locos in the background.

• Reminder that this coming weekend is Vintage Transport Weekend: Vintage cars and motorcycles, traction engines and trains combine to make a weekend of transport nostalgia.

• One way for BRPS members to help with the forthcoming excavation of more of the tip is through the Society's Share Purchase Scheme - if you set up a standing order or make a lump-sum payment, you can purchase enough shares in the Railway by the end of this year to qualify for next year's shareholder benefits.

• Preliminary details now available for the Hastings Blue Belle excursion train on Saturday 6 November.

• Further update to the loco roster from Lewis Nodes.

• More of Derek Hayward's photos from Sunday, which was also the Sussex Food Festival at Horsted Keynes, including below, the Bluebell Railway Band and a couple of the stalls (High Weald Dairy from Tremains Farm, Horsted Keynes, and Cooks-Field Bakes) - more on Derek's photo site.
• Also three more from the 50th Anniversary weekend, my own photo of the Howard petrol loco, in service for the first time since 1969, at the cavalcade on 8th August, and two more from Derek: a vintage RF bus which provided tours of the Northern Extension route, including passing beneath the Viaduct, and the double-heading of the P & C-classes with the 8 vintage coaches, approaching Kingscote.

• Photos from Derek Hayward taken yesterday. On the right, Baxter, commemorating the 50th Anniversary of its arrival at Sheffield Park, with a goods train to Kingscote. Below, a visitor to Kingscote - one of several responsible for picking many of the vegetables grown in the station garden! The other three photos show the other locos and trains running yesterday.

• New page detailing the work on the new platform fence being done at Kingscote (preparations) and East Grinstead (installation).

• Videos from Robert Philpot featuring FR No.20 hauling the Observation Car on the first day of the 50th Anniversary Gala - Horsted Keynes to the Tunnel, and from the Tunnel to Kingscote.

• Photo from John Goss on the right. Also Dave Bowles has a gallery of photos; both from the charter with Furness Railway No.20 last Thursday morning.

• Update to the Extension News page, with reports of recent progress at East Grinstead from Nigel Longdon.

• Updated photos from Derek Hayward on the HLF-funded buildings project at Sheffield Park

• John Sandys has a photo gallery and short video showing further progress at East Grinstead.

• The GWR 'Dukedog' loco has now returned to Sheffield Park (it was one of the locos on display at Horsted Keynes over the 50th Anniversary Weekend), for the replacement of its boiler tubes, so should be back in steam this autumn.

• Update to the loco roster.

• More from the 50th Anniversary Gala:
  • Ashley Smith's videos - Part 1 and Part 2
  • Coverage in the local press
  • Photos from Linda Chen

• Withyham Signalbox, recently installed as part of the future Museum display at Sheffield Park, features on the Southern e-mail group's web site.

• Photos below: from Mark Tewkesbury showing the two oldest locos at our Gala, 1872-built "Terrier" No.672, and 1863-built FR No.20; and from Charlie Rose, showing the moment on 7th August when Chris Campbell (one of the original four founding students) broke a bottle of Bluebell Anniversary Ale on Stepney during the recreation of the Bluebell's first public train, exactly 50 years on.

• Andrew Strongitharm has a new album from this morning's Jon Bowers Photo Charter with FR 20 and the LBSCR and LCDR 4-wheel carriages, including that on the right.

• Some really good YouTube videos of the 50th Anniversary Gala are now available:
  • 34027 Videos: Part 1 and Part 2;
  • 21C123's Videos: Part 1 and Part 2;
  • theonlyadsrulz productions: Part 1 and Part 2;
  • JBTEvans;
  • Chris Ward;
  • billhook72: Part 1 and Part 2;
  • JoeS231989: 34059 departs northwards from Horsted Keynes, The SECR locos arrive at Kingscote with the Vintage train, FR 20 arrives at Kingscote from the north, 80151 arrives at Horsted Keynes, B473 runs round at Kingscote, FR 20 again, U-class leaves Sheffield Park with the GN saloon leading the Vintage set, Baxter at Horsted, SECR Locos with the recently restored Bulleid brake coach leading the train, Blue Circle giving brake van rides, Three LBSCR locos with the SR carriages, 2 Terriers and 2 Brighton Belle Cars, The SECR C and P locos lead the newly restored LSWR carriage and the Victorian carriages, Baxter shunts wagons, All 10 vehicles in this train are 100 years old or over, Baxter and goods train, 15-inch gauge loco Typhoon, Typhoon again, Blue Circle, Locos run back through the station after the individual cavalcades, The cavalcade, from the Paddock field, Cavalcade reverses through the station, Blue Circle, Baxter and No.957 play their part in the cavalcade and The funal pass of the cavalcade through the station;
  • Rebecca Parkes has two videos of the cavalcade - running forward and back;
  • Ruth Hayllar: The small locos after their cavalcade.

