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and Tunbridge Wells West lost their passenger services on 6 July 1985 when trains between Eridge and Tonbridge were withdrawn.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.
SCROLL DOWN to view the images. Click here to return to the main website index page.
Groombridge sidings, on the route of the line that originally ran west towards Ashurst Junction (the Ashurst spur). The sidings were laid, with permission, on land that was privately owned by a supporter of the railway and occupied about a sixth of the length of the original spur. By this time a bridge which originally took the railway over a minor road (about half way along the spur) had been removed. 28.01.2008
Groombridge sidings, on the route of the line that originally ran west towards Ashurst Junction (the Ashurst spur). The sidings were laid, with permission, on land that was privately owned by a supporter of the railway and occupied about a sixth of the length of the original spur. By this time a bridge which originally took the railway over a minor road (about half way along the spur) had been removed. 28.01.2008
A view of Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) T-Stock numbers 2749 and 2758 stored in Groombridge sidings. These coaches were subsequently sold. 28.01.2008
Looking south from Groombridge Junction in 2005. The area is too overgrown to be able to see south towards Birchden and miscellaneous stock stands in a siding formed from the former Up line. 19.09.2005
The Spa Valley line south to Birchden. The left hand line was operational and the original Up line was being used as a siding. An old signal post can just be seen on the left. 28.01.2008
Looking south towards Birchden with a longer lens. The white fence in the far distance marked the boundary with Network Rail and (at the time) the end of the operational line. Material appears to be stored on the former up line. The lens makes the distance appear much shorter. It is actually about three quarters of a mile. 28.01.2008
A wider view of "Groombridge Junction" shows the line to "BIrchden Junction" on the left, and what would have been the line to "Ashurst Junction" on the right. With a little imagination you can see trains passing through here on their original routes. 02.03.2009
Looking towards Birchden in 2011. The signal post had been painted and appeared to be ready to receive a new northbound signal (it originally held a southbound arm). Some of the former Up line had been lifted and there were fewer materials strewn around. Roughly halfway between the gates and the existing signal post a new signal post had been erected, perhaps for a northbound Distant signal. 27.03.2011 10454
A view south down the siding formed by the former Up line, with a freshly painted tank wagon in view. 27.03.2011 6637
The Up line from Birchden, in use as a siding for Spa Valley Railway stock. 27.03.2011 10456
The Up line from Birchden, in use as a siding for Spa Valley Railway stock, with the operational line adjacent (the former Down line). 27.03.2011 10458
Looking down Birchden bank on 29.05.2021. The old BR signal post has been renovated and is ready to receive the arm of an Outer Advance Starting signal. Meanwhile the post carries a board stating "Commencement of token section" (to Eridge). On the right is the eastbound Groombridge Distant signal, and in the far distance, just before the curve, is the fixed Distant signal (white board) for Forge Farm Crossing. 18051
Looking down Birchden bank with the siding on the former Up line in shot. 29.05.2021 18052
A wider view of the sidings with a freshly painted Passenger Luggage Van (PLV) in shot. 27.03.2011 6638
The remains of the Ashurst spur, then in use as sidings for Spa Valley Railway stock. The Metropolitan Railway (London Underground) T-Stock numbers 2749 and 2758 standing in the foreground were subsequently sold. 27.03.2011 10459
The Spa Valley Railway sidings in the Ashurst spur, with what is probably a Gatwick Luggage Van (GLV - Class 489) in view, in Gatwick Express colours. The coach has "Baggage Car" side markings. This is assumed to be 489104 (68503) which was then preserved on the railway. Its current status is not known. 27.03.2011 6635
A further view of the Ashurst Spur sidings, with two brake vans and a coach from a DMU in view. 27.03.2011 6636
The sidings on the Ashurst spur were laid by the Spa Valley Railway in the late 1990s to store stock. At the time the land was owned by a supporter of the railway who was content to allow the presence of the sidings on his land. Following a change of ownership the new owner asked the railway to return the land and the sidings were permanently closed and lifted. Spa Valley ran a "last train" on the line on 2 August 2018 using their DMU 1317. The locked gates and remains of the spur are seen here after closure on 25.08.2019 20103
The remains of the track that led to the sidings on the former Ashurst spur. The spur had been returned to the current owner of the land and a new fence erected, although the former gates to the sidings had yet to be removed. The remaining track could be adapted into a short stub siding (if required). 29.05.2021 20704
The land which accommodated the lifted sidings on the Ashurst spur. 29.05.2021 20705
The private land that formed the now abandoned Ashurst spur. A short distance down the spur (out of shot) a bridge has been removed. 29.05.2021 20706
A redundant (or yet to be allocated) lever frame at the end of the Ashurst spur. 29.05.2021 20709
Now looking at the line down to Birchden, 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
The same view south towards Birchden in 2005 with the rails nicely polished and operational. 19.09.2005
As the railway made it's way north from Birchden towards Groombridge Junction the line was protected by a wartime pillbox. This was not uncommon in various parts of Kent and other examples also survive (e.g. near Barcombe Mills). The triangular junction would have been seen as a strategic position in the event of invasion. A white horse looks on with interest. 19.09.2005
