Bluebell beats lockdown with virtual tours online
THE Bluebell Railway stopped running post- Christmas services after the Government placed Sussex in Tier 4 from Boxing Day – but you can still visit the railway and experience its highlights from the comfort of your home.
The railway has launched a new series of virtual tours, starting with a 360 tour of Horsted Keynes and Sheffield Park stations. Initially, the aim was to accommodate prospective visitors who were unable to visit the railway at Christmas due to tier restrictions.
However, the appeal has widened with the closure of the line until further notice.
The line’s marketing and communications manager Ruth Rowatt said: “It’s been a difficult year for many people and not everyone has been able to visit the Bluebell
Railway as planned. We wanted to create something that would bring the railway to the visitor’s home in an interactive way.
“We wanted to keep connected to our members, visitors and volunteers and thank them for their continued support. We wouldn’t have reached our 60th birthday in August 2020 without them.”
Financed by the Cultural Recovery Fund for Heritage, the virtual tours have been produced by the railway in collaboration with Stef van Vuuren of Stef’s Photography.
The railway is expanding the tours on offer to include its museum, a working booking office, carriage interiors and a tour of the carriage and wagon workshop.
➜ You can join the tours at www. bluebell- railway. com/ virtual- tours/