Sheriff Mill Viaduct to Ardingly Station (including Lywood Tunnel)
The section of the line from Horsted Keynes to the eastern end of Ardingly station is private property owned by the Bluebell Railway.
There is no expectation that the Bluebell Railway will restore the section of the line that they own in the near future, and there is no finance for any significant works.
Separate collections cover (a) Horsted Keynes to the site of Sheriff Mill Viaduct; (b) The site of Sheriff Mill Viaduct to Ardingly Station; (c) Ardingly Station and the Hanson Plant; and (d) Ardingly to Haywards Heath.
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The unofficial path can be seen descending the side of the embankment on the left of this picture of the former Hillhouse Farm accommodation bridge.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Hillhouse Farm accommodation bridge looking south. A track used to pass under this bridge and run south to the farm, but the way is now blocked on the south side of the bridge.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Hillhouse Farm accommodation bridge looking north through the gap. As the track this bridge served is now disused the bridge could perhaps be infilled.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking south at the bridge again, the public footpath has been diverted, and now runs up steps on to the old embankment on the right of the picture.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking down the steps from the permissive footpath on the embankment, this view shows the public footpath which runs north towards Ardingly village.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
At the top of the steps this view looks east. A fence has been erected to protect the gap caused by the missing bridge.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Leaning over the fence this view looks east over the gap caused by the missing bridge.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Turning round at the same point this view shows the permissive footpath winding west towards Ardingly Station. Although this section is a permissive footpath there is no physical difference between this track and the unofficial path on the eastern side of the bridge.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Following the track west, this further view also looks west in the direction of Ardingly Station.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
The permissive footpath continues west, and this view, looking west, shows that the area is somewhat overgrown.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
It is very difficult to find any relics of the railway, but this vertical rail was a memory of the past (or a trip hazard if you are a Health and Safety representative)
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
The narrow footpath ends with a stile at the western end. This view looks back east along the track from the stile.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking east at the stile at the end of the wooded section of the permissive footpath.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Widening the view east the grass area on the western side of the stile can be seen.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
The reason for the cleared trackbed at this point is a farm access on the north side of the trackbed. Access to this gate is via the cleared trackbed.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking west towards Ardingly Station from the stile, the cleared trackbed is used for access to the gate which is just out of shot on the right of the picture.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Taken a short distance down the cleared trackbed, this view looks back east towards the stile. The trackbed is a permissive footpath at this point, shared with the farmer's access to the field on the north side of the track.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
This view looks west towards Ardingly Station, with the end of the cleared section just visible in the distance.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
About half way along the cleared section the permissive footpath turns south down the south side of the embankment.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Taken at the end of the permissive footpath, this view looks east towards the stile.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Also looking east from just beyond the point where the permissive footpath can be seen leaving the trackbed.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Turning round. this view looks west towards Ardingly Station from the end of the permissive footpath.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking west along the cleared section towards Ardingly Station.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Taken with a long lens this view looks west from the end of the permissive footpath towards Ardingly Station
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Nearly at the end of the section of cleared trackbed, looking west towards Ardingly.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
At the end of the cleared section a gate on the south side gives access to land owned by Avins Farm.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
At the western end of the cleared trackbed this view looks back east.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
At the western end of the cleared section of trackbed is a small lightly wooded section, this view looking west
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking into the wooded section an accommodation bridge serving Avins Farm can just be seen.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
The trackbed enters a cutting at this point and evidence of railway drainage can be seen.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Moving closer to the accommodation bridge, still looking west, the trackbed is in a shallow cutting.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Closer still to the accommodation bridge it can be seen that the trackbed is very overgrown.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking west through the accommodation bridge a pile of material in the Hanson Yard (near the company's boundary) can just be seen.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Turning round, this view looks east out of the wooded copse towards the cleared trackbed.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
This view looks east along the overgrown shallow cutting leading to the accommodation bridge.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking under the accommodation bridge the material piled in the Hanson yard can be seen more clearly.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking through the Avins Farm accommodation bridge a pile of material at the eastern end of the Hanson yard can be seen.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Taken from the same position, but with a long lens, the pile of material in the Hanson Yard blocks the trackbed (this is Hanson property and is OUT OF BOUNDS).
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Looking west along the cutting leading from the Avins Farm accommodation bridge, the material piled in the Hanson Yard can be seen more clearly. Just visible in the distance is the overbridge at Ardingly Station.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
This view looks back east at the same pile of material from the bridge at Ardingly Station. It can be seen that there is little material stored in the eastern end of the Hanson premises. Ardingly Station and the Hanson plant are covered in the next gallery.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station