Birchden
Pictures in this collection were taken in the period 2003 to 2009. For part of this time the extension to Birchden was disused. Older images appear first, with the most recent pictures at the end of the collection. The gallery shows the work progressing.
Separate collections cover Groombridge Station, Forge Farm Crossing and Eridge Station.
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This old view from 2003 shows what was then the end of the operational track (denoted by the sleepers) adjacent to the old signal post south of Groombridge sidings. Note that the area was then very overgrown. 19.10.2003
ooking north from just beyond the pile of sleepers in 2003. At the time both lines were disused, and the up line is covered in debris. 19.10.2003
Looking south along the (then) disused line towards Birchden from just beyond the pile of sleepers. Disused stock is in the distance. 19.10.2003
Looking north along the disused track from about milepost 28 II (having walked past the disused stock and now looking back north at it) 19.10.2003
Contrasting with the 2003 views, looking north from milepost 28 II in 2005 the eastern embankment has been cleared of scrub leaving only major trees. Further north the up line is used as a siding. 19.09.2005
Milepost 28 II looking south towards Birchden. The eastern embankment has been cleared of scrub, the running (down) line is open and the up line is disused with sleepers stacked on it. 19.09.2005
Slightly south of milepost 28 II looking north. The up line is out of service and covered in debris, the running line is open, and the eastern embankment cleared. 19.09.2005
Looking south slightly south of milepost 28 II the running line is open and the eastern embankment cleared of scrub. 19.09.2005
Harrisons Rocks on the eastern side of the extended line. 19.09.2005
The scrub clearance on the eastern embankment allows better views from the train. A second sighting of Harrisons Rocks. 19.09.2005
Looking north from milepost 28 I the western embankment has been cleared, as has the eastern embankment beyond the trees 19.09.2005
The much improved scene at Milepost 28 I looking south. The smoke is from burning by the scrub clearing gang. 19.09.2005
Looking north towards the fire in the previous picture from the disused overbridge at Birchden the sides of both embankments have been cleared. 19.09.2005
Looking south from the Birchden overbridge the down (running) line is available for service and the embankment sides clear. 19.09.2005
A view south east from the overbridge showing the attractive scenery along the extension. 19.09.2005
A view east from the overbridge towards Harrisons Rocks. 19.09.2005
A earlier 2003 view, looking south towards the Network Rail fence at Birchden with both up and down lines still in situ but disused. 19.10.2003
A 2003 view of the end of the disused line at Birchden. The fence and Stop symbol marks the approach to the old junction with the Uckfield line 19.10.2003
The end of the current running line at Birchden. A "Stop" sign and buffers have been installed. 19.09.2005
The old signal post and "Whistle" command are not currently needed, but may yet get a new lease of life. 19.09.2005
Looking north towards Groombridge from behind the buffers it can be seen that the up line has been lifted near the termination point. 19.09.2005
Birchden looking south through the Network Rail fence towards the current Network Rail line to Uckfield 05.10.2003
Almost hidden by the trees a Southern 171 unit passes Birchden junction en route to Eridge and Uckfield. 19.09.2005
Right at the point where the Network Rail fence is erected milepost 28 lays almost hidden in the undergrowth. 19.09.2005
The track furniture gives away the date of last renewal as 1955. 19.10.2005
The gates at Birchden which mark the Network Rail boundary with the Spa Valley Railway. The new track to Eridge leads south under the gates. 14.09.2008
Looking south from the gates the Spa Valley track curves to join the former Down line to Eridge. The Network Rail running line from Ashurst enters from the right of the photograph. A small section of the old Up line to Groombridge remains in situ in the foreground. 14.09.2008
Taken with a long lens this view looks south to the point where the Spa Valley line curves to run alongside Network Rail. The lens makes the curve appear more sharp than is actually the case. The Network Rail line is strictly OUT OF BOUNDS. 14.09.2008
For those who doubted that the Spa Valley Railway would ever run south of Birchden the dismantled former buffers lay beside the line at Birchden. 14.09.2008
The other section of the buffers beside the line at Birchden. 14.09.2008
Pointwork is currently stored on the line at Birchden. This may have come from Eridge or from the former points that were still in situ at Birchden Junction (both sets having been removed by the contractors). 14.09.2008
Materials await attention at Birchden. The old Down signal post protecting Birchden Junction can be seen in the background. 14.09.2008
Looking north towards Groombridge from Birchden Junction. 14.09.2008
The same view as the previous picture, but with a long lens. The distance appears much shorter than is actually the case. 14.09.2008
The 28 mile post has been refurbished. A clearer shot was not possible as it stands on the wrong side of the fence on Network Rail land. The same milepost can be seen in a sad state earlier in the collection. 14.09.2008
Network Rail has done an excellent job clearing the lineside in the vicinity of the old Birchden Junction. This view looks south from the Spa Valley Railway gates towards the position of the former junction. A small section of the old Up line sits abandoned in the foreground on Network Rail land. 02.03.2009
Taken with a long lens this shot shows the point at which the Spa Valley line curves south to run alongside the Network Rail line (on the right). The Whistle boards refer to Forge Farm Crossing, around the bend, and the Network Rail southbound speed limit reduces to 60mph at this point. 02.03.2009
Turning round, this view looks north from the Spa Valley boundary. The Network Rail line is on the left, heading for Ashurst, and on the right the Spa Valley line is en route for Groombridge. 02.03.2009
Looking north along the Network Rail line, towards Ashurst. 02.03.2009
Turbostar 171806 speeds south past Birchden with a service for Uckfield. 02.03.2009
Looking north from the Spa Valley boundary towards Groombridge. On the right is a signal post which originally held the southbound home signal at Birchden Junction. Beyond that is the rear of an old Whistle sign. 02.03.2009
Looking north towards Groombridge from a position north of the old signal post in the previous picture. At present there is a large amount of surplus track and other material at this location. It is assumed that this will be cleared in due course. 02.03.2009
Looking north towards Groombridge from the same position, but with a long lens. The distance appears far shorter than is actually the case. In the centre of the picture the track bends right towards Groombridge, and stock stands on the old Up line, which is now a siding. 02.03.2009
Looking south from the same spot. On the left a Stop sign marks the current limit of services. The Network Rail line can be seen on the right of the picture. 02.03.2009
A closer view of the Stop board, with the gates in the background that mark the current boundary with Network Rail. 02.03.2009
The gates that currently block the route to Eridge. Can anyone clarify whether these gates will be removed when the section to Eridge opens? 02.03.2009
The 28 milepost has appeared before, but has become something of a symbol of the on-going improvements. Logs can be seen where Network Rail has cleared the lineside beyond the gates. 02.03.2009
A while ago this view of the southern side of the gates would have been impossible owing to the overgrown state of the lineside. 02.03.2009