Forest Row Station (Closed) and parts of the adjacent Forest 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.
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After leaving Hartfield Station the old trackbed crosses country heading west towards the site of the old Forest Row Station. However east of the station an old bridge survives carrying a private road and public footpath north towards Ashdown House School and some other nearby properties. This view looks west. 09.05.2009
A closer view of the entrance to the goods yard at Forest Row Station. There was a bridge at the eastern end of the station but it is quite difficult to see in the trees. The parapets are arrowed. The entrance to the goods yard was over the bridge. There was a large brick goods shed and one other siding to the south, but this area is now occupied by a large modern industrial unit. 18.10.2009
John Attfield has kindly contributed some historical photos to this gallery. The forecourt on the south side of Forest Row station photographed on 20 April 1965, before the station closed. The bus is RT3133, registration KXW242, and is heading for West Croydon on Route 409. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
The track bed leading into the site of Forest Row Station, looking west. The building directly in front of the camera is built on the double track of the station and the ramp on the left appears to be part of the westbound platform. Forest Row had a passing loop via the eastbound platform and a footbridge, which were provided in 1897. In latter years demand justified extending trains from East Grinstead to Forest Row where they terminated to serve the growing town. Closing the rail connection to this area was probably unwise but forward planning was not a strong point in the 1960s. 18.10.2009
On the northern side of the building in the previous picture a small part of the eastbound platform survives adjacent to a footpath. The remainer of the station (west of this point) has been levelled and the adjacent area is now occupied by a waste transfer site. So much more useful than a railway station.... 18.10.2009
A modern view of the western end of the Forest Row Station site and looking east, the Forest Way path and cycle track can be seen heading east between the waste transfer site and the back of the industrial unit built on part of the old goods yard. This is not the most scenic part of the route. The other building in shot is the community Fire Station (there is a clue on the door...) 09.05.2009
A social club acquired the site after the railway closed, and moving the camera to the left brings their building into shot. Much of the old goods yard and station forecourt is a mass of tarmac. Buses once terminated here in order to serve the station. Behind the camera is an industrial estate (not pictured). 09.05.2009
West of Forest Row the railway crossed the busy A22 on a bridge. It is no surprise that the bridge at this location was demolished and the embankment cut back away from the road. Users of the Forest Way path are provided with a rather amusing traffic light controlled crossing that even has provision (and symbols) for horse riders! This view looks west towards the western embankment. 18.10.2009