Hartfield 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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Hartfield Station is pictured from the road bridge on 6 January 1966, with a churn outside the door, a bike in the rack, and two luggage trolleys leaning against the pillars ready for use. There is plenty of coal in the goods yard but greatly enlarging the image does not immediately reveal the goods siding upon which the car would be parked. Perhaps the track was just dirty at the time. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Hartfield station looking east from track level on 6 January 1966. The Station Master's door on to the platform is marked "Private", and an enlarged image reveals that a loading gauge survives in the goods yard. A tiny speck on the extreme left of the picture is a DMU either approaching or leaving the station. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Hartfield station looking west on 6 January 1966 from a position adjacent to the goods shed. Note that the otherwise straight track had to deviate slightly to pass under the road bridge. There was only ever a single line in this section of the route, although many of the bridges were built to cater for double track. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
The forecourt and entrance to the booking hall at Hartfield station pictured on 6 January 1966. The photo catches the majority of the Station Master's house on the left, with his front door just in shot. A ghostly figure watches the photographer from the upper left window. The railway seems to have erected a fence either to provide a front garden or to keep travellers away from his door..! John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
The forecourt of Hartfield Station pictured on Friday 20.04.1984. Compare this image with the 1966 picture above and it immediately becomes apparent that the front of the booking office has been altered and extended out parallel to the sections of building either side. There is a new roof on the area and part of the old "Hartfield" sign (excluding the section saying "Station") has been moved to the lower wall. Someone in the station house was using Citizens Band radio, which was popular at the time. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Hartfield Station building, viewed from under the adjacent road bridge on Friday 20.04.1984. The station house has been extended on the upper storey and four new windows have been added on the ground and upper floor. In the course of that work the "Private" door at the western end of the former platform has been converted to a window. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
A closer view of the alterations at Hartfield Station building, possibly taken on Saturday 11.08.1984. The changes to the building are illustrated by the different brick colours. Next door the canopy appears to be original but has received a new top surface. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Hartfield Station building, looking north. The station house on the left is a private residence. A nursery occupies the single storey former booking office and the garden behind. 22.03.2009
Much the same view six years earlier, in 2003. Note the clever drawings of a toy train in the windows of the nursery. 05.04.2003
A closer view of the station house at Hartfield. The double garage is a new addition (the LB&SCR was not known for building them), and the upper storey around the left hand window is also a later extension. Roof mounted solar panels and a satellite dish were also not originally specified... 22.03.2009
Looking east from the surviving road bridge at Hartfield Station, with the extended upper storey nearest the camera. The additional accommodation has blended quite well with the original building. The windows in the section of the house nearest the camera are all new (none were originally fitted in that part of the building). The upper storey casement window above the conservatory is original, and and similar window was provided on the ground floor (now hidden by the conservatory). 22.03.2009
Changing angle slightly, this view looks directly east down the route of the single line through Hartfield Station. The conservatory is on the original platform, and the former platform edge is marked by the narrow raised flower bed. The track bed has been infilled to lawn. 22.03.2009
Using a slightly longer lens, this shot looks east along the track bed past Hartfield Station booking office. In the background the Goods Shed can just be seen in the trees. The canopy is not original but recreates the scene for the children who visit the building. Hartfield Station did not have a full length canopy. It started just beyond the first floor casement window and ran the length of the booking office. A tiny colour change in the brickwork beyond the conservatory roof marks the position in which the canopy was originally fitted. 22.03.2009
A final view looking east along the former platform shows where the public footpath rejoins the route of the former track. 22.03.2009
A public footpath runs east to west past the site, but is diverted around Hartfield station buildings and the purchased land that now forms the gardens. The property is reasonably well screened from walkers. This view looks south. 22.03.2009
A second view looking south towards Hartfield Station from the footpath. The former booking office and goods shed can just be seen. 22.03.2009
At the point at which the public footpath rejoins the track bed a small length of the eastern end of Hartfield Station platform survives. A signal box originally stood at this end of the platform. 22.03.2009
