This week railway enthusiast, Dana Wiffen writes about a recent visit to the famous Bluebell Line.

One of the oldest preserved railways in the UK and probably one of the most well known is the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex.

I have been a few times before but my brother-in-law had not so we set off to visit this wonderfully preserved railway.

The Bluebell Line was lucky enough to get most of its infrastructure in tact when it took over from BR, which is not to say that a lot of work restoring and maintaining has not been put into this railway by its many volunteers.
 

The power of steam  Photo: Dana Wiffen

They have been working over the years to extend their line to East Grinstead and also have the option of extending a branch line to Ardingley in the future.

A bygone age today Photo: Dana Wiffen

In the way of their extension to East Grinstead and connection to a network railway has been a massive landfill site which is costing the railway nearly a million pounds just to move all the rubbish and whilst they have built the extended track and even have a platform there they will need to clear the dump before operations can run fully.

Nostalgia abounds  Photo: Dana Wiffen

Once open access will allow visitors to come by train and hopefully give the railway the option of the additional mentioned extension.

Oozing character Photo: Dana Wiffen

Their stations and rolling stock ooze character, the mere size and commercialization may loose a bit of the personal charm of other smaller railways although visitors will not be disappointed by the views and atmospheric charm of the Bluebell line.

Hawkinge Gazette and Channel Coast News 2011©