Institution of Mechanical Engineers Join us for another interesting onsite technical South West Area visit to a heritage train line. There will be an private tour to the Locomotive Shed (and Coach Shed if time permits) BLUEBELL

RAILWAY

STEAM TRAIN HERITAGE TRAIN Train Journey between Clapham Junction and for this event is kindly sponsored LINE by Southern Railways.

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Saturday 8 September at 09:00

The Bluebell Railway Please register and make the payment for this Sheffield Park Station event using the following Near You event link: East TN22 3QL United Kingdom http://nearyou.imeche.org/near-you/UK/Greater- For further details please see attached maps London/London-SW-Area/event-detail?id=15576

BLUEBELL RAILWAY STEAM TRAIN HERITAGE TRAIN LINE The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for 11 mi (17.7 km) along the border between East and , , run by the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society. It uses steam trains which operate between Sheffield Park and East Grinstead, with intermediate stations at & Kingscote.

The first preserved standard gauge steam-operated passenger railway in the world to operate a public service, the society ran its first train on 7 August 1960, less than three years after the line from East Grinstead to had been closed by British Railways.

On 23 March 2013, the Bluebell Railway commenced running through to its new East Grinstead terminus station. At East Grinstead there is a connection to the UK national rail network, the first connection of the Bluebell Railway to the national network in 50 years, since the Horsted Keynes – Haywards Heath line closed in 1963.

Today the railway is managed and run largely by volunteers. Having preserved a number of steam locomotives even before the cessation of steam service on British mainline railways in 1968, today it has over 30 steam locomotives - the largest collection in the UK after the . The Bluebell also has almost 150 carriages and wagons, most of them pre-1939.

This heavily discounted visit includes a return journey on the Bluebell Railway as well as a private tour of the Locomotive Shed (and Coach Shed if time permits). There will be ample free time to explore and/or visit the restaurant. Southern Rail has granted us free group travel from Clapham Junction to East Grinstead (return) where we will change for the Bluebell Railway (10.55 service to Sheffield Park). Anybody wishing to take up the offer of free travel should meet at 09:00 outside the entrance to the Sainsbury’s Local store in the Clapham Junction station concourse. We will arrive back at Clapham Junction at 17:55. Everybody else should meet at 10:30 outside the Bluebell Railway entrance at East Grinstead.

* Please note this event requires booking/pre-payment and places are limited on a first come first serve basis. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Families are welcome to attend with their children. **Whilst the Bluebell Railway is accessible for disabled users, the locomotive and coach sheds are not suitable to wheelchair users.

Event Agenda: Saturday 8th Sep 2018 at 09:00 at Clapham Junction Station 09:00 Meet up at Clapham Junction Station The Bluebell Railway 10:30 Meet up at Bluebell Railway Entrance Sheffield Park Station in East Grinstead 11:00 Bluebell Railway service to Sheffield TN22 3QL Park United Kingdom 16:00 Bluebell Railway service from Sheffield Park For further information, please contact: 17:55 Return to Clapham Junction, vote of thanks and a brief on future events Eric Chu [email protected] Note: This event is valid for CPD

BLUEBELL RAILWAY 09:00 ON 8TH SEPTEMBER 2018 AT SAINSBURY LOCAL IN CLAPHAM

JUNCTION STATION

DIRECTIONS

BLUEBELL RAILWAY 10:30 ON 8TH SEPTEMBER IN EAST GRINSTEAD STATION