Looking west along the short section of surviving platform. The arrow marks the road bridge under which trains would have passed as they left the station. (The bridge is featured later). 22.03.2009
Another view of the short section of suviving platform at Hartfield Station. The signal box would have been sited at the end of the platform nearest the camera, roughly where the light coloured bush is growing. 18.10.2009
The entrance to Hartfield Station goods yard, looking east. This area has subsequently been redeveloped for housing, and looks very different. At least the photographs preserve the scene. 22.03.2009
Hartfield Station once serviced all local commercial traffic, and a large Goods Shed was provided with two doors to transfer goods to vehicles. This view looks north. 22.03.2009
Hartfield Goods Shed looking north east. A long siding passed right through the Goods Shed, exiting through the large doors on the left. The line then led to a loading dock behind the camera. 22.03.2009
Looking east along Hartfield Station goods yard. In addition to the siding leading to the goods shed, which would have been on the left, a long siding ran the length of the goods yard on the right, following roughly the line of the rough grass adjacent to the hard standing. An external crane was provided, and the base would have been roughly where the small circular mound rises from the ground in the centre of the picture. 22.03.2009
The rear of the remaining part of Hartfield Station platform, viewed from the goods yard, looking north east. 22.03.2009
Looking west at land beyond Hartfield Station Goods Shed, the infilled loading dock is marked by an arrow. In earlier years the parked car would have fallen into the loading dock and on to the track. 22.03.2009
At the eastern end of the goods yard what was obviously a lineside hut still survives. It's exact purpose is unknown. It may have been used by shunters, PWay staff, or possibly held a ground frame for the long siding and headshunt that extended to the east. Information would be welcomed. 18.10.2009
The eastern end of the goods yard at Hartfield Station, looking west. The main track bed is on the right, leading west to the station, and the wider section of hard standing denotes the location of the goods yard and headshunt (on the left). The lineside hut seen in the previous picture is beyond the gate. 18.10.2009
Looking east from Hartfield Station at the point where the goods yard and headshunt ends, and the track reverts to a single line heading towards Withyham. 18.10.2009
Looking east from the same point as the previous picture, but with a longer lens. The old track is now a popular leisure area frequently used for cycling or exercising dogs. 18.10.2009
Looking west from the goods yard towards Hartfield Station building. Note the ornate chimneys. 22.03.2009
Hartfield Station, looking south, with the Goods Shed on the left. 22.03.2009
Moving now to the western end of Hartfield Station, this view looks west under the road bridge and along the former track bed that leads to East Grinstead. It is now a cycle route and footpath called Forest Way. 22.03.2009
The reverse of the previous view, looking east under the road bridge towards Hartfield Station. Trains would have passed directly through the garden hedge. 22.03.2009
Walking west from Hartfield Station along the single track, the drainage ditches on either side can still be seen and remain functional. However when trains were running the lineside would have beeb clear of trees and undergrowth. Another bridge is in the distance. 18.10.2009
West of Hartfield Station a two arch bridge takes a public bridleway across the railway. The vast majority of bridges on the line were built with at least two arches, suggesting that the engineers might have been allowing for a subsequent conversion to double track. This, of course never happened. This view looks west. 18.10.2009
The reverse of the previous shot, looking east towards Hartfield Station. The overbridge at Hartfield can just be seen in the distance but the lens makes it appear nearer than is actually the case. 18.10.2009
Turning round at the same point, this shot looks west along the track bed. The next station was Forest Row, but this was a considerable distance down the line.18.10.2009
There is a path up from the railway on to the bridge (the gate on the left) and this shot looks south across the bridge in the direction of Hartfield village. 18.10.2009
Still up on the land adjacent to the bridge, this shot looks north. The entrance to the bridge is gated to control livestock, and the bridleway leads away towards Chartners Farm. 18.10.2009
Finally an attempt was made to show the cutting from the top of the bridge. A westward view was impossible. This shot east is obstructed by trees but shows a small section of the track bed with the more modern path up to the bridge on the left. 18.10.2009
In 2011/2012 extensive development took place in Hartfield Station Goods Yard and the area has been totally transformed. This view of the refurbished Goods Shed looks north. 23.03.2012 3913
In 2011/2012 extensive development took place in Hartfield Station Goods Yard. This view of the refurbished Goods Shed looks east. 23.03.2012 3942
In 2011/2012 extensive development took place in Hartfield Station Goods Yard. This view of the refurbished Goods Shed looks east. 23.03.2012 3943
In 2011/2012 extensive development took place in Hartfield Station Goods Yard. This view of the refurbished Goods Shed looks east. 23.03.2012 3944
In 2011/2012 extensive development took place in Hartfield Station Goods Yard. This view of the refurbished Goods Shed looks west. 23.03.2012 3938
In 2011/2012 extensive development took place in Hartfield Station Goods Yard. This view of the refurbished Goods Shed looks west. 23.03.2012 3952
