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 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.
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
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 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
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.
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