Bluebell Railway Northern Extension - Imberhorne Lane Tip
Separate collections cover (a) Track improvements north of Kingscote; (b) Vowels Lane Bridge to Imberhorne Lane Bridge; (c) Imberhone Tip; (d) Hill Place Farm Bridge to Hill Place Viaduct; (e)Hill Place Viaduct (sometimes called Imberhorne Viaduct); and (f) the Bluebell Railway's East Grinstead Station.
Please note that the vast majority of these pictures were taken on private land with permission. Where necessary lookout protection was provided or a possession was taken. No matter what their status no pedestrian may enter the section of restricted clearance adjacent to Turners Hill Bridge without specific authority and appropriate protection.
The whole area of the extension is OUT OF BOUNDS to holders of a photographic PTS. I have authority from the Bluebell Railway to display this collection.
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Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge in 2006, this is the top of the southern end of the tip, covered by trees and shrubs. 09.04.2006
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Essentially the same view in 2007, looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge. This is the top of the southern end of the tip, covered by trees and shrubs. However, by this time some trial digging was taking place under the bridge. 27.03.2007
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
In 2007 the face of the tip was actually under Imberhorne Lane Bridge. This shot of the north side of the parapet shows the tip face fenced off, with signs warning of Danager Deep Excavation. 27.03.2007
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Taken at a slightly different angle, the well trodden path beside the safety fence was formed by locals walking behind the parapet across the tip, rather than crossing Imberhorne Lane Bridge itself, where there was fast moving traffic and little space. In effect the tip was being used as a footbridge. Bluebell have since removed the local population's convenient crossing. 27.03.2007
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking east through the safety fence, down towards the tip face at Imberhorne Lane Bridge. 27.03.2007
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking south through the safety fence, down towards the tip face at Imberhorne Lane Bridge. 27.03.2007
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking west through the safety fence, down towards the tip face at Imberhorne Lane Bridge. 27.03.2007
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
A vastly different view north in 2009, with the majority of the inert spoil adjacent to Imberhorne Lane bridge removed, and an impressive hole. The full width of the cutting is included in this picture, and the (large) mechanical digger gives some impression of scale. 23.04.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Moving the camera slightly downwards the depth of the excavation can be seen. (Compare the drop to the size of the digger). 23.04.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking down into the bottom of the vast hole, the end of the track can just be seen. Not too many months previously pedestrians used to walk across the top of this hole on the northern side of the parapet, to avoid the fast moving traffic on Imberhorne Lane Bridge. 23.04.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge at the western embankment, which has been shaped by the diggers. A temporary access road for the diggers is on the left. 23.04.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge at the eastern embankment, at the point at which it currently disappears into the tip. Trees on the top of the cutting have been felled. 23.04.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
The eastern side of the embankment north of Imberhorne Lane Bridge. This has been taken right back to the original rock face. 23.04.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking down from the northern side of Imberhorne Lane Bridge a section of track has passed right under the bridge. 23.04.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
By 2011 a cutting was slowly being formed through the rubbish, with diggers working towards each other from the south and the north. Rubbish was predominantly removed by train after an experiment with the use of road transport. This view looks north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge. 24.11 2011 3115
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
By 2011 a cutting was slowly being formed through the rubbish, with diggers working towards each other from the south and the north. This view looks north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge. 24.11 2011 3111
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
By 2011 a cutting was slowly being formed through the rubbish, with diggers working towards each other from the south and the north. This view looks north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge. 24.11 2011 3113
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
By 2011 a cutting was slowly being formed through the rubbish, with diggers working towards each other from the south and the north. This view looks north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge. 24.11 2011 7601
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge at one of the mounds of clay capping that needed to be removed to gain access to the rubbish below. 24.11 2011 3114
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge at one of many diggers. 24.11 2011 7600
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge in 2013, with sufficient rubbish cleared to create space for a single line, and preparations in progress to lay the track. 17.02.2013 6142
