HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Great Escapes: Sussex 1 On the right track It's strange - in the heyday of the railways, steam trains were generally regarded as being a dirty, filthy, but necessary form of transport. People living near railway lines were forever complaining of the soot and smoke being pumped out by passing locomotives. How things have changed; nowadays, people will travel miles just to see a steam train pass by. 1. Kent and East Sussex Railway The Kent and East Sussex railway runs for ten and a half miles from Bodiam Castle in East Sussex to Tenterden in West Kent. The line has been in existence since the beginning of the 20th century when it was known as the Rother Valley Railway. It had a chequered history during its time as a commercial railway and was closed to passenger transport in January 1954, and to freight in 1961. Thirteen years later, a registered charity was set up to run the railway, with the first two miles of the present track being opened in February 1974. Visitors can catch the train at Tenterden or Bodiam stations, or at the mid-point stop at Northiam. The Tenterden station is down a side road off the main high street and is the headquarters of the railway. Here, you'll find the main buildings including the museum, shop, carriage and wagon workshop, as well as a buffet. At the station, there is a small parking area available for disabled drivers but other visitors must use the parking facilities provided, a short distance away. At the height of the season, two steam locomotives are used daily. During the quieter periods the job is shared between one steam and one diesel locomotive. Just outside Tenterden the train passes Rolvenden Station, which was the original Tenterden station and headquarters of the locomotive works. Northiam Station lies at the mid-point of the journey and anyone beginning their trip from here will find plenty of free parking. From Northiam, the train travels to its southern terminal at Bodiam (the castle is only five minutes walk away). There is no separate parking at this terminal, so passengers must leave their cars in the National Trust car park. Allow about one-and-three-quarter hours for the round trip, or longer if you decide to get off at Bodiam and visit the castle - certainly one of the finest moated fortresses anywhere in the UK. 2. Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park The Eastbourne Miniature Railway is next to the Eastbourne Golfing Park in Lottbridge Drove. The railway was started ten years ago and is now about a mile in length running around a five-acre coarse-fishing lake. Currently there are five steam and two diesel locomotives plus an indoor display featuring 00-gauge layouts. Younger children will enjoy the display case containing the original BBC model of Thomas the Tank Engine. Outside is an adventure playground, a willow maze and a nature walk around the fishing lake. Light refreshments are available at the ticket office. The train ride takes about six minutes, and a walk around the lakeside nature trail about 30 minutes, but what we particularly liked was the fact that you could spend either half an hour or a whole day at the park because there's certainly enough to keep kids, mum and dad occupied. A word of warning though; dogs are not allowed. 3. The Bluebell Railway This is undoubtedly one of the best-known steam railways in the country. It runs from Sheffield Park on the A275 Lewes to East Grinstead road, north to Kingscote. It was used as a film location for the most recent version of The Railway Children which on this occasion featured actress Jenny Agutter as the mother instead of the eldest daughter - the part she played in the original version some 30 years ago. Passengers intending to start their journey at Kingscote are advised to park at East Grinstead and take a bus from the station or high street, because there is no road access at Kingscote. Parking is available in the summer at the mid-station stop of Horsted, and all year round at Sheffield Park Station. Before taking a trip on one of the steam trains from Sheffield Park, passengers can see engines being restored to working condition, visit the museum and gift shop, or sample the food in the Bessemer Arms, named after Miss Bessemer who was instrumental in saving the line from extinction. As the train leaves the station it actually crosses the Greenwich meridian and so travels from the eastern to the western hemisphere. Further on, at Horsted Keynes Station you can see the line's Carriage and Wagon Works where the carriages are restored and maintained. Tours of the works are conducted on Bank Holidays and 'special event' days. Adjacent to the station is a picnic area. As the train continues its journey to Kingscote station it passes through Sharpthorne tunnel - claimed to be the longest privately-preserved tunnel in the country - and shortly afterwards arrives at Kingscote station. Although there is little to see or do here, it is worth mentioning that you can buy a Bluebell Walks brochure (for £1.50) which includes a walk from Kingscote back to Horsted Keynes. There's a second walk from Horsted Keynes back to Sheffield Park station. The brochure states that you should allow three and four hours respectively for the two walks. HOME PAGE | TOP OF PAGE GREAT ESCAPES   On the right track  Super seaside days  Lock and learn  BACK TO ARCHIVE FACTFILE: PLANNING Distance 110 miles Time 9 hours Start/finish Camping and Caravanning Club Site, Crowborough Suitable for all the family Tourist information Sussex Country (South) Information Centre Tel 01323 442667 Sussex Country (North) Information Centre Tel 01825 713862 Refreshments The Blue Anchor, Beacon Road (A26) Crowborough Tel 01892 654519 Attractions East Kent and West Sussex Railway Tel 01580 765155 Bodiam Castle Tel 01580 830436 Eastbourne Miniature Steam Railway Adventure Park Tel 01323 520229 The Bluebell Railway Tel 01825 720800 HOLIDAYS  BUYING  HELPLINE Contact Practical Caravan Best viewed in screen resolution 800 x 600 using I.E.4 or Netscape 4 or later.