Cowden Station and Markbeech Tunnel
For very many years all services coming south from Ashurst and east from the Withyham line turned towards Tunbridge Wells. Passengers were required to change at Groombridge to go south towards Eridge.
Although a direct line was constructed between "Ashurst Junction" and "Birchden Junction" (north of Eridge) 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, from 1914, a triangle of operational lines was formed in the area. More information about this appears in
the Spa Valley Railway index.
On 15 October 1994 a serious railway accident took place just south of Cowden Station.
Separate collections cover (a) Monks Lane Halt (closed) and Little Browns Tunnel; (b) Edenbridge Town Station; (c) Hever Station; (d) Cowden Station and Markbeech Tunnel; (e) Ashurst Station; (f) Eridge Station (covered in the Spa Valley Railway Index); (g) Crowborough Station and Crowborough Tunnel; (h) Buxted Station, Sleeches Viaduct and Greenhurst Viaduct; and (i) Uckfield Station.
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North of Cowden Station the line passes through Markbeech Tunnel which is 1342 yards long. This view shows the southern portal of the tunnel. Note the white patch on the wall which was provided to assist in the sighting of the Up Outer Home signal, long since removed. 10.04.2008
A second view of the southern portal of Markbeech Tunnel. Radio antennas for the Cab Secure Radio system can be seen attached to the roof of the tunnel (this system has since been decommissioned and replaced by GSM-R). 10.04.2008
A closer view of the radio aerials that helped to keep trains safe on this section of the line. One aerial pointed south and another north, sending a signal into the tunnel. The Cab Secure Radio system allowed drivers to contact the signalman at Oxted. CSR was installed after the rail accident at Cowden. The system has since been replaced by GSM-R. 10.04.2008
A public footpath runs across the top of the tunnel portal, allowing this unusual view of the rear of the arch and providing a viewpoint from which to look south to Cowden Station. 10.04.2008
Looking south to Cowden from the portal of Markbeech Tunnel. The area on the left was the route of the former double track and part of the former goods yard. Two sidings ran north towards the tunnel. After a period when this area was totally derelict, ballast had been laid and flattened to such a high standard that one might almost think that track was to be laid. 10.04.2008
This shot looks south from Markbeech Tunnel to Cowden Station with a longer lens. The single line curves into the one operational platform. On the left is the site of the former goods yard, which included a goods shed (since demolished). The goods facilities closed in 1960 and the area was subsequently used to store permanent way materials to maintain the line. Behind the white bags of bulk materials are a line of brown shrubs. These are growing in the infilled goods dock, which used to be sited behind the Down platform. Note the yellow milepost just short of the end of the platform; this is a magic moving milepost that jumps around the line over the years. 10.04.2008
1319 approaches Cowden with the 17:09 service from Victoria on Saturday 27.06.1970. This is the rear portion of a train that split at Oxted. In those years the front portion of the train went forward to East Grinstead. The train is passing over a crossover that used to give access to the goods yard and which was sited near the former signal box. The signals in the area were decommissioned in February 1969 so it is assumed that the points were out of service or only used by engineers. Note the white milepost in the former goods yard just to the right of the train (which is in a different position to the previous picture. We will see more of this later). Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Cowdenwith1319the17.09VictoriarearportionsplitsOxtedSat.27.06.1970
Cowden goods shed, complete with loading gauge and fire extinguisher, but unfortunately without track, pictured on 23.02.1969. The goods yard had closed in 1960. The arm had recently been removed from the bracket signal but (remarkably) had not been stolen. Clearly one of the advantages of a rural location. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
Cowden, looking out of the goods shed towards the station on 27.06.1970. Track ran from the goods shed towards the Down line, but a set of points provided a spur to a loading dock which was sited behind the Down platform. It is just possible to make out the infilled area area of the dock to the right of the unmade road. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
A Cowden station sign in Southern colours. The station is actually over a mile from the village of Cowden and closer to Markbeech. 03.04.2005
