Leigh Station (formerly Leigh Halt or Lyghe Halt)
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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Leigh Halt, looking west, photographed before electrification on 06.02.1969. The engineer had left some concrete troughs on the platform. Up until 1960 the signs said "Lyghe Halt" but however you spell the name it is pronounced "Lie". The station serves a small nearby village. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Leigh Halt, looking west, photographed before electrification on 06.02.1969. The station was sited on the top of a steep embankment and to save weight it was built on concrete legs. The halt was provided much later than the other stations on the line and was not opened until 01.09.1911. The original platforms and shelters were constructed from wood. Note also the old gas lights. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Leigh Halt, looking east, photographed before electrification on 06.02.1969. In addition to the running-in boards the station had about half a dozen totems; collectors of such signs place a high value on the rare ones. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Leigh Station looking west on 25.03.1999. By this time the line had been electrified and the diesel services were no more. The station had Connex name boards but the lamp standards were still in Network South East red. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Leigh Station looking west on 25.03.1999. Being little used, Leigh suffers from graffiti, which has been edited from this picture. Note the heavy train information screen; there were no flat screens in 1999. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Leigh Station looking east on 25.03.1999. The station has an identity crisis. The signs and the wooden shelters are in Connex livery but the lamp standards remain in Network South East red. Rather more important some of the concrete was spalling and there is evidence of a few repairs. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Leigh Station looking east on 25.03.1999. The nearest sign says "Welcome to Leigh". John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Leigh Station looking east on 10.04.2005. Unlike 1999, when two wooden shelters were pictured, there is a new bus shelter on the westbound platform, to replace the wooden shelter which was destroyed by fire (arson). Unfortunately three years after this picture was taken the eastbound shelter was also destroyed by arson, resulting in the appearance of a second bus shelter to replace it. Similar graffiti tags found at many locations suggest that the same mindless morons are responsible for much of the damage along the whole length of the line. Presumably the authorities realise this. All graffiti has been edited from the images.
Leigh Station looking west on 10.04.2005. Generally not much happens at Leigh, but new lamp standards had arrived, as had a new chain link fence to supplement the old fence. Travellers had managed perfectly well with the old fence for years and years, but there you go. It is a sign of the times. Apparently the weedkilling train had not been through recently.
Leigh Station is not signposted from the nearby main road, and it would be easy to miss it. The entrance to the eastbound platform is seen on the left, in advance of a rather narrow bridge. 24.02.2022 21185
The entrance to the eastbound platform at Leigh Station (Platform 2). 24.02.2022 21146
In common with the majority of the stations in the area Leigh Station has a defibrillator in an alarmed case. 24.02.2022 21176
Train information is provided at the entrance to the eastbound platform at Leigh Station, but not at the entrance to the westbound platform (which is through the narrow arch). If you arrive as a pedestrian from the south you have to pass through the narrow arch twice to view the screen and buy a ticket (there is only one ticket machine). 24.02.2022 21159
The entrance to the eastbound platform at Leigh Station (Platform 2) is up a very long steeply graded slope as the station stands on an embankment above the village. 24.02.2022 21147
Looking north at Leigh Station, with the entrance to the westbound platform (Platform 1) on the right. No train running information is displayed at the bottom of the steep slope, and nor is there any indication that an information screen exists through the bridge. 24.02.2022 21175
A closer view of the arch at Leigh Station, looking north. 24.02.2022 21161
The entrance to the westbound platform at Leigh Station, with a long steep slope leading up to the top of the embankment upon which the station stands. The only ticket machine is located through the arch on the left, although the notice explaining that is not particularly prominent. 24.02.2022 21160
Notice boards at the westbound entrance to Leigh Station. 24.02.2022 21162
The entrance to the westbound platform at Leigh Station, with a long steep slope leading up to the top of the embankment upon which the station stands. 24.02.2022 21163
The top of the long steep slope leading up to the eastbound platform at Leigh Station. The slope is too narrow at the top to allow the yellow handrails to extend right up to the platform. 24.02.2022 21158
The entrance to the eastbound platform at Leigh Station, plus the only shelter, pictured from the opposite platform. The steep path leads down to the left of the picture. It can be seen that the platform is built on concrete legs, some of which have been strengthened to counteract spalling. In a act of suicidal stupidity people have been getting down on to the track to "tag" these legs. Some young people were killed in South East London in a similarly confined space a while ago when a train approached unexpectedly and too quickly for them to move. Such activity defies logic and the tags in the picture have been removed or distorted to make them unrecognisable. Other images have been similarly treated. 24.02.2022 21164