• Tickets are now on sale for the first train southwards out of East Grinstead! On 4th September we will be opeining our new platform, and the very first train (formed of our 4-VEP unit No.3417 "Gordon Pettitt" and a class 73 loco) will command a premium fare. Trains will then run hourly on both 4th and 5th September, southwards from East Grinstead, across the viaduct, to the buffer stops at Imberhorne North.

• The photos taken today, from Tony Sullivan, show No 592 running into Horsted Keynes with the 12 noon Sheffield Park to KIngscote service(right), and Furness Railway No.20 stands at Horsted Keynes before returning to Sheffield Park with this morning's Furness Land Cruise Special (below). Because seats remained available, this working was thrown open to any of our visitors who wished to travel on it.

• Dave Chambers' photo below shows the first pour of concrete into the floor of the new carriage running shed at Sheffield Park, which took place on Monday this week.

• More photos from last weekend's 50th Anniversary Gala, below: Ed Owen's photo shows the evening special train on Saturday at the northern limit of the line, with the south face of Imberhorne tip looming on the other side of the bridge. Ashley Smith has some photos from the weekend on his gallery, and Rebecca Parkes has a photoset on Flikr, including the second one below, showing the U-class leaving Sharpthorne tunnel.

• Thank you to everyone who has sent photos, and links to photo galleries, videos, and media coverage from the 50th Anniversary Gala. I'm dealing with the photos as I get time, and the following links are now available from:
  • Meridian West;
  • Dan Hamblin;
  • Dave Bowles;
  • Ken Upton;
  • Matthew Nightingale: Photos, and Videos from Saturday, from Sunday, plus the Cavalcade;
  • Michelle Scoates: Video 1 and Video 2
  • Video from Aidan Grant of 80151 departing from Kingscote
  • Further photos from Dan Hill: Saturday and Sunday

• The first photo above is from Clive Emsley, and shows our first driver, Jack Owen on the footplate with Micky Blackburn, talking to Keith Sturt and Ted Oades on the platform at Sheffield Park on Sunday afternoon.
  The second is a portrait by Alan Bedford of "Captain Baxter" at Horsted Keynes, in light rain on the Saturday afternoon.
  The third shows Blue Circle at Horsted Keynes on the Friday (from Derek Hayward)

• Updates to the Operational Locos, the Locos under Overhaul pages, and the Loco Stock List, recording the entry into service last week of "Captain Baxter" and Howard No.957.

• We would like to remind you about the Football competition, entries to which need to be in by mid-day on Saturday. You do not need to know anything about football to enter! Funds raised are to be used for the restoration of our SR Maunsell Restaurant car, No.7864.

• The first photo below shows the 15-inch gauge "Typhoon" visiting from the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway (Derek Hayward) and then two photos from John Fry show the re-wheeling of the SECR H-class No.263 which took place last Monday.

• Having spent three glorious days down at the railway, please forgive the length of time it will take for the photos many of you have sent from the 50th Anniversary Gala to appear here. The most appropriate one to start with is of the official ceremony yesterday (Saturday) featuring our President, Bernard Holden MBE, (with Chairman Roy Watts amongst others in the background) at the official ceremony at Sheffield Park to mark the event. The photo is by Derek Hayward.

• Photo galleries from the Gala are now available from:
  • Derek Hayward;
  • Daniel Hill - of Gala and Cavalcade;
  • Keith Duke - Friday and Saturday;
  • Andrew Strongitharm - Gala and The journey up to Imberhorne;
  • Stephen Hunt;
  • Neil Munro-Thomson; and
  • Keith Leppard.

• A final update before the 50th Anniversary Gala kicks off tomorrow... Tony Sullivan's photo on the right shows Furness Railway No.20 in steam, at Horsted Keynes today.

• There's a new web page on the Bluebell Museum web site for the 50th Anniversary, featuring amongst other things, the nameplate display at Horsted Keynes, seen in the photo below from Tony Hillman.

