Editing Bluebell Railway (section)

===Horsted Keynes to Kingscote===
In 1974, the society purchased the [[Freehold (law)|freehold]] of the demolished [[West Hoathly railway station|West Hoathly station]], allowing the first steps to be taken towards an extension northwards towards [[East Grinstead railway station|East Grinstead station]]. It then purchased the freehold of the site of [[Kingscote railway station|Kingscote station]] in January 1985.<ref name=BBExtn/> These efforts culminated in a [[public inquiry]], with the Secretaries of State for the [[Secretary of State for the Environment|Environment]] and [[Secretary of State for Transport|Transport]] giving [[planning permission]] and a [[Light Railway Order]] for an extension to East Grinstead in 1985.<ref name=BBExtn>{{cite web|url=http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/extend.html|title=Bluebell Railway Extension|publisher=Bluebell-Railway.co.uk|access-date=10 February 2013}}</ref>

The Bluebell Railway Preservation Society completed the extension from Horsted Keynes to Kingscote in April 1994,<ref name=BBExtn/> re-laying track through Sharpthorne Tunnel, which at {{convert|731|yd|m|0|disp=or}} is the longest on a UK heritage railway. At the north end of Sharpthorne Tunnel, the line passes through the site of the former West Hoathly railway station. It was demolished in 1967, but remains of the platforms and goods dock are still visible.

2010 marked the Bluebell's 50th anniversary of running trains.<ref name=Welch/><ref name=BBC8687797/> To mark the event, the railway held a gala over 6–8 August 2010 with all available home engines and two visitor engines.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bluebell-railway.co.uk/bluebell/events/50th.html|title=Bluebell Railway - 50th Anniversary Events|website=www.bluebell-railway.co.uk}}</ref> Some of the society's founder members gathered at Horsted Keynes to mark the arrival of a commemorative [[LB&SCR A1X class 55 Stepney|LB&SCR A1X class No. 55 ''Stepney'']]-hauled steam train. The entourage then travelled towards Sheffield Park.<ref name=BBC8687797>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/sussex/8687797.stm|title=Bluebell Railway in Sussex celebrates 50th anniversary |work=BBC News|date=17 May 2010|access-date=12 February 2013}}</ref>