Kingscote 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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Kingscote Station, on a line built by the contractors J T Firbank on behalf of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LB&SCR) in 1882. This building is almost identical in appearance to the demolished station at West Hoathly. 03.06.2007
I am grateful to John Attfield for allowing me to use some of his images in this gallery. This is Kingscote station, looking north, on 17 July 1966 after the removal of the track. At the time the canopies were still intact but the platforms were very overgrown. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Kingscote station, looking south on 17 July 1966 after removal of the track. The canopy on the Down (left hand) platform was later demolished and had to be rebuilt when the Bluebell Railway extended their line into the station. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Kingscote station, looking south on 17 July 1966 after removal of the track. Today a completely rebuilt (and award winning) signal box stands on the left, and a goods dock and goods yard are on the right. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Kingscote station, looking south on 17 July 1966 after removal of the track. Contrast the overgrown platforms with the immaculate station that the Bluebell Railway later created. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
The forecourt of Kingscote station pictured on 17 July 1966 when the station was closed. The flower beds are rather overgrown, but Royal Mail still appear to be collecting from the post box. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
RT604 outside Kingscote during a Steam Through the Ages event. The bus was doing round trips to East Grinstead. 23.09.2017 17923
The entrance to Kingscote Station. There are stones above the left hand window marked LB&SCR (London, Brighton and South Coast Railway) and 1882 respectively. 03.06.2007
In early 2011, the porch and the doors on the ticket hall were repainted. 06.02.2011 5765
A closer look at the freshly painted porch. 06.02.2011 5766
The lamp was also cleaned and polished. 06.02.2011 5767
Kingscote has long had a problem with rainwater running down the adjacent hill and flooding the booking hall, causing much inconvenience and work for staff. In early 2017 new drains were installed which are intended to catch the water and discharge it into an existing land drain to the right of this photograph. 11.06.2017 17358
Kingscote has long had a problem with rainwater running down the adjacent hill and flooding the booking hall, causing much inconvenience and work for staff. In early 2017 new drains were installed which are intended to catch the water and discharge it into an existing land drain. The tarmac leading away from the porch covers the pipe which takes the water away. 11.06.2017 17357
The ground works contractor has an appropriate heritage vehicle (no extra charge). 09.04.2017 17099
In 2017 it was unfortunately necessary to replace the roof of the Gents following the theft of lead. Although the material was recovered following an arrest, it was too badly damaged to be re-used. The current roof has no monetary value. 27.05.2017 15467
Newly erected posters outside Kingscote Station. 16.03.2014 10057
Kingscote Station also retains the Victorian (VR) postbox adjacent to the entrance albeit with only one collection daily (Sundays excepted). You have to be early on a Saturday; the postman is gone by 8.45am. 03.06.2007
The forecourt of Kingscote Station seen from an unusual viewpoint. 24.09.2017 17970
RT604 outside Kingscote during a Steam Through the Ages event. The bus was doing round trips to East Grinstead. 23.09.2017 17845
Before the line between Kingscote and East Grinstead was reopened a bus service was provided regularly. RML2317 was one of the buses used, seen here in green livery (it was subsequently painted red). 20.10.2007
An appeal banner erected outside Kingscote in connection with the East Grinstead extension. Note also the prominent station name board which faces the road. 20.03.2012 3845
Inside the ticket hall which was refurbished in 2011. 06.02.2011 5777
Inside the ticket hall which was refurbished in 2011. 06.02.2011 5781
An earlier image inside the ticket hall on 11.04.2010 1793
Inside the ticket hall on 11.04.2010 1796
Inside the ticket hall on 11.04.2010 1801
Inside the ticket hall on 11.04.2010 1800
The certificate indicating that in 1950 Kingscote achieved Third Place in the Best Kept Stations Competition. 17.04.2016 14882
Kingscote Station Booking Office, complete with nice warm fire. 10.02.2008
Kingscote Station Ticket Office. 03.06.2007
During 2011 the Gentlemen at Kingscote were busy cleaning and refurbishing the station during the post-Christmas break in service. 06.02.2011 5761
February 2011, after everything had been cleaned and polished. 06.02.2011 5763
A display of flowers above the subway steps. 03.08.2014 11395
Heritage stations have appropriate measures to prevent fire. 11.06.2017 17356
In former days railways also carried substantial amounts of luggage. 14.05.2017 17224
In 2011 a beam failed adjacent to the subway, but the problem was subsequently rectified. 29.08.2011 2814
The subway temporarily closed owing to the beam failure shown in the previous picture. 29.08.2011 2815
In 2017 scaffolding was erected to facilitate repairs to a beam and the canopy, and the opportunity was also taken to paint upper parts of the building that would otherwise have been difficult to reach. 11.06.2017 17362
This low resolution view looks south from Kingscote Platform 1 on 20.09.1998. In the distance the former Kingscote southern signalbox can just be seen and photographers are on the mound outside the station. The path across the bridge has since been improved.
A similar view to the last picture (low resolution) taken from Kingscote Platform 2, looking south. 20.09.1998
The low winter sun lengthens the shadows as Kingscote awaits trains on the first day of the New Year 01.01.2007
An unmade lane passes under the railway just south of Kingscote Station and the bridge parapets are visible in this view north. 10.02.2008
The west side of Kingscote Station Bridge, which is situated just south of Kingscote Station. 18.05.2018 18261
The east side of Kingscote Station Bridge, facing west. 18.05.2018 18263
Kingscote Station looking north on 08.06.2014 10634
A shot taken from Platform 1 at Kingscote in 1998 shows the canopy under construction on Platform 2. 20.09.1998
The running in board at Kingscote Station. 28.06.2009
The Kingscote running In board, together with a seat painted in the new (slightly revised) shade of green that will eventually be the colour for the whole station. 13.05.2017 17192