Horsted Keynes Station
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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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
I am grateful to John Attfield for allowing me to include four of his historical images in this gallery. 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, presumably 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. 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 today. 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 Sheffield Park Advance Starting signal. John Attfield 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.
Just to the right of where the excavators were working, this picture shows the Horsted Keynes northbound Inner Home signal complete with route indicator. Horsted Keynes signal box can be seen in the background. 11.12.2005
The Horsted Keynes northbound Inner Home signal in the "Off" position with the route indicator showing the platform into which the train will be routed. 15.08.2010 30051
The reverse view of the previous picture, looking towards the Horsted Keynes Inner Home signal as visiting locomotive 41312 approaches with the Golden Arrow Pullman. Just to the left of the base of the water tower is the shunting bell (on the white pole) and on the extreme left the southbound Advance Starter can be seen in the distance. (This signal has subsequently been replaced). 29.05.2006
A similar picture of the Horsted Keynes Inner Home signal taken 10 years later and the scene is little changed. The southbound advance starter has now been replaced, and the shortened post results in it being concealed by the coach in the Down yard. The water tank has also acquired a little rust. There is a brand new set of points. 25.06.2016 13444
Westminster is not always associated with engineering, but this plate illustrates the makers of the Water Tower in the Down Yard. 25.06.2017 15603
A signalman's view of 73082 arriving at Horsted Keynes, with the Carriage and Wagon Works on the left. 25.05.2016 13454
These modern machines are all very well, but clearly Infrastructure should be using steam power for it's Horsted Keynes projects. 08.08.2015 13485
A 2010 view looking north towards Horsted Keynes Station, with the dock on the right out of use. 30.01.2010 153
It is 2016 and the dock has been completely re-laid (including appropriate matting under the ballast) to deal with a continuing problem whereby clay was pumping up through the ballast (or the dock was sinking into the clay - according to your point of view!) 18.12.2016 16865
Sometimes it's just one of those days. Looking north towards Horsted Keynes Station. A Class 33 heads south despite an "EG" headcode, and on the right "Skippy" is attached to the Pullman. 07.07.2013 7671
This old view of Horsted Keynes looks north along Platform 3/4 on 20.09.1998. Note the well-maintained flower beds and the original bracket signal. The shot just catches the shunt signal (with the black circle on the rear).
This shot of C1 running southbound tender first on 20.09.1998 has little merit as a photograph of the engine, but it does catch the original signalling arrangements at the end of Platform 4/5, the dock platform apparently under reconstruction (no track) and coach 1520 under repair in the open on Platform 1.
On 20.09.1998 at the southern end of Platform 2 at Horsted Keynes there was a single semaphore signal. Note there is no spur to Ardingly (just catch points) and a new northbound bracket signal is being installed for the Inner Home signal (there is no signal on the bracket). The original incoming signal can just be seen to the right of the base of the water tower. In the distance the southbound Advance Starter is Off for a departing train. There is also no track to the dock, the way being blocked by the concrete buildings.
A low resolution picture taken from the same point on 25.10.2003 shows that a bracket signal has been installed and a spur has appeared taking track towards the Ardingly siding. Movements south from Platform 2 have a shunt signal with indicators, but a Stop board controls Platform 1. Track has also been installed in the dock and is occupied by stock.
Moving the camera round slightly provides a view of Horsted Keynes signal box and a better shot of the spur running south west. The impressive pile of ballast was later reincarnated at West Hoathly. 25.10.2003
A later picture on 01.07.2007 shows the Ardingly spur curving away on the left hand side of the coaches, towards the tall tree at the centre of the picture. Buffers and an Advance Starter (fixed in the On position) are at the end of the Ardingly spur. For pictures of the disused line to Ardingly and beyond see the main Index.
Often hidden from view by stock, to the west of the station is what remains of the old water tower (the actual tank would have been on top of the supporting tower). Under the structure is a well, but changes to the water table in the area mean that it is no longer readily functional. To the left is what is assumed to be a pump house. Pipes used to link to the water columns in the station. During track relaying in Platform 2/3 in 2017 the pipe running the length of the platform between the two tracks was located and found to be in good condition. The state of other pipes is unknown. 16.06.2012 5154
A 2007 image of the old water tower at Horsted Keynes, giving a better impression of it's position behind the western sidings. 12.08.2007.