Prior to today, Hector was well aware of the existence of the Bluebell Railway, had seen it on TV Dramas but never knew of its precise locus.
As a regular visit to Crawley, West Sussex, it was known to be not that far away. This morning the bus to East Grinstead, the new northern limit of this preserved line, took the best part of an hour. There was a train south at Noon, minutes after Craig, Yvonne, Lord Clive and Lady Maggie arrived at East Grinstead Station. We were ticketed for Seven, where were Robin and Jonathan?
Maggie had bought tickets in advance, today is VE Day, numbers would be limited. We considered leaving the tickets for the Missing Two with The Gripper. This was superseded when Jonathan said he would drive to the far end of the line and meet us there.
The Steam Engine was facing towards the front of the Observation Carriage. The Five found seats with ease having passed people in 1940s costume occupying the discrete compartments in the other carriages. A train without a corridor, it has been a while.
Horsted Keynes was the main stop between East Grinstead and the far terminus at Sheffield Park. Here there was much activity on the platforms, musical events, display of arms and a Dad’s Army type display by the Home Guard. We would return.
Sheffield Park? Hector encountered an excellent Ale brewed by 360° on an Ale Tour of Lewes last year, what chance? Alighting at the terminus, there was no sign of Jonathan and Robin and very little phone signal.
Hector popped in to the Bessemer Arms and found Two Casks , one was the 360° West Coast IPA at 5.6%, the very Ale we sought. This is a Dark Gold IPA with plenty of American Hops, definitely in the required style.
We had time for the Swift Half, literally, for once. Jonathan and Robin were found and declared it was better for them to commence the eight hour drive back to Glasgow at this time. The rest of us would continue to play on the trains. There was a 14.00 appointment at Horsted Keynes.
As part of the VE Day celebrations, a Hawker Hurricane was due to fly over at 14.00. Delayed by a late take off from Biggin Hill, this gave more time to consider The Few, the participants in the Battle of Britain in which the Hurricane and Spitfire also had their Finest Hour. The Hurricane greatly outnumbered its counterpart in this Six Week Dogfight. A pity it proved to be impossible to photograph a fast moving subject with a non-SLR digital camera. Somewhere in the photo is a speck… the found photo may be more respectful.
We had an hour between trains, a chance to watch the Home Guard go through their motions. The Chaps looked authentic but their Officer was no Captain Mainwairing.
The Ladies remarked upon the smartness of the US Army uniforms. Craig and Hector cringed at the thought of having to wear the thick woollen British Army Battledress, not for our sensitive disposition.
We had to stand on the train back down to Sheffield Park where we knew the Ale awaited. This was indeed a bonus. Quality US Hops, in the style The Company seek. This time we even managed to secure a table and plastic glasses for the return trip back to East Grinstead.
Prior to boarding, Hector walked ot the far end of the platform at Sheffield Park to cross the Greenwich Meridian. What is Hector’s obsession with GMT?
The last train arrived at East Grinstead on time, but as is typical of public transport in the UK, there was no join up with the bus to Crawley. Still, Hector had Gatwick on his mind.
Work tomorrow, but not for a whole lot longer.