Godstone Station, William's Siding and Bletchingley Tunnel
All the stations opened with the line on 26 May 1842, with the exception of Nutfield and Leigh, which are covered in their respective galleries.
Separate collections cover (a) Tonbridge Station; (b) Leigh Station; (c) Penshurst Station; (d) Edenbridge Station; (e) Godstone Station; (f) Nutfield Station ; and (g) Redhill Station.
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The eastern end of the eastbound platform at Godstone Station, looking across the bridge that carries the A22 under the railway. The station is on the boundary of the Ashford and Three Bridges signalling area, resulting in the signals at each end of the platforms being under the control of a different signaller. AD505 is an automatic signal at the entrance to the Ashford area (denoted by the black and white plate). The signal returns to green if the line is clear, but the word "Semi" on the plate indicates that the signaller can control it if required. 26.02.2022 21249
Looking east across the A22 bridge from Godstone Station. There was originally a long siding on the right of the picture. There is no sign of it now, but it is possible to speculate that the slight rise in the land beyond the second grey apparatus case might mark the original position of the buffer stop.26.02.2022 18311
Godstone Station, looking east from the end of the eastbound platform with a long lens. In the distance the track curves very slightly on the way to Crowhurst Lane End. Prior to the curve on the right there is what appears to be an old fogman's hut, which was a shelter for track workers manning signals in fog. They would put down detonators or show lamps (as appropriate) to give drivers warning of signal aspects when they could not readily be seen. Such fogs are now lost in the mists of time... 26.02.2022 18313
Looking east from the footbridge at Godstone Station without the aid of a long lens. The bridge in the foreground spans the main A22 road, which passes under the railway. 26.02.2022 18314
Looking east from the footbridge at Godstone Station with a long lens. A huge amount of imagination is now required. In past years, before the slight curve in the track, the Godstone District Gas Works stood on the left. In addition, very roughly where the hedge on the left ends, another siding left the eastbound line via trailing points, and descended at an angle down towards the A22 road (towards the camera). This provided coal traffic into a second small goods yard, which was entered by road adjacent to what was then the Railway Hotel. It all looks quite different now. 26.02.2022 18315
Looking west from the eastern end of Godstone Station. The station car park is behind the fence on the right, but some distance below the railway. It is a delight to find sensible fencing and not a dreadful palisade barricade. 26.02.2022 21251
Looking west from the eastbound platform at Godstone Station. The platforms have always been staggered. 26.02.2022 21250
Looking across from the eastbound platform at the site of the former signal box at Godstone Station. 26.02.2022 21252
Looking across from the eastbound platform at the site of the former signal box at Godstone Station. The dish antenna and the square box below it were part of the system to provide train information along the line, but the equipment is now defunct and has been replaced by more modern facilities. 26.02.2022 21253
Looking west along the westbound platform at Godstone Station from the footbridge. The picture just catches part of the train information screen, and to its right is a "Help Point" and the bus shelter. 26.02.2022 21268
Looking east at the footbridge at Godstone Station, which spans the staggered platforms. Adjacent to the footbridge on both platforms train information is displayed and there is a "Help Point". 26.02.2022 21267
Looking west from the footbridge at Godstone Station with the screen providing westbound train information on the left. Behind it is the "Help Point" for the platform. Simple bus shelters are provided on both platforms. 26.02.2022 21255
Looking at the main entrance to Godstone Station from the footbridge. There is a ticket machine and new seating on the right. At the end of the platform green fencing is provided on both sides of an engineers access to the track. 26.02.2022 18327
The western end of the eastbound platform at Godstone Station, with a closer view of the narrow, green-fenced, tarmac road that provides an engineers access to the track. 26.02.2022 21240
Looking west from the end of the platform at Godstone Station, towards the access point. The end of the road is blocked by small posts that have to be lowered to enter the track area with a vehicle. This is the first time I have ever seen such protection fitted; one would hope that engineers would know not to approach the track until such a movement is authorised. Signal T508 is showing a red aspect as a train has just passed and the section ahead is occupied. 26.0. 2022 18306
Looking across at the fenced engineers access from the westbound platform at Godstone Station. 26.02.2022 21260
Looking west from the westbound platform at Godstone Station. There are five individually padlocked posts that stop vehicles from encroaching on to the track area from the engineers access. Three Bridges semi-automatic signal T508 has reset itself to green indicating that the section ahead is clear. 26.02.2022 21260
Looking west from Godstone Station. About a mile distant is Bletchingley Tunnel, with a GSM-R mast in advance of it. Those with sharp eyes will see the tiny red glow of a ground signal. This is located at William's sidings which originally served a brick works. The deep pit was later used to dump old ballast and other railway detritus but has since been completely filled and the site reused for industrial purposes. Nonetheless there remain some remnants of the sidings including a very short loop. The signals remain "live" but the loop is probably only useful for track machinery if it is used at all. 26.02.2022 18308
