Horsted Keynes to Kingscote

An opportunity to take a photographic tour along the Bluebell Railway, featuring the stations, signals, signal boxes, and lineside views along the line. The photos in this collection date from the period 1998 to 2018.

There are five collections covering the operational part of the line: (a) Sheffield Park Station; (b) the line from Sheffield Park to Horsted Keynes; (c) Horsted Keynes Station; (d) the line from Horsted Keynes to Kingscote and (e) Kingscote Station.

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).

Photos relating to the Bluebell Railway's Northern Extension to East Grinstead are in several separate collections within the Photographic Tours index.

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The eastern side of the top of Birchstone Bridge. The farm gate is lost in undergrowth, and the former stile that was used by the closed permissive footpath is taped off. On the right the Friends of Kingscote have renewed the fencing adjoining railway land. It is believed that the bridge has ceased to be used because the land use on the western side has changed. Ingwersen's Nursery has closed (with the estate now in private ownership) and a new vineyard has opened on the former route of the permissive footpath. 11.06.2017 17340
Looking north from Birchstone Bridge on 06.02.2010. At this time of the year the sun does not reach into the cutting, but work to clear undergrowth can clearly be seen.
Having passed through Birchstone Bridge this view looks back south, towards the foot crossing. The concrete lineside hut is unusual as many of the huts along the length of the line are wooden. 09.04.2007
The Friends of Kingscote have undertaken substantial lineside clearance in this area, and the massive rock formation behind the lineside hut is revealed in this picture. 06.02.2010
The PWay hut adjacent to Birchstone Bridge has some form of numbering in the bricks on the chimney, but I have no explanation for this. 27.05.2017 15482
Looking at the eastern embankment north of Birchstone Bridge the Friends of Kingscote have revealed rock formations that have been hidden by scrub for years. 06.02.2010
Another view of the rock outcrop north of Birchstone Bridge, taken in 2017. 06.10.2017 17994
Looking south at the eastern side of the embankment in 2010, the clearance work undertaken by the Friends of Kingscote is obvious. 06.02.2010
Looking south towards Birchstone Bridge from Mill Place Bridge. 09.03.2014 10020
The Friends of Kingscote working to clear undergrowth at the bottom of the eastern embankment adjacent to Mill Place Bridge. 06.02.2010
The Friends of Kingscote working to clear undergrowth at the bottom of the eastern embankment adjacent to Mill Place Bridge, which has a very high arch. 06.02.2010
The Friends of Kingscote working to clear undergrowth at the bottom of the eastern embankment adjacent to Mill Place Bridge, which has a very high arch. 06.02.2010
Looking south at the area cleared by the Friends of Kingscote at Mill Place Bridge 11.04.2010 1785
The high arch of Mill Place Bridge, looking east. 11.04.2010 1782
Mill Place Bridge, looking west. 11.04.2010 1784
Looking south over the high Mill Place Bridge in 2006, the parapets of which can be seen in this view. Fencing was later installed adjacent to the parapets owing to the steep drop. 17.04.2006
A similar view taken on 06.02.2010, which shows the results of lineside clearance. The smoke comes from a bonfire burning the scrub. Some of the new fencing is also in view.
A little further north this is Mill Place Embankment shortly after the Friends of Kingscote had again cleared the lineside. This view looks south towards Mill Place Bridge and Birchstone Bridge. On the right is an abandoned fogman's hut, originally provided to give shelter to staff undertaking fog signalling. I doubt that it has been used for that purpose since the line closed. 15.07.2017 17557
Just north of Mill Place Bridge, at the bottom of the embankment, a large culvert carries a stream under the railway. The stream flows into Leggett Lakes (see below) and then on to the Weir Wood Reservoir. 15.07.2017 17556
Mill Place Farm, looking east from behind the Kingscote Up Home signals. 27.08.2006
Mill Place Farm, viewed from the railway. 17.04.2006