There is a Help Point at the entrance to the eastbound platform at Leigh Station which incorporates a screen showing service information. However the screen is of quite an old design and largely ineffective. As soon as there is any level of brightness in the ambient light the screen is very difficult to read. Indeed it was some time before I realised that it was actually showing information. 24.02.2022 21157
377301 arrives at Leigh Station on 24.02.2022 with a service for Redhill. Whilst many people will expect Class 377 units to have four carriages they are formed into three coach units on this line. 21178
Looking east along the eastbound platform at Leigh Station (Platform 2). There is no footbridge at the station and the only way to change platforms is to negotiate the two long slopes that go down to road level. 24.02.2022 21149
Looking east along the eastbound platform at Leigh Station (Platform 2). 24.02.2022 21150
The embankment on the north side of the platform at Leigh Station slopes steeply down to a large pond, beyond which some relatively new housing forms part of the village. 24.02.2022 21151
Looking east from Platform 2 at Leigh Station as 377301 approaches with a train for Redhill. 24.02.2022 18261
Looking east from the eastern end of Platform 2 at Leigh Station, with the stop marker ("S") showing drivers where to bring their train to a halt. 24.02.2022 21153
The stop marker ("S") at the eastern end of Platform 2 at Leigh Station, showing drivers where to bring their train to a halt. "SDO4" underneath denotes "Selective Door Opening" for four coach trains as the platforms at the station are too short to safely accommodate four cars. 24.02.2022 21154
Looking east from the eastern end of the eastbound platform at Leigh Station. The 39 and three quarter mile post is in the foreground. 24.02.2022 18246
Looking east from the eastern end of Leigh Station with a longer lens. The signal in the distance is AD521R on the panel of Ashford Signalling Centre. In the "old days" this would have been called a distant signal (hence it is showing a yellow light). It is alongside the 40 mile post. The bridge in the distance is the main A21 London to Hastings road crossing the railway to the west of Tonbridge. It is about a mile from the camera. 24.02.2022 18252
387216, in Gatwick Express livery, passes through Leigh Station at speed on 24.02.2022 with an empty coaching stock (ECS) working. 21170
Looking west along Platform 2 at Leigh Station (in the direction of Penshurst). 24.02.2022 21155
Looking west along Platform 2 at Leigh Station (in the direction of Penshurst). 24.02.2022 21156
Looking west from the western end of Platform 2 at Leigh Station, in the direction of Penshurst. 24.02.2022 18244
Looking west from the western end of Platform 2 at Leigh Station, this time with a long lens. There are two bridges in shot (both carrying minor roads) and in the far distance is the eastern portal of Penshurst Tunnel. The green signal is AD512R which (using old terminology) is the "Distant" signal for the "Starting" signal on the westbound platform at Penshurst. 24.02.2022 18242
The top of the long steep path leading up to the westbound platform of Leigh Station (Platform 1), which is located on the top of an embankment. The yellow handrails do not extend the full length of the path because the space is too narrow. 24.02.2022 21174
Looking across at the entrance to the westbound platform at Leigh Station, from the opposite platform. The steep path leads off to the right of the picture. 24.02.2022 21148
There is a Help Point at the entrance to the westbound platform at Leigh Station which incorporates a screen showing service information. However the screen is of quite an old design and largely ineffective. As soon as there is any level of brightness in the ambient light the screen is very difficult to read. At the time of the visit it was showing a message that implied that it was out of order. The shelter is of a strange design with the roof not fitting down on to the sides, which would allow wind and rain to come in from three sides. Some might feel that it is not an improvement on the original wooden shelter. 24.02.2022 21173
Platform 1 at Leigh Station, looking east from the opposite platform. 24.02.2022 21152
377301 arrives at Leigh Station with a westbound service for Redhill. 24.02.2022 21179
Platform 1 at Leigh Station, looking east. The platforms are installed on concrete legs, and being perched on the top of the embankment, are relatively narrow. A tactile strip has been installed in accordance with modern standards. 24.02.2022 21165
Looking east from Platform 1 at Leigh Station with a long lens. 387216, in Gatwick Express livery, passes under the A21 road bridge with an empty coaching stock (ECS) working. 24 02 2022 18254
Looking east at Leigh Station as 387216, in Gatwick Express livery, approaches with an empty coaching stock (ECS) working. 24 02 2022 21168
Looking east at Leigh Station as 387216, in Gatwick Express livery, enters with an empty coaching stock (ECS) working. 24 02 2022 21169
Looking west along Platform 1 at Leigh Station. 24.02.022 21166
Looking west along Platform 1 at Leigh Station. 24.02.022 21167
Looking west along Platform 1 at Leigh Station. 24.02.022 21171