East Grinstead Station (Network Rail), formerly East Grinstead (Low Level) Station, and the line north to St Margaret's Junction
Separate collections cover stations on the line to Oxted
(a) Oxted Station and Oxted Viaduct;
(b) Hurst Green Station, Hurst Green Halt (Closed),
Hurst Green Junction and Limpsfield Tunnel;
(c) Crowhurst Junction and Crowhurst Brick and Tile Works sidings (both closed);
(d) Lingfield Station;
(e) Dormans Station and Cooks Pond Viaduct; and
(f) East Grinstead Station and St Margarets Junction.
A separate gallery covers East Grinstead (High Level) Station (Closed).
The Bluebell Railway have also constructed a station at East Grinstead and
photos can be found in this gallery.
The Bluebell Railway extension to East Grinstead
is covered in a number of separate collections.
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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.
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 '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.
East Grinstead signal box in a picture that is thought to date from June 1986. Just to the right of the box there is a base for the colour light signal that will soon arrive. The transfer of control of the line to Oxted will spell the end of the signal box and it was later demolished. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
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.
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. 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
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
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