1960/07.01 In July 1960, I had read about the pending re-opening of part of the line from East grinstead to Lewes, the 'Bluebell Line', by preservationists. So I went down to Sussex to have a look. This, and the next few pictures, show the track as taken over from British Railways.

1960/07.02

1960/07.03

1960/07.04

1960/07.05

1960/07.06 My first visit to the Bluebell Line was in July, 1960, about a month or so before it was opened to the public. Works trains were already running so, despite being closed, the sign had more relevance than it might have appeared to do.

1960/07.07 A first view of Sheffield Park in July, 1960 about a month before the line was opened to the public.

1960/07.08. [1037] My first view of Bluebell steam was LBSCR 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY at Sheffield Park on a Saturday afternoon in July, 1960. This was about a month before the line was opened to the public.

1960/07.09. [952] As well as the Terrier, S.E. & C. R. 'P' class 0-6-0T 323 BLUEBELL was also in steam at Sheffield Park. July, 1960, a few weeks prior to the public opening.

1960/07.10 Standing where the loco. shed at Sheffield Park is now, S.E. & C.R. 'P' class 0-6-0T 323 BLUEBELL raises steam in July, 1960. The line opened to the public a few weeks later.

1960/07.11. [482] Built in 1880 by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. of Whitehaven in Cumberland, 3'2¼" gauge 0-4-0T TOWNSEND HOOK spent its whole life at the Dorking Greystone Lime Works at Betchworth in Surrey until preserved on the Bluebell Line in 1960. July, 1960.

1960/07.12. [965] L.S.W.R. Lavatory 3rd of 1900, one of the first two coaches preserved on the Bluebell. It is seen here at Sheffield Park on a Saturday afternoon in July, 1960, a few week prior to the opening of the line to the public. 'Bluebell Blue' has already been applied to 'cover up the green!'

1960/07.13 Sheffield Park on a July afternoon in 1960, a few weeks prior to the Bluebell's opening to the public. SECR 0-6-0T BLUEBELL is at the platform, and a coach in the dock is still in Southern Region green, but being repainted in 'Bluebell Blue'.

1960/07.14 Southern Railway signs at Sheffield Park. July 1960

1960/07.15. [1178] With only a few weeks until the public opening, Sheffield Park station was a hive of activity. Some coaches had just arrived from British Railways, still, of course, in their Southern Region green. The Bluebell in those days had its own livery of Bluebell Blue, and it was a priority task to get the newly arrived coaches into that colour. I asked if there was anything I could do to help and was given a pot of blue paint and a brush, and told to help the others busily engaged in this process. "It doesn't matter what it looks like" I was told, "as long as you cover up the green!" Meanwhile, SECR 'P' class 0-6-0T 323 BLUEBELL shunts a compartment coach already in blue. July, 1960.

1960/07.16. [982] Judging by the cameraman and others clambering over South Eastern & Chatham Railway 'P' class 0-6-0T BLUEBELL, it looks as though the BBC, or could it be Pathé News, are paying Sheffield Park a visit. Brighton 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY gets up steam in the background. July, 1960.

1960/07.17. [926] Brighton 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY at Sheffield Park about a month before the line was opened to the public. Would that be Horace May, the Bluebell's first General Manager, hitching a ride? July, 1960

1960/07.18. [924] The film crew seen in an earlier picture are now atop of STEPNEY. I wonder what state the cameraman's white shirt was in after a trip up the line! July, 1960.

1960/07.19 SE&CR 'P' class 0-6-0T 323 BLUEBELL at Sheffield Park on a Saturday afternoon in July, 1960. The Bluebell's other locomotive, LB&SCR 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY, is at the other end of the train.

