Horsted Keynes Station
There are four collections covering the stations: (a) Sheffield Park Station; (b) Horsted Keynes Station; (c) Kingscote Station; and (d) Bluebell Railway's East Grinstead Station (including the construction).
Signal boxes have separate collections: (a) Sheffield Park Signal Box; (b) Horsted Keynes Signal Box; and (c) Kingscote Signal Box (including the old southern box).
Two collections show lineside views: (a) the line from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes; and (b) the line from Horsted Keynes to Kingscote.
Five galleries show the construction of the Northern Extension to East Grinstead: (a) Track improvements north of Kingscote; (b) Vowels Lane Bridge to Imberhorne Lane Bridge; (c) Imberhone Lane Tip; (d) Hill Place Farm Bridge to Hill Place Viaduct; and (e) Hill Place Viaduct (sometimes called Imberhorne Viaduct).
Please note that the vast majority of the Northern Extension 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.
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Horsted Keynes Station looking south from Leamland Bridge. The station building is just out of shot behind the tree on the left. In the far left is the Carriage and Wagon Works. To the right is the signal box, and on the extreme right the water tower. The line to Sheffield Park curves left in the distance and the Ardingly branch passes behind the signal box. 030814 11439
Horsted Keynes Station, looking north in July 1963, not long before the electric BR service on the Ardingly Branch ended. The photographer is standing on Platform 2, where the EMUs reversed; the conductor rail can be seen on the right (in this platform only). At the far end of Platform 3 is a very tall Starting signal, raised so that it could be sighted over the canopy. The post was later reused for the Horsted Keynes Down Advance Starting signal. John Attfield retains all right to this image.
Horsted Keynes Station, looking south from the north end of Platforms 3 and 4 in July 1963. At the time the line north through Platform 3 was blocked by sleepers forming a rudimentary buffer stop (the reason for this is not known). On the right is a Starting signal for Platform 2, together with a signal with a ringed arm (denoting entry to a siding or headshunt). This was as far as the EMUs could go, as the conductor rail ended beyond the signal. Note the rodding extending north, which worked points behind the camera. In the far distance is Horsted Keynes signal box, and to its right the chimney of the pump house can be seen. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
This is Horsted Keynes station looking north on 17.07.1966. There is no canopy on Platforms 1/2 and the subway is open to the sky. There is no track in Platform 1, and the conductor rail that existed in BR days is gone from Platform 2. At the north end of Platform 2 there is a starting signal and a signal with a ringed arm (denoting entry to a siding or headshunt) in the "Off" position. A very tall Starting signal is at the end of Platform 3, originally provided to give visibility past the station canopy. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Horsted Keynes station looking north from Platform 3 on 17.07.1966. On the left, on Platforms 1/2, there is no canopy and railings are around the entrance to the subway. In the distance the station cottages can be seen adjacent to Leamland Bridge. The Platform 4/5 starting signal is on a bracket on the dock. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Horsted Keynes station looking north from the very overgrown goods dock on 17.07.1966. A single van stands in the dock and the track does not run the full length of the edge. On the far right a buffer stop can be seen in the Down yard, roughly in the position where track would run inside the Carriage and Wagon Works nowadays. A man in overalls stands on the gantry of the Down bracket signal, but there is no sign of the shunt signal (to Down yard) that would later be provided. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Horsted Keynes station looking south on 17.07.1966 from a very overgrown area which would eventually be reinstated as the Up yard. In the distance a rather lonely looking signal box stands on the right. Starting signals were still provided at the north end of the station (presumably to give the required "Stop" indication) although track lifting of the BR line through to East Grinstead had taken place in 1964. The tall post at the end of Platform 3 would later be transferred to support the Horsted Keynes Down Advance Starting signal. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
The Newhaven Harbour Company named side of No 72 at Horsted Keynes on 29.09.1968. At the time the engine had different identities on each side. Behind the locomotive the signal is in the up (off) position for a shunt towards the Down Yard. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
29.09.1968.NewhavenHarbourCompanynamedsideNo.72HorstedKeynesEricKemp
Horsted Keynes on 16.03.1969. 27 is in there somewhere although the crew were trying to create a smokescreen! There was no canopy on Platform 1 & 2 in those days, and indeed no track in Platform 1. The conductor rail serving the Ardingly Branch had vanished and the arm had been removed from the Platform 2 Down starting signal. The lattice post was subsequently transferred to support the Down Outer Home signal at Sheffield Park. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
27 at Horsted Keynes on 16.03.1969. Building materials were on the dock in connection with the construction of the Carriage and Wagon Works. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
It is 05.10.1969 and there is a nice diamond crossing at the end of Platforms 4 and 5 at Horsted Keynes. Only a short section of the dock is occupied by track, controlled by a ground signal, and behind the buffers a bracket signal carries the southbound Starting signal and a second signal permitting movements into the Down Yard. On the right grass and debris occupy the area that would become the Carriage and Wagon Works. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Horsted Keynes, looking north on 31.05.1970. There is no track in Platform 1, Platform 2 appears to be occupied by stored coaches, and the Starting signal is raised to allow a train to leave Platforms 4/5. In the left background a coach stands in the Up yard. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
