Bluebell Railway - 2010 Special Events listing

2010: Aug - Sept - Oct - Nov - Dec
50th Anniversary Events - 50th Anniversary Appeal
Visitor Information - Special Event fares & discounts

34059 and 672 at Horsted Keynes - Derek Hayward - 25 October 2009

Family Fun Weekend - 22 June 2008 - Derek Hayward

2010 will feature a full programme of events. In addition to those to celebrate our 50th anniversary, the full programme includes Giants of Steam in October, and our the hugely popular Family Fun Weekends, our traditional English Summer Fair, in June - as seen in the Derek Hayward's two photos above.

In 1960 the Bluebell Railway ran its first trains from Sheffield Park station to just outside of Horsted Keynes. Fifty years later we have extended our line to Kingscote and are now on the final stages of extending further into the old market town of East Grinstead. Our steam locomotive collection has grown from the original two locomotives, (Nos. 55 "Stepney" and 323 "Bluebell") to a fleet of over thirty locomotives and one hundred carriages and wagons.
Therefore, over the coming year we are planning a series of 50th Anniversary Events. Please also look at the special web site for our 50th Anniversary Appeal.
But the old favourites are still in the programme as well, so we have a very full year of events - do come and join our 50th Birthday party!

Special Timetables may apply on Special Event days.
These are usually available on the Services for the coming week page (which is aimed mainly at enthusiasts), in the days running up to the event.
For larger events a detailed event guide is often available in advance (with details on the individual page for that event).

Special Events Discount: We are pleased to offer discounted tickets for some of our special events, if purchased more than one month in advance.
Full details of the individual events and advance ticket discounts are available on the Railway's Visitor Information pages.

The Bluebell Railway Band will be playing at the Bluebell from 2 to 4 pm on the following dates:

Sunday the 14th March (Mothers' Day) at Horsted Keynes,
Sunday the 9th May (Southern at War) at Sheffield Park,
Sunday the 20th June (Fathers' Day) at Sheffield Park,
Sunday the 26th September (Grandparents' Day) at Sheffield Park.

The band will also be playing for the Bluebell Railway Carol Service - Saturday 4th December 2010, 7.30 pm at Horsted Keynes.

2010

Sat 20 & Sun 21 February 2010: Branch Line Weekend
27-28 February: Train Services operate to a 1963 timetable, between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes only. SECR P-class loco No.178 made its preservation debut this weekend.
6-7 March: Train Services operate to a 1963 timetable, between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes only.
13-14 March: Train Services operate to a 1972 timetable, between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes only.
20-21 March: Train Services operate to a 1983 timetable, between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes only.
27-28 March: Due to the early completion of the engineering work in the tunnel, the planned "1990" weekend will not now take place. Instead trains will operate the full length of the line to Kingscote, to our hourly Service 1 timetable, with Fairburn Tank 42085 hauling one of the trains.
Easter Weekend Friday 2 to Monday 5 April: Punch & Judy Shows Vintage 472 Bus runs from Brighton on Sunday 4th April.
Saturday 17 April Toy and Rail Collectors Fair
19-23 & 26-30 April Spring Observation Car Specials
Tues 4 to Fri 7 May Bluebell Specials
8 & 9 May Southern at War
Sat 8 May VE Day Dance in East Grinstead
Mon 17 May Official start of 50th Anniversary celebrations, with a recreation of the arrival of our first train 50 years ago.
Sat 22 & Sun 23 May Bluebell Open Day and Stepney's Birthday
Sat 5 & Sun 6 June: Open Day at East Grinstead
Fathers Day 19 & 20 June: Special Ploughmans' Lunch on board our Lounge Car train.
Sat 19, Sun 20, Sat 26 & Sun 27 June: Baxter's Family Fun Weekend
Friday 2nd and Sunday 4th July: Victorian Picnic Evening
Saturday 3 July: An evening with the Yetties
Tuesday 6 July, 6pm at East Grinstead: 'Waste by Rail' - We will start extracting the rubbish from Imberhorne Cutting by rail. This replaces the planned event on Saturday 3rd July, which will now take place in September.
Sat 24 & Sun 25 July: Toy and Rail Collectors Fair

