Uckfield line

[387star]

Explored part of this line for the first time today.

Alighted at Cowden which was certainly a throw back! Once the modern turbostar departed it felt like a scene from 'The Railway Children' could have conceivably been filmed there. No one else got off the train. There appeared go be nothing there! Amazing how relatively close to Croydon all this rurality is.

There are some lovely walks through fields alongside the railway.

I will be back to visit other stations along this line and possibly visit the Spa Railway.
On Sundays the service starts and ends at Oxted oresumably because there is no need for the extra traffic beyond Oxted to London.

I gather this line has seen a lot of growth in recent years having once narrowly avoided closure

Shame I missed the thumper era

 

[tsr]

A lot of the stations such as Cowden see use as "railheads" for passengers to drive to, as a sort of park-and-ride service to places like Croydon and London, and to a lesser extent Oxted et al.

In fact, Cowden is just about popular enough that out of the three unstaffed stations on the line (the other two being Hever and Ashurst, which are equally small and rural), it sees enough of this sort of custom to justify calls on a number of the semi-fast peak time services. Hever and Ashurst don't. This is despite its position on the single line, so any call uses up valuable time on the schedules of both Up & Down trains.

A lot of the surroundings of the Uckfield Line are indeed stunning, rolling Wealden countryside. Sometimes the foliage spoils some of the views - in those cases they are indeed best appreciated by getting off the train and going for a bit of a wander. The nicer station buildings are at Edenbridge Town, Hever (now a private office), Cowden (a railway waiting room and private house), Eridge (also, as you say, home to the SVR), Crowborough (a ticket office and semi-derelict taxi office), and Buxted (a very small ticket office). Even the station platforms often have lovely views - Ashurst and the very far London end of Buxted being two cases in point.

It's easy to be distracted from this by the very busy commuter trains and fairly ugly patches of light industry around stations such as Edenbridge Town and Crowborough, which don't always do justice to the former railway goods buildings which they inhabit.

The line has indeed seen quite a bit of growth, possibly not accurately reflected by season ticket sales, because prices are often the same from the larger stations vice the small ones, so people buy tickets to the more major stops in case they ever need to go there (or to allow them to circulate via Uckfield in the morning to get a seat, which is a surprisingly popular activity amongst the good citizens of Eridge, Crowborough and Buxted, despite the extra time taken). All platforms from Oxted to Uckfield are now capable of accommodating 10 coach 171 formations, and it is a testament to the line's growth that all 10 coaches in length are needed to allow timely boarding and alighting at the larger stations.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

I did it on a Sunday years ago, just as the sun was setting and was struck by how unexpectedly scenic the line was. I'll have to revisit again some day, perhaps tied in with some local walks; having a glance at an OS map for the area there does appear to be a decent array.

Given Cowden is 20 miles from Croydon it shouldn't exactly be surprising how rural it is: head 20 miles out of any major settlement in the UK and you can be in the middle of nowhere

 

[387star]

I did it on a Sunday years ago, just as the sun was setting and was struck by how unexpectedly scenic the line was. I'll have to revisit again some day, perhaps tied in with some local walks; having a glance at an OS map for the area there does appear to be a decent array.

Given Cowden is 20 miles from Croydon it shouldn't exactly be surprising how rural it is: head 20 miles out of any major settlement in the UK and you can be in the middle of nowhere

True but it did seem quite a quick journey and in the context of the mostly built up south east

The Londo nend of the line around Oxted looked very posh... Stock broker belt presumably with some impressive escarpments in the downs

 

[MidnightFlyer]

True but it did seem quite a quick journey and in the context of the mostly built up south east

Indeed - in fairness I recall being surprised by how rural it got almost immediately after leaving the Brighton Main Line.

 

[bramling]

The Londo nend of the line around Oxted looked very posh... Stock broker belt presumably with some impressive escarpments in the downs

Might appear posh, however go there at school-chuck-out time and you may have formed a slightly different impression!

 

[Chrisgr31]

In fact, Cowden is just about popular enough that out of the three unstaffed stations on the line (the other two being Hever and Ashurst, which are equally small and rural), it sees enough of this sort of custom to justify calls on a number of the semi-fast peak time services. Hever and Ashurst don't. This is despite its position on the single line, so any call uses up valuable time on the schedules of both Up & Down trains.

