The Bluebell Railway Honouring The Locomotive Giants Of Times Long Past

The claims to fame of the London Gatwick Airport are many; it is Londons second largest

passenger and international air terminal after Heathrow, contains the worlds busiest single-use runway, is Europes number one airport for point for point flights and is generally favoured by chartered flights over Heathrow. As such, it seems almost inevitable that the frequent flyer will somehow end up spending an inordinate amount of time in Gatwick between stopovers; even if you arent and you dont, the scenic central London area is well worth a visit on its own merits.

The Bluebell Railway is one such aforesaid merit which is a popular draw for visitors. This is a heritage line that runs a nine mile length between Sheffield Park in East Sussex and Kingscote station West Sussex, which station is in close proximity to the Gatwick airport. This railway lays claim to the largest collection of steam locomotive trains in Britain, almost matching the number collected by the National Railway Museum (NRM). The railway also boasts among its ranks a great collection of wagons and carriages that are the pride of southern England. It is the first passenger railway in the world to be preserved as a national historical site, having opened in 1960; even before steam engines had completely ceased to be used by British Railways.

The stations are as much of a spectacle as the trains themselves; somewhat like Platform 9 and , they appear as portals into a different time and place, having been tastefully redesigns to reflect styles long lost to the passage of time. The Sheffield Park station has been renovated in an ambience reminiscent of the Victorian era while Kingscote is modeled in the style of the 1950s British Railways.

Today, this ambitious enterprise (which hopes to recreate yet another locomotive type of a bygone era in the near future) is managed almost entirely by volunteers. In 2007, a celebration was held marking the Bluebell Railways 125th birthday and 2009 saw the 50-year anniversary of its Preservation Society.

Visitors can further submerge themselves in this historic atmosphere by staying at The Copthorne Hotel Effingham Gatwick. This beautiful Gatwick hotel is itself a renovated historic country seat nestling within 40 acres of lush parkland. Situated just 10 minutes away from the Gatwick airport, this hotel is the choice pick from among all Gatwick hotels in which to best enjoy the area period-style, in comfort and convenience.

by: Pushpitha Wijesinghe

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