Lewes Station

An opportunity to take a photographic tour north from Lewes to Sheffield Park. Although the trackbed is now overgrown in places, you can see some features. The line has been closed for more than 50 years and naturally many views are obstructed by vegetation.

Please note that some sections of the line are now private property, and other parts are totally impassable. It is not possible to walk the entire length.

The Lewes Station gallery is entirely the work of Eric Kemp, who retains the copyright and all rights.

Separate collections cover (a) Lewes Station; (b) Hamsey to Barcombe via Culver Junction; (c) Barcombe Station; (d) Barcombe to Newick & Chailey via Cinder Hill Tunnel; (e) Newick & Chailey Station; and (f) Newick & Chailey to Sheffield Park.

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The Lewes Station gallery is entirely the work of Eric Kemp who retains the copyright and all rights to the images. I am very grateful to him for supplying these images. Lewes Station on 01.01.1969. A 3D unit waits in the double sided platforms 4/5 on an Uckfield line train. The track was officially the "Down Brighton Loop" but was signalled for bi-directional working. In practice it was largely used by trains to and from the line through Culver Junction. The other platforms in shot are Brighton Line Platforms 6 - 8 (out of a total of 8). On the extreme right is the roof of "D" signal box and the "Up Loop Siding" which terminated in buffer stops by the box.
Lewes 1.01.1969.unit Uckfield line train
Lewes 'A' Signal Box, pictured on 01.01.1969. The box was at the north western end of the station alongside the lines to London.
Lewes 1.01.1969.'A'Signal Box
A magnificent array of signals at the eastern end of the platforms at Lewes on 01.01.1969. Lewes 'B' or Main Junction Signal Box is in the background. On the extreme left is the "Down Siding" serving the two goods docks. As trains left the station they would turn left towards Culver Junction (the points are just out of shot) or right towards Hastings.
Lewes 1.01.1969.'B'Main Junction Signal Box the background
Lewes Station on 01.01.1969 with the London lines (Platforms 6 - 8) on the extreme right of the picture. The double sided platform 4/5 (Down Brighton Loop) in which the train is standing has since been taken out of service and infilled.
Lewes 1.01.1969.the platform which train standing has since been filled in.London lines corner pic
Electro-diesel (later Class 73) E6027 waits for departure from Lewes on Friday 01.01.1971. The goods train is standing in the Up Brighton Loop (then called Platform 8).
Electro diesel E6027 goods Brighton Loop then platform Lewes Friday 1.01.1971
Lewes 'D' Signal Box, located at the Brighton end of station. 01.01.1969
Lewes 1.01.1969.'D'Signal Box Brighton end station
The Brighton end of Lewes Station, pictured on 01.01.1969. The roof of the 'D' signal box is in the foreground.
Lewes 1.01.1969.the roof 'D'box foreground
Viewed from the steps of the 'B' signal box, the eastern end of Lewes Station is seen in the snow on Friday 01.01.1971. A train is leaving from the Down Main toward Hastings (Platform 2). The platforms are arranged from Platform 1 on the right to Platform 8 on the left. The two goods docks are on the right and there seems to be a puzzlingly large amount of pedestrian activity on the extreme right of the dock.
Lewes the snow Fri.1st Jan.1971.View from 'B'box steps
The view towards Brighton from the south western end of Lewes Station, with 'D' signal box on the left. A worker is walking towards Brighton beyond the bridge; high visibility clothing was not widely used at the time. 01.01.1971
Lewes 1.01.1971.the view towards Brighton with 'D'box left
Lewes 'B' signal box diagram as at January 1971. In the top right corner a piece of paper has been pasted to the diagram showing the Uckfield line truncated after closure. A small section of track was (at the time) retained to allow access to the Down siding and goods docks. It is notoriously difficult to photograph signal box diagrams behind glass and some correction has been applied to the image to remove flash glare.
Lewes 'B'box diagram Jan.1971 showing Uckfield line truncated top right
Inside the 'B' signal box at Lewes on 01.01.1971.
Inside Lewes 'B'1.01.1971
Inside the 'B' signal box at Lewes showing the block instruments and bells. 01.01.1971.
Block instruments and bells Lewes 'B'Jan.1971
Inside the 'B' signal box at Lewes on 01.01.1971.
Inside Lewes 'B'Jan.1971