Looking west from the footbridge at Godstone Station, with the entrance on the extreme right and the engineers access beyond it. The small boarded crossing allows engineers equipment to access the line. 26.02.2022 18317
Looking west from the footbridge at Godstone Station with a longer lens. There is a clearer view of the engineers access and the area of bushes on the right of the eastbound line marks the position of the former goods yard headshunt. 26.02.2022 18318
Looking west from the footbridge at Godstone Station towards Bletchingley Tunnel. On the right of the eastbound line is the track of the goods yard headshunt and its buffer stop. The siding was never lifted when the line was taken out of service and is now largely lost in the bushes. 26.02.2022 18321
Looking west from the westbound platform at Godstone Station, directly across the engineers board crossing. Two aspect signal T508 is operated from Three Bridges. The black and white plate above its number indicates that it is normally automatic (returning to green when the line is clear) and the word "Semi" modifies this status to a semi-automatic signal that can be controlled by the signaller if required. 26.02.2022 18323
Looking west from the end of Godstone Station at a slightly different angle. The abandoned track of the goods yard headshunt runs west from the ballast bags and ends with a buffer stop. 26.02.2022 18326
Looking west from the end of Godstone Station with a longer lens. The end of the abandoned headshunt and buffer stop can be seen more clearly. In the distance is Bletchingley Tunnel. 26.02.2022 18325
GB Railfreight locomotives 73107 (leading) and 73141 pass through Godstone Station with an engineers train. I have received varying information about the wagons, but I believe them to be units that apply an anti-freeze solution to the conductor rail. I would be happy to hear from anyone who knows for sure. 26.02.2022 21278
GB Railfreight locomotives 73107 (leading) and 73141 pass through Godstone Station with an engineers train. I have received varying information about the wagons, but I believe them to be units that apply an anti-freeze solution to the conductor rail. I would be happy to hear from anyone who knows for sure. 26.02.2022 21279
Looking west along the westbound platform at Godstone Station. A flat screen showing train running information is on the left with a "Help Point" behind it. 26.02.2022 21256
The westbound "Help Point" and shelter at Godstone Station. This is another shelter that has a raised roof, and thus it lets in the wind and rain at the top. 26.02.2022 21257
New seating on the westbound platform at Godstone Station. 26.02.2022 21258
The westbound platform at Godstone Station has clearly had a short extension installed, with lights fitted behind the new fence. 26.02.2022 21259
Looking west from the end of the westbound platform at Godstone Station 26.02.2022 21262
Looking east from near the end of the westbound platform at Godstone Station. 26.02.2022 21263
Looking east along the length of the eastbound platform at Godstone Station. The station entrance is beyond the salt bin. There is some trunking below the edge of the platform that does not seem to be in a very good state of repair. 26.02.2022 21264
Looking across at the facilities on the eastbound platform at Godstone Station. A defibrillator, new seats, ticket machine and shelter are in shot. 26.02.2022 21265
Looking east at the footbridge at Godstone Station from the westbound platform. 26.02.2022 21266
William's Siding is about a mile west of Godstone Station and was originally provided to serve the South Eastern Brick and Terracotta Works, which included a deep clay pit. The siding was entered via trailing points from the westbound line and had its own rather small signal cabin (presumably opened as required). Trains reversed into a headshunt and then moved forward again down a line into the works, which had its own tramway. After the works closed the railway gained access to the pit and it was completely filled again with old ballast and other rubbish from the railway. For this purpose a second connection was laid to allow trains to also enter the pit via a trailing connection from the eastbound line, thus allowing the pit to be served by trains from both directions. Later, after the pit was completely filled, the site became a private industrial estate which was used for other purposes unconnected with the railway.
However, very little of the related track was removed, and the headshunt on the south side of the running lines was left in situ, together with both trailing connections. A track also leads west towards the site of the pit, but it is truncated at the fence to the current industrial estate, and this section of the line seems abandoned. A visit in 2022 was largely abortive as the view was almost entirely blocked by trees, undergrowth, and piles of PWay materials. There was also absolutely no vantage point to take an overview of the sidings. Fortunately some additional images have since been sourced and are below. 26.02.2022 21231
William's Siding travelling westbound. In the foreground is the trailing connection from the eastbound line, together with the diamond crossing. On the left are the ground mounted two aspect signal and separate shunt signal featured in another image. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
William's Siding showing the line to the clay pit, viewed from the point at which the new industrial estate blocked the line and the track was removed. The camera is looking east towards the main line and around the bend is the pointwork and headshunt that appear in previous images. I doubt if this piece of track had seen a train for a while. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
William's Siding travelling east. The headshunt is on the right, but it is blocked by sleepers and a red light forming a buffer stop. The headshunt is much longer, but appears to be overgrown by trees and shrubs. Adrian Backshall retains all rights to this image.
