East Grinstead (Low Level) (excl.) - Horsted Keynes (excl.); Horsted Keynes Jct. - Culver Jct.
Date Closed to Passenger Services
17 Mar 1958
Mileage Closed
17m 7c*
Stations Closed
Kingscote (30/05/1955); West Hoathly
Sheffield Park; Newick & Chailey; Barcombe (30/05/1955)
Services Operated
London Victoria/London Bridge/Oxted/East Grinstead - Brighton (pre 30/05/1955)
East Grinstead - Brighton (07/08/1956 - 17/03/1958)
Timetable Reference
B1460 May/Jun 1955 p282; B1491 Apr 1958 S24
Cobb Atlas Reference
64 37 29 - 86 38 38; 86 37 29 - 42 14
Present Status
Preserved - East Grinstead - Sheffield Park. Dismantled - remainder.
Map
RCH SE 1906
Further Notes
First ACD - Mon 30/05/1955 - prematurely due to ASLEF strike, closure originally scheduled for Mon 13/06/1955. Deemed illegal. RO - Tue 07/08/1956 - RHRGB Vol. 2 Southern England D&C 1982 p98.
Second ACD - Mon 17/03/1958 - PNM 1980 p39. LTR - Sun 16/03/1958.
The demise of this line proved to be an important milestone in the history of railway closures in the UK. For a fascinating and detailed account of the events surrounding the closing of the "Bluebell Line", see Last Trains, C. Loft, Biteback Pub 2013.
*RCH SE 1924.
East Grinstead (Low Level) (excl.) - Horsted Keynes (excl.) 6m 26c
Horsted Keynes Jct. - Culver Jct. 10m 61c
Sheffield Park - East Grinstead RO progressively from 07/08/1960 to 23/03/2013 by the Bluebell Railway as a preserved tourist railway.
Page updated: 28/12/2022