1960/07.20 The train seen at Sheffield Park in previous shots proceeded up the line, complete with the camera crew aloft on STEPNEY. At that time, the Bluebell Line was denied access to Horsted Keynes station and had to stop short a bit down the line. The sleepers visible in the grass on the left were ready for a gang of volunteers to build a temporary halt at this spot. July, 1960

1960/07.21 Because British Railways would not permit the Bluebell to run into their station at Horsted Keynes, a new temporary halt had to be constructed a few hundred yards down the line. To be named 'Bluebell Halt', the sleepers from which the halt was to be constructed can be seen on the left as STEPNEY gets ready to return to Sheffield Park. July, 1960

1960/07.22 This is East Grinstead, looking south towards Imberhorne Viaduct. This, hopefully, will soon see trains again when the Bluebell Railway completes its extension from Kingscote. July, 1960

1960/07.23 As British Railways would not allow the nascent Bluebell Railway access to the station at Horsted Keynes, a temporary sleeper-built halt was constructed a few hundred yards down the line. Clearance tests are being carried out prior to the public opening a week or two later. July, 1960

1960/07.24 LB&SCR 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY has arrived at Horsted Keynes 'Bluebell Halt' for clearance testing. This was a temporary sleeper built halt a few hundred yards to the south of Horsted Keynes station which had to be provided because, at first, British Railways refused to allow the newly formed Bluebell Railway to use their station. July, 1960

1960/08.01 This is East Grinstead, looking north towards the station on what will shortly be part of the Bluebell Railway. August, 1960

1960/08.02 South of East Grinstead is Imberhorne Viaduct, seen here in August, 1960.

1960/08.03 A further view of Imberhorne Viaduct to the south of East Grinstead. August, 1960

1960/08.04 Kingscote station as it was in August, 1960. This is a view looking towards East Grinstead.

1960/08.05 Kingscote station as seen from the East Grinstead direction. August, 1960

1960/08.06 The next station to the south of Kingscote is West Hoathly. August, 1960

1960/08.07 Just to the south of West Hoathly station is Sharpthorne Tunnel. This is the northern portal in August, 1960.

1960/08.08 South of Sheffield Park the track had already been lifted by August 1960 when this picture was taken.

1960/08.09 Near Newick and Chailey is another tunnel, but the track lifting contractors had already been there by August, 1960.

1960/08.10 Inside the tunnel near Newick and Chailey. The ballast is still there, but the track has gone. August, 1960

1960/08.11 Not, unfortunately, to become part of the Bluebell Railway, Newick and Chailey station was the next stop to the south of Sheffield Park. In August 1960, the track lifting was still in progress.

1960/08.12 The sad sight of Newick and Chailey station with the track lifting in progress. What a pity the Bluebell Railway could not reach this far. August, 1960

1960/08.13 It's the 7th August, 1960 and the first public train on the Bluebell Railway is about to set off from Sheffield Park behind L.B. & S.C.R. 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY.

1960/08.14 As the newly opened Bluebell Railway was not permitted to use the station at Horsted Keynes by British Railways, it was necessary to build a small halt a bit to the south. L.B. & S.C.R. 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY has just arrived on the opening day, 7th August, 1960.

1961/04.01 One of the earliest locos to arrive on the Bluebell Line was this Fletcher Jennings light industrial 0-4-0T CAPTAIN BAXTER (Later simply BAXTER) from the Dorking Greystone Limeworks at Betchworth, Surrey. This picture was taken at Sheffield Park in April, 1961.

1961/04.02 The S.E. & C.R. 'P' class 0-6-0T was named PRIMROSE for a while in the early days of the Bluebell. Here she is in April, 1961 with the Metropolitan Railway Chesham branch set.

1961/07/12.01 Ousted from the Lyme Regis branch by B.R. Standard 84xxx class 2-6-2Ts (see pictures R692 and R693, in the Southern Region collection), Adams L & S W R 0415 class 4-4-2 radial tank 30583 went to the Bluebell Line for preservation on the 12th July, 1961. She is seen here at Sheffield Park in the evening of the day she arrived, working a special train to mark her arrival and escape from the cutter's torch.

1961/07/12.02 About to enjoy a new lease of life in preservation on the Bluebell Line, Adams L & S W R 0415 class 4-4-2 radial rank 30583 is ready to set off from Sheffield Park on a July evening in 1961. This was the day that she arrived having been oused from the Lyme Regis branch by B.R. Standard 84xxx class 2-6-2Ts. She is still wearing B.R. lined black livery, but has already aquired her earlier LSWR number of 488. 12th July, 1961

1961/08.01 Built in 1880 by Fletcher, Jennings & Co. of Whitehaven in Cumberland, 3'2¼" gauge 0-4-0T TOWNSEND HOOK spent its whole life at the Dorking Greystone Lime Works at Betchworth in Surrey until preserved on the Bluebell Line in 1960. August, 1961.

