East Grinstead Station (Network Rail), formerly East Grinstead (Low Level) Station, and the line north to St Margaret's Junction
The Bluebell Railway has also constructed a station at East Grinstead and photos of this station and the Bluebell extension to East Grinstead are in separate collections.
The small part of East Grinstead (High Level) Station (Closed) that survives is featured in a photographic tour of the Ashurst Junction to Three Bridges line.
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East Grinstead station building and forecourt, adjacent to the Low Level platforms, constructed in 1882 and photographed in November 1968 by Eric Kemp, before it was demolished by Network Rail. A "Clasp" building subsequently stood on the site, but the least said about that the better. I am very grateful to Eric Kemp for allowing me to use some of his pictures in this gallery, and he retains all rights to this image.
At the southern end of the present day line from Oxted and London is a more modern version of East Grinstead station. This view shows the Booking Hall. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10170
The Booking Hall. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10167
The Booking Hall. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10165
The Booking Hall. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10166
On the east side of the building are signs directing passengers to the Bluebell Railway station. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10175
On the east side of the building are signs directing passengers to the Bluebell Railway station. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10176
Buses connect with the station on the north eastern side of the building. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10171
The Booking Hall, viewed from the platform side. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10150
The Booking Hall, viewed from the platform side. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10164
Looking south from the footbridge towards the Bluebell Railway station. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 8842
Looking south towards the Bluebell Railway station. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 8841
The same view just over 15 years earlier, looking south along the platform at East Grinstead towards the future Bluebell station site on 22.11.1998.
Going back even further, East Grinstead goods yard on 30 March 1969, looking south towards the viaduct, on which coaches can be seen in the sidings. In those days the track had been lifted south of the viaduct, but the viaduct itself carried two sidings that held the locomotive hauled coaching stock. It is possible that the presence of these sidings helped the viaduct to escape demolition. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
East Grinstead South signal box stood at the southern end of the northbound Low Level platform (where signal OD43 is sited in a previous image). It was pictured on 21 May 1969 by Eric Kemp, who retains all rights to this image. To the left of the box is the northern sand drag for "Up Siding No2", of which virtually no trace remains except for it's buffers (see later image).
East Grinstead South signal box pictured on 18 October 1970 by Eric Kemp, who retains all rights to this image.
East Grinstead 'C' (or South) Signal Box diagram, photographed in November 1972 by Eric Kemp, who retains all rights to this image. Click on the image for a larger version. I have slightly distorted the colour in an effort to allow the annotations to be read, but unfortunately the quality of the scan is not quite high enough to read everything. At the southern end the annotations read (from the top) "Down Siding No2", "Down Siding No1", "Up Siding No1" "Up Siding No2". These were the days when both "No1" sidings ran on to the viaduct. The northern sand drag of "No2" siding can be seen in the black and white photo above.
Brrrrr! Looking south from East Grinstead on a snowy Valentine's Day in 1970. The siding behind the signal box ("Up Siding No.2") can be seen occupied by coaching stock. This siding terminated just before the viaduct at the buffer stop pictured in another photograph. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Looking south towards the Bluebell Railway station in 2014. The area in the foreground allows access to the track by Network Rail engineers. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10151
Looking south towards the Bluebell Railway station from the end of Platform 2. There is no exit for passengers from this point. Visitors to the Bluebell Railway need to leave the station and follow the signs previously pictured. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10149
Pictured in 2007, this was the clear land to the east of East Grinstead station, standing ready for the arrival of the Bluebell Railway. 02.04.2007.
On 02.04.2007 the signs say it all, but Southern had placed their new station name board in front of the rather tired Bluebell sign.
On 22.11.1998 the sign stood proud and unobstructed.
