West Hoathly railway station
Encyclopedia
West Hoathly is a closed railway station on what is now the Bluebell Railway
. The station was finally closed in 1958 but was used by the contractors in the 1960s demolishing the line as a good place to bring equipment in and out.
The station site was purchased by the Bluebell Railway in the 1980s as there was a possibility that the land would be sold for housing development. When approval was given for construction of the railway, in order to overcome objections from local residents, the station was not reopened. Trains returned to the site of the station in 1992 with a loop installed just north of the station to allow engines to 'run round' their trains, however this was removed with opening of the extension to Kingscote
in 1994.
Today much of the platforms remain in place and it has recently become the site of a large store of ballast and sleepers for the future extension to East Grinstead
. Despite its name it is situated in the village of Sharpthorne
, half a mile from West Hoathly
. It is sited immediately to the north of Sharpthorne Tunnel, the longest tunnel in UK preservation. Plans to reopen the station are proposed as it is the only urban area on the line south of East Grinstead, but these have been held for the future if funds permit and there is support from local residents.
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell Railway is a heritage line running for nine miles along the border between East and West Sussex, England. Steam trains are operated between and , with an intermediate station at .The railway is managed and run largely by volunteers...
. The station was finally closed in 1958 but was used by the contractors in the 1960s demolishing the line as a good place to bring equipment in and out.
The station site was purchased by the Bluebell Railway in the 1980s as there was a possibility that the land would be sold for housing development. When approval was given for construction of the railway, in order to overcome objections from local residents, the station was not reopened. Trains returned to the site of the station in 1992 with a loop installed just north of the station to allow engines to 'run round' their trains, however this was removed with opening of the extension to Kingscote
Kingscote railway station
Kingscote railway station is a railway station on the Bluebell Railway. It is currently the northern terminus, pending completion of the extension to East Grinstead...
in 1994.
Today much of the platforms remain in place and it has recently become the site of a large store of ballast and sleepers for the future extension to East Grinstead
East Grinstead
East Grinstead is a town and civil parish in the northeastern corner of Mid Sussex, West Sussex in England near the East Sussex, Surrey, and Kent borders. It lies south of London, north northeast of Brighton, and east northeast of the county town of Chichester...
. Despite its name it is situated in the village of Sharpthorne
Sharpthorne
Sharpthorne is a hamlet in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. It lies on the West Hoathly to Forest Row road 3.8 miles south of East Grinstead. There is a steam train railway track which runs through a tunnel underneath the village....
, half a mile from West Hoathly
West Hoathly
West Hoathly is a village and civil parish in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England, located south west of East Grinstead. In the 2001 census 2,121 people, of whom 1,150 were economically active, lived in 813 households. The parish, which has a land area of , includes the hamlets of...
. It is sited immediately to the north of Sharpthorne Tunnel, the longest tunnel in UK preservation. Plans to reopen the station are proposed as it is the only urban area on the line south of East Grinstead, but these have been held for the future if funds permit and there is support from local residents.