I agree with you actually, the Bluebell's steam loco fleet would be really stretched when it's connected to Ardingly so we could utilise a train from the southern electric group. Make the Bluebell even more unique ;-)!
That was great-5*- and seeing another train entering Horsted Keynes at the same time was a bonus- hopefully a taste of things to come. ( I am probably in a minority, but I think a 3rd rail would look good on the Ardingly branch!)
is there really plans to reconnect with ardingly and on to H'heath i hope so but i always figured that ARC would be a problem and making that tunnel safe. i walked through it when i was young very creepy
They have filled quite a bit of the triangle in with the soil cap from the East Grinstead extension (the tip/cutting). I was told they own the trackbead from HK to just before the station at Ardingly, then its used for aggregates trains to Haywards Heath. It’s a shame you cant put a turning triangle there for visiting engines when they re-connect with network rail.
not to mention the cappings have actually been restored to the northern part of the line and expended on the eventual artificial levelling of the East Grinstead extension...
The signal was installed as part of the re-signalling of Horsted Keynes station - we have made full provision of the operation of trains on the Ardingly Branch as part of that project.
I understand that the Bluebell are currently working on the northern extension towards East Grinstead, which will open up lots of possiblities (railtours, visiting loco's, etc) once reconnection is made. Am I right in saying that BRPS also own the trackbed via Ardingly to the London-Brighton mainline, if so, how much work would be required to make that connection? Is it feasible?
@Northstander the biggest problem with the connection to ardingly is the rebuilding of the viaduct, easiest thing to do is replace the viaduct with a steel bridge
Excellent! Can I respectfully suggest that if the viewers to this video cannot do anything physically to help at the Bluebell - as I too cannot due to other Heritage railway commitments, then why not join the Society? It presents an excellent magazine, and in the event of a visit, a discount on tickets. Every little helps, as they say...!
I walked that track bed 20 years ago and they were 'talking about' extending?? Sadly i cant see it ever happening as theres no drive to do so. Does David Shepherd still own the line as hes loaded!
Beeching can not be free from blame. If such scruples existed, he would not have been in the role as hatchet man. Instead, Beeching should acted in the way Peter Parker did twenty years later by opposing Thatcher's further proposals to destroy our railways. Beeching was fully complicit in Marples' plan
What a rusting mess! The track needs to be ripped up and the rails cut to small pieces for the induction furnaces. That rotting rolling stock needs to be crushed and burnt to extract the metal for recycling.
@@PreservationEnthusiast Where there's muck there's brass, Laddie. Where there's a will there's a way. Presumably, where there's a defeatist there are a dozen optimists.....or the Bluebell would not exist. (I wonder if Preservation Enthusiast has been what he claims to be...)
The coach siding, lots of coaching stock under covers, some in pretty poor condition. Abandoned signal, going by another youtube video, there is one almighty jungle past the buffer stop in this VID.
I agree with you actually, the Bluebell's steam loco fleet would be really stretched when it's connected to Ardingly so we could utilise a train from the southern electric group. Make the Bluebell even more unique ;-)!
That was great-5*- and seeing another train entering Horsted Keynes at the same time was a bonus- hopefully a taste of things to come. ( I am probably in a minority, but I think a 3rd rail would look good on the Ardingly branch!)
Great video, it would be very nice to see the Ardingly branch re instated some day. I'm sure that it will get done some day. Thanks for sharing.
is there really plans to reconnect with ardingly and on to H'heath i hope so but i always figured that ARC would be a problem and making that tunnel safe. i walked through it when i was young very creepy
Always wanted to see what was round the corner...thank you!
They have filled quite a bit of the triangle in with the soil cap from the East Grinstead extension (the tip/cutting). I was told they own the trackbead from HK to just before the station at Ardingly, then its used for aggregates trains to Haywards Heath.
It’s a shame you cant put a turning triangle there for visiting engines when they re-connect with network rail.
We looked into putting in a triangle, but the curvature would be too sharp. In the medium/long term we plan to install a turntable.
not to mention the cappings have actually been restored to the northern part of the line and expended on the eventual artificial levelling of the East Grinstead extension...
all those lovely cars (coaches )sitting on the sidings to your left just rotting away, nice film record.
We will shortly be moving those carriages into our new storage shed at Horsted Keynes, paid for by £400,000 of donations from members and the public.
@@BluebellRail You all do an amazing job!
nice vid mate, good to see another part of the line open again.
3:50 for something that's now a storage line for now, I'm surprised the signal's still in good condition
The signal was installed as part of the re-signalling of Horsted Keynes station - we have made full provision of the operation of trains on the Ardingly Branch as part of that project.
How come the train leaving Horsted Keynes at the beginning is the same one arriving towards HK the end the end of the video?
Doctor Who? It is one continuous take, no editing at all as filmed on stills camera.
I understand that the Bluebell are currently working on the northern extension towards East Grinstead, which will open up lots of possiblities (railtours, visiting loco's, etc) once reconnection is made.
Am I right in saying that BRPS also own the trackbed via Ardingly to the London-Brighton mainline, if so, how much work would be required to make that connection? Is it feasible?
@Northstander the biggest problem with the connection to ardingly is the rebuilding of the viaduct, easiest thing to do is replace the viaduct with a steel bridge
Ironic they are gong to reopen a line they helped rip up!
Excellent! Can I respectfully suggest that if the viewers to this video cannot do anything physically to help at the Bluebell - as I too cannot due to other Heritage railway commitments, then why not join the Society? It presents an excellent magazine, and in the event of a visit, a discount on tickets. Every little helps, as they say...!
what a pity the train can't go anywhere except a siding on a line that just stops in the middle of the grass! Thanks Beeching and those of your clan!
I walked that track bed 20 years ago and they were 'talking about' extending?? Sadly i cant see it ever happening as theres no drive to do so. Does David Shepherd still own the line as hes loaded!
The entire track bed (except the tunnel) is owned by the Bluebell Railway.
David Shepherd never owned any part of our line...
Wish the government could open up some of these lines again.
amazing
It wasn't Beeching ,he was only the hatchet man .The real crook was Ernest Marples.
Off course, he made money on road building!!
Both of them evil crooked bastards. If either of them are still alive I'd love it if they were run over by a train.
Beeching can not be free from blame. If such scruples existed, he would not have been in the role as hatchet man. Instead, Beeching should acted in the way Peter Parker did twenty years later by opposing Thatcher's further proposals to destroy our railways. Beeching was fully complicit in Marples' plan
You're lucky he didn't get away with the second phase. The man was either a short sighted fool or a money grabbing fool.
Only takes one.
@@tomtalk24 they were both in it together. Beeching ran ICI and helped supply Marples the raw materials to build those roads.
It certainly wasn't the last public trip! They have not been banned due to Health and Safety!
Without doubt I was told that Health and Safety prevented use of the spur. I am delighted to be corrected!
What a rusting mess! The track needs to be ripped up and the rails cut to small pieces for the induction furnaces. That rotting rolling stock needs to be crushed and burnt to extract the metal for recycling.
@@PreservationEnthusiast Where there's muck there's brass, Laddie. Where there's a will there's a way.
Presumably, where there's a defeatist there are a dozen optimists.....or the Bluebell would not exist.
(I wonder if Preservation Enthusiast has been what he claims to be...)
if i was rich i would reopen that line
hey I'm in the middle of making the ardingly branch in 00 guage
CCan I see a picture of?
The coach siding, lots of coaching stock under covers, some in pretty poor condition. Abandoned signal, going by another youtube video, there is one almighty jungle past the buffer stop in this VID.