Looking south towards the Bluebell Railway station. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10153
The same picture looking south towards the Bluebell Railway station, but taken a few moments previously. The image captures a power blip when the signal extinguished for a few seconds. Drivers treat a blank signal as Danger and are required to contact the signalman by radio or telephone, but in practice nothing was moving at the time. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10152
Looking south down the Network Rail headshunt, which runs behind the Bluebell Railway station and gives access to Bluebell tracks. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 10148
Almost the same view 15 years previously, looking south from the platform at East Grinstead towards the headshunt and future Bluebell station site on 22.11.1998.
More or less the same view on 02.04.2007, but the increase in graffiti on the cabinet to the right illustrates the problem of operating a station in this location.
The same view on 18.10.2008, after work on the Bluebell station site had commenced. Nearest the camera is a Network Rail engineering access, and beyond the access the black fence encloses the Bluebell site. 0131
Looking south down the Network Rail headshunt, which runs behind the Bluebell Railway station and gives access to Bluebell tracks. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 8836
Looking south down the Network Rail headshunt, which runs behind the Bluebell Railway station and gives access to Bluebell tracks. The blue apparatus case carries equipment for the radio system that allows drivers to talk to the signalman (GSM-R). East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 8838
An earlier view south into the headshunt at East Grinstead on 02.04.2007. 377121 is stabled there. Note the points in a neutral position, not set for either route.
A closer view of the points at the northern end of the headshunt, which normally block traffic by being set in the neutral (centre) position, connected to neither platform. I am advised that these are known as wide to gauge trap points. East Grinstead 22.08.2010 4259
Looking south down the Network Rail headshunt, which runs behind the Bluebell Railway station and gives access to Bluebell tracks. Although a long lens emphasises any variation in the track, the Bluebell metals in the distance look a tad superior. East Grinstead Station, Network Rail. 05.04.2014 8837
An earlier view in 2007, also taken with a long lens. The parapet of Hill Place Viaduct can just be seen in the distance, to the left of the front of the train. 02.04.2007
Looking into the headshunt with a long lens in 2008 the black security fence can be seen on the left with the Bluebell Station site hidden behind it. 18.10.2008 0133/E1
In 2008, at the limit of the long lens then available, this view shows the original Network Rail buffer stop (for "Up Siding No.2"), with the track now curved towards the viaduct (sidings crossed the viaduct but "Up Siding No2" always stopped short at the buffers). Beyond is the grey security gate at the northern end of the viaduct, and the parapet can just be seen through the fence. Note the gap in the conductor rail just before the track curves, and the temporary buffer at the end of the line. 18.10.2008. 0133/E2
Coaching stock stored on Hill Place (or Imberhorne) Viaduct at East Grinstead in June 1969. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Coaching stock stored on Hill Place (or Imberhorne) Viaduct at East Grinstead on 7 June 1969. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Some Network Rail lineside huts in the headshunt in need of a bit of TLC. 22.08.2010 4283
The end of the conductor rail in the Network Rail headshunt. In the centre of the track a marker for the 8-car stop can be seen. 22.08.2010 4269
The notice at the boundary between Network Rail and the Bluebell Railway. East Grinstead 22.08.2010 30017
The reverse of the previous views, looking north from the Bluebell Railway station, towards Network Rail. East Grinstead Station. 05.04.2014 8870
Looking north up the Network Rail headshunt during the construction of the Bluebell Railway platform at East Grinstead. 22.08.2010 30020
Looking north up the Network Rail headshunt during the construction of the Bluebell Railway platform at East Grinstead. 22.08.2010 4278
Looking north from the Bluebell Railway station, towards Network Rail. 377111 stands in the station. East Grinstead Station. 05.04.2014 8869
Another old view, looking south from slightly further up the platform at East Grinstead, towards the future Bluebell station site on 22.11.1998. A goods loading dock was sited behind the fence, together with the Low Level goods yard, but both have disappeared without trace.
Looking south from Platform 2 on 21 May 1969, with parcels vans for flower traffic in the dock behind the fence. At the end of the platform a Stop board ("S") can just be seen. This denotes where drivers should pull up. Reference will be made to this later. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.