As part of Railway 200, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) is teaming up with the Bluebell Railway in East Sussex to celebrate and reflect on the varying forms of rail transport that have graced the railways across south London over the last two centuries.

As part of education and encouraging the next generation of children in to a future that involves science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM), GTR has assigned over 9,000 free tickets to school and college students from Greater London and Surrey to East Grinstead onboard Southern and Thameslink services, so they can take an educational visit to the Bluebell Railway.

Tickets will be available to schools and colleges and will be valid on Bluebell’s School Visit days, which will be every Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday from 2 June to 2 July

Youngsters will get the chance to see a range of historic steam engines, some built as long ago as the 1880s right the way through the country’s newest steam engine No.32424 Beachy Head which entered service last year.

There will also be the chance to learn about the evolution and working practices at the railways workshops and how this has shaped train travel between the 1880s and 1960s.

There will also be displays of the very latest trains, along with examples showing the future of rail travel on display at Horsted Keynes, while the London Transport Museum has designed educational activities for students to take part in.

GTR and Network Rail staff will provide railway safety lessons and careers advice in the rail industry.

If any schools or colleges are interested in taking a class on an educational visit to the Bluebell Railway using some of the 9,000 free GTR tickets to reach East Grinstead later this summer, they should visit www.bluebell-railway.com/railway-200.

A £250,000 grant that the Bluebell received from the National Lottery Heritage fund last summer has funded the visiting attractions and exhibitions, which aims to educate and teach not just children but anyone who wants to know about the history of railway travel and what the future of rail will look like.

“We’re excited to be working with the rail industry to celebrate Railway 200. Education visits are an important part of our Railway 200 event, which runs from June to September. GTR’s generous donation of free travel tickets will make education visits even more affordable for schools close to Southern stations in London and Surrey.”

Neil Glaskin, Chairman of the Bluebell Railway