Bluebell Railway Events

Road meets Rail

17 – 18 July

Traditional steam fair featuring working traction engine displays, miniature engines, goods trains and a steam driven children's fair.

Step back in time for a weekend of steam powered demonstrations and vintage fairground fun. Traction engines, road rollers, steam wagons, showman's engines, crane engines and more… bringing Horsted Keynes station to life with recreations of a bygone age.

See how road building, wood sawing, timber haulage and lifting were carried out in the early 1900s. Experience fairground rides powered by a Showman's engine. Watch as deliveries are made to the station by steam wagon, traction engine and pantechnicon. Steam hauled passenger trains will be passing through the station and a goods train will be shunting in and out amid the activity!

Enjoy an ice cream or hog roast in the paddock, or visit the beer island to sample some popular Sussex ales.

And if you fancy dressing up for the event, feel free to don some 1920's gear and immerse yourself fully in the vintage atmosphere of the weekend.

On the Saturday, visitors to the event will be able to extend their day long into the warm summer evening and enjoy live classic rock at Horsted Keynes, provided by Sussex band, The Magpies. The bar will be open and for those with train travel tickets, a late service will operate to get people back to East Grinstead and Sheffield Park.

Both travel and event-only tickets will be available, so bring the whole family for a fantastically steam-filled day out!

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/road-meets-rail/

Model Railway Weekend

31 July – 1 August

Enjoy steam train rides, explore our stations and visit the exhibitions!

Join us at the Bluebell Railway for our Model Railway Weekend. This firm favourite is back for 2021.

Come and see a variety of layouts across the railway and experience unique access to non-public areas such as the Maintenance Shed and Locomotive Workshop at Sheffield Park Station and the Carriage and Wagon Workshop at Horsted Keynes Station.

Have you ever attended a model railway exhibition before? Well expect an array of tiny worlds, all expertly modelled and brought to life by the steam and diesel locomotives that wind their way along the tracks. It takes patience, time and skill to bring these fascinating layouts to life.

We have a great selection of Model Railways featuring including N gauge, O gauge, double O gauge and gauge 1 layouts from across the country.

To complement our displays, we also have several trade stands offering a variety of modelling products including engines, rolling stock, and local produce. Don't forget you can also visit our railway shop where we have a great selection of products available from beginners sets to full layouts.

During this event, we are running a busy steam hauled service from Sheffield Park to East Grinstead Stations across the weekend.

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/model-railway-weekend/

60 plus 1

6 – 8 August

Help celebrate our achievements from over the last 60 years with a packed weekend of displays, activities, music, festivities and, of course, steam engines.

Ever wondered how a heritage railway works? Meet the volunteers and get special behind the scenes guided tours of our workshops and other staff only areas!

Let us transport you back in time to the golden age of steam as the Railway presents 60 years of Bluebell. Experience intensive steam hauled passenger services along the line and activities at Sheffield Park, Kingscote, East Grinstead and at Horsted Keynes Station.

Looking for that festival atmosphere? Head to Horsted Keynes Station and visit our events field to enjoy good food and live bands playing classics from across the last six decades. On Saturday we have steam services late into the evening and entertainment from local bands.

Exclusive access will be available each day to restricted areas across the railway including our carriage and wagon sheds, locomotive works and running sheds with guided tours throughout the weekend. Kids Kingdom will provide fun and games suitable for all ages. For the big kids, brake van rides and diesel driving taster experiences should appeal!

To top-off the weekend festivities, on Sunday afternoon we are planning a locomotive cavalcade of all our working engines.

This will be a celebration of six decades of what Bluebell Railway does best. Further information and a selection of ticket types will be available soon – so stay tuned!

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/steaming-through-60/