Sheffield Park railway station
Encyclopedia
Sheffield Park is the southern terminus of the Bluebell Railway
and also the headquarters of the line. It is located on the southern bank of the River Ouse
(which the line crosses just beyond the platforms) and is also situated on the Greenwich Meridian.
, a local landowner and promoter of the The Lewes and East Grinstead Railway Act 1877 which authorised the construction of a line from East Grinstead
to Lewes
, now popularly known as the Bluebell Railway. Originally named "Fletching and Sheffield Park", the name of the nearby village was dropped following objections by the Earl. It was originally closed in May 1955 but was reopened in August 1956 after it was found the closure was illegal.
Following the line's closure in 1958, a group of students formed a society with the intention of preserving part of the East Grinstead to Lewes line. On 7 August 1960 the group began working a short stretch of line between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes
which was leased to it by British Rail
. By 1968 the group had raised enough funds to purchase both the Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes stations with the former now the Bluebell Railway's headquarters.
The station also houses the line's locomotive workshops and sheds, which are a major focal point for visitors to the line. It is restored in a turn of the century LBSCR style. An unusual signal box can be found on the platform, a feature of the LBSCR and still visible in locations on the national network, such as Falmer
near Brighton
.
Beside the station, with a separate entrance from the A275 is the former Woodpax yard, on which is now being built a large carriage shed and exhibition centre; this project is known as "Operation Undercover". Construction work started in January 2010 with the about three quarters of the money coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund
. It is anticipated that it will be complete by the end of the 2011. When operational it will provide storage for many of the line's vintage carriages such as the Metropolitan Railway
carriages and the line's Pullman dining train.
; however this is likely to be near impossible as the next station on the line, Newick and Chailey
, has been lost under housing, and the following station, Barcombe
, is now in private hands. In addition, several road bridges would need to be replaced on the route, including one just south of Sheffield Park station.
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
and also the headquarters of the line. It is located on the southern bank of the River Ouse
River Ouse, Sussex
The River Ouse is a river in the counties of West and East Sussex in England.-Course:The river rises near Lower Beeding and runs eastwards into East Sussex, meandering narrowly and turning slowly southward...
(which the line crosses just beyond the platforms) and is also situated on the Greenwich Meridian.
History
The station opened in 1882 at the request of the Earl of SheffieldHenry Holroyd, 3rd Earl of Sheffield
Henry North Holroyd, 3rd Earl of Sheffield , styled Viscount Pevensey until 1876, was an English Conservative politician and patron of cricket....
, a local landowner and promoter of the The Lewes and East Grinstead Railway Act 1877 which authorised the construction of a line from East Grinstead
East Grinstead railway station
East Grinstead railway station serves the town of East Grinstead in West Sussex. The station was formerly divided into two levels: the higher level platforms serving the Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line, whilst the lower level platforms received services from the Oxted Line 49 km ...
to Lewes
Lewes railway station
Lewes railway station serves the town of Lewes in East Sussex, England. It has five platforms and is on the East Coastway Line. Train services are provided by Southern.The station has a café and a newsagent, and there is a taxi office on the main forecourt...
, now popularly known as the Bluebell Railway. Originally named "Fletching and Sheffield Park", the name of the nearby village was dropped following objections by the Earl. It was originally closed in May 1955 but was reopened in August 1956 after it was found the closure was illegal.
Following the line's closure in 1958, a group of students formed a society with the intention of preserving part of the East Grinstead to Lewes line. On 7 August 1960 the group began working a short stretch of line between Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes
Horsted Keynes railway station
Horsted Keynes railway station is a railway station in Sussex. It was closed by British Railways Beeching Axe on 28 October 1963 with the cessation of trains from Seaford via Haywards Heath...
which was leased to it by British Rail
British Rail
British Railways , which from 1965 traded as British Rail, was the operator of most of the rail transport in Great Britain between 1948 and 1997. It was formed from the nationalisation of the "Big Four" British railway companies and lasted until the gradual privatisation of British Rail, in stages...
. By 1968 the group had raised enough funds to purchase both the Sheffield Park and Horsted Keynes stations with the former now the Bluebell Railway's headquarters.
Modern day use
The station now plays host to a shop, model railway, museum and the Bessemer Arms pub (named after Mrs Bessemer who fought British Rail over the closure of the line claiming it to be illegal, and whose victory spurred the movement to save the line). The new combined shop and office block was opened in the late 1990s as the original shop was deemed too cramped for the purpose. This was subsequently entirely demolished, creating an open area on the platform for picnic tables.The station also houses the line's locomotive workshops and sheds, which are a major focal point for visitors to the line. It is restored in a turn of the century LBSCR style. An unusual signal box can be found on the platform, a feature of the LBSCR and still visible in locations on the national network, such as Falmer
Falmer railway station
Falmer Railway Station is operated by Southern and lies on the East Coastway Line.The station serves the village of Falmer as well as the University of Sussex campus and the University of Brighton Falmer Campus. It also serves Falmer Stadium, the new home of Brighton & Hove Albion F.C....
near Brighton
Brighton
Brighton is the major part of the city of Brighton and Hove in East Sussex, England on the south coast of Great Britain...
.
Beside the station, with a separate entrance from the A275 is the former Woodpax yard, on which is now being built a large carriage shed and exhibition centre; this project is known as "Operation Undercover". Construction work started in January 2010 with the about three quarters of the money coming from the Heritage Lottery Fund
Heritage Lottery Fund
The Heritage Lottery Fund is a fund established in the United Kingdom under the National Lottery etc. Act 1993. The Fund opened for applications in 1994. It uses money raised through the National Lottery to transform and sustain the UK’s heritage...
. It is anticipated that it will be complete by the end of the 2011. When operational it will provide storage for many of the line's vintage carriages such as the Metropolitan Railway
Metropolitan railway
Metropolitan Railway can refer to:* Metropolitan line, part of the London Underground* Metropolitan Railway, the first underground railway to be built in London...
carriages and the line's Pullman dining train.
Future
An extension to the south has been mooted a few times, returning the line to its original southern terminus of LewesLewes
Lewes is the county town of East Sussex, England and historically of all of Sussex. It is a civil parish and is the centre of the Lewes local government district. The settlement has a history as a bridging point and as a market town, and today as a communications hub and tourist-oriented town...
; however this is likely to be near impossible as the next station on the line, Newick and Chailey
Newick and Chailey railway station
Newick and Chailey was a railway station located about halfway between the villages of Newick and Chailey in East Sussex, England. It was part of the East Grinstead to Lewes line, more popularly known as the Bluebell Railway.- Facilities :...
, has been lost under housing, and the following station, Barcombe
Barcombe railway station
Barcombe was a railway station serving the village of Barcombe in East Sussex. It was part of the East Grinstead to Lewes line, more popularly known as the Bluebell Railway.The station was originally opened as "New Barcombe" to distinguish it from the nearby station of Barcombe Mills , and was...
, is now in private hands. In addition, several road bridges would need to be replaced on the route, including one just south of Sheffield Park station.