50th
Anniversary of the Bluebell Line's First Closure.
May 28th 1955 saw the Bluebell line
between Lewes and East Grinstead closed, this was a few days earlier than
expected due to a strike by footplate crews. Local opposition was strong and
following research by Madge Bessemer, a local resident, the closure was found to
be illegal and the line subsequently reopened for a short period. It was
discovered that British Railways actually required the original Act of Parliament
that authorised the building of the line in 1892, to be repealed.
British Railways were forced to
reopen the line on 7th August 1956, with a minimum service required by the
original act of four trains a day. Unfortunately the act specified the minimum
train service but did not record two of the stations, Barcombe
and Kingscote. These stations were excluded from the reintroduced service with
trains passing through but not stopping. This meant Kingscote station witnessed its last
passenger service under British Railway on Saturday 28th May 1955.
Over the gala weekend there were
locomotives operating which ran over the line during the 1950's, with engines
renumbered to represent locomotives that operated on the last day 50
years ago.
Standard Class 4 Tank 80151 ran
under 80017 & 80032. E4 Class Tank 3247 (formally called Birch Grove) operated as
32577. The final "Up" service to call at Kingscote in 1955 was hauled by an
Ivatt Tank which was covered by Mid Hants Railways 41312 renumbered 41302. A
guest appearance was made by locomotive 377s, The Brighton Works shunter. This
engine was never used on the Bluebell Line but was used on a number of
enthusiast events in at the time. Also working during the weekend to help
maintain a four train service were O1Class No.65 and Standard Class 4,
No.75027.
The weather once again was varied to
say the least with beautiful warm sunshine quickly turning to heavy
thunderstorms which made recording the event with pictures challenging.