Mill Place Farm and the associated buildings viewed from the railway embankment in 2014. The estate was previously sub-divided into agricultural businesses, separate dwellings in converted outbuildings and the main house (which has been on the market several times in recent years). It is now advertised as the "Kingscote Estate", a 150 acre English wine producer and a venue for weddings and corporate events. The 15th century Tithe Barn in the foreground is available for hire. 02.10.2014 10025 
A closer view of the main building at Mill Place Farm. 02.10.2014 10026
The main house at Mill Place Farm. Unfortunately it is much devalued by adjacent large pylons which carry trunk electricity lines, plus a second local feeder route. 02.10.2014 10027
Leggett Lakes, which are part of the Kingscote Estate at Mill Place Farm and available for fishing on payment of the appropriate Estate fees. The main house and other buildings are out of shot to the right of this photograph. 27.05.2017 15497
Looking north towards Kingscote from a point just north of Mill Place Bridge (near the fogman's hut). 17.04.2006
Trains approaching Kingscote station have only one Home signal on the route, seen in this view looking north, with the former southern signal box in the distance (since closed). The dual arm arrangement routes trains into either Platform 1 or Platform 2. The rear of the southbound Advance Starter can also be seen. 09.04.2007
The Kingscote Up Home signal was refurbished in 2013 and is seen in the "off" position for the "Main" line. 31.07.2013 9591
One of the signal motors that move the arms on the Kingscote Up Home signals. 09.04.2017 17097
The Kingscote Up Home signals with the Friends of Kingscote mid-way through clearing the western embankment. 15.07.2017 17558
Clearing an embankment results in a very large amount of waste grass and scrub. This entry by the Friends of Kingscote for the "Haystack Award" was not allowed by the judges on the grounds of failures in construction. The pile was subsequently burnt under supervision. 09.07.2017 17537
Wild flowers in the woodland on the approach to Kingscote. 14.05.2017 17222
Looking south from the former southern signal box at Kingscote towards Birchstone Bridge. A long lens is in use. The signals are a quarter of a mile away and the bridge is about half a mile in the distance. 07.05.2016 12976
The southbound Kingscote Advance Starter is sited just south of the former southern signal box (now closed) and is seen here as 1638 arrives with the Sussex Belle Pullman. 09.04.2007.
The Kingscote Down Advance Starter pictured shortly after it had been refurbished in 2013. 31.07.2013 9592
A much earlier picture of the Kingscote Down Advance Starter as a deer saunters across the track in the background. 27.08.2006
Looking south from the Kingscote southbound Advance Starter towards Birchstone Bridge. Both trunk and local power cables cross the railway in this area. 07.05.2016 12978
Looking south from the former Kingscote southern signal box (now closed) as the bluebells come into bloom. 07.05.2016 15070
Moving the camera slightly to the right gives a better view of the bluebells and shows the mile post and speed restriction sign sited outside the former signal box. 07.05.2016 12979
This view looks north from the platform built at the former southern signal box at Kingscote to allow the signalman to exchange tokens with trains entering and leaving the single line section. This activity is now performed in the station. 07.05.2016 15068
A second view north from the same location gives a better view of the ground signal in advance of the points and towards Kingscote Station. 07.05.2016 15069.
Just south of Kingscote, on the western side of the line, is a small mound which is very popular with photographers. 18.05.2018 18258
Just south of Kingscote, on the western side of the line, is a small mound which is very popular with photographers. 18.05.2018 18259
Just south of Kingscote Station Bridge are some very attractive trees. 18.05.2018 18266
Approaching Kingscote Station from the south trains pass over Kingscote Station Bridge. This is the west side of the bridge, looking east. 18.05.2018 18261
Kingscote Station cottages, which have recently had a very nice rear extension (pictured in the Kingscote Station gallery). 18.05.2018 18265
The east side of Kingscote Station Bridge, looking west.18.05.2018 18263 A separate collection features Kingscote Station, which is just north of the bridge.