• We are now just 2.5% behind the leaders in the HRA/Steam Railway readers' awards which closes at 23.59 tonight, so looks as though we're unlikely to top the poll, but will have secured our place in the final, thanks to the support of many readers of this page, on our e-mail discussion list, on facebook and twitter.

• Barry Coward has posted a YouTube video of superb cine footage from the Bluebell early days, featuring Stepney, Primrose, Bluebell, the Adams Tank and the Mets, plus the BR electric trains at Horsted Keynes, a still from it being shown below.

• The final photo below, from Tony Sullivan, shows E4 No.B473 arriving at Horsted Keynes with the 1pm train from Kingscote today.

• Derek Hayward has been allowed access to the Northern Extension trackbed through to East Grinstead to enable us all to see up-to-date photos of progress, and they are now available.

• In preparation for its formal return to service tomorrow, "Captain Baxter" moved under its own power up to Horsted Keynes yesterday, where it is seen in Andy Prime's photo.

• Also making its debut will be No.957, the Railway's 1927-built petrol-mechanical rail tractor.

• Further to what is advertised on the main web page for the 50th Anniversary Gala, we also have:
  • Free Guided Tours of the Carriage Works: Friday at 12.45, 1.20, 1.55, 2.30
    Saturday at 12.25, 1.00, 1.35, 2.28
    Sunday at 12.35, 1.10, 1.45, 2.25
  • Guided tours around the carriages stored in the back sidings will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings, starting at 5.30pm from outside the carriage works at Horsted Keynes. For these (as was the case a decade ago, last time we organised such tours) there will be a requested minimum donation of £5 a head, towards the Maunsell Restaurant Car fund. Stout footware is advised.

• Visitors and staff should note that Selsfield Road (between Turners Hill and Sharpthorne) is currently closed at West Hoathly. Details on the Hoathly Hub.

• We are now in second place in the HRA/Steam Railway readers' awards which closes tonight, just 4% behind the leaders. Many thanks to everyone who has supported us. The top three go through to the final, so barring a major surge, it's looking good.

• First train north of Kingscote - The first passenger train north of Kingscote, to Imberhorne South, ran yesterday evening behind "Sir Archibald Sinclair". The 50th Anniversary Pullman special was well filled, at £130 a head. Andrew Strongitharm's two photos below show it leaving Kingscote, and arriving at Imberhorne Lane. B473 tailed the train, to return it to Kingscote, reminiscent of the way Bluebell trains were operated 50 years ago. (If the photos appear a little dark, please remember that this train did leave Kingscote at about 8.30pm last night!)

• More preparations for the 50th Anniversary Gala which starts on Friday. Michelle Barton's photo on the right shows Furness Railway 20 on shed at Sheffield Park yesterday. Timetables for the event are also available.

• The Bulleid Society web site has been updated with 34059 with its new golden arrows on the deflectors, as also seen in John Fry's photo below.

• A Funding update from Roger Kelly added to the BRPS Members' Notices page.

• Whilst in retrospective mood in preparation for this weekend's 50th Anniversary Gala, here is Roger Haggar's photo taken on 15 September 1963, showing the arrival of Caledonian Single No.123 (with LSWR T9 No.120) at Horsted Keynes on a railtour. More of Roger's 1960s photos are now available via this link.

• Roy Watts has written this message to Bluebell Members in the run up to the 50th Anniversary Gala.

• Don't forget that anyone (whether or not they know anything about football) can enter our fund-raising Football Competition.

• Preparations for our 50th Anniversary Gala on August 6-8 include the levelling and packing of the 15-inch gauge line which has been laid in the yard at Horsted Keynes, as seen in Jon Bowers photo above.

• Many thanks to all who have already voted for us in the HRA/Steam Railway readers' awards, lifting us to second place at present.

• The second photo above shows progress with the roofing of the new carriage shed at Sheffield Park as of last Wednesday. Derek Hayward has more photos, including some taken with permission from on the roof, and also an update on the work being done in the Loco Works on No.323 Bluebell, and on preparations for the 50th Anniversary Gala (including 80100 uncovered, the North London Tank painted, and the Howard Petrol Loco No.957).

• During July there were 77,820 total hits on this page, from 42,585 unique visitors.

Older updates are in the What's New Archive
or the 2009, 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.

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