The Birchden, Groombridge and Ashurst Triangle
For very many years all services coming south from Ashurst and east from the Three Bridges line turned towards Tunbridge Wells. Passengers were required to change at Groombridge to go south towards Eridge. Although there was a direct line between "Ashurst Junction" and "Birchden Junction" it was only used for the storage of out of service locomotives. It was not until 7 June 1914 that direct services ran between Ashurst and Eridge. Thus a triangle of operational lines was formed in the area.
Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells West lost their passenger services on 6 July 1985 when trains between Eridge and Tonbridge were withdrawn. Eridge remains open, on the line between Uckfield and London, but one side of the station now also serves as a terminus for the Spa Valley service from Tunbridge Wells, which arrived in 2011. In the period between 1985 and 2011 parts of Eridge Station were left in poor condition but it has since been restored to a very high standard.
Separate collections cover (a) Eridge Station up to 2008; (b) Eridge Station 2008 - 2010; (c) Eridge Station 2011 - 2020; (d) Eridge Station from 2021; (e) Forge Farm Crossing; (f) The Birchden, Groombridge and Ashurst Triangle; (g) Groombridge Station; (h) Groombridge Signal Box; (i) East of Groombridge; (j) High Rocks Station; and (k) Tunbridge Wells Station and Shed.
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Ashurst Junction railway cottages, which date from about 1888, and which stand just north of the former junction between the Ashurst to Groombridge spur and the line south to Eridge. They are pictured on Saturday 04.06.1983 by Nick Bailey, who retains all rights to this image. Nick reports that the cows chased him across the field. Quite right too; can't have photographers snooping around.
AshurstJunctionRailwayCottages1888Saturday04.06.1983NickBailey
This is the route of the Ashurst Spur between Groombridge Junction and Ashurst Junction, but frankly if you did not know that a railway had been here it would be hard to tell. Some former lines quickly become overgrown but for some unexplained reason the trees had not grown on the trackbed here. 19.10.2003
Now up at Groombridge, this is an early photo of the track west of Groombridge, looking east towards the station on 19.09.1998. At the time the section of double track was used as a run round loop for trains that terminated in the single track station platform, there being no other practicable place to run round. In the right foreground is the then disused line to Birchden, and in the left foreground are two tracks which led to sidings, one formed on the former Up line from Birchden and two others that occupied the former spur to Ashurst. Note that the embankment sides were then heavily overgrown.
Looking west towards the sidings at Groombridge from about half way down the run round loop. 19.09.2005
Looking east towards Groombridge station from about half way along the run round loop. Note the old fogman's hut tucked into the bushes on the right. 19.09.2005
Looking towards Groombridge station from the run round loop, with work to extend the Spa Valley platform in progress. Before the line closed the original Groombridge station was beyond the second bridge and a double track formation ran through both bridges. The alignment of the track in the foreground, installed during preservation, was later changed. 19.09.2005
Looking west from Groombridge Station in 2008. In preservation this section of track served as a loop to allow trains terminating at Groombridge to run round, there being no room to do so in the single track station. When the extension to Eridge was agreed it became necessary to signal the area as a passing loop to allow a suitable timetable to operate on services to Eridge. 28.01.2008
Looking west towards the sidings at ground level from about half way down the run round loop. The track at this point is probably the original British Railways installation. Between the two tracks are "monuments" which were used by BR to align the track. Only the tops of the monuments can be seen. They are quite substantial (and heavy) items and are sunk deep into the ballast. 02.03.2009
Looking west towards the sidings at Groombridge. Scrub still needed to be removed from the embankments but the former thick undergrowth and trees are long gone. 02.03.2009
Looking east from the western end of the passing loop, back towards Groombridge in 2008. The line at the bottom left led (at the time) to Groombridge sidings, which were situated on the remains of the Ashurst spur. In the days of British Railways this was "Groombridge Junction", with services going south towards "Birchden Junction" and west towards "Ashurst Junction". 28.01.2008
Looking east from the former "Groombridge Junction" on 02.03.09, but this time from ground level. The Spa Valley Railway sidings are behind the camera.
