Bluebell Railway - the connection to East Grinstead is made - 8 March 2013
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- Опубликовано: 11 мар 2013
- On 8 March 2013, 55 years after the line closed, and 39 years after the Bluebell made the first moves to extend Northwards from Horsted Keynes, the line to East Grinstead was formally joined using a white fishplate; the honour of tightening the four bolts falling to Barbara Watkins (aka "Mum") who has looked after Northern Extension Project (NEP) workers by providing refreshments, as their roster clerk, and as First Aider.
This video records the private ceremony held, for the volunteer workers on the track, to celebrate the re-connection. The line is actually opening on 23rd March, when the first public steam trains will run over the new section of track.
See www.blubell-railway.co.uk for more information.
Just one small correction to note, where at 5 minutes into the video, Turners Hill Lane Bridge is described, this is of course actually Imberhorne Lane Bridge.
Fantastic chaps. Felt a lump in my throat watching this - bet there will be plenty of unashamed tears on the day. Sorry I can't be there with you, but I'll keep paying my membership every year. (Every little helps) - I salute you all!!
Never thought I'd see this day;- So utterly impressed by the hard work & determination of all those who've strived to see this project through. A damned fine acheivement by all concerned! Really well done!
Congratulations from Germany, we are deeply impressed!
The United States is also extremely proud of this accomplishment and the many years of hard work and crazy dreams that lead up to what must have once seemed a highly unlikely prospect.
Brilliant video and echo Roy's comments - bloody well done everyone! Looking forward to the gala weekend now and fingers crossed the visit of Britannia. Cheers
Let these people be an inspiration to us all.
A really brilliant achievement, well done
Fantastic job, guys!
We laid track up to the tip/cutting from both the South and from the North. This was to enable removal of inert spoil southwards, and the track from East Grinstead was laid to take waste from the tip out onto the national network for disposal at a rail-connected waste site. So the last rail laid was through the cutting, once cleared, joining up our two sections. We have run trains on both separate sections of the track, a few years ago, whilst raising the money required to complete the job.
I look forward to riding on the extension,Well done EVERYBODY.
Big big congratulations. I can't wait to travel on the extension when the damn weather improves =D be much easier to get to now that you've reached East Grinstead.
Well done to everyone involved.
11 miles now. Not a long extension, but a very significant one! We actually now go somewhere!
Excellent acheivement.
I hope the launch goes brilliantly!
good work people.!
Well done Bluebell .....
Great to see! So sad that the previous Chairman didn't live to see it though.
nice job chaps!
I would love to see a video of the progress of the excavation or a series of smooth photographs from beginning to end.
It took many years, so time-lapse would have been impractical - there are lots of photos and videos on a series of pages recording the work, starting in 2000:
www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/extprog_arch1.html
through to opening in 2013, reported here:
www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/ext/extprog.html
Well thank you, this has been very helpful. You have been helpful and informative. :)
Presume you are refering to our late President, Bernard Holden. The late Peter Thomas would also have been very proud to have seen the achievement of his dream.
Forgive me, were there two parts which have now been joined up or have you built from East Grinstead (mainline?) onto one existing section for this? Massive well done tho.
Fantastic! How long will it be?
onward to lewes?
Ardingly is a much higher priority than going South.
You can see information on our plans for future extensions at:
www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/faq.html#42
and in the Long Term Plan, linked from there.
However, it's clear that we need to concentrate our resources and fundraising on getting the exisiting line, buildings, locomotives and carriages up to scratch before we start thinking seriously about another extension. Also we already charge our visitors as much as is reasonable for a family day out. So any further extension would not bring in any further income, and thus would probably not be financially viable, given that we already operate the existing railway at a loss, only sustained by fund-raising and legacies!
Will the church bells be rung in E.G.? I do hope so! They probably were 'first time around' so to speak!