A lot of the surroundings of the Uckfield Line are indeed stunning, rolling Wealden countryside. Sometimes the foliage spoils some of the views - in those cases they are indeed best appreciated by getting off the train and going for a bit of a wander. The nicer station buildings are at Edenbridge Town, Hever (now a private office), Cowden (a railway waiting room and private house), Eridge (also, as you say, home to the SVR), Crowborough (a ticket office and semi-derelict taxi office), and Buxted (a very small ticket office). Even the station platforms often have lovely views - Ashurst and the very far London end of Buxted being two cases in point.

<snip>

The line has indeed seen quite a bit of growth, possibly not accurately reflected by season ticket sales, because prices are often the same from the larger stations vice the small ones, so people buy tickets to the more major stops in case they ever need to go there (or to allow them to circulate via Uckfield in the morning to get a seat, which is a surprisingly popular activity amongst the good citizens of Eridge, Crowborough and Buxted, despite the extra time taken). All platforms from Oxted to Uckfield are now capable of accommodating 10 coach 171 formations, and it is a testament to the line's growth that all 10 coaches in length are needed to allow timely boarding and alighting at the larger stations.

Its the line I commute on. The reasons for what are now semi-fasts stopping at Cowden puzzles us as very few people get on and off. Our theory is someone important at Southern, GTR, Network Rail etc lives there so the train stops for them!

I don't believe the taxi office at Crowborough is semi derelict, it has recently had money spent on it, but is certainly not a taxi office anymore. Actually not sure it ever was. Certainly cannot ever remember seeing an operational taxi office at the station!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Oh meant to say assumed with the new longer trains people will have stopped going south to come north but it seems not. All so desperate to be first through the barrier at London Bridge!

 

[JB_B]

I spent a lot of last Halloween traipsing through woods near Cowden station - as the frost mist set in and the tawny owls were hooting above - it really felt a bit too rural for me.

In daylight the woods are just a remnant sliver and you're just about under the Gatwick approaches but I still think it's a lovely part of the world.

 

[ashworth]

I did it on a Sunday years ago, just as the sun was setting and was struck by how unexpectedly scenic the line was. I'll have to revisit again some day, perhaps tied in with some local walks; having a glance at an OS map for the area there does appear to be a decent array.

Given Cowden is 20 miles from Croydon it shouldn't exactly be surprising how rural it is: head 20 miles out of any major settlement in the UK and you can be in the middle of nowhere

I have friends who until recentry lived in Purley, and I used to stay for at least one week with them each summer. I used to get the train down from East Croydon and did lots of lovely walks in the area down towards Uckfield and East Grinstead. I especially enjoyed walking around the Buxsted and Eridge areas.

I was also always amazed how rural the Tattenham Corner line seemed once you left Purley and that is in the London Travel Zone 6 area. A couple of years ago I did a very quiet rural 6 mile circular walk from Tattenham Corner via Epsom Racecource and around Walton on the Hill. I also used to get the train to Surbiton and then get the TfL Dorking bus down to the Box Hill area for walks, again using my Oyster card.
My friends used to find it amusing that as I live in a small village up here in Nottinghamshire, I went out into the country, rather than into London when I was down there.

 

[tsr]

I did it on a Sunday years ago, just as the sun was setting and was struck by how unexpectedly scenic the line was. I'll have to revisit again some day, perhaps tied in with some local walks; having a glance at an OS map for the area there does appear to be a decent array.

This is one of the more sentimental reasons why it was such a shame that the routes from Eridge to East Grinstead/Three Bridges and Hailsham closed. Certain parts of those lines would also be pretty lovely on, say, a sunny spring day.

True but it did seem quite a quick journey and in the context of the mostly built up south east

The Londo nend of the line around Oxted looked very posh... Stock broker belt presumably with some impressive escarpments in the downs

Woldingham is more upmarket than Oxted, really! However, you can't always see all the houses from the railway, largely due to how it was built on the section to the north of Oxted Tunnel (semi-deliberately to avoid the railway and houses seeing each other - in fact, it is said that the plans at one point indicated that the railway was meant to be in tunnel for some distance further towards Woldingham, but it was quite difficult enough to build Oxted Tunnel anyway - it took two goes to do it).

Indeed - in fairness I recall being surprised by how rural it got almost immediately after leaving the Brighton Main Line.

Might appear posh, however go there at school-chuck-out time and you may have formed a slightly different impression!

You've taken the words out of my mouth... it's scary that those trains are only dispatched by the driver now, too. Nobody mandated on the platform to try to repel their stupidity!

Its the line I commute on. The reasons for what are now semi-fasts stopping at Cowden puzzles us as very few people get on and off. Our theory is someone important at Southern, GTR, Network Rail etc lives there so the train stops for them!

I'm not sure about that. There are one or two retired staff in the area, but the only active staff I know of are train crew, I think.

