Bluebell Railway

Over het museum

The Bluebell Railway follows the northern half of the former Lewes and East Grinstead line, which the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway opened in 1882. British Railways closed the line in 1958. A group of preservationists then took over a short southern section, and on 7 August 1960 the railway reopened with steam trains, becoming the first standard-gauge steam passenger line in the world to run a regular public timetable.

Over the following decades the volunteers extended the line northwards in stages. The last big step, completed in 2013, removed some 100,000 tonnes of waste from the Imberhorne cutting and rebuilt the route so that trains once again reach East Grinstead, where the line meets the national rail network. The railway is now 11 miles long and is run largely by volunteers under the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society.

The four stations, Sheffield Park, Horsted Keynes, Kingscote and East Grinstead, are each restored to represent a different period of railway history, from the late Victorian era to the 1960s. The railway keeps more than 30 steam locomotives and a large fleet of historic carriages and wagons. At Sheffield Park, the Bluebell Railway Museum on Platform 2 tells the story of railways in the south of England, especially the Lewes and East Grinstead line, and the interactive SteamWorks! exhibition on Platform 1 lets visitors step onto locomotive footplates.

Hoogtepunten

• Steam trains on an 11-mile line between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead
• Four stations restored to different railway eras
• Bluebell Railway Museum on Platform 2 at Sheffield Park
• SteamWorks! interactive steam exhibition
• One of the largest collections of preserved steam locomotives in Britain
• Pullman dining trains and family character days

Vaste collectie

• Bluebell Railway Museum – A collection of displays, objects and documents on Platform 2 about the railways of the south of England, especially the Lewes and East Grinstead Railway.
• SteamWorks! – An interactive steam exhibition on Platform 1 at Sheffield Park with locomotive footplates visitors can step onto.

Opgericht

1960

Beheerder

Bluebell Railway Preservation Society and Bluebell Railway Trust

Toegangsprijzen & kortingen

The listed prices are for the All Day Rover in third class from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead, bought in advance online until midnight the day before travel; advance bookings add a booking fee of £1.95. Prices can be higher at special events. Admission to the museum and SteamWorks! is free with a train or platform ticket. Members of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society pay about half price. First-class upgrades cost £10 per adult and £5 per child. Offers sold at the booking office on the day include 2-for-1 travel with a National Rail ticket and voucher, free travel for Blue Peter badge holders with a paying adult, and £2.50 off with a Metrobus ticket.

Toegankelijkheid

• Deels rolstoeltoegankelijk
• Lift: geen informatie
• Aangepast toilet
• Gehandicaptenparkeerplaats
• Hulphonden welkom
• Tastmodellen / voelbare objecten: geen informatie
• Rondleidingen in gebarentaal: geen informatie
• Informatie in eenvoudige taal: geen informatie
• Audiodescriptie: geen informatie

All four stations are described as easily accessible for wheelchair users, and ramps connect trains and platforms with trained staff to help. Wheelchair space on trains is limited and first come, first served, and some carriages are unsuitable, so the railway asks wheelchair users to seek advice before booking. Wheelchairs up to 700 mm wide and 1,200 mm long can be carried, and some mobility scooters cannot be carried unless they fold down. Dining trains offer wheelchair access only on selected services using an adapted Pullman coach. At Sheffield Park, accessible toilets are on Platforms 1 and 2, disabled parking bays are in the second car park on the left, and the museum is accessible apart from the doorway of the historic signal box. Assistance dogs are welcome everywhere, including the museum and restaurants.

Kinderen & gezin

Erg geschikt voor kinderen & gezinnen

• Gezinsrondleidingen & workshops
• Doe- en voelstations
• Kinderwagenvriendelijk
• Verschoonruimte

The railway offers family events through the year, including free character days with a day ticket, Halloween trains and Santa specials. The Stepney Club (up to 8 years) and the 9F Club (ages 9 to 15) are children's clubs. SteamWorks! has hands-on displays and steps onto locomotive footplates. Collapsible prams go on board in the luggage racks, and larger pushchairs can often be stored in the luggage compartment. Baby changing facilities are on Platform 2 next to the museum, in the Bessemer Arms and on Platform 1.

Bereikbaarheid & parkeren

Sheffield Park station (TN22 3QL) is on the A275 about two miles north of its junction with the A272 and is signposted from the A22 and A23. Four 7 kW electric vehicle charging points are in the car park nearest the station.

Service & horeca

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumwinkel
• Wifi

Free public Wi-Fi covers most of the Sheffield Park station area. The Bessemer Arms at Sheffield Park serves breakfast, lunch and drinks, there are dining trains such as the Golden Arrow Pullman and afternoon tea trains, and picnic areas are provided. Shops at Sheffield Park sell gifts and models, and a second-hand railway book shop on Platform 2 opens on Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays. Dogs are welcome on standard services but not in restaurants, catering outlets, the museum or the shop. Smoking is not allowed on platforms, trains or in buildings.

Evenementen & zaalverhuur

• Ruimtes te huur
• Privéfeesten
• Zakelijke evenementen
• Bruiloften / trouwceremonies

The Birch Grove Suite at Sheffield Park and a smaller room at Horsted Keynes are licensed for civil weddings, receptions can be held in the suite or on the Golden Arrow Pullman train, and stations and trains can be hired for filming.

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