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Moving the camera slightly to the left it can be seen that surplus clay capping is still piled on the site, but it has been moved away from the edge of the embankment. 17.02.2013 6143
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge in 2013, with sufficient rubbish cleared to create space for a single line, and preparations in progress to lay the track. 17.02.2013 6140
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge in 2013, with sufficient rubbish cleared to create space for a single line, and preparations in progress to lay the track. 17.02.2013 8473
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge in 2013, with sufficient rubbish cleared to create space for a single line, and preparations in progress to lay the track. 17.02.2013 6141
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge in 2013, with sufficient rubbish cleared to create space for a single line, and preparations in progress to lay the track. 17.02.2013 8471
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking north from Imberhorne Lane Bridge in 2013, with sufficient rubbish cleared to create space for a single line, and preparations in progress to lay the track. 17.02.2013 8470
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
At the centre of the cutting, out of sight of both bridges, there was a hollow in the west side which was used to haul material up out of the cutting floor. Two machines are seen partially within this hollow. 17.02.2013 8469
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Now moving to the north end of the tip at Hill Place Farm Bridge. This view from the public footpath looks south over the parapet before any work was done. The top of the tip is level with the top of the bridge. 27.03.2007
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
A second shot from Hill Place Farm Bridge, this time including the parapet, shows the height of the tip. 27.03.2007
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Hill Place Farm Bridge In October 2008. This view looks south over the bridge parapet. At the time this end of the tip remained intact with a marginal regrowth of weeds after the top of the tip had previously been cleared of trees and undergrowth. The metal fence guards a deep hole at the end of the tip. 18.10.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
The exposed eastern embankment south of Hill Place Farm Bridge after the trial phase of the digging at Imberhorne Lane tip in December 2008. 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking south east from Hill Place Farm Bridge to the point where the eastern embankment meets the new temporary clay cap on the north end of Imberhorne Lane tip. 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
The temporary clay cap on the northern end of Imberhorne Lane tip, looking south from Hill Place Farm Bridge. The fence gives an impression of scale. There is a huge drop down into the water filled pit at the base of the clay cap. 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking south over the top of the clay cap from Hill Place Farm Bridge. At the time waste was being removed by road and lorries approached the digging face from the south (towards the camera). 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking south from Hill Place Farm Bridge with a longer lens. An additional hazard just south of the clay cap is live overhead power cables (note the warning markers). 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking south west from Hill Place Farm Bridge at the point where the temporary clay cap meets the exposed western embankment. 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
The exposed western embankment south of Hill Place Farm Bridge. 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking down from Hill Place Farm Bridge into the water filled pit at the base of the excavation. The eastern embankment is in the background. Water is draining into this pit from the adjacent land. 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
The reverse of the previous view, looking down into the water filled pit from Hill Place Farm Bridge, with the western embankment in the background. 20.12.2008
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Nearly a year later this view through Hill Place Farm Bridge looks south towards the northern cap on Imberhorne tip during a temporary pause in the work. 10.10.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking south at the clay cap on Imberhorne tip from under Hill Place Farm Bridge during a temporary pause in the work. 10.10.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking south across the top of Imberhorne tip from Hill Place Farm Bridge, with some weed regrowth appearing during a temporary pause in the work. 10.10.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
The northern cap on Imberhorne tip during a temporary pause in the work, with some weed growth hiding the clay. 10.10.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking down from Hill Place Farm Bridge into the water filled pool at the base of the clay cap. 10.10.2009
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Six months after the last picture, looking south towards the clay cap at the northern end of the tip.. The view is little changed. 17.04.2010 2012
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
A view south across the top of the tip during a passing visit two mnoths later shows increased weed regrowth but no other change. 26.06.2010 2976
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip
Looking down at the weed covered temporary clay cap in the north end of the tip. 26.06.2010 2978
bluebell railwaybluebell railway northern extensionnepimberhorne tipimberhorne laneimberhorne lane bridgehill place farm bridgeeast grinsteadwaste extractionimberhorne lane tip