A monumentous day in Sussex

Just a fantastic piece of news for something that I have been following for several years now.

Today Friday March 8th the Bluebell Railway finally became connected back to the national rail network.

See here for latest construction pics:
http://www.railwaytrains.co.uk/latest.html

And here for details about the festival and opening celebration in 2 weeks time:
http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/whats_new.html

I would like to publicly congratulate all those involved over the last decade and more in their achievement.
The work invloved has been phenomenal especially clearing a vast rubbish landfilled cutting.

I shall be visiting this line in early June and making the historic trip from East Grinstead.

Good to see that sometimes a line is build instead of being demolished.

Lorenz

Yes indeed it is and very special when they reconnect to other lines.

The Bluebell railway have another long term project to connect to national network in the south via the Ardingly branch.

This would then make a very interesting through route.

Over here there are not less lines closed and demolished. Others are very redused in traffic compared with former times.

Lorenz

I know what they can serve at the opening festival:



They're being modest- it's actually the best ice cream in the world.

Very pleased about the progress on the Bluebell Line, since this was the first steam railway I can ever remember visiting as a child.

k&nwlr wrote:

..... this was the first steam railway I can ever remember visiting as a child.

Me too and I even took the electric train via Ardingly (when it still ran) as my friend's grandparents lived there and we found the Bluebell railway by accident on a visit.

It is indeed a wonderful event. I was there in September 2011 and it was nearing completion then.

I did post a few pics on the forum...

Bluebell Pics

Yes, fabulous news re the Bluebell breakthrough.

I'd like to share my photos with you of the great day >
http://dudleysphotos.zenfolio.com/p286740700

Best wishes,
Dudley

Great pics - shame about the weather