The passing loop west of Groombridge, with signal posts erected but yet to receive their signal arms. 27.03.2011 10455
Looking west from Groombridge in 2011 with new signal posts in position and ready to receive signals. 27.03.2011 10460
Looking west from Groombridge with a longer lens and with the post for a Down Advance Starting signal in view. 27.03.2011 10462
Looking towards Groombridge Station in 2021 with Home signals and very smart 10 mph speed restriction signs in shot. 29.05.2021 18049
Looking east towards Groombridge station. The westbound Advance Starting signal is on the right, together with an old BR fog man's hut. 29.05.2021 18047
Looking east at the Groombridge westbound Advance Starting signal, together with an old BR fog man's hut. On the embankment are the last remnants of the spring bluebells. 29.05.2021 18053
Looking west down the cutting at Groombridge, from the footbridge at the western end of the station. New double-sided speed restriction signs are in shot. 29.05.2021 20697
Looking west down the cutting at Groombridge, from the footbridge at the western end of the station. New double-sided speed restriction signs are in shot. 29.05.2021 20696
Looking east towards Groombridge Station. The track on the left (opening into points below the camera) led to the two lifted sidings on the Ashurst spur and to the siding on the former Up line. 29.05.2021 20707
Another view east towards Groombridge Station. Below the camera the right hand track leads to and from Eridge, the centre track leads to the siding on the former Up line and the left hand track leads to the (now lifted) Ashurst spur. 29.05.2021 20708
The site of the former Groombridge Junction in 1998. A signal box of the same name once stood here. On the left is the former double track towards Birchden Junction. The Down line (furthest from the camera) was then disused and stock stands on the former Up line, which was used as a siding. Behind the gates is the former Ashurst spur, which was used as two short sidings to store stock. The area was then generally overgrown. 19.09.1998
This view west shows the track layout under the western footbridge more clearly. The main Groombridge sidings are on the right, with an additional siding to the left formed out of the Up line from Birchden. The operational line to Birchden (and eventually Eridge) is on the far left. 19.09.2005
Looking south from Groombridge Junction this is the former Down line to Birchden. The polished rails betray the fact that it had been restored to limited use, of which more later. 19.09.2005
The reverse of the previous view looking north towards Groombridge Junction from the open Birchden line. 19.09.2005
Looking east towards Groombridge from between the two lines that diverged at Groombridge Junction. The Ashurst spur is on the left (then sidings) and the line to Birchden Junction is on the right, behind the stock standing in the siding formed by the former Up line. 19.09.2005
Looking east towards Groombridge from between the two lines that diverged at Groombridge Junction. The Ashurst spur is on the left (then sidings) and the line to Birchden Junction is on the right. 19.09.2005
Looking east towards Groombridge from between the two lines that diverged at Groombridge Junction. The Ashurst spur is on the left (then sidings) and the line to Birchden Junction is on the right. 19.09.2005
Groombridge Junction used to have it's own signal box. A lever frame seems a poor substitute, but it controlled the sidings. 19.09.2005
Half of a DMU in Groombridge sidings on 19.09.2005. The status of this unidentified coach is unknown, but it seems unlikely that the number of the carriage was J676KNH.
An obviously refurbished utility van in Groombridge Sidings. Unfortunately in those years not all stock carried numbers to allow them to be identified. 19.09.2005
An obviously refurbished utility van in Groombridge Sidings. Unfortunately in those years not all stock carried numbers to allow them to be identified. 19.09.2005
A tar wagon in Groombridge Sidings. 19.09.2005
A tar wagon in Groombridge Sidings. 19.09.2005
An unidentified Mk1 coach in Groombridge Sidings. 19.09.2005