Cowden certainly always feels busier than Hever and Ashurst, and it attracts custom on all the "high peak" services, as well as the first and second Up trains of the day. I honestly think it's a more worthwhile stop for passengers than the other two.

I don't believe the taxi office at Crowborough is semi derelict, it has recently had money spent on it, but is certainly not a taxi office anymore. Actually not sure it ever was. Certainly cannot ever remember seeing an operational taxi office at the station!

I remember seeing some vans and hazard tape around the place over the last few months, now you mention it. It certainly has plenty of Roadrunners Taxi branding on the platform side - not sure what that's all about, then!

Oh meant to say assumed with the new longer trains people will have stopped going south to come north but it seems not. All so desperate to be first through the barrier at London Bridge!

Yep, I'm not sure that habit will ever be easily stopped! I don't get why they don't trade that inconvenience for half an hour longer in bed - I know I would, especially with the new exit options at London Bridge!

I spent a lot of last Halloween traipsing through woods near Cowden station - as the frost mist set in and the tawny owls were hooting above - it really felt a bit too rural for me.

In daylight the woods are just a remnant sliver and you're just about under the Gatwick approaches but I still think it's a lovely part of the world.

It's spectacular at Halloween, that's for sure. I think the historic station buildings help, as well as the little quirks like the little graveyard by the line at Ashurst Junction, some of the field gates still being lit by candles (yes, really!!!), the old tunnels, the sheer emptiness of the London-bound trains in the evening, and the odd Selhurst conductor trundling through as the train goes past the last steam service of the day at Eridge, jingling their keys and moaning gently about engine crossfeeds...

As for the flight path, I tend to see more aircraft turning for final approach above Hever, Edenbridge and indeed Lingfield. But that could just have been my perspective on it!

 

[Chrisgr31]

Cowden certainly always feels busier than Hever and Ashurst, and it attracts custom on all the "high peak" services, as well as the first and second Up trains of the day. I honestly think it's a more worthwhile stop for passengers than the other two.

That's a bit of damning with faint praise, because it will be busier because the additional trains stop there! Ironically I think the car park is smaller than both the other, although it's the only one of the three I have never had a train terminate at so haven't actually seen it!

I remember seeing some vans and hazard tape around the place over the last few months, now you mention it. It certainly has plenty of Roadrunners Taxi branding on the platform side - not sure what that's all about, then!

The appearance of Roadrunners branding was quite a surprise. I am not sure if it was a deal over a certain area or what. I think Roadrunners may have tried to move in to the Crowborough taxi market but it was a half hearted effort and I only ever saw one of their taxis and that I only ever saw parked up outside a residential dwelling. I now see a taxi branded with one of the traditional Crowborough taxi firms outside the same dwelling, so I assume Roadrunners are no longer active in Crowborough if they ever were.

I think the historic station buildings help, as well as the little quirks like the little graveyard by the line at Ashurst Junction, some of the field gates still being lit by candles (yes, really!!!), the old tunnels, the sheer emptiness of the London-bound trains in the evening, and the odd Selhurst conductor trundling through as the train goes past the last steam service of the day at Eridge, jingling their keys and moaning gently about engine crossfeeds...

I think I know the conductor you mean. However have to say that most of the conductors on the line are friendly, helpful, willing to have a chat, and offer a perspective that is appreciated by the stalwarts of the line who have seen cancellations and delays for every reason ever heard!

As for the flight path, I tend to see more aircraft turning for final approach above Hever, Edenbridge and indeed Lingfield. But that could just have been my perspective on it!

Don't mention the flight paths, there is an active group in Crowborough complaining about flight paths from Gatwick and the noise. No idea why as I rarely notice it, indeed the only memorable time I do recall aircraft noise was a Virgin flight to Las Vegas which had an issue with the undercarriage and had to do a low flyby the airport to allow it to be inspeacted from the ground. That flew very low over my house, but is the only memorable plane, well other than an occasional military jet.

 

[Thebaz]

Explored part of this line for the first time today.

Alighted at Cowden which was certainly a throw back! Once the modern turbostar departed it felt like a scene from 'The Railway Children' could have conceivably been filmed there. No one else got off the train. There appeared go be nothing there! Amazing how relatively close to Croydon all this rurality is.

There are some lovely walks through fields alongside the railway.

I will be back to visit other stations along this line and possibly visit the Spa Railway.
On Sundays the service starts and ends at Oxted oresumably because there is no need for the extra traffic beyond Oxted to London.

