Crowborough Station and Crowborough Tunnel
The line was extended north from Uckfield to join a new line from Tunbridge Wells to Groombridge in the period 1864 to 1868. Work was complicated by the need to construct a tunnel and two viaducts between Buxted and Crowborough, but the line opened on 5 August 1868. Double track was provided in 1894. In the early days services were directed towards Tunbridge Wells and it was not until 7 June 1914 that direct services travelled north from Eridge to Ashurst and on to Oxted.
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Crowborough Station is large, spacious building and if you arrived knowing nothing about the Uckfield line it might reasonably be assumed to be a main line station. Being actually in Jarvis Brook and very close to the large town of Crowborough the car park is invariably full. 07.12.2005
The main entrance to Crowborough Station viewed from the west. The station was named Rotherfield until 1 August 1880, when it became Crowborough. Jarvis Brook was added to the station name in 1897, but this later fell into disuse. 07.12.2005
A view south showing the car park on the western side of the line. This was originally a large goods yard and (on the left) cattle pens with a suitable loading dock. There was also a long siding running directly adjacent to the boundary with Farningham Road where the cars on the right are currently parked. This joined the main line south of the station alongside Crowborough Brick Works. On the left a train departs towards Buxted and Uckfield. 10.04.2008
Another view of Crowborough station building, looking from the north. 07.12.2005
The platform side of the main building in 2008. The canopy originally ran the whole length of the building. The door that is used as the entrance to the station has been painted in Southern green, but the blue doors nearer the camera would benefit from some attention. 10.04.2008
Southbound passengers have never enjoyed large facilities, but they did originally have a canopy. In recent times they at least have the benefit of a brick built shelter. Given that there is now only Buxted and Uckfield to the south there is not usually a crowd on the platform. 07.12.2005
Looking north from Crowborough Station towards Eridge. Just north of the station there is a single line section which extends through Eridge to Ashurst. 19.09.1998
Trains can go north from Crowborough Station from either platform. This facility presumably caters for potential problems in the single line section south to Uckfield. The signals are arranged in a similar way to Hever station with blue SPAD (Signal Passed At Danger) warning signals beyond the main signal. If a train passes the main signal it should be brought to a halt, but the SPAD signals are also activated and show a steady red in the centre with flashing red lights above and below the steady red aspect. 10.04.2008
A slightly longer lens shows the SPAD signals and junction more clearly. 10.04.2008
Looking south along Crowborough station platform from the north end. 10.04.2008
Crowborough Station has the benefit of a large canopy for northbound passengers, although it originally extended further to the south. The bridge in the background was a temporary structure erected in 2005 whilst repairs were made to the main footbridge. 07.12.2005
A view north showing the main building at Crowborough Station. The canopy originally extended to the end of the building. 10.04.2008
This older picture shows the station in 1998. A goods yard and cattle pens were originally behind the wooden fence on the left. On the right there appears to be the remains of a bay platform but actually two goods sidings were sited there. The nearest siding curved past the brick shelter in the distance and terminated beyond the footbridge at the end of the platform. 19.09.1998
A later view from 2005 includes the tempoary footbridge. New Southern signs and colours are in evidence, and health and safety has prevailed - a fence has been installed to prevent passengers falling off the right hand side of the platform! 07.12.2005
The same view in 2008, with the temporary footbridge removed. The area behind the wooden fence on the left is now a car park. 10.04.2008
Looking over the fence on the southbound platform, it can be seen that at least one of the two sidings is still in situ although the growth of the trees shows how long it has been disused. The track is positioned some distance from the platform edge, showing that this was never intended as a passenger facility. 07.12.2005
Towards the north end of the platform, where the track starts to curve around the shelter, is the remains of a short loading dock which allowed goods to be brought straight on or off the platform. 07.12.2005
In 1998 Thumper 205001 runs into Crowborough station en route to Oxted. This unit was one of the four units involved in the Cowden rail accident. It was the rear three coaches of the six car Up train, and sustained no significant damage in the collision. At the end of the platform the fixed danger signal can be seen which allows trains to run south into the northbound platform and terminate if required. 19.09.1998
Thumper 205001 waits to leave Crowborough for Oxted. 19.09.1998
Turbostar 171802 leads an eight car train southbound into Crowbrough. Stations south of Crowborough can only accommodate six coach trains, but at least passengers can walk forward in the new trains, a facility that did not exist in the Thumpers. 10.04.2008
A view south from the southbound platform at Crowborough Station. A signal box stood at the end of this platform and on the right the land was formerly a goods yard. 10.04.2008
Looking south from Crowborough station with a long lens. The trees on the right of the picture mark the position of Crowborough Brick Works. The siding running towards the left bottom of the picture leads to the sidings on the east side of the platforms (disused) and another siding sweeps away south towards the goods shed (see next picture). The points nearest the camera directed wagons left into a very large coal yard. 10.04.2008
Crowborough goods shed looking north towards the station. The two running lines are on the left. Two old sidings can just be seen in the grass between the main lines and the goods shed. To the right of the goods shed is the area which was originally the coal yard. 07.12.2005
171821 heads north past the goods shed en route to Crowborough station and London. Some of the modern housing in the town can be seen in the background. 07.12.2005
A closer view of the old goods shed, which is now used for industrial purposes. In the foreground the goods yard still contains a goods wagon, the purpose of which is unclear. 07.12.2005
This view of the goods yard from a slightly different angle shows the very significant size of the building. 07.12.2005
The vehicle loading dock on the eastern side of the goods shed. Beyond the shed the lorry stands at the entrance to the old coal yard. 07.12.2005
South of Crowborough goods yard, trains run south towards Crowborough Tunnel, seen here looking south from Tunnel Bridge. 10.04.2008
A slightly longer lens shows the approach to Crowborough Tunnel. On construction the tunnel was (like the station) originally called Rotherfield Tunnel, but the name of the tunnel changed on 1 May 1897. This view looks south on 10.04.2008
Crowborough Tunnel allows the line to pass through the ridge of the Wealden Heights, this shot showing the height of the hill above the tunnel. This section of the line opened on 3 August 1868. 10.04.2008
A longer lens provides this shot of the northern portal of Crowborough Tunnel seen from Tunnel Bridge. Although light can be seen from the other end of the tunnel the lens makes the distance appear shorter. The tunnel is actually 1022 yards in length. 10.04.2008
An overbridge at Fordbrook Farm provides this view north towards Crowborough Tunnel and Crowborough Station. 07.12.2005
Looking south from the Fordbrook Farm overbridge. The double track continues south for a while before changing to a single line near Greenhurst (north of Buxted station). 07.12.2005