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Thursday, November 27, 2008, 00:00
The first cut on the next phase of the project to reconnect the railway with the town took place on Tuesday.
Blocking the way at Imberhorne Lane is thousands of tonnes of domestic waste which was dumped in 1960s.
The waste is now being dug out to make way for trains from 2010 in a £5m project.
In the presence of town, district and county councillors, railway officials and the media, East Grinstead town mayor Ginnie Waddingham and BBC broadcaster Nicholas Owen set the giant excavator working on the clearance.
The guests boarded the train from Kingscote Station before taking track as far as Imberhorne and heading into the waste site.
Roger Kelly, from the Bluebell Railway, said: "This is the first time we've taken passengers up this part of the track. The Bluebell carries an awful lot of people from one county to another."
The Bluebell currently runs for nine miles from Sheffield Park to Kingscote but the extension will take it an extra two miles to East Grinstead.
Chairman of the Bluebell Railway, Graham Flight said he was glad the railway was coming back to the town.
"It's only taken 30 years," he said.
Before she took her place at the controls of the digger, councillor Waddingham spoke to the excited crowd.
She said: "It's really happening and I'm so pleased to be here today. East Grinstead is so happy and proud. The Bluebell means so much to everyone.
"It's so wonderful to be coming back into the town.
"It's very kind of the Bluebell Railway to invite us all down here. I'm so excited about getting on the digger."
Nicholas Owen said: "The Bluebell is just so much in my heart. I've done my bit. To get to East Grinstead is just perfection. It's just such fun today. A huge round of applause for the Bluebell."
Both Councillor Waddingham and Mr Owen had a chance to operate the 25 metre long excavator, which was used for the Channel Tunnel Rail link.
Councillor Waddingham said: "It's the best fun a mayor could have. It was wonderful. I was concentrating so hard."
The event was overseen by a extra special guest, Bluebell Preservation Society chairman 100-year-old Bernard Holden, who hopes to be able to board the first train to East Grinstead.
He said: "It's a great day, if the Railway gets to East Grinstead. It all started back in 1960. Today is a tremendous exercise.
"We hope it will be successful and people in East Grinstead will benefit from better connections to the south and London."
Roy Watts, chairman of the Bluebell Railway Preservation Society said: "We are particularly hoping for support from the residents and businesses of East Grinstead as we believe that when the Railway terminates there it will bring economic benefit to the town."
The excavation is partly being funded by the Bluebell Railway's share offer which was launched this summer and which has raised almost £500,000.
The offer remains open until December 31, and the railway hopes to raise £1.8m from it.
Anyone interested should ring 01825 720800 or visit the website www.blubell-railway.co.uk.
Excited: East Grinstead town mayor Ginnie Waddingham and broadcaster Nicholas Owen at the site
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