2013 - Sheffield Park Gardens & Bluebell Railway - 23 June

Area Discussion South East (pre 2020)
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Meeting place : PEASE POTTAGE SERVICES on the M23. Postcode: RH11 9AE [South of Gatwick - Junction 11 – A264 Horsham ] 

Departure time : 10:30hrs from Pease Pottage ( Alternatively make your own way to Shefield Park Gardens & meet there.) 
  
A 17 mile leisurely drive across West Sussex from Pease Pottage Services to Sheffield Park Gardens (TN22 3QX). 
Bring a Picnic lunch or have something to eat in the National Trust Cafeteria. 

After lunch we take a short drive to the Blue Bell Railway to spend an afternoon on the newly extended railway. The station was built in 1882 by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway and was really built to serve Lord Sheffield who owned the large house and estate about a mile away. Lord Sheffield was a great supporter of Cricket and the “Sheffield Shield” is still played for today in Australia. 

This is not a pre booked group visit, as the Group savings are only £1, but either catch a train for the return ride to East Grinstead on the newly opened link or visit the new museum on platform 2. Explore the treasures and read all about the railway from its beginnings in 1882 through to the Bluebell Railway of the present day. 

The highlight of any visit to the Bluebell is a viewing of the fantastic collection of locomotives and carriages. 
From Platform 1 you can wander through the locomotive shed and view at close quarters the steam engines waiting their next turn of duty. Spot the oldest locomotive “Fenchurch” built in 1872, or his younger brother “Stepney” who appears in the famous Thomas the Tank Engine story books. 

Further information . 
National Trust Sheffield Park : http://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/sheffield-park-and-garden 
  
Blue Bell Railway : http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/ 

Timings on the day. 
10:00hrs : Arrivals at Pease Pottage 
10:30hrs : Depart Pease Pottage 
11:15hrs : Arrive Sheffield Park Gardens. 
13:45hrs : Depart Sheffield Park 
14:00hrs : Arrive at the Blue Bell line Car Park and leave when you wish from there.

Costs : 
Sheffield Park Gardens : £0 for NT Members. £8.50 Adult Standard Charge + Car Park Charge. 
Blue Bell Railway : £13.50 (2012 prices) + Car park charges.

As at 4 June the following people have said they are coming :-
 
  Meeting at Pease Pottage   Meeting at    Sheffield Park  Gardens
Paul & Jenny                 *  
Pete & Les                    *
     
Alan & Barbara                *  
Peter & Mogs                *  
Alan & Pauline                *  
Paul & Barbara                *  
Chris & Pat                *  
Malcolm & Rosemarie                *  
Helen H                *  
Chris and Heather                     *
Dudley & Sheila               *  
Tracy & Nick               *  
Pat M               *  
Belinda & John               *  
Geoff & Maz               *  
 Richard & Sheran                             *
 Steve T                  * 
 

 

 
 
 
 
 
3

Hi Paul

Heather and me will meet you at Sheffield Park

Chris &Heather

4

 Hi Paul  and Jenny Yes please Could you please ad Dudley & Sheila Tracey & Nick on the list

they are my Daughter and son in law who will be members by the end of this week

                                            Regards Dudley & Sheila

5

Hi Paul & Jenny, can you please add Me & Maz to the list to meet at PP services. Thanks Geoff. Thumbs up

6

Hi Folks<o:p></o:p>

Just an update on the arrangements for our visit to
Sheffield Park Gardens and the Bluebell Railway.


Sheffield Park Gardens – [Arrival between 11:15
& 11:30hrs]<o:p></o:p>

I have been in touch with Sheffield Park & Garden and it seems
they are keen to promote our visit as a 'Rally’.  They have offered us
free car parking and free entry to the Garden!<o:p></o:p>

All you have to do is say you are with the MX-5 OC and are ‘Rally
exhibitors’ when you go into the Gardens.  If you are already NT Members
then you will get in free anyway with your Membership Card.  <o:p></o:p>

On arrival they will have signage to direct us to an area where we can
all park next to each other. The restaurant will be open from 10.30 am. 


 Bluebell Railway. <o:p></o:p>

Timings for moving down from Sheffield Park Gardens after lunch to the
Bluebell railway are optional,  but I
suggest by 13:50hrs as the last return train to East Grinstead departs at
14:45hrs and gets back at 16:42hrs ( £16.00 3rd class return)<o:p></o:p>

The Sales office did not want to put our visit
in their diary, so I suggest the best place to park is in the Overflow Car
Park, which is on the left as you approach the main site about 100m before the
entrance but on the left (opposite) side of the road to the Station. There is Blue Badge Parking next to the Station so use that area to park if you have a Blue Badge.<o:p></o:p>

It’s also an Edwardian themed weekend on the
Bluebell Railway,  so I expect it will be busy.

 

For more info see the main
details at the top of this thread.<o:p></o:p>

 

All we need now is nice sunny weather! <o:p></o:p>

7

Thanks for a great day Paul we  loved the buggy ride  shame we couldnt get on the train, but never mind we are used to that kind of thing happening. great meeting  everyone again hope to see you soon 

Pete and Mogs K

 

8

Thanks for organising another great day out Paul and Jenny,

Just a shame you did not arrange some sunshine !

See you at Goodwood, Richard and sheran.

9

Hi Paul and Jenny Once again many thanks for a another wonderfull day out we as a  family most enjoyed it

and we shall now look forward to the next outing  Fantastic xxBig Smile ps i wish i could include a photo .

10

Hi Folks

Many thanks for all the positive comments on our outing yesterday and I was relieved it did not rain yesterday.  I knew if I carted those 2 brollies  round it would keep the rain at bay!

It was a bit of a shock to find the cost on the Bluebell railway was hiked up to an eye watering £22.50 pp return to East Grinstead for their Edwardian Day.  I figured it out later hat the National Trust discount was £2.50 from the normal £16 fair. However, it was nice of SPG to make it free entry for all.  For those that did not come on the train ride,  I have to say you did not miss a lot and we won’t be going there as a club event in the future.  Jenny and I had a nice day and I think everyone else did too  - my highlight (not!) was the train drive through the cutting in the old East Grinstead refuse tip, which had been deposited on the old line, with all the layers of old rubbish exposed alongside the track!!

We had a nice group photo at SPG and here is a link to this and a few other photos I took.  As usual I hope the link works and you can download any photos you want to save onto your PC. Any problems post her or email me.

https://plus.google.com/u/0/photos/118082107342213555879/albums/5893079166580900273

All the best

Paul

 

11

Hi Paul and Jenny May we thank you for organiseing a wonderful day out we all thought Sheffield park was a superb place and well worth the visit

as for Bluebell Railway it was not a problem we all enjoyed our visit  and what we chose to do.Your Photos are great and we shall put them in our gallery.

                                              Once again many Thanks Dudley & Sheila Geoff Maz Rose Malc Tracey & Nick

 

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