Barcombe railway station
Encyclopedia
Barcombe was a railway station serving the village of Barcombe
in East Sussex
. It was part of the East Grinstead
to Lewes
line, more popularly known as the Bluebell Railway
.The station was originally opened as "New Barcombe" to distinguish it from the nearby station of Barcombe Mills
(then called 'Barcombe'), and was changed to its more usual name on 1 January 1885. In 1897 goods sidings were installed at a cost of £1450. The station planned to close on the 13th June 1955 but the station actually closed on the 29 May due to a strike but this closure was found to be illegal. British Railways were forced to reopen the line in August 1956 but the station was not reopened as it was not mentioned in the original act. Following closure of the line in March 1958 under British Railways Branch-Line Report (prior to the Beeching Axe
), the track was lifted in 1960 from south of Sheffield Park
to Culver Junction. Subsequently Barcombe station building was sold and was converted into a private house. The platform edge is still visible but the trackbed has been infilled up to about one foot below platform level.
Despite the re-opening of part of the East Grinstead-Lewes line by the Bluebell Railway, an extension south from its headquarters at Sheffield Park seems improbable in the short term as the intermediate station, Newick and Chailey
is now covered by housing, and there would be several overbridges to be rebuilt.
Barcombe
Barcombe is an East Sussex village lying some 4–5 miles north of Lewes. It is also the name of one of the civil parishes in the Lewes District of East Sussex...
in East Sussex
East Sussex
East Sussex is a county in South East England. It is bordered by the counties of Kent, Surrey and West Sussex, and to the south by the English Channel.-History:...
. It was part of the East Grinstead
East Grinstead railway station
East Grinstead railway station serves the town of East Grinstead in West Sussex. The station was formerly divided into two levels: the higher level platforms serving the Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line, whilst the lower level platforms received services from the Oxted Line 49 km ...
to Lewes
Lewes railway station
Lewes railway station serves the town of Lewes in East Sussex, England. It has five platforms and is on the East Coastway Line. Train services are provided by Southern.The station has a café and a newsagent, and there is a taxi office on the main forecourt...
line, more popularly known as the Bluebell Railway
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 originally opened as "New Barcombe" to distinguish it from the nearby station of Barcombe Mills
Barcombe Mills railway station
Barcombe Mills is a disused railway station in the hamlet of Barcombe Mills, on the closed section of the Wealden Line. The station was opened in 1858 and closed in 1969.- History :...
(then called 'Barcombe'), and was changed to its more usual name on 1 January 1885. In 1897 goods sidings were installed at a cost of £1450. The station planned to close on the 13th June 1955 but the station actually closed on the 29 May due to a strike but this closure was found to be illegal. British Railways were forced to reopen the line in August 1956 but the station was not reopened as it was not mentioned in the original act. Following closure of the line in March 1958 under British Railways Branch-Line Report (prior to the Beeching Axe
Beeching Axe
The Beeching Axe or the Beeching Cuts are informal names for the British Government's attempt in the 1960s to reduce the cost of running British Railways, the nationalised railway system in the United Kingdom. The name is that of the main author of The Reshaping of British Railways, Dr Richard...
), the track was lifted in 1960 from south of Sheffield Park
Sheffield Park railway station
Sheffield Park is the southern terminus of the Bluebell Railway and also the headquarters of the line. It is located on the southern bank of the River Ouse and is also situated on the Greenwich Meridian....
to Culver Junction. Subsequently Barcombe station building was sold and was converted into a private house. The platform edge is still visible but the trackbed has been infilled up to about one foot below platform level.
Despite the re-opening of part of the East Grinstead-Lewes line by the Bluebell Railway, an extension south from its headquarters at Sheffield Park seems improbable in the short term as the intermediate station, Newick and Chailey
Newick and Chailey railway station
Newick and Chailey was a railway station located about halfway between the villages of Newick and Chailey in East Sussex, England. It was part of the East Grinstead to Lewes line, more popularly known as the Bluebell Railway.- Facilities :...
is now covered by housing, and there would be several overbridges to be rebuilt.