Arthritis Care Gateshead

Holiday Trip to The Bluebell Railway.

On 8^th September 2008.

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we're off to visit The Bluebell Railway in East Sussex.

No sooner have you got everyone on the coach, you got to get them all off again.

The volunteer run Bluebell Line was the UK's first preserved standard gauge passenger railway, re-opening part of the Lewes to East Grinstead line of the old London Brighton & South Coast Railway in 1960. Since then it has developed into one of the largest tourist attractions in Sussex, yet it still remains true to its objectives of the preservation for posterity of a country branch line, its steam locomotives, coaches and goods stock, signalling systems, stations and operating practices.

There are shed loads of trains here. (Pun intended.)

The Bluebell Railway has the UK's largest and most comprehensive collection of ex-Southern Railway locomotives and those of its three main constituents. It also, surprisingly, has the largest collection of BR standard designs. It is rare as a UK preserved railway where you can guarantee not to be hauled by a diesel on a scheduled passenger train.

All steam locomotives require a complete strip-down, for a boiler overhaul and insurance inspection, after ten years' operation.

All steam locomotives require a complete strip-down, for a boiler overhaul and insurance inspection, after ten years' operation. At any time, therefore, only a selection of our locomotives are serviceable, and there is a page specifically for these Operational Locomotives. With our oldest locos now 130 years old, the work required to keep them in a serviceable condition is, as might be expected, quite onerous. The Locomotive Roster shows the shedmaster's intention as to which locos should be in steam on any particular day.

Sheffield Park station with Ron and Allison's luggage allowance. Despite the generous luggage allowance, Allison goes OTT. (Allison's the third photo and Ron's the forth photo.)

Greenwich meridian line passes this point. Here comes the train.

It's time to change ends. There's a lady driving the train and not some pot bellied fifty something, balding grease monkey.

It's thirsty work driving a train.

It's all aboard 3. Look you had better sit where you are told! You want me to take you where? Hello mo jo.

Through a glass darkly and through the looking glass 1, 2 and 3.

Through the looking glass 4. Kingscote station entrance. Staff at Kingscote. A steam train is a beautiful machine 1.

(If you look closely there's a ghostly image of a child in the bottom right hand corner of the first image.)

Time to change ends Kingscote 1 and 2. It's all board 4. (OK it's out of sequence, who noticed?) That was a realy good joke.

When Allison sees this it'll be: 10 - 9 - 8 - 7 - 6 - 5 - 4 - 3 Bring..., Bring.., click Hello

$"&& -*< ?^t t|£t @* £+= @* %|*t* *>> t|^ $^( @"t^!

OK OK OK   click

(This is a genuine code, t = t, and a space is a space, all other characters are in code, fiver to the first person to crack the code.)

A steam train is a beautiful machine 2. Sheffield Park porters signalling box. Allison: "I'll get that so and so!"

This icecream is really hard! This icecream is really nice! Then it's back on the coach and back to Eastbourne.