Bluebell Railway and Sheffield Park
4th April 1976
A day trip by coach from Southend to visit the steam railway at Sheffield Park, Sussex and then on to the National Trust gardens
The coach journey took us through various Kent villages and stopped for refreshments at Eynsford which we were pleasantly surprised to recognise as a place where we had stopped on our way back from Rye and Hastings at Whitsun 1973. Whilst the coach waited we strolled up to Eynsford Castle passing some pretty weatherboarded cottages on the way. Eynsford Castle was the ruins of a Norman castle and the outer wall stood quite high surrounding the inner ruins. Mildly interesting but we were not greatly impressed although it was probably quite a fine ruin.
On now to Sheffield Park station and the Bluebell Railway. We took a look around the engine shed on arrival to see various old locos being worked on or just stationary. On the station were many old enamel advertisements, a fine polished signal box and a small museum. We awaited the arrival of the return train from Horsted Keynes and photographed the engine - no. 488 - as it steamed in. Several photographs later and we were aboard for the ride to Horsted Keynes. The train steamed out taking us through pleasant countryside and under bridges as we watched the smoke drift away in the wind and caught glimpses of the engine up ahead as it pulled round the curves. We whistled through Freshfield Halt, a tiny platform not more than 10 feet long, and went in to the terminus at Horsted Keynes. Some more photographs and a quick look round and we were on our way back. The smoke drifted across the fields forming shadows like miniature clouds and the shadow of the engine flickered along on the grass with primroses beside the track. All too soon we had to board the coach for Sheffield Park Gardens only a short distance away. We took a look around Wings Haven Bird Sanctuary before going to the gardens. Lots of different wild and tame birds including some amazing owls, a buzzard and some kestrels, The entrance fee to the Gardens was quite a shock - 70p each - and was not really warranted. The gardens were of their kind very good, especially the view across the lake to the house, but somehow there did not seem to be a great deal of interest. The Gardens are renowned for their autumn colours so perhaps we were visiting at the wrong time of the year. Many of the trees, however, were interesting, especially the conifers, several varieties of which we had not previously seen.
After a quick visit back to the Bluebell Railway for tea in the buffet it was time to return home and we boarded the coach for the return journey through some of the higher land of Kent with surprisingly distant views. Neither of us felt well on the return journey which spoilt the enjoyment somewhat. Still it had been a good day out, particularly the ride and look round on the Bluebell Railway.