Throughout August: Children's activities -
     Each Wednesday Punch & Judy shows.
     Every Thursday try the Bluebell Quiz.
     Each Friday see the Magic Shows.
     Every Sunday find the hidden Teddy Bears.
All of this in addition to our normal hourly (two-train) service of steam-hauled trains.
Fri 6 to Sun 8 August: 50th Anniversary Celebrations
Our 50th Birthday Party with visiting engines (including the oldest operational locomotive in the UK, Furness Railway No.20, "Blue Circle" and 15-inch gauge pacific "Typhoon").
Sunday 15 August: Sussex Food Festival
Sat 21 & Sun 22 August: Vintage Transport Weekend - Vintage cars, motorcycles, traction engines and trains combine to make a weekend of transport nostalgia.

Saturday 4 and Sunday 5 September: Open Weekend at East Grinstead
The official opening of our new platform at our East Grinstead station site will take place on the Saturday; train rides available both days. More details - book tickets for the first train.
Thursday 9 September: An evening with the Yetties
The popular threesome offer us their final taste of Dorset humour and song at the Bluebell. Advance booking discount on tickets purchased by 31 August. More details.
Friday 10 September: Beer, Brass & Steam!
A late Summer's Evening on the Bluebell Railway with the Petworth Town Band. More details.
Sat 11 & Sun 12 September: Victorian Picnic Evening
A special evening train, with exclusive compartments of your own, food, drink, and a traditional Music Hall show. Bookings now being taken.
Sat 18 September at 7.30pm: The Bluebell Singers Present September Serenade in the Chequer Mead Community Arts Centre, East Grinstead.
Musical Director: Richard Haslam; MC: Nicholas Owen - BBC News Presenter
Producer: Susan Fleet. Featuring semi-professional singers from all over the county, the programme will comprise songs from the shows, operetta and the classics of popular songs. All proceeds to the Bluebell Railway 50th Anniversary Appeal. See the poster, or booking details on the Chequer Mead web site
Grandparents Day 25 & 26 September: Afternoon tea on board the special Wealden Rambler train. Advanced booking essential.

Saturday 9 October: Open Day at East Grinstead - more details nearer the time
4-8, 11-15 & 18-21 October: Autumn Tints Observation Car Specials - phone 01825 720800 to book - Discount on advance ticket purchases (until 5th September).
Fri 22 to Sun 24 October: Giants of Steam
Our larger locomotives take to centre stage, with visiting locos: 'Oliver Cromwell' and 'Sir Lamiel' (to be confirmed)
Sat 30 & Sun 31 October: Wizard Weekend
All kinds of mysterious happenings around the Railway. Dare you be here?

Mon 1 to Fri 5 November: Autumn Tints Observation Car Specials - phone 01825 720800 to book - Discount on advance ticket purchases (until 5th Sept).
Saturday 6 November: Hastings Blue Belle excursion train, and Open Day at East Grinstead - more details here.
Sunday 21 November: Vintage Bus Day
Vintage bus services to and from the Bluebell Railway. Note change of date.

Saturday 4 December: Horsted Keynes Station Carol Service with the Bluebell Railway Band and the Rector of Horsted Keynes; from 7.30pm.
Sat 4, Sun 5, Sat 11, Sun 12, Sat 18, Sun 19, Thurs 23 & Fri 24 December: Santa Specials. Booking open.
Weds 8 & Thurs 9 December: Special Santa trains for Schools and pre-Schools - Booking open.
Sat 18, Sun 19, Thurs 23 & Fri 24 December: Victorian Christmas Special Trains - Booking open.

Return to the Bluebell Home Page or to the Timetable - Special Event Fares & Discounts - 50th Anniversary Events - 50th Anniversary Appeal

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Last updated 23 August 2010 by Richard Salmon.