The Bluebell Railway's Extension:
Latest Progress towards East Grinstead

See also a trackbed tour from Kingscote to East Grinstead, the Interactive map of progress on the East Grinstead Extension, showing the extent of track laying, and photos showing the progress being made, and Lineside News.

Share Offer - 2008 - Target East Grinstead

The Bluebell Railway launched a Share Offer in July 2008 to help raise the funds we need to extend the line through to East Grinstead. More details of how you might be able to help us are available here.

26 November 2008

Nigel Longdon reports:
Yesterday was a landmark in Bluebell's history: Excavation of the cutting at Imberhorne started and invited guests witnessed Virginia Waddingham the Mayor of East Grinstead and Nicholas Owen each add a bucket of rubbish to one of the lorries.

The photographs show the early morning queue of lorries (the drivers were undergoing an induction) and the first bucket load of waste being loaded. After being loaded the lorries pass through a wheel wash and complete the necessary paperwork (a task managed by Bluebell volunteers) then it's time for the first load to leave site destined for a site near Sevenoaks.

Later in the morning the guests arrived, Bernard was interviewed, then Virginia Waddingham and Nicholas Owen each loaded a bucket of waste into a waiting lorry. The final picture shows the tip face. The plan is for the trial dig to continue, possibly for three weeks, then the face of the tip will be re-capped until further funds are available.

(Photos from Nigel Longdon)

25 November 2008

Today work commenced on the next phase of the Bluebell Railway's project to reconnect the Railway with East Grinstead. Blocking the route are thousands of tonnes of domestic waste, which were dumped in the Imberhorne Cutting in the 1960's and which must now be dug out at some considerable cost.

The Mayor of East Grinstead, Councilor Ginnie Waddingham and Television Presenter Nicholas Owen, in the presence of local councilors and officers of the Railway will set the giant excavator to work on clearing the cutting, which is 500 metres long and 10-12 metres deep. The contractor, Land & Water Services will be operating their 25m-metre long reach excavator, a predecessor of which it used for work on the Channel Tunnel Rail Link.

Photo right: The Mayor of East Grinstead, Councilor Ginnie Waddingham, at the controls of Land & Water Services long reach excavator (Jon Bowers)

Initially, the clearance will only take place for a couple of weeks, as a trial to establish the needs when work commences in full next year.

Infrastructure Director, Chris White said "This is a very exciting moment for us. It has taken many years of careful negotiation and preparation to get to this stage. We have carried out a lot of test drilling to see what material is there and putting together a methodology for its safe removal. At present the estimated cost is just that an estimate. This pilot run will enable us to make a more accurate prediction of exactly how much waste on a daily basis can be removed to landfill or sent for recycling, what it costs per day and how long absolute clearance is likely to take".

"This really does mark the beginning of visible proof of just how serious the Bluebell Railway's intent to achieve its goal is, and that it will encourage even more people to support us", said Roy Watts, Chairman of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society. "We are particularly hoping for support from the residents and businesses of East Grinstead as we believe that when the Railway terminates there it will bring economic benefit to the town".

East Grinstead Town Mayor, Ginnie Waddingham said "East Grinstead Town Council are proud to support the Northern Extension project and know members have worked tirelessly to bring the Bluebell Railway home to East Grinstead. We are delighted that we have the opportunity to be here today to see clearance begin of this final hurdle and we wait in excited anticipation for the first steam train to return to our Town. The Town Council and the people of East Grinstead are very excited about the start of the excavation works".

The pilot is being funded directly as a result of the Bluebell Railway's share offer which was launched this summer and which has raised almost £500,000. The Share Offer remains open until the 31st December. Anyone who wishes to receive a prospectus can obtain one by ringing 01825 720800 or by completing this on-line request form. A copy may also be collected from East Grinstead Museum.

Photo left: The long reach excavator loading the "official" lorry. To give you some idea of how much rubbish there is to be removed, the brick structure behind the excavator is Hill Place bridge (at the northern end of the tip) which Bluebell metals will eventually pass underneath and from where Chris White was interviewed for the BBC news item. (Jon Bowers)

19 November 2008

David Chappell's photos above show that Imberhorne is not the only work location at present. Our future station site at East Grinstead is being prepared for track laying; the second photo also shows that the viaduct remains secured by our security gates.

Also our volunteer P-way gang were at the railway for an early morning delivery of 70 lengths of rail one Sunday recently, as we prepare for constructing the final phases of the extension.

9 November 2008

Work for the preparation of the site prior to excavation of the tip is continuing. The access roads (Nigel Longdon's picture above shows the exit road), site compound and car park are complete and a wheel wash installed (Nigel's second picture above). A metal roadway across the tip remains to be installed.

David Chappell's photos below, taken two weeks before, show the sub base for the access roads that have been constructed into our temporary compound at Imberhorne.

Please note that the site remains accessible to authorised persons only, and people should not attempt to stop on the nearby road to attempt to view progress since this may harm our relations with our neighbours by obstructing the road.

