The Lavender Line heritage railway at Isfield is due to reopen at the end of this month after being closed for more than a year because of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The railway will welcome visitors on Sunday, August 29, and on Bank Holiday Monday, August 30, from 9am to 4.30pm. After that it will be open to the public every Sunday.

Refurbished buffet

The newly refurbished buffet, now renamed Lavenders Tea Room, will be open as will the signal box, outside children’s play area and gift shop. 

However the main heritage railway will not be running at present due to ongoing operational difficulties.

Miniature railway

Those who were hoping to have a train ride will still be able to because Riley’s Miniature Railway, which operates from Platform 2, and which carries adults as well as children will run on both days, from 10.30am to 4.30pm.

This is 50p per head per ride with all fares and donations collected being sent to the Evelina Children’s Hospital, London, which is part of Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust. 

Volunteers

The miniature railway also hopes to be open every Sunday after this although this is subject to their very small band of volunteers being available so do please check their Facebook page for updates and operating days. 

It is also hoped that several large scale miniature traction engines will be visiting the Lavender Line on both the Sunday and Monday (August 29 and 30). 

Scale models

These scale models which work in exactly the same way as the real things and you should be able to see them in steam. Proud owners would be only too pleased to explain to those interested in how a steam engine works. 

For more information please see the Lavender Line website: https://www.lavender-line.co.uk

 

Article re-posted with kind permission of  https://uckfieldnews.com