Uckfield Old Station (Closed)
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.
In 1991 the old station was closed and a replacement facility opened on the opposite side of the road.
This collection looks at the site of the old disused station in 2007/2008.
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If you are walking east up the wooded cutting leading towards the disused Uckfield Old Station you suddenly encounter a really strange sight. A buffer stop totally surrounded by trees in the middle of the woods! This is the end of the former headshunt at the old Uckfield Station and the point that the line ended when the section between Uckfield and Lewes was closed. 27.07.2008
A second view of the buffers, looking west along the totally overgrown cutting. When the old Uckfield station was closed, the track was not lifted, which is most unusual. 27.07.2008
Send for a Health and Safety representative! A walk in the woods presents some unusual trip hazards in the form of the disused track! 27.07.2008
Believe it or not, this is the slope at the western end of the down platform at the old Uckfield Station. 27.07.2008
Network Rail kindly still provide lighting on the Up platform, but it has to be said that the area is in need of some gardening. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
Pulling back, this view shows concrete supports in the foreground which held a section of wooden platform on the Up side. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
This view looks east, through the now featureless goods yard. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
A longer lens shows the public house that used to serve the station and today stands adjacent to the site of the old forecourt. It remains open for business. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
This view looks back west through the old goods yard from the eastern end of the station. There is nothing left. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
Moving the camera slightly to the right the bushes on the right of the picture are the former Down platform. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
Now standing on the Down platform, lamps are again provided, and the chain link boundary fence can just be seen. Unfortunately a stroll down the platform was impracticable without the use of a chain saw. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
This view looks down from the platform on to the Down track. It is very hard to see, but the track is still in situ. Trains once ran to the coast from this busy two platform station, and in the early days there was a very large staff. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
The sad sight of a ruined station sign on the Down platform. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
Passengers must not cross the line. The tracks are still there, but I doubt that the person who erected the sign would have anticipated that it would be impossible to cross owing to undergrowth.... The butterflies much appreciate the bushes. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
An old lamp remains on stand by to light the forecourt. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008
Perhaps the most sad picture in the collection. A glimpse of the inadequate single platform station now serving the large town of Uckfield. The old signalbox is on the left. The former level crossing and road are both hidden by the bushes. Uckfield Old Station 27.07.2008. The current station at Uckfield is featured in another collection.
The final shot looks west from the new station at Uckfield towards the overgrown site of the old station. The fence in front of the camera marks the position of the level crossing gates. Uckfield Old Station 02.09.2007. The current station at Uckfield is featured in another collection