The Branch Line to Ardingly
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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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.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Ardingly Station building, now a Hanson office, looking south west.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Ardingly Station building, looking north west.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
The original entrance to Ardingly Station.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
The entrance to Ardingly Station captured on 12 April 1965 in images taken by John Attfield. John retains all rights to these images but has kindly allowed me to use them on my site. On the right is part of the footbridge which took passengers down to the platforms but this no longer survives. The platforms appear in subsequent photos.
Some of the wall decorations on Ardingly Station.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Another close-up of the wall decorations at Ardingly Station.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Ardingly Station still retains it's post box.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
The entrance to the Hanson site at Ardingly Station.
bluebell railwayardinglylywood tunnelcopyhold junctionhorsted keynesardingly station
Ardingly Station captured on 12 April 1965 in some images taken by John Attfield. John retains all rights to these images but has kindly allowed me to use them on my site. This shot looks east along the platforms towards the footbridge. The signal box is on the right and largely conceals the main buildings at the station entrance, which are in the right upper section of the photo.
Eric Kemp has also very kindly contributed some historical images. Taken slightly further west than the image above this is Ardingly Station looking east on 9 August 1970. The signal box has deteriorated and the conductor rail has vanished. However the photo nicely captures the main station buildings and the footbridge. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Ardingly Station captured on 12 April 1965 in some images taken by John Attfield. John retains all rights to these images but has kindly allowed me to use them on my site. The reverse of the previous photo, looking west along the platforms from the footbridge. The signal box is in the distance and behind it are some of the industrial buildings in the stone plant. On the right the very tall signal post originally carried two arms; one at high level and one very close to the platform for sighting purposes.