Date: 06/10/2012

One of the founding members of a West Sussex steam railway, which opened to the public more than 50 years ago, has died at the age of 104. Bernard Holden was one of the leading figures in the creation of the Bluebell Railway and chaired the first meeting of the society in 1958. Mr Holden, who was made an MBE for services to the railway, died on Thursday at a home near Burgess Hill. The railway runs for nine miles from Sheffield Park to Kingscote. Work to extend the line to East Grinstead is under way, and is expected to be completed in March next year.

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Steam railway founder dies at 104

BBC News

One of the founding members of a West Sussex steam railway, which opened to the public more than 50 years ago, has died at the age of 104.

Related images

Bulleid West Country Pacific no 21C123 Blackmore Vale, lined out in Southern Railway colours, photographed at Sheffield Park on the Bluebell Railway on 29 July 2001.
Location: Sheffield Park
Company: East Grinstead to Culver Junction (London, Brighton and South Coast Railway)
29/07/2001 Peter Todd

Merchant Navy Class 35027 Port Line leaves Horsted Keynes on the Bluebell Railway and heads for Kingscote in 1992.
Location: Horsted Keynes
Company: East Grinstead to Culver Junction (London, Brighton and South Coast Railway)
//1992 Ewan Crawford

View from the signal box at East Grinstead in March 1986. One of the much-loved Thumper DEMUs has just arrived at the platform [see image 21569].
Location: East Grinstead
Company: St Margaret^s Junction to East Grinstead (London, Brighton and South Coast Railway)
/03/1986 Ian Dinmore