Buxted Station, Sleeches Viaduct and Greenhurst Viaduct

The original Uckfield Station (now closed) was first reached from the south by the Lewes and Uckfield Railway in October 1858. The company was purchased by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway in 1864 and a new more heavily engineered southern route opened on 1 October 1868. This whole section closed on 23 February 1969.

The line was extended north from Uckfield to join a new line from Tunbridge Wells to Groombridge in the period 1864 to 1868. Work was complicated by the need to construct a tunnel and two viaducts between Buxted and Crowborough, but the line opened on 5 August 1868. Double track was provided in 1894. In the early days services were directed towards Tunbridge Wells and it was not until 7 June 1914 that direct services travelled north from Eridge to Ashurst and on to Oxted.

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Sleeches Viaduct, looking east. This is the more northerly of two viaducts on the line between Crowborough Station and Buxted Station. The viaduct is 183 yards in length and consists of 11 brick arches, unfortunately partially obscured by trees. 10.04.2008
Greenhurst Viaduct is located south of Sleeches Viaduct and is 185 yards in length, consisting of 10 brick arches. This view from the west is unfortunately slightly obstructed by trees. 10.04.2008
A second view of Greenhurst viaduct, looking east. 10.04.2008
Within this general area it is very common to find wartime pillboxes overlooking the line. This example survives on the western side of Greenhurst viaduct and would have had a line of fire over the whole structure. 10.04.2008
The entrance to Buxted station. I presume the houses on the left to be railway cottages. 10.04.2008
Buxted Station building, with the inevitable car park payment machine. This station attracts passengers from the Uckfield area because of inadequate parking facilities at Uckfield. 02.09.2007
The same view two years earlier, with a slightly more dull colour scheme and a less obvious requirement to Pay Here for the car park. 17.11.2005
Buxted Station car park was originally a goods yard with a goods shed, although this was demolished many years ago. This view looks north with the Cab Secure Radio mast on the left and a mobile phone mast on the right. 10.04.2008
The original entrance to Buxted goods yard, with the former trackbed still visible. 10.04.2008
In 1998 it was possible to gain access to the abandoned northbound platform for this view north along the platforms. The line is single track from Greenhurst Viaduct into Uckfield. The abandoned northbound platform was then tatty but not overgrown. A footbridge used to link the two platforms at the southern end of the station. 19.09.1998
By 2005 the northbound platform was very overgrown but a picture north through the station could still just be obtained. Southern colours and signs had appeared on the operational platform. The Cab Secure Radio tower can be seen at the northern end of the station. 17.11.2005
A closer view of the platform side of the Buxted Station building. By 2005 electronic departure information was being provided at the station. 17.11.2005
Buxted looking north 1 190998 E
Seven years later in 2005 the view is little changed apart from an instruction to passengers not to cross the line. As there is only one operational platform it is hard to see why they would want to do so. 17.11.2005
Further down the platform looking north and across to the abandoned northbound platform. The platform is totally overgrown and two very old style concrete platform lamps can be seen within the bushes. 17.11.2005
A bit further down the platform but still looking north in 2007. The abandoned northbound platform has almost totally disappeared in the bushes but one platform lamp can still be seen above the bushes near the signal. Unusually the old sleepers are also in situ. 02.09.2007
Looking south down the platform in 2005. A goods yard and goods shed used to stand on the left behind the wooden fence, but the area is now the station car park. 17.11.2005
A view south down Buxted Station platform in 2007. There are attractive displays of flowers on the platform, which contrast with the abandoned and overgrown northbound platform. Unlike Cowden no effort seems to be made to maintain this unused platform. 02.09.2007
Looking north from the same point in 2007 with the rather sad abandoned platform light in the bushes. 02.09.2007
The attractive platform flower displays are featured on the right as 171723 arrives with a southbound Uckfield service. 02.09.2007
171723 stands at Buxted station platform waiting to depart into the terminus at Uckfield. Only one train can be in the section south of Crowborough at any time. 02.09.2007
In 2008 Turbostar 171805 arrives with a northbound service to London Bridge. 10.04.2008
In 1998 a sprint across the car park just caught this view of Thumper 205001 about to depart into Uckfield. This unit was one of the trains involved in the Cowden rail crash. It was the rear three coach unit in the six car Up train to Oxted. The coaches in this unit were not significantly damaged. 19.09.1998
A view north along the operational platform at Buxted station from the southern end. In the days before the line was reduced to single track both platforms had a canopy. 02.09.2007
Looking south from the end of Buxted station platform in 1998. The original double track bridge can be seen. 19.09.1998