East Grinstead (High Level) Station (Closed) and parts of the adjacent Worth Way Country Park.
A second branch then continued to the east, constructed by the East Grinstead, Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells Railway Company. Work started on 18 July 1863 but unfortunately failed four official inspections. This delayed the opening until 1 October 1866, when the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR) arranged to operate the line. The section through Groombridge to Tunbridge Wells is now part of the Spa Valley Railway and covered in separate collections which can be accessed from the main website index page.
Both lines closed on 2 January 1967, victims of the Beeching cuts, and the track bed now forms part of the Worth Way Country Park to the west, and the Forest Way Country Park to the east.
Separate collections cover (a) Withyham Station; (b) Hartfield Station; (c) the site of Forest Row Station; (d) the site of East Grinstead High Level Station; (e) the site of Grange Road Station; and (f) Rowfant Station.
There are 10 photos per page - SCROLL DOWN to view them. Click here to return to the main website index page.
Having climbed Brambletye Bank towards East Grinstead trains encountered two short tunnels, both of which have been totally erased from the landscape. The first, East Grinstead Number 2 tunnel, passed under the A22 road east of East Grinstead prior to the railway entering a cutting. The whole area has been reshaped and the site of the tunnel is buried under a roundabout which currently joins the A22 to Beeching Way. This view looks west down Beeching Way from a point adjacent to the roundabout. 13.09.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
A second view looking west down Beeching Way. The old railway cutting was widened and used to form the new road which takes traffic on the A22 away from the narrow streets at the centre of East Grinstead. This has been of benefit to through traffic but the trackbed in the vicinity of the town was lost in the process. 13.09.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
The final picture of Beeching Way looking west with a long lens. The original level of the railway cutting is at the bottom of the ramp down from the roundabout. The railway curved left through the cutting and then entered East Grinstead Number 1 tunnel, which was a short bore under the B2110 road. This tunnel has been totally dug out and replaced by a bridge for the road above. The bridge was apparently constructed before the tunnel was dug out beneath it and the cutting widened for the road. Both tunnels are reported to have been quite narrow. 13.09.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
The western end of the A22 Beeching Way looking east. This area has also been completely reshaped by the new development but the railway originally served a large goods yard and goods shed sited in this area to the south of the running line. To the north of the running line a siding entered a timber yard. There has been so much construction and development in the area that it is hard to find any surviving relic of the railway, but just around the bend in Beeching Way (out of shot) a wall appears to be part of the old retaining wall that stood on the boundary of the land occupied by the railway. 26.07.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
Looking west outside East Grinstead Station, there is virtually no trace of the High Level Station, but the four tracks and platforms were carried over Station Road on a wide bridge. This view west shows a surviving part of the western wall of the bridge. The levels have changed with the construction of new roads, but the tracks would have passed through the wooded area on the top of the wall. 26.07.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
This old shot of East Grinstead (Low Level) station, taken in 1998, shows the scene behind the trees in the previous picture. East Grinstead (High Level) Station crossed the Low Level station at right angles where the wooden fence is on the left. On the right is the remains of a higher wall that once supported the bridge which carried four High Level platforms. Although the High Level Station has been totally demolished a footbridge in the foreground still carries pedestrians over the Low Level Station at the same point. This bridge is an access to the car park; the main station footbridge is in the background. 22.11.1998
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
A pedestrian bridge now crosses over the operational station at East Grinstead (the former Low Level station). Having crossed the railway this picture is taken standing in East Grinstead Station car park approximately at the western end of the old High Level platforms. A signal box was sited roughly where the car is parked. The single line to Three Bridges and a long siding curved away from the camera passing just to the right of the radio mast, and the double track to London curved right where the wooden gate is located in the fence (see next pictures). 26.07.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
Moving closer to the site of the old junction, the line to Three Bridges passes to the right of the radio mast, and the double track to London curved right between the two signs in the foreground. The trees conceal the heavily overgrown cutting that curves north. 26.07.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
Entering the cutting that carried the double track to London in a curve to the north. A path follows the route, but the summer undergrowth conceals all trace of the former railway. 26.07.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
Looking west from a position just beyond the radio mast at the end of East Grinstead Station car park. The former track bed survives as the Worth Way, a leisure facility for walkers and cyclists, which follows the route of the old railway for part of it's length. Unfortunately there are now a number of obstructions on the original route to Three Bridges. 26.07.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
West of East Grinstead the old track bed passes under Garden Wood Road, where a modern bridge is provided which clearly does not date from the operational days of the railway. This view looks west. 07.08.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
Turning round at the same point as the previous picture this is the view back towards East Grinstead. 07.08.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
Garden Wood Road Bridge looking east. It can be seen that the railway had a relatively steep climb into East Grinstead. This bridge suffers badly from graffiti, but it has been edited from the picture. 07.08.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
Looking west from the bridge at Garden Wood Road towards Grange Road Station and Three Bridges. When the railway was operational the cutting sides would have been kept clear of trees and shrubs. 07.08.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
There are two railway bridges in Imberhorne Lane, which sometimes causes confusion. This view looks west at the three arch bridge that served the Three Bridges route. This bridge has a rather odd stone and brick combination which suggests that it is not original. The brick section shows evidence of repairs and tie-rods. There is another large single arch bridge which takes the road over the line that ran south from East Grinstead, and which is now part of the Bluebell Railway. 07.08.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way
Imberhorne Lane Bridge (Three Bridges route) looking back east towards East Grinstead. 07.08.2009
east grinstead high level stationeast grinstead stationeast grinstead high level lineforest wayworth way