The Branch Line to Ardingly

An opportunity to take a photographic tour westwards along the former branch line from Horsted Keynes to Ardingly and beyond. Although there is no immediate prospect of this section of the line being restored, you can see the environment in early 2007.

Near the start of the collection are pictures of bridge sections delivered in October 2013 with a view to spanning the gap west of Horsted Keynes. There are also some views (taken in 2009) of the operational Ardingly siding at Horsted Keynes, together with some shots of the Carriage and Wagon Works and the area known as the triangle, which contains inert spoil from Imberhorne Lane.

This area is private Bluebell property; pictures exhibited with permission. The Ardingly branch is out of bounds to holders of a photographic PTS.

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Five years later Eric Kemp's photo of Ardingly Station looking west on 9 August 1970 captures the surviving station platforms (and canopies), and also provides a nice vista of the industrial buildings then on site. The conductor rail had by then been lifted but the yard is full of wagons. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Compare the historical views above with this image (taken from the bridge) which looks west along the trackbed through the Ardingly Station site.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
A small part of Ardingly Station platform remains, on which this building stands.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
Ardingly Station looking west away from the station towards Copyhold Junction on 9 August 1970. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Some of the industrial buildings on the Hanson site can still be glimpsed through the trees.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
An autumnal view of the approach to the Hanson plant at Ardingly. I am very grateful to Adrian Backshall for supplying images of the rail operation at Ardingly, and he retains all rights to this image. I am required to point out that the plant is private property, and that appropriately trained staff are authorised to be about the track.
The Ardingly plant at night. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Newly arrived fully loaded wagons standing on the approach to the Ardingly plant. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Newly arrived fully loaded wagons standing on the approach to the Ardingly plant. Each wagon carries 100 tons of material. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Inside the dropper shed, looking west. The small section of narrow track on the left carries two little motorised unlocking tools that unlock the wagon doors. They move along their track as required. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Inside the dropper shed, looking east towards the buffers. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Inside the dropper shed as the train runs slowly through and discharges. The wagon door unlocking mechanism is in the foreground. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Inside the dropper shed as the train runs slowly through and discharges. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Looking down into the hopper at Ardingly. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Dawn approaches as 59203 emerges from the eastern end of the dropper shed. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
59203 and train passing through the dropper shed at Ardingly, as seen from the top of the conveyor. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
59203 running round in the loop at Ardingly. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
59203 running round in the loop at Ardingly. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Shunting wagons at sunrise. The train is split in half for unloading and subsequently has to be reformed. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Shunting wagons at sunrise. The train is split in half for unloading and subsequently has to be reformed. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Shunting wagons at sunrise.
59203 shut down on it's train, awaiting scheduled departure. The camera is looking east towards the plant. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
Just to the right of wagon 17928 an old signal post still survives, but the ladder has seen better days, having broken off. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
An old railway telegraph pole survives, but (now large) trees have grown through it. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
59203 leaves Ardingly, passing under Rivers Farm accommodation bridge as it heads for Copyhold Junction. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
A goods line runs west from the Ardingly Station site. This view looks east towards Ardingly station from Rivers Farm.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
The same view as the last picture, but this time with a long lens. The start of the Ardingly sidings and run round loop can be seen in the distance.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
The goods line runs away west towards the main line at Copyhold Junction.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
Copyhold Junction, looking north, with the goods line from Ardingly on the right.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
Copyhold Junction looking north on Sunday 9 August 1970 as 7326 passes with a Down train. The line to Ardingly curves away on the right. Eric Kemp retains all right to this image.
Copyhold Junction looking south on Sunday 9 August 1970 as 2-HAP 6104 passes at the head of an Up train. On the left is the line from Ardingly with a very obvious set of trap points protecting the exit from the branch. The track layout was subsequently changed with the points in the foreground removed and the goods line extended much further south. Eric Kemp retains all right to this image.
Copyhold Junction, looking south, with the Ardingly goods line continuing south on the left of the picture.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
Copyhold Junction, looking south with a long lens. The two main signals control the main line, with a permanent yellow colour light for the goods line. The main signal for the goods line is beyond the gantry.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
Looking north from Old Wickham Lane bridge, the goods line junction is almost out of sight.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
The same view north, but with a long lens, showing the junction in more detail.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
Looking south towards Haywards Heath from the same viewpoint (Old Wickham Lane bridge). Sidings can be seen on the left in the distance.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
The last few pictures in the collection show the earthworks of the Ouse Valley Railway, here marked by the line of trees in the distance, running south east from Copyhold Junction. Works were started, but the railway was never built
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
The Ouse Valley Railway embankment runs south east (along the line of trees) near Rivers Farm.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
The embankment crosses Copyhold Lane south of Rivers Farm. The road levels have changed here (the road went under a bridge) and the car helps with scale
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
The edge of the embankment where a road bridge would have been situated.
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
The Ouse Valley Railway embankment on the south side of Copyhold Lane
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station
A public footpath leaves Copyhold Lane adjacent to the point where the railway would have crossed the road, but it does not follow the railway embankment south east. The OVR would have crossed the course of the Bluebell Line between Horsted Keynes and Sheffield Park, en route to Uckfield and beyond. What might have been....
bluebell railway ardingly lywood tunnel copyhold junction horsted keynes ardingly station