By 27.09.1971 the double sided Platforms 4/5 at Lewes had been taken out of use. The signal arms had been removed and the main line 'plain lined'. Some track remained within the platform area but debris formed a rudimentary buffer stop where the points used to be located. Meanwhile 4-COR 3107, stands in Platform 6 bearing a "1" headcode.
Lewes ...But 27.09.1971 was out use and the main line 'plain lined'3107
With the high chalk hills (Malling Hill) in the background, 4-VEP 7782 passes Lewes 'B' signal box with a Brighton train. A new fence stands on the left where the closed line to Uckfield used to diverge to the north. Saturday 28.07.1979.
Lewes Sat.28.07.1979 with 7782 passing 'B'box B'ton train
7324 waits in the Up platform (Platform 7) at Lewes with a Brighton train. On the right the other platform (Platform 8) is the Up Brighton Loop, although it was actually signalled for departures in both directions. On the extreme right the other track is the Up Loop siding, which ended in a buffer stop behind the camera. Colour light signals have replaced the semaphore signals. Saturday 28.07.1979
Lewes Sat.28.07.1979.7324 Brighton train
A wider view of Lewes Station on Saturday 09.01.1988. Unit 1201, in blue and grey with Network South East logos, waits in the Up platform with a Brighton train. The Up Loop siding is occupied with engineering stock. On the left the old bi-directional double-sided Platforms 4/5 (Down Brighton Loop) have been filled in to platform level with ballast, and ornamental trees now stand where Uckfield line trains terminated. On the left, nearest the camera, the platform has been extended. Note the red painted lamps on the platforms, then a feature of Network South East stations.
Lewes Sat.9.01.1988.1201 blue and grey Brighton train
Lewes Station on Saturday 07.05.1988. Unit 3000 (blue and grey) has arrived from Brighton, and unit 1704 (Network South East livery) is about to head in the opposite direction. The platforms have been renumbered and the Up Brighton Loop (formerly Platform 8) is now Platform 5. Health and Safety is also beginning to take over; "Mind the Gap". In former years more reliance was placed on common sense.
Lewes Sat.7.05.1988.3000 blue and grey train from Brighton plat.1704 NSE livery heading for B'ton.The Loop earlier pic.now plat.5
Outside Lewes on Thursday 13.08.1981. Class 73 73141 is about to cross the River Ouse (on the bridge just north of the A27) with a freight train. The last wagon is a very unusual specialised transporter for DEMU engines (see next image).
Lewes Thurs.13.08.1981.73141 about cross The Ouse with freight.last wagon transporter for DEMU engines
This is actually Eastbourne on 10.05.1980, but the image allows a closer look at the engine transporter wagon in the previous picture. The legends are MEs, 13T, tare 10 100kg. The number is ADB998052, with a wheel base of 15' 0. At the end away from the camera staff are instructed "WHEN LOADED THIS WAGON MUST NOT BE FLY OR HUMP SHUNTED" (a sensible stipulation for a DEMU engine, although "humps" were not frequently found on the Southern Region....). I am advised that the wagon was one of four specially built for the purpose.
DEMU engine transporter WAGON Eastbourne 10.05.1980.MEs 13T tare 10.100kg ADB998052 15'WHEN LOADED THIS MUST NOT FLY HUMP SHUNTED
A member of the crew looks back at the photographer as Class 73 73111 crosses the River Ouse outside Lewes with a freight on Wednesday 15.04.1981.
Lewes Wed.15.04.1981.73111 crossing the River Ouse
The Southerham Ground Frame, east of Lewes, which provided access to Up and Down sidings and the Cement Works private siding. July 1975.
Southerham Ground Frame Lewes July 1975
Southerham Ground Frame diagram, July 1987.
Southerham Ground Frame diagram July 1987
A closer view of Southerham Ground Frame in July 1987. The apparatus was ex-LSWR and was later used by the Bluebell Railway in the (now decommissioned) signal box south of Kingscote Station.
Southerham Ground Frame July 1987.Note that LSWR
The Southerham Cement Works, outside Lewes, had it's own diesel shunter, seen here out of use on 21.07.1985. The locomotive was subsequently preserved on the Spa Valley Railway, and has since been named "Southerham".
Cement works shunter out use Lewes 21.07.1985
An occupation arch next to the River Ouse at Southerham, east of Lewes (just north of the main A27 road). March 1987. The bridge was very prone to flood but the railway was (hopefully) above it all.
Occupation arch next the River Ouse Southerham Lewes March 1987 E2.