The 2008 Share Issue has now closed

We would like to thank the 1,100 applicants who subscribed a magnificent total of £670,000.
See the latest news on the extension progress - You can join the Deferred Share Purchase Scheme to purchase shares by instalments.

The Bluebell Railway now has all the land required to complete the extension from Kingscote station to East Grinstead. We own the site for our station in East Grinstead, and we own and have undertaken extensive renovation work on the viaduct (Photo: right). We have all the other permissions in place already to extract the rubbish from the tip, and to complete the extension.

What can you do to help?

Standing in the way was an infilled railway cutting 500 metres in length and 10-12 metres deep, used as a domestic landfill site in the 1960s/70s.

Clearance of this cutting, and its associated costs, was the main obstacle before the steam-hauled trains of Britain's first standard gauge heritage railway could make their impressive entrance into the West Sussex market town over the imposing 10-arch Imberhorne Viaduct.

Bluebell Railway PLC's 2008 offer was aimed specifically to raise part of the construction costs to rebuild the railway line from Kingscote to East Grinstead, towards the total cost of the project, which was expected to be £5 million.

The site of the former rubbish tip has been secured, cleared of scrub, and temporary facilities and roadways installed. Over 10,000 tons of rubbish was removed during the course of a three-week test dig. This was all funded through the 2008 share issue, as were the purchase, insurance and indemnity payments required. Subsequently we launched our 50th Anniversary Appeal, which has raised the money to complete the removal of all the remaining rubbish needed to clear a path through the cutting for our trains; however we still need to raise more money to complete the earthworks, signalling, trackwork and facilities, for an anticipated opening in March 2013.

The Share Offer closed at 3pm on 31st December 2008.

As we approach the completion of the Northern Extension, the main fundraising initiative is now Funding for the Finish which offers a variety of ways to donate, and other ways to help us achieve our goal.

You can also join the Deferred Share Purchase Scheme, to purchase shares from the Society holding by instalments. If you are not already a BRPS member, why not also join us?