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and Tunbridge Wells West lost their passenger services on 6 July 1985 when trains between Eridge and Tonbridge were withdrawn.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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The original Tunbridge Wells West station building photographed on 30 January 1969. After closure in 1985 the building did not remain in railway ownership. On 27.03.1986 the building became Grade II listed (entry 1126542 on the Historic England register). The listing excludes the adjacent engine shed. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
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.
A nice view of the signals at the eastern end of Tunbridge Wells West Station 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 on Saturday 18.07.1970. This picture also just catches, on the extreme left, the points to the dock siding and the short siding terminating adjacent to the signal box steps, which prevented anything leaving the dock unless invited to do so. The short siding contained a sand drag, no doubt to the great relief of the signalman. The track in the dock was subsequently lifted, and is not seen in later photos. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1308'sdriversurrenderingtheGroveJcn.TunbridgeWellsWesttoken'B'boxSat.18.07.1970
Tunbridge Wells West shed, pictured in August 1971. The shed (code 75F) closed to steam locomotives in June 1965, but the tracks were used by engineers stock thereafter, a situation which may have contributed to the shed surviving long enough to avoid demolition. The asbestos sheets on the roof were fitted after bomb damage during the Second World War. It is now used by the Spa Valley Railway. The coach is Mobile Office DS70159. Clive Standen tells me that "It was one of the two ex Maunsell Restriction 0, three coach mobile control office trains that the Southern Region had in the event of nuclear strikes during the cold war. The other was at Wimbledon or Faversham. The old steam shed kept it almost 'secret ' but many were in the know, even back then." Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1310 emerges from the western portal of the single bore Grove Tunnel and enters Tunbridge Wells West on Saturday 19.08.1972. Note the two westbound semaphore signals mounted low on the gantry, so that they could be seen by trains passing through the tunnel. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
1310entersTunbridgeWellsWestSat.19.08.1972.NotethelowslungshortarmsHomesignalforsightingouttunnel
Tunbridge Wells West on 12.11.1972, with a selection of units stabled in the old goods yard (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. When the station first opened the area originally contained a small locomotive shed and turntable, although neither facility lasted long. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
TunbridgeWellsWest12.11.1972withthemotor2ndunit1307temporarilyrenumberedpart1111dueaccidentdamage
In March 1976 a new colour light signal is seen being installed to replace the low slung semaphore signals at the eastern end of Tunbridge Wells West. 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
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 on Good Friday, 16.04.1976. On the right the track has been lifted from the dock siding. 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
Tunbridge Wells West Station building pictured on Thursday 16.07.1981. Someone seems to have gone to considerable lengths to install a "Southern" sign at the top of the tower. What happened to it when the traditional green signs were removed is not recorded. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West Station is looking rather deserted on Tuesday 01.03.1983 as an unidentified 3D unit departs east to Tonbridge. The regularly spaced white posts in the goods yard are taps, and were probably used to replenish the DMU water tanks whilst they were stored there overnight. There is a fairly rudimentary floodlight near the goods shed. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Tunbridge Wells West "B" signal box pictured on Tuesday 01.03.1983. Its green name board had been replaced by a black on white sign that was typical of the era, but one wonders how much money was spent on the nationwide replacement of these signs on the railway. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Looking east from the westbound platform at Tunbridge Wells West Station in a picture probably taken in June 1983. The eastbound Starting signal and bay platform Starting signal (plus ground signals) are in shot and 'B' signal box stands by the bridge. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
The eastbound Starting signal is raised as 1306 departs from Tunbridge Wells West in a picture probably taken in June 1983. Also in shot is the bay platform Starter and a number of ground signals that permitted shunt movements. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
Working "wrong line" for an unknown reason 1308 enters the eastbound platform at Tunbridge Wells West with a westbound service on Tuesday 24.04.1984. The signalman would not have been able to clear the colour light signal at the exit from Grove Tunnel for this movement as the signal only had routes to the westbound main and loop platforms. The train would therefore have received a "shunt" indication. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
With the Starting signal cleared, 1308 departs east from Tunbridge Wells West on Tuesday 24.04.1984. The camera angle just catches the Distant signal at the far end of Grove Tunnel, which was positioned to allow drivers to sight it through the tunnel. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
"Hastings" unit 1003 stands at the eastbound platform at Tunbridge Wells West on Wednesday 25.04.1984 with a train for Tonbridge. Around this time these units were to be found working some of the duties on this line. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
An unusual visitor to Tunbridge Wells West on Tuesday 02.10.1984 as 33042 stands in the station with the Pullman coaches of the "Orient Express". Even famous trains have to wait for a lowly stopping service to clear the junction. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
A rather chilly Tunbridge Wells West on Saturday 19.01.1985. The old goods yard is about half full, but it is a Saturday service so probably only a proportion of the units were required. The attempt to clear the platform of snow seems to have faltered. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
One of the ornate lamp standards outside Tunbridge Wells West Station, pictured on Saturday 29.06.1985. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image, and comments. "The architect for Tunbridge Wells West, Charles Henry Driver, did have a passion for decorative ironwork, so the lamppost might be his work."
The exterior of Tunbridge Wells West Station, looking east, in a picture taken between 29.05.1985 and 01.06.1985. There is a nice selection of cars including a Mark IV Ford Cortina which I think might be the Ghia variation. Nick Bailey retains all rights to this image.
