Tunbridge Wells West Station and Shed (including Grove Tunnel and Grove Junction)
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and Tunbridge Wells West lost their passenger services on 6 July 1985 when trains between Eridge and Tonbridge were withdrawn.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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I am grateful to John Attfield for allowing me to use some of his historical images in this gallery. The original Tunbridge Wells West station building photographed on 30 January 1969. After closure in 1985 the building did not remain in railway ownership. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
I am grateful to Eric Kemp for allowing his historic pictures to be used in this gallery. Tunbridge Wells West station building photographed in 1976. In the background is the old locomotive shed and the adjacent platform, now used by the Spa Valley Railway. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West pictured on 30 January 1969, looking east. The photograph just catches the side of the engine shed and the two tracks on the left which are now used by the Spa Valley Railway. Everything else in shot was demolished after closure. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West shed, pictured in August 1971. The coach is Mobile Office DS70159. The shed (code 75F) closed to steam locomotives in June 1965, but the tracks were used by engineers stock thereafter. It is now used by the Spa Valley Railway. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West on 12.11.1972, with a selection of units stabled there (as was normal). The motor 2nd coach of 3D unit 1307 had been temporarily renumbered and included as part of 3H unit 1111 due to accident damage to the latter. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
TunbridgeWellsWest12.11.1972withthemotor2ndunit1307temporarilyrenumberedpart1111dueaccidentdamage
A nice view of the signals at the eastern end of Tunbridge Wells West as, in the background, the driver of 1308 surrenders the Grove Junction to Tunbridge Wells West single line token to the signalman at the 'B' signal box. Saturday 18.07.1970. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1308'sdriversurrenderingtheGroveJcn.TunbridgeWellsWesttoken'B'boxSat.18.07.1970
Tunbridge Wells West 'B' Signal Box, pictured in April 1976, complete with a new set of steps. A few days after the line closed on 7 July 1985 the "B" signal box was destroyed by fire. Despite this, enthusiasts recovered the blackened lever frame to Groombridge for restoration, together with the lever frame from the "A" box. However, very unfortunately, the frame from "A" box was was stolen from storage shortly afterwards. A very unhappy sequence of events for all concerned. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
The driver of 1304, on the 16:08 Uckfield to Tonbridge service, collects the single line token from the signalman at Tunbridge Wells West 'B' signal box. Good Friday, 16.04.1976. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
thedriver130416.08UckfieldTonbridgecollectstokenfromTWW'B'boxGoodFriday16.04.1976
Hastings unit 1007 enters Tunbridge Wells West with the empty coaching stock of the 11:45 from Charing Cross on Sunday 09.05.1976. The train had terminated at Tunbridge Wells Central due to engineering works, and would reverse in the West station for it's return journey later. Unit 1007 was one of the two units involved in the tragic accident at Hither Green on 5 November 1967, and was reformed after the accident, partially with surviving stock from 1007 and 1017. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Hastingsunit1007entersTunbridgeWellsWestwiththeECS11.45CharingCrossSun.9.05.1976.hadterminatedT.W.Centraldueeng.works
A new colour light signal being installed to replace the low slung semaphore signals at the eastern end of Tunbridge Wells West in March 1976. The signals were so positioned in order that they could be sighted from Grove Tunnel. The picture also catches the eastbound semaphore (Advance Starter) together with the "Shunt" arm which allowed shunting moves to proceed ahead into the tunnel. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
NewcolourlightsignalbeinginstalledreplacethesemaphoreTunbridgeWellsWestMarch1976
A new colour light signal being installed to replace the low slung semaphore signals at the eastern end of Tunbridge Wells West in April 1976. The signals were so positioned in order that they could be sighted from Grove Tunnel. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
NewcolourlightsignalbeinginstalledreplacethesemaphoreTunbridgeWellsWestApril1976
Grove Tunnel western portal pictured after closure in 1985. The gate in the fence is open and the arms have been removed from the semaphore signal adjacent to the portal. The rear of the colour light signal is open and presumably components have been removed. Nick Mander retains all rights to this image.
Grove Tunnel western portal pictured after closure in 1985. The gate in the fence is open and the arms have been removed from the semaphore signal adjacent to the portal. The rear of the colour light signal is open and presumably components have been removed. Nick Mander retains all rights to this image.