The following note reports on the Progress with the Share Issue, and the planned launch of the excavation later this month.

The Share Offer has now raised £419,000.

The site compound at the Imberhorne Bridge is under construction. A major press publicity event is being organised to mark to the start of the actual excavation. It is planned that TV Presenter Nicholas Owen and Councillor Virginia Waddington, the Mayor of East Grinstead will formally set the giant excavator into action.

The event is by special arrangement with the contractors. The site is not open to visitors at anytime and the excavation will not be visible from the road.

Some of the remaining copies of the Share Prospectus are being delivered directly to homes in East Grinstead. There are plenty of copies available in the shop and the booking offices, for visitors to take away, or a copy may be requested through this on-line form.

The length of time the excavation is continues in the New Year depends entirely on how many applications for shares are received in the next few weeks.

The share offer closes at 3pm on New Year's Eve.

Roger Kelly
7 November 2008

3 November 2008

19 October 2008

It is some time since I provided an update regarding progress on the Northern Extension Project; much has been happening.

At East Grinstead further preparation is under way for the eventual construction of the platform and track layout. Initial service ducts have been laid below the planned link with Network Rail track and manholes are being built. A start has been made marking out the trackwork alignment.

At Imberhorne the site earmarked for the access roads, site compound and car park required by the contractors removing the tip was cleared of vegetation in September.

This week work commenced in grading the area ready for the construction of the access roads and other facilities (as seen in this photo). It remains a goal to have two week's trial excavation of the tip before the end of this year, subject to adequate finance and suitable weather. This site remains off-limits to all except those involved in the works. Sightseers are specifically asked to keep away as we are obliged not to obstruct access to the adjacent amenity site.

At the north end of the tip the south parapet wall of Hill Place bridge is being cleared of vegetation and soil to below the corbelling prior to the tip excavation being started and to enable the state of the brickwork to be inspected.

South of Imberhorne Lane bridge the vegetation is being cut back again, working towards Kingscote. We hope to keep this in check as the opening of the line to East Grinstead approaches.

As always we welcome new volunteers to the Saturday gang and there are opportunities for volunteers to undertake some roles during the excavation of the tip. If you are interested in either please contact me by e-mail.

29 August 2008

Clearing of Imberhorne Cutting

The press release, which explains what is planned in more detail is available here.

If any volunteers are interested in helping man the site compound there are a number of roles Bluebell can undertake thus saving considerable manning costs. These activities are being co-ordinated by Nigel Longdon (e-mail or 'phone: 020-8679 3732) & Ian Aitken so please contact them in the first instance for more information.

12 July 2008

Target - East Grinstead

The press release is available here.

26 May 2008

Progress with East Grinstead station site

On Monday 19th May work started to clear the whole site as far as the viaduct and level the ground in preparation for marking out the station and track formation. The photographs illustrate (left) the site as taken over - 16th May, and (right) the progress made by 24th May.

April 2008

Clearance of vegetation on the tip site completed

The photo of the extent of the tip, after chipping was complete, is by Patrick Plane. That showing the larger of the chippers used, was taken on 20th March by Nigel Longdon.

18 March 2008

Chipping of the cleared vegetation on the tip site

Chipping of the brash is now under way and should be completed by 20th March.

6 March 2008

Clearance of the vegetation on the tip site almost complete

All this would not have been possible without the tremendous volunteer support that we have received and the favourable weather - just one overcast working day during the whole period.

The photo on the right by Steve Fairweather shows clearance work in progress on 1st March.

Please note that the site remains off-limits to all except authorised persons.

15 February 2008

First two weeks work on Tip site

The terrain on top of the tip is quite wet and challenging in places. This is primarily the domain for the strimmer operators and Wellingtons are a necessity.

Photos: Before (30 January) by Jon Bowers and After (9 February) by Steve Fairweather.

A pattern of working has developed concentrating on Wednesdays and Saturdays with an average of about fifteen volunteers each day. Further assistance will be welcome - contact Nigel Longdon (by e-mail or 'phone: 020-8679 3732). Please remember this site continues to be restricted to those participating in the official working parties.

28 January 2008

Work to start on Tip

Chris White, Bluebell Railway Infrastructure Director, is pleased to announce that West Sussex County Council will shortly issue a licence authorising the clearance of vegetation and trees on the tip between Imberhorne Lane and Hill Place Farm occupation bridge in preparation for the eventual excavation of the cutting. The licence will cover the period 28th January until 6th April 2008 and is subject to strict conditions. For this reason there will be no unauthorised work on or access to the tip. All work will be supervised by the two Team Leaders, Ian Aitken and Nigel Longdon. It is planned that regular working parties will be held on Wednesdays and Saturdays plus two other weekdays. If you are interested in assisting with this project please contact Nigel Longdon (by e-mail or 'phone: 020-8679 3732). Volunteers must be members of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society.