Eridge Station up to 2008
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and Tunbridge Wells West lost their passenger services on 6 July 1985 when trains between Eridge and Tonbridge were withdrawn.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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The signal box at Eridge pictured on Tuesday 24.04.1984, with the signalman in action inside. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
It is a bit misty at Eridge as a rather grimy Class 33, believed to be 33026, arrives with a London Bridge to Uckfield train formed of one of the peak hour Mark 1 coaching sets. The picture was probably taken on Thursday 03.05.1984. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
1303 arrives at Eridge on Saturday 27.10.1984 with a Victoria to Uckfield service. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
1317 in Platform 1 at Eridge on Saturday 27.10.1984. The unit is not in the normal position to take on passengers, so it is either waiting for the Starter to clear to leave as empty stock, or it is in the process of setting back to form a northbound train. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
This picture was taken south of Eridge looking south west on Saturday 27.10.1984. The precise location is unidentified but the train is on a river bridge and the building in the background may be Copyhold Farm. Further information would be welcome. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
A second version of a picture taken south of Eridge looking south west on Saturday 27.10.1984. The precise location is unidentified but the train is on a river bridge and the building in the background may be Copyhold Farm. Further information would be welcome. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
1985 has arrived, and so has the snow. 1318 stands in Platform 1 at Eridge on Saturday 19.01.1985. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Eridge on Saturday 19.01.1985 in the years when passengers realised that snow was slippery and conducted themselves accordingly. 1113 stands in Platform 3 with an Uckfield train and the Starting signal can just be seen through the bridge in the "Off" position. On the right 1318 carries a "31" headcode and waits to depart for Tonbridge. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Eridge in the snow on Saturday 19.01.1985. 1113 and 1318 have been joined by 1118 in Platform 2. The "88" headcode shows that it is an Uckfield to Victoria train. Although Eridge is not near any centre of population this picture nicely illustrates the interchange facilities that the station then provided. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Eridge on Saturday 18.05.1985 as 1314 waits in Platform 1 with a "31" headcode denoting a Tonbridge train. The chimneys of the station cottages rise above the platform canopies. The resident horse charged extra for appearing in the photo. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The buttercups are well and truly in bloom as a 3D unit waits in Platform 1 at Eridge on Saturday 29.06.1985. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Eridge signal box, pictured on Saturday 29.06.1985. The end is nigh as trains from the Tunbridge Wells direction would soon cease. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Eridge on Saturday 06.07.1985 and the station is crowded as it is the last day of services on the line through Groombridge. 1118 is waiting to depart with the 18:35 Uckfield to Victoria service, and through the arch the Down Starting signal is Off for a southbound train. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Eridge on Saturday 06.07.1985, the last day of operation via Groombridge. 1317 and 1311 are waiting to depart with the 17:59 to Tunbridge Wells Central, the front of the unit carrying appropriate headboards. Sadly the "Save the Eridge Line" sticker had been ineffective, but the line would be partially re-born as the Spa Valley Railway. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
EridgeSat.6.07.1985.1317and1311waitingdepartwiththe17.59TunbridgeWellsCentrallastdayoperation
A very unusual shot of the bay at Eridge (Platform 4) and of the railway cottages which was probably taken on Saturday 27.07.1985. The line to Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells had closed by then but "full width" unit 1117 was occupying the down bay. The platform was mostly used by 3D 13xx units when the passenger service ran, but staff trains continued for a month or so from Tunbridge Wells West “depot” to Eridge, and these were not width restricted. Thus 1117 was not in passenger service. Meanwhile the owner of the railway cottage nearest the car park was obviously running a very successful kitchen garden and greenhouse. There are rows and rows of vegetables. Nick Bailey retains all right to this image.
Looking north from Eridge in a picture probably taken on Saturday 27.07.1985. 1117 is operating a staff train to the "depot" at Tunbridge Wells West and is leaving Platform 4 on the authority of the ground signal at the end of the bay. Not being in passenger service it can presumably proceed north to the Outer Starting signal and thence turn right on to the closed line at Birchden. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Anyone want a slightly bent tamper? Eridge on Monday 02.07.1988 and tamper DX73277 and SEACOW DB980015 are confined to the Up siding in disgrace after a collision during engineering works. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
EridgeMon.2.07.1988.DX73277andSEACOWDB980015aftercollisionduringengineeringworksSun.27.061968
Looking north from Eridge on Saturday 01.10.1988, with 73131 "County of Surrey" and 33119 in the long siding. I understand the "73" headcode but I am not sure how the signalman should interpret a yellow balloon shown from the cab window (anyone got the rules handy?). The locomotives were actually giving cab rides along the "long siding" as part of the "Uckfield Line Centenary". Despite operating on a section of track that would be preserved as part of the Spa Valley Railway ironically neither locomotive made it into preservation. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Eridge Station looking south on Monday 25.05.1998. By then Network Rail had converted their track through Eridge into a bi-directional single line, and only the platform on the right was in service. The original Platform 1 had closed and the former Platform 2 was renumbered Platform 1. The platform on which the photographer is standing was out of service, but the platforms had been renumbered 2 and 3. The southern part of what was Platform 4, (behind the Down bay buffer stop) is overgrown having not seen a train for very many years. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Looking south down the former Platform 1 at Eridge on Monday 25.05.1998. The track in both the platform and the adjacent siding has been lifted and undergrowth has swallowed the site of the siding. The former Platform 2 (the other side of the building) is now Platform 1. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
This image from 2003 looks north from the operational Network Rail platform at Eridge. The scrub shown in 1998 had transformed into fairly mature trees, especially in the "long siding", and on the curve in the distance the trees are not far from the Network Rail line. 05.10.2003