1011 and 1012 leaving Grove Junction and heading towards Tunbridge Wells West to refuel on Sunday 23.02.1975. Mountfield Tunnel was closed at the time causing alterations to services that would normally have travelled to and from Hastings. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1011and1012leavingGroveJcn.headingTunbridgeWellsWestrefuelSun.23.02.1975dueMountfieldTunnelclosure
1012 and 1011 heading east from Tunbridge Wells West (after refuelling there) and emerging from the eastern end of Grove Tunnel. The train is passing the Grove Junction fixed Distant signal. Sunday 23.02.1975. "Grove Tunnel" is not to be confused with "Grove Hill Tunnel" which is at the southern end of Tunbridge Wells Central station (and it does often cause confusion...). Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1012and1011headingfromTunbridgeWellsWestafterrefuellingtherepassingGroveJunctionfixeddistantSun.23.02.1975
Almost fighting its way through the trees between Grove Junction and Tunbridge Wells West is the 12:20 from Tunbridge Wells Central to Eridge formed by 1311 and 1317. It is the last day of services on the line, on 06.07.1985. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
AlmostfightingitswaythroughthetreesbetweenGroveJcn.andT.W.West12.20fromTunbridgeWellsCentralEridge13111317lastday6.07.1985
1311 heading away from Grove Junction with the 12:58 Tonbridge to Uckfield service. Note the distant signal heavily offset to the right of the photo to improve sighting on the curve. Sunday 23.02.1975. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1311headingawayfromGroveJcn.withthe12.58TonbridgeUckfieldSun.23.02.1975
Hastings unit 1031 leaves Grove Junction with the empty coaching stock of the 12:45 from Charing Cross on Sunday 09.05.1976. The train had terminated at Tunbridge Wells Central due to engineering works between Grove Junction and Wadhurst. The heavily offset Distant signal on the right had almost disappeared in the trees, somewhat negating the sighting advantages of placing it there...! Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Hastingsunit1031leavesGroveJcn.withtheECS12.45CharingCrossSun.9.05.1976.hadterminatedT.W.Centraldueeng.wks.betweenandWadhurst
A wide shot of Grove Junction on Wednesday 19.05.1976. 1309 is on the 16:34 Eridge to Tonbridge service and the signalman is on the board crossing having just collected the single line token from the driver. The train is about to enter "Grove Hill Tunnel" which is at the southern end of Tunbridge Wells Central station (not to be confused with "Grove Tunnel").
Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1308 leaves the single line at Grove Junction with the 12:08 service from Uckfield to Tonbridge on Sunday 08.08.1976. The signalman is on the board crossing and about to collect the token from the driver. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1308leavesthesinglelineGroveJcn.with12.08UckfieldTonbridgeSun.8.08.1976
Grove Junction on Saturday 06.07.1985, which was the last day of services on the line. 1317 and 1311 are working "wrong line" into Tunbridge Wells Central with the 09:59 service from Eridge. The train was terminating in the station owing to engineering works, and not going on to Tonbridge. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
GroveJunclastdaySat0607198513171311wronglineCentral0959EridgeTerminatingeng.wks
The last day of services always attracts enthusiasts and heads lean out from many windows as the driver of 1311 (with 1317) collects the token at Grove Junction. The train is the 10:20 from Tunbridge Wells Central to Eridge on Saturday 06.07.1985. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
thedriver1311with1317collectstokenGroveJcn.working10.20TunbridgeWellsCentralEridgeSat.6.07.1985lastday
1018 and (at the rear) 1012 arrive at Tunbridge Wells Central on a fast service from Cannon Street to St Leonards and Hastings. (09:44 from Orpington). Tuesday 17.09.1974. In those years the majority of Hastings trains ran to and from Charing Cross, but there were also peak hour services to Cannon Street, of which this would be a back working. It was also common for the train to split at Tunbridge Wells, with the front six coaches forming a semi-fast to Hastings and the rear six coaches forming an "all stations" service. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1018and1012TunbridgeWellsCentralfastSt.LeonardsHastings09.44OrpingtonTues.17.09.1974