Cowden station forecourt, pictured on 16.03.1969. Presumably the gentleman is a member of staff. The Station Master's house is to the left, and the photo just catches the front door and garden gate. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
The forecourt of Cowden station looking north. The station house had, by then, become a private residence. The gates to the former goods yard can be seen on the right of the picture. 18.04.2003
A second view of the forecourt at Cowden station, looking north, taken two years later. This is a quiet rural station some distance from Cowden village and it attracts few customers. 03.04.2005
Cowden Station on 31.05.2021. The owners of the (now private) station house had installed a fence and tall shrubs to gain some privacy. This is a quiet rural station and for more than 100 years people worked out how to use the forecourt. However, that's not good enough for the current regime and gallons of white, blue and yellow paint now mark out bays, there are cycle racks, and a speed limit sign. Despite all this activity the white sign below the canopy announces "This is a free car park" (Gasp!) and in reality there was absolutely nobody there. 20813
Cowden station forecourt looking south. 02.04.2007
The other end of the former Ticket Office and Waiting Room at Cowden Station. There is some newly installed additional seating on the right. Facing camera is a seat transferred from the platform. This was formerly the world's lowest platform seat, it's legs having been set unusually deep into the platform surface (see later older image). 31.05.2021 20843
Looking north from Cowden Station towards the southern portal of Markbeech Tunnel in 1998. It can be seen that the former goods yard area was then very overgrown. 10.10.1998
A second view of the southern portal of Markbeech Tunnel taken from the abandoned northbound platform at Cowden Station. A signal box used to stand at the northern end of the northbound platform, giving the signalman a view of the goods yard. 10.10.1998
The same view as in the previous picture almost five years later. The adjacent trees have been cut back. The former goods yard is on the right. 18.04.2003
Taken with a long lens from Cowden station this view shows the southern portal of Markbeech tunnel more clearly. At the time some large trees were growing above the arch of the tunnel, with the consequent risk of damage, but these have since been felled. 18.04.2003
A view towards Markbeech Tunnel from the end of the (extended) remaining platform at Cowden Station in 2021. The former goods yard continues to be used for the storage of PWay materials, and there is an engineer's access to the line in shot about a third of the way towards the tunnel. 31.05.2021 20839
The northern end of the extended platform at Cowden Station. The 10 car stop markers show the total length of the platform. There is the usual fence and "no-walk" surface at the end of the platform but these "defences" are largely ineffective as any determined person would just jump from the platform. The metal fencing looks awful in this rural location. 31.05.2021 20837
The 2 - 4 coach stopping marker alongside the disused northbound platform at Cowden Station, together with a reminder to the driver. In practice a large proportion of the services are formed of trains of this length, and these do not need the platform extension. 31.05.2021 20828
Cowden Station looking south from what was then the northern end of the platform in 1998. The station is in Connex colours and was, in those years, very neglected and overgrown. On the right the abandoned northbound platform can be seen covered in shrubs and undergrowth. An old access to this platform led to an adjacent public footpath, and, at the time, was still open. It was therefore possible to stand on the abandoned platform. There was once a goods dock behind the fence on the left. 10.10.1998
This view, taken from the public footpath that runs parallel to the station on the west side, shows the route of the old path to the abandoned northbound platform (highlighted in red). This path has since almost disappeared in the undergrowth. The yellow arrow shows the station building above, on the southbound platform. In the early years of the station, when it was operating with two platforms, this path would have provided a quicker route to Markbeech village and Cowden Pound. 10.04.2008
The view south at Cowden Station in 2007. The station signs had changed to Southern colours, the platform had been improved with a tactile strip, and the undergrowth had been cleared from the abandoned northbound platform. A new chain link fence prevented use of the former access to that platform. 02.04.2007
A second view south, showing the abandoned northbound platform more clearly. 02.04.2007
One of the old oil lamps at Cowden Station. Note the station name within the lamp glass. 16.03.1969. Eric Kemp retains all rights to this image.
