LAVENDER LINE RAILWAY
Father Christmas will be riding on the Santa Specials at the Lavender Line with presents for the children on
3rd, 9th, 10th, 16th & 17th December
Pre-Booking is essential ~ Please telephone 07518 764445
We look forward to welcoming our visitors on
Sunday, 28th January 2024, which will be a Diesel Day.
Our Resident Diesel Engine, Thumper 1118 will be operating a half-hourly service from Platform 2 from 11:00 – 16:00. The 13:30 service will not run.
Lavenders will be open from 10:30 – 16:00 for sandwiches with salad; soup and a roll; beans on toast; toast and jam; sausage roll and salad, tea, coffee and cakes & cold drinks. Please take a look in our Gift Shop on Platform 2. Tickets are purchased in our Gift Shop and we have a wide variety souvenirs and Christmas presents. Our Grade II listed Signal Box is located on Platform 2. Children enjoy operating the signal levers.
There will be no trains running in November.
Riley’s Miniature Railway will be running from Platform 2 on Sunday, 28th January 2024. For a small charge of £1.00 per person per ride to children & adults on their 5 inch gauge railway. All monies received are donated to the Evelina Children’s Hospital in London (part of Guy’s & St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust). Great fun for children & adults.
LIFELINE FROM GOVERNMENT’S CULTURE RECOVERY FUND
The Lavender Line is among 162 organisations receiving a lifeline grant from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, intended to meet ongoing costs and support to restart activity when it is possible to do so safely.
We will receive £15,300, which will cover our unavoidable overheads until the end of March 2021 as well as the costs of some changes required to help mitigate the hazards of COID-19 for our volunteers and visitors.
The Lavender Line ceased operation in March, just before the first lockdown and has not operated since. Unlike many other heritage railways, we were not able to restart operations in the summer, as the increased costs of operation under COVID safe conditions and reduced revenue would have made our losses even greater than not operating at all. This grant will enable us to pay the basic bulls until next year when we hope to reopen at Easter. We have continued to work on our railway, while we have been closed and expect to reopen with significant improvements to our preserved railway station.
LIFELINE FROM GOVERNMENT’S CULTURE RECOVERY FUND
The Lavender Line is among 162 organisations receiving a lifeline grant from the £1.57 billion Culture Recovery Fund, intended to meet ongoing costs and support to restart activity when it is possible to do so safely.
We will receive £15,300, which will cover our unavoidable overheads until the end of March 2021 as well as the costs of some changes required to help mitigate the hazards of COID-19 for our volunteers and visitors.
The Lavender Line ceased operation in March, just before the first lockdown and has not operated since. Unlike many other heritage railways, we were not able to restart operations in the summer, as the increased costs of operation under COVID safe conditions and reduced revenue would have made our losses even greater than not operating at all. This grant will enable us to pay the basic bulls until next year when we hope to reopen at Easter. We have continued to work on our railway, while we have been closed and expect to reopen with significant improvements to our preserved railway station.
Please join us in keeping alive a piece of history,
the Lavender Line Station roof needs your help
STOCK FOR SALE – April 2022
Following a reappraisal of what the railway intends to restore and keep long term the rolling stock below is offered for sale on an as seen and where lying basis. It is a condition of sale that the stock be removed from Isfield within two months of purchase. Assistance with loading will be provided and there is reasonable road access. All items are open to reasonable offers..
4 BIG BUFFET CAR No 6933
Gallery
Why are we called the Lavender Line?
There has been much speculation over the years as to the real reason why the railway was named the Lavender Line. For example, the railway seems to produce a large amount of bluebells growing in the wooded areas around the line. However, the real reason why it’s called the Lavender Line is because of the activities of a local businessman, A.E Lavender, who had his coal merchant office located by the cattle dock at Isfield Station.
Although his business was based in the nearby village of Ringmer, the closest railway station was Isfield and he therefore had his office situated at Isfield Station, which enabled coal deliveries to be taken straight from the railway coal yard to nearby businesses. The unique coal office still remains at Isfield Station to this day.
HIRE OUR FACILITIES !
The station or the whole railway can be hire for private functions on all days when there is no train service operating (subject to availability).
Lavenders for use as a meeting room.
Lavenders Tea Room is Licensed for birthday parties & wedding receptions
Station area for static use as a photographic backdrop.
Railway with train for filming or for school’s visits, parties, etc.
For enquiries & bookings, please contact us – 01825 750515 or Nigel – 07518 764445
We’ve always something going on
At the present time, The Lavender Line is not open every Sunday. Please see the front page of the Website and Facebook page for days we are operating. There are a number of special events for all age groups.