I gather this line has seen a lot of growth in recent years having once narrowly avoided closure

Shame I missed the thumper era

It is indeed a lovely part of the countryside. I haven't been down that line though since the East Grinstead electrification gala, which is some years! Travelled from Oxted to Uckfield and back on a green-liveried Thumper!

I believe that once East Grinstead was electrified, the Uckfield line was pretty much reduced to a backwater with the only services to London in the morning peak and the return in the evening peak. At all other times trains started from Oxted. Prior to electrification trains used to split at Uckfield and it was an hourly service to both UCK and EGR. There are many so-called "reasons" why the line was singled years back and then missed out on electrification which have been discussed elsewhere, but now with the growth of the Sussex population and subsequent use of the line it does seem particularly short-sighted (and it's not the only line to have suffered this indiginity!)

 

[387star]

The turbostars also have a much more generous seating layout and design than the 377s complete with magazine nets in the backs if the seats! The ouggage racks are also carpeted and there are partition screens.

I presume they were built to this specificatin because all other turbistars being built at that time had that interior or was it in recognition if the longer distance work these units would be on?

If they were built now maybe they would be similar to 172s

 

[steamybrian]

Cowden is set in rural countryside over a mile from the village it serves. If you are visiting the area and fancy a walk then the pub you must visit is the Queens Arms at Cowden Pound about one and a half miles away on the B2026.
The stations on the Uckfield line have seen a significant rise in passenger numbers over the years due to a variety of reasons. Intensive marketing and fare pricing to London lower than the nearby SouthEastern line to London. There are many commuters living in Tunbridge Wells are now driving to stations on the Uckfield line where not only are tickets cheaper but car parking at stations is easier and cheaper. The word cheaper means free parking at Cowden.
Finally the Spa Valley Railway extension to Eridge has seen a steady number of passengers interchange between lines.
Note- Spa Valley Railway reopens on Saturday 4th February with Thumper no. 1317 operating.

 

[physics34]

It is indeed a lovely part of the countryside. I haven't been down that line though since the East Grinstead electrification gala, which is some years! Travelled from Oxted to Uckfield and back on a green-liveried Thumper!

205029 ..... Sadly lost in the Cowden accident....except for the DTCsoL....

....or was it a different green DEMU?

The Uckfield line should be double-tracked again in stages... ready for "when" the Lewes extension reopens...... enough of this chat and delay, AT LEAST get some things done that will help congestion now. At least the platforms have been extended.

As far as pubs on the line go, it seems the Welcome Stranger at Crowborough has closed down.

 

[Cletus]

I have to admit my only knowledge of Cowden is of the train crash nearby in the 80's(?). Is it still single track in that area?

 

[steamybrian]

I have to admit my only knowledge of Cowden is of the train crash nearby in the 80's(?). Is it still single track in that area?

It is single track from Hever through Cowden to Blackham Junction (about one mile north of Ashurst.

 

[physics34]

I have to admit my only knowledge of Cowden is of the train crash nearby in the 80's(?). Is it still single track in that area?

15th october 1994

 

[steamybrian]

....
As far as pubs on the line go, it seems the Welcome Stranger at Crowborough has closed down.

The only pubs I have visited in Crowborough is "The Wheatsheaf" adjacent to the railway line (going towards Buxted) but about half mile west of the station. Wetherspoons is a l-o-n-g, l-o-n-g uphill walk of over a mile in the town centre.
I can recommend "The Huntsman" adjacent to Eridge station.
Adjacent to Oxted station is Wetherspoons.
The Buxted Inn is a few minutes walk from Buxted station. Turn right out of the station, under the railway bridge and it is on the right.

 

[physics34]

The only pubs I have visited in Crowborough is "The Wheatsheaf" adjacent to the railway line (going towards Buxted) but about half mile west of the station. Wetherspoons is a l-o-n-g, l-o-n-g uphill walk of over a mile in the town centre.
I can recommend "The Huntsman" adjacent to Eridge station.
Adjacent to Oxted station is Wetherspoons.
The Buxted Inn is a few minutes walk from Buxted station. Turn right out of the station, under the railway bridge and it is on the right.

cheers for that...ive never done the pubs down there.... wondering if its worth doing a crawl but need to get the train timings right lol

 

[Thebaz]

205029 ..... Sadly lost in the Cowden accident....except for the DTCsoL....

....or was it a different green DEMU?

The Uckfield line should be double-tracked again in stages... ready for "when" the Lewes extension reopens...... enough of this chat and delay, AT LEAST get some things done that will help congestion now. At least the platforms have been extended.

