The Bluebell Railway...

Across the preservation world I think we can all agree that the grandfather of standard gauge railways is undoubtedly the Bluebell Railway in West Sussex. Throughout my time in this hobby we've visited several lines of various gauges but the Bluebell has always remained on the top of the hit list. At last, today, we made our first visit to this preservation pioneer. Reopened in 1960, the line now operates for 11 miles between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead, passing through Horsted Keynes and Kingscote on route. Thanks to its early beginnings, the railway has an arguably unsurpassed collection of locomotives and carriages which were my main reason for visiting. We'd booked to travel on this evenings 'Golden Arrow' dining service at 19:30, but decided to take a daylight round trip too to see the railway in its entirety. After a horrible drive down through pouring rain, we arrived at the picturesque station of Sheffield Park at around 11:45, in plenty of time for the next departure at 12:15...

It turned out that our 'Golden Arrow' tickets also allowed free travel on the daytime services which was a nice surprise. As we wandered onto the platform the recently arrived train from East Grinstead was just unloading. Up at the front (or now the rear) was No847: a 1936-built S15 4-6-0. The S15's eventually numbered 45 engines, built between 1920 and 1936. 847 is a Southern-built example and is the youngest of the seven in preservation. What a nice old engine...

Whilst we watched, 847 moved around the train to reach the water tower. The road was already given in readiness to run round onto the waiting stock for the 12:15...

Having purchased a snack from the station buffet, we boarded a wonderful pre-grouping coach right behind the locomotive. No1098 is a 'Hundred Seater' coach built for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway in 1922. The amount of time and effort that must have gone into restoring this one coach alone was very impressive. The whole rake was immaculate and they all had interesting pedigrees. We had a compartment to ourselves on this non-corridor coach which was most pleasant. Right on time, at 12:15, the S15 summoned her strength to depart Sheffield Park...

The ride was a steady amble through the sodden fields of Sussex, passing small farms and quiet hamlets. The S15 was certainly in good voice as she climbed Freshfield Bank towards Horsted Keynes with her vintage coaches in tow...

At the beautiful station of Horsted Keynes there was a short break whilst 847 awaited a path towards Kingscote: the next down train hauled by the BR Standard 5 "Camelot" was running 5-minutes late. This gave a chance to photograph the engine...

I love how chunky everything is on LSWR designs: they're built like tanks! Robert Urie was the designer of the S15, with the class receiving modifications under his successor Richard Maunsell. Maunsell reduced the cylinder size by 1/2 an inch to 20.5" and upped the boiler pressure from 180psi to 200psi. He also gave them outside steam pipes which improved steam flow to the cylinders. With the success of his modifications, the S15's became better performers and 847 herself is part of the third batch. Predominantly a freight engine, they became known as "Goods Arthur's", thanks to their similarity to the N15 Class. I think they're lovely things...

I particularly like the lined out Southern livery applied to 847... 

Eventually a BR chime whistle was heard on the breeze and the large tender of "Camelot" was spotted through the drizzle, approaching the station. I jumped back into our coach before, following the exchange of single line tokens, 847's ejector roared into life and the Guard gave the "Right Away" for Kingscote and East Grinstead. The S15 lumbered on through the rain, gently thumping the train showing off her freight engine characteristics. It was lovely to listen to her thumping up the hills. The rain was pouring as we arrived at the terminus station of East Grinstead, opened to services in 2013. The Bluebell had to dig through mountains of spoil to get there, thanks to the trackbed being used as landfill following its BR closure. Fair play to them: a fantastic effort. The new station rests alongside the Network Rail equivalent. 847 ran round here in the rain as many umbrella-wielding passengers ran for the cover of the coaches...

From East Grinstead, 847 took us steadily back through the rain to Horsted Keynes via Kingscote. I wish we'd have had more time today. It would have been nice to get off and explore this fabulous station. What a beautiful set-up it looks. Here we awaited "Camelot" once again for a path to return to Sheffield Park...

A sodden "Camelot" soon rolled in before we departed...

One thing that surprised me about the Bluebell was the sheer number of locomotives sitting outside with no cover. At Horsted there were a U-Class mogul, a West Country class pacific and the unique North London Railway tank (of Cromford & High Peak Railway fame) all rusting silently in the Autumn rain. It was really sad to see. Back at Sheffield Park there was a Standard 4MT tank and little Terrier "Fenchurch". I hope one day they can get some covered storage for all of their engines, although judging by the massive size of the collection it may be difficult...

We wandered across the footbridge to see 847 couple up to the next departure and then had a quick look in the impressive railway museum...

The wonderful rake of coaches is seen awaiting the off in the rain. Lovely...

The only sad part about our visit today, in a way, was that the usually open engine shed at Sheffield Park was closed for refurbishment into a new exhibition hall. We did view little "Stepney" (the Terrier which starred in Thomas the Tank Engine) through the window but that's all we could see. We'll have to return again to see the rest! Other than that though it was a fabulous first visit and this place has definitely impressed me. Even in the rain it offers a professional, enjoyable and interesting day out. A really great set up indeed: I wish it was closer to home! The Bluebell is everything a well run preserved railway should be. Thank you all for reading, although my post can't hope to do this railway justice. Cheers all, Sam...