A really useful little engine (at least for a while). 30064 in green with a BR crest, shunts the very impressive Ransomes and Rapier Ltd Steam Crane at Horsted Keynes on Sunday 19.06.1983. Subsequently both the crane and the locomotive lay derelict for a long period. Happily the crane has been cosmetically restored to a very high standard, and 30064 has left the railway having been sold for restoration. There are separate galleries for both the locomotive and the crane. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The entrance to Horsted Keynes Station on Saturday 07.07.1984, with two rather nice hanging baskets to greet visitors. The blackboard tells us that there were six train departures between 12:10 and 5:32 to "Freshfield and Sheffield Park", the halt being open in those years. Who remembers paying 20p to use the car park? Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The entrance to Horsted Keynes Station on Saturday 07.07.1984, with two rather nice hanging baskets to greet visitors. The blackboard tells us that there were six train departures between 12:10 and 5:32 to "Freshfield and Sheffield Park", the halt being open in those years. Who remembers paying 20p to use the car park? Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Horsted Keynes station buildings looking south on Saturday 07.07.1984. The view catches the station house and the rear of the Porters Room on the platform. A large fence has since been erected to give the station house and garden some privacy, and such a picture would no longer be possible. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The northern end of Horsted Keynes Station on Monday 26.08.1985, in the years before the railway went any further. The signals with a ringed arm (denoting entry to a siding or headshunt) permit moves north of the station for shunting and running round, and a careful inspection of the picture shows another engine under Leamland Bridge having presumably just uncoupled from the incoming stock. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Self-explanatory notices at the entrance to Horsted Keynes Station. 13.05.2017 17161
The approach to Horsted Keynes Station forecourt. 05.04.2014 10223
The approach to Horsted Keynes Station forecourt. 05.04.2014 10224
Horsted Keynes Station with three mechanical horses recreating past times during a Goods Train Weekend. (These weekends no longer take place). 15.04.2007
A 2007 image of Horsted Keynes Station forecourt, looking north west. As is the case with all the stations, the stones above the nearest windows bear the carved legend "LB&SCR 1882". The original Firbank design drawings may not have allowed for the UHF TV aerial. 08.09.2007
Horsted Keynes Station forecourt viewed from a slightly different angle on 01.12.2007. The Christmas lights signal that Santa Specials are about to start running.
A period atmosphere on the Horsted Keynes station forecourt. 16.08.2008 0103
Horsted Keynes Station. 08.06.2014 10666
Horsted Keynes Station entrance. 08.06.2014 9601
Horsted Keynes Station entrance. 08.06.2014 9599
Horsted Keynes Station forecourt looking south, with part of the Carriage and Wagon Works on the left. 08.06.2014 10664
Adjacent to Horsted Keynes Station building Reuben Baker still has a coal office, but you are unlikely to get a reply if you telephone "Danehill 25". 22.02.2009
The heritage No Waiting sign can be changed to limit waiting to 20 minutes, or to prohibit waiting as shown in the previous photograph. 13.12.2014 11811
Defibrillators have been provided at all Bluebell Railway stations. 27.05.2013 7118
Father John Twistleton (at the time Rector of St. Giles' Church, Horsted Keynes, and the Railway's chaplain) blesses the new porch at Horsted Keynes Station. The stained glass and associated woodwork has been reinstated to the condition in which it would have been constructed in 1882 as a memorial to the late Simon Baker, latterly Station Master at Horsted Keynes. 25.03.2012 4069
Distinguished guests, involved in the restoration. (Left to right) Ian Fribbens, Tom Bradbury, Barry Morgan, Father John Twistleton (officiating), Andrew Baker, Roy Wright and John Copeland. Horsted Keynes 25.03.2012 4083
The new porch at Horsted Keynes Station. The stained glass and associated woodwork has been reinstated to the condition in which it would have been constructed in 1882 as a memorial to the late Simon Baker, latterly Station Master at Horsted Keynes. 20.03.2012 3872
The new porch at Horsted Keynes Station. The stained glass and associated woodwork has been reinstated to the condition in which it would have been constructed in 1882 as a memorial to the late Simon Baker, latterly Station Master at Horsted Keynes. 20.03.2012 3873
The new porch at Horsted Keynes Station. The stained glass and associated woodwork has been reinstated to the condition in which it would have been constructed in 1882 as a memorial to the late Simon Baker, latterly Station Master at Horsted Keynes. The glass at the top left is not actually clear; unfortunately strong glare from the sun has bleached the colours in the photograph. 20.03.2012 3871
The memorial inscription to the late Simon Baker, built into the stained glass in the Horsted Keynes Station porch. 18.05.2014 9494
Flower tubs outside the entrance to Horsted Keynes Station. 09.08.2015 11856
Sadly in 2018 the large tubs had disappeared, but the team were still producing an attractive display outside the booking hall. 28.05.2018 18502
Horsted Keynes Station Booking Office. 03.06.2007
Approaching Horsted Keynes from the south this old view from 11.12.2005 catches excavators preparing the triangle south of the station to receive inert spoil subsequently removed from Imberhorne Lane tip.
A much later photo from 29.04.2009, looking south from Horsted Keynes station shows spoil being unloaded into the triangle, which, by that stage, was almost full.