1961/08.02 One of the earliest locos to arrive on the Bluebell Line was this Fletcher Jennings light industrial 0-4-0T CAPTAIN BAXTER (Later simply BAXTER) from the Dorking Greystone Limeworks at Betchworth, Surrey. This picture was taken at Sheffield Park in August, 1961.

1961/08.03 Still in B.R. lined black livery, L. & S. W. R. Adams 0415 class 4-4-2 Radial Tank 30583 had regained its old number of 488 on arrival at the Bluebell Line a month previously. August, 1961.

1961/08.04 Since my previous pictures a year earlier, L. B. & S. C. R. A1X 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY has lost its plain black livery and is now in 'Brighton' colours. August, 1961.

1961/08.05 S. E. & C. R. 'P' class 0-6-0T 323 BLUEBELL had still to revert to pre-grouping colours in August, 1961. It is seen here with the ex. Metropolitan Railway coaches that had previously worked the Chesham branch.

1962/02/14. On its way from its home on the Cambrian to its new home on the Bluebell Line, Great Western 'Duke-Dog' 4-4-0 9017 spent the night at Old Oak Common (81A) Shed in London. This may be one of the last photographs of this engine on B.R. metals in its B.R. days. 14th February, 1962.

1962/04/08.01 LBSCR Adams 4-4-2 Radial tank 488 and SECR 'P' class 323 at Sheffield Park. 8th April, 1962.

1962/04/08.02 Brighton A1X 'Terrier' class 0-6-0T STEPNEY and the Metrpolitan Railway Chesham set wait to depart from Sheffield Park on the 8th April, 1962.

1962/04/08.03 Nicely restored to London & South Western Railway livery, Adams 4-4-2 'Radial Tank' 488 at Sheffield Park. In the background can be seen some coaching stock in both B.R. Southern Region green and the then 'Bluebell Blue'. Also visible, just, is the newly arrived Great Western 'Dukedog 4-4-0 9017. 8th April, 1962.

1963/05/18.01 By 1963, the Bluebell Railway had gained access to the B.R. station at Horsted Keynes which was a considerable improvement on the previous temporary sleeper built structure down the line. London, Brighton & South Coast Railway 0-6-0T A1X Terrier STEPNEY and the London & North Western Railway Observation Saloon were there when I made a visit on the 18th May, 1963.

1963/05/18.02 A general view of the station at Horsted Keynes on the 18th May, 1963. The Bluebell Railway occupies the platforms to the right, while the 'other' B.R. still used the platforms to the left where a Southern Region EMU is working the branch line to Haywards Heath.

1963/05/18.03 1898 built Billlington London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E4 class 0-6-2T BIRCH GROVE gets away from Horsted Keynes on the return trip to Sheffield Park. 18th May, 1963.

1963/05/18.04 1898 built Billlington London, Brighton and South Coast Railway E4 class 0-6-2T BIRCH GROVE gets away from Horsted Keynes on the return trip to Sheffield Park. 18th May, 1963.

1963/05/18.05 Because of the lack of run round facilities at Horsted Keynes in the early years, Bluebell trains had to be 'topped and tailed' with a loco at each end. Included in the formation was the London & North Western Railway Observation Saloon of 1913 vintage. It was originally built for the scenic branch line from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog in North Wales. Bringing up the rear is Brighton 'Terrier' 0-6-0T STEPNEY. Horsted Keynes, 18th May, 1863.

1963/05/18.06 Looking south from Horsted Keynes towards Sheffield Park, with the still operational and electrified B.R. branch line to Ardingly and Haywards Heath going off to the right. The Bluebell Railway train is 'topped and tailed' by BIRCH GROVE and STEPNEY as it heads off to Sheffield Park. 18th May, 1963.

2003/12/30.R13825 Great Western 'duke-dog' 4-4-0 9017 EARL OF BERKELEY outside the shed at Sheffield Park. 30th December, 2003.

2003/12/30.R13826 Great Western 'duke-dog' 4-4-0 9017 EARL OF BERKELEY outside the shed at Sheffield Park. 30th December, 2003.