As far as pubs on the line go, it seems the Welcome Stranger at Crowborough has closed down.

I didn't know that... It gives me the shivers to think that exact unit was involved in the fatal accident.

Sent from my HTC One A9 using Tapatalk

 

[Chrisgr31]

205029 ..... Sadly lost in the Cowden accident....except for the DTCsoL....

....or was it a different green DEMU?

The Uckfield line should be double-tracked again in stages... ready for "when" the Lewes extension reopens...... enough of this chat and delay, AT LEAST get some things done that will help congestion now. At least the platforms have been extended.

As far as pubs on the line go, it seems the Welcome Stranger at Crowborough has closed down.

Wouldnt disagree with anything in your post. The Welcome Stranger is no less, the public side of the bar was taken over by undesirables. COme out Crowborough Station walk down the road and through the end there is a lovely traditional pub. There's the Huntsman at Eridge.

 

[RichmondCommu]

I traveled down the line with my wife a couple of years a go to buy a car for our children from a bloke at Crowborough. At the time it appeared that the line had recently been singled which seemed surprising for a line so close to London.

 

[Chrisgr31]

I didn't know that... It gives me the shivers to think that exact unit was involved in the fatal accident.

Not as much as the shivers it gave the passengers and I believe the crew who predicted there would be an accident. Was just lucky it happened at a weekend.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's spectacular at Halloween, that's for sure. I think the historic station buildings help, as well as the little quirks like the little graveyard by the line at Ashurst Junction, some of the field gates still being lit by candles (yes, really!!!)

I was told that the candle is a memorial to someone that was killed by a train at that point.

 

[SGB1953]

Wouldnt disagree with anything in your post. The Welcome Stranger is no less, the public side of the bar was taken over by undesirables. COme out Crowborough Station walk down the road and through the end there is a lovely traditional pub. There's the Huntsman at Eridge.

Apologies for the non-railway diversion. Some 20+ years ago I visited a pub in Eridge. I think it was the Huntsman. On a wall was a photograph of Maurice Tate, a well-known Sussex and England cricketer of the 1920s and 1930s. Apparantly he had been the landlord there, in the early 1950s. I haven't been back since. It would be fair to say I was the only person there interested in the photo! It was well worth a visit then. Glad to hear it still is.

 

[physics34]

Wouldnt disagree with anything in your post. The Welcome Stranger is no less, the public side of the bar was taken over by undesirables. COme out Crowborough Station walk down the road and through the end there is a lovely traditional pub. There's the Huntsman at Eridge.

Do need to do a pub crawl down there at some point. Got to sample the area around the station last year with the crowborough terminating trains due to the platform extensions, and i must say that coffee shop just clost to the station is excellent and the staff really good and the bakers up the road is also lovely lol. Sadly wasnt allowed to have a beer!

 

[Chrisgr31]

Do need to do a pub crawl down there at some point. Got to sample the area around the station last year with the crowborough terminating trains due to the platform extensions, and i must say that coffee shop just clost to the station is excellent and the staff really good and the bakers up the road is also lovely lol. Sadly wasnt allowed to have a beer!

Yes both are excellent. That area is called Jarvis Brook and of course the staton used to be called Crowborough and Jarvis Brook. Oh and as a thanks for all the staff on the Uckfield Line do I'll buy you a beer

 

[physics34]

Yes both are excellent. That area is called Jarvis Brook and of course the staton used to be called Crowborough and Jarvis Brook. Oh and as a thanks for all the staff on the Uckfield Line do I'll buy you a beer

yeh a couple of the station building windows have Javisbrook on them.

Cheers, bottoms up!

 

[frodshamfella]

Explored part of this line for the first time today.

Alighted at Cowden which was certainly a throw back! Once the modern turbostar departed it felt like a scene from 'The Railway Children' could have conceivably been filmed there. No one else got off the train. There appeared go be nothing there! Amazing how relatively close to Croydon all this rurality is.

There are some lovely walks through fields alongside the railway.

I will be back to visit other stations along this line and possibly visit the Spa Railway.
On Sundays the service starts and ends at Oxted oresumably because there is no need for the extra traffic beyond Oxted to London.

I gather this line has seen a lot of growth in recent years having once narrowly avoided closure

Shame I missed the thumper era

I went to Oxted once years ago on this line in fact, I recall I travelled on one of the last Ellmers Ends to Sanderstead services and changed there for Oxted, then continued on one of the old thumpers. I have never been further than that but would like to see more of the line.

 

[Greenback]

I found the line very pleasant to travel on. Even during the afternoon peak out of London I managed to get a seat!