Club members enjoyed a great day out the Bluebell Railway followed by lunch and a visit to the magnificent gardens at National Trust Sheffield Park.

Bluebell Railway was one of the first preserved heritage lines in the country, resulting in one of the finest collections of vintage steam locomotives and carriages – many of which were preserved straight out of service from British Railways. The Bluebell Railway commenced train services in August 1960 and now runs steam trains between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead

During the visit the group heard about the history and science of the industrial age, experienced the thrill of getting up close to a working steam locomotive, luxuriated in the comfort and style of a bygone era and looked at the latest addition to the trains. This included a special tour of the engine shed where a locomotive has been undergoing construction for the last seventeen years.

We were met by railway staff in period clothing, saw four stations preserved in different periods of history including Victorian and original working signal boxes and boarded vintage carriages from the 1930s and 1950s.

This was followed by a trip on the Bluebell Railway from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead where a lucky few were able to purchase a coffee from the café in a coach!

In the afternoon, the opportunity was taken to visit the National Trust property, Sheffield Park.