Redhill Station
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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Redhill Station pictured on 30.01.1966 looking north from the south end. There was an important Royal Mail sorting office at Redhill, adjacent to the station, and in consequence a vast amount of mail traffic was generated. An absolutely huge pile of mail bags are stacked on the platform on the right and presumably have some connection with the vans standing further down the platform; either awaiting loading or having just been unloaded. When originally opened in 1844 the station was called Reigate (later Reigate Junction). It was subsequently re-christened Redhill Junction, becoming just "Redhill" in 1929. John Attfield retains all rights to this image.
Redhill Station looking south from the London end on Saturday 17.01.1970. The photographer is inside 'A' signal box and on the left is the parcels dock that handled some of the mail traffic. Again large quantities of mail bags can be seen on the platforms. You are allowed to guess which two lines were commonly used by sand trains routed to or from the nearby Holmethorpe British Industrial Sand sidings. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
RedhillSat17.01.1970signalbox.Parcelsdockleft.SandtrainsHolmethorpeB.I.S.sidings
3R "Tadpole" unit 1206 stands at Redhill Station on Saturday 17.01.1970 wearing a "55" headcode indicating that it is about to depart south (and then east) to Tonbridge. In 2018 an additional platform (Platform 0) was commissioned to the left of the unit, eliminating the track on the far left of the picture. These works also converted Platform 1 (where 1206 is standing) into a bay platform with access only from the south. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
The Down Starting signals on the island platform at Redhill, through which the Tonbridge service seen above will shortly pass. As there was insufficient room for a full set of signals semi-circular route indicators were provided. They show no indication in the picture because the signals are at danger. The goods yard is on the right, with the tracks of the line to Reigate, Dorking and Guildford alongside it. The main line passes to the left of Redhill 'B' signal box, which can be seen in the background, and the line to Tonbridge turns left beyond the box (out of shot). Saturday 17.01.1970. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Redhill on Saturday 17.01.1970, looking in the general direction of Nutfield and the Tonbridge line. D6574 stands on the left, with the locomotive shed on the right. In the background are an assortment of vans for the mail traffic. The locomotive is carrying a Redhill to Tonbridge headcode and became 33056. It did not survive into preservation. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
RedhillSat.17.01.1970lookingtowardsNutfield.D6574leftlocoshedright
Inside Redhill shed on Saturday 17.01.1970, with snowplough DS70227 parked awaiting adverse weather. Nowadays on the appearance of a solitary snowflake it becomes "too dangerous to run trains". Perhaps we are now a nation of snowflakes. The photographer has his bike on stand-by for a fast get away (or possibly not...) Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
It is a great shame that the inside of Redhill shed was so gloomy. Nonetheless this picture is included for historical interest. Minus its smokebox number plate and name this is 70000 'Britannia' in storage on Saturday 17.01.1970. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
RedhillSat.17.01.1970.Insidetheshedwith70000'Britannia'storage
Redhill 'A' signal box, at the north end of Redhill station, pictured in March 1979. The strange shape on the roof of the signal box is a relic of a World War 2 anti-aircraft gun which was installed on top of the box! This gives new meaning to "a noisy working environment". 4-VEG unit 7902, wearing the dayglow orange stripe of a converted Gatwick Express unit, is marshalled at the front of a train from Bognor (headcode "56") having been attached at Gatwick. The rear unit will be a "standard" 4-VEP that made the service from Bognor. The train is en route to London Victoria. The picture was taken not long before the semaphore signals were replaced. John Clark retains all rights to this image.
Redhill 'B' signal box, which stood at the south end of Redhill Station, pictured on Saturday 17.01.1970. The heavy brickwork is likely to be a blast wall, installed on many signal boxes in the area during the Second World War. Redhill was, of course, an important junction. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
The track diagram inside 'B' box at Redhill, pictured on Saturday 17.01.1970. We know this is a poor image but it is the only one currently available. if you have a better picture please contact me. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
RedhillSat.17.01.1970.awfulshot'B'boxdiagrambuttheonlyonehave
6564, having arrived at Redhill on the Up main line with a train of Marinex Gravel hoppers, runs round in order to travel east towards to Tonbridge. Saturday 06.06.1973. The locomotive became 33046 and acquired the name Merlin. It entered preservation and is currently on the East Lancashire Railway. However its future is not rosy as it is only being used as a spares locomotive, donating parts for other Class 33 locomotives. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
6564MarinexGravelhoppersmainlineRedhillrunsroundTonbridgeSat6.06.1973
E6005 arrives at Redhill with a Down parcels train on Saturday 16.06.1973. The locomotive was subsequently converted to a Class 73/9 and now carries the number 73966. It is currently operated by GB Railfreight. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
