Rails around Sussex
13th February 2008

For the purpose of this collection I’m going to join both counties of East and West Sussex together.
Both are glorious counties and both are very scenic. Together they have many railway lines running through them. The South Downs dominates this area of England with many miles of coastline adding to the attraction for visitors. From a railway photographers view point though, Sussex proved to be quit a challenge. The reason for this is that although it has many miles of railway lines, very little freight traffic has operated in Sussex. The main freight yard is that of Three Bridges which at the time these photographs were taken did in fact handle a lot of engineering trains. It was these engineering trains that provided the opportunity to photograph loco hauled trains in these Counties. So it was weekend engineering that gave the best opportunity to photograph interesting traction at some very attractive locations. As mentioned in other collections, a lot of patience was needed and a lot of luck with these operations. Other than this it was either units or class 47’s on cross country services to and from Brighton. The only regular flows of freight at the time were concentrated on Mountfiled and occasional trains to Newhaven. As with much of the southern there are not an abundance of locations as many lines are overgrown. With the changes in motive power killing off any interest and the travelling distances involved becoming to great, visits stopped. My last visit being back in the Spring of 2000. Although there is little of interest to me from a railway aspect I do expect to visit again but this time as a tourist in the caravan ! It’s good however to look back especially at the loco’s around at the time. Hope yoy enjoy sussex.
Thanks go to Andy Fell and Ken Harris who provided the gen and the company on most visits.

<-- Index | Showing 1-39 of 39 pictures | Index -->
Rolling hills and a river in this view as a slam door unit crosses the river Arun at Offham near Arundel on a glorious Summers evening. And yes it is a nice pub ! 9.6.96
Rolling hills and a river in this view as a slam door unit crosses the river Arun at Offham near Arundel on a glorious Summers evening. And yes it is a nice pub ! 9.6.96
It was a long way for a weekend but well worth it with a result like this. 73138 and 73105 pass Etchingham and head for Tonbridge Yard with spent track forming the majority of the train. 27.3.99
It was a long way for a weekend but well worth it with a result like this. 73138 and 73105 pass Etchingham and head for Tonbridge Yard with spent track forming the majority of the train. 27.3.99
73138 trundles over Balcombe viaduct with a healthy train bound for Three Bridges Yard. 25.4.93
73138 trundles over Balcombe viaduct with a healthy train bound for Three Bridges Yard. 25.4.93
 73134 is the second north bound train of the evening as it passes South Stoke and the river Arun. Bognor Regis station happened to be the site of work on this particular Sunday. 21.9.97
73134 is the second north bound train of the evening as it passes South Stoke and the river Arun. Bognor Regis station happened to be the site of work on this particular Sunday. 21.9.97
73134 and 73138 pass Woodgate and head for Chichester to run around their train. 13.4.97
73134 and 73138 pass Woodgate and head for Chichester to run around their train. 13.4.97
 73133 and 73132 approach Southerham Junction near Lewes with a eastbound engineering train. The chalk hills of the South Downs dominate the backdrop. 15.3.97
73133 and 73132 approach Southerham Junction near Lewes with a eastbound engineering train. The chalk hills of the South Downs dominate the backdrop. 15.3.97
73132 passes Coldwaltham and heads south to a possession with an engineers train originating from Three Bridges. 28.9.97
73132 passes Coldwaltham and heads south to a possession with an engineers train originating from Three Bridges. 28.9.97
 73131 waits for access to the possession at West St. Leonard’s station. One of only two class 73’s to receive this EWS livery. 12.10.97
73131 waits for access to the possession at West St. Leonard’s station. One of only two class 73’s to receive this EWS livery. 12.10.97
No rolling hills in this view but I really liked the 73's and was keen to get as many as possible as time was running out. In this case 73117 and 73105 are seen approaching Cooksbridge. 7.11.97
No rolling hills in this view but I really liked the 73's and was keen to get as many as possible as time was running out. In this case 73117 and 73105 are seen approaching Cooksbridge. 7.11.97
 73108 brings a mixed engineers train south past Adversane on a sunny 21.9.97
73108 brings a mixed engineers train south past Adversane on a sunny 21.9.97
 73105 passes a misty Coldwaltham with what I believe was a special working carrying a transformer of some sort for a signalling power box. 9.4.95
73105 passes a misty Coldwaltham with what I believe was a special working carrying a transformer of some sort for a signalling power box. 9.4.95
73104 and 73110 are under diesel power as they haul a train of used track past Broadstreet on the Sussex and Kent border. 5.10.96
73104 and 73110 are under diesel power as they haul a train of used track past Broadstreet on the Sussex and Kent border. 5.10.96
Well this is were it all finished. Having expected a class 37 on this train 66061 produced and passes Crowborough station. This was my last shot in Sussex. 8.4.00
Well this is were it all finished. Having expected a class 37 on this train 66061 produced and passes Crowborough station. This was my last shot in Sussex. 8.4.00
 47851 approaches Brighton with a cross country service. 25.10.97
47851 approaches Brighton with a cross country service. 25.10.97
 37505 heads north past South Stoke. After a number of visits this was probably the best result at this location. 6.4.97
37505 heads north past South Stoke. After a number of visits this was probably the best result at this location. 6.4.97
 37505 passes Woodgate. A good variety of class 37's could be seen on the southern at this time providing plenty of livery variation. 6.4.97
37505 passes Woodgate. A good variety of class 37's could be seen on the southern at this time providing plenty of livery variation. 6.4.97
37293 and 37013 head south past Etchingham. The loco's had run around the train at Tonbridge yard giving the opportunity to race here for a second shot of the morning. See the Kent collection for the first shot. 5.10.96
37293 and 37013 head south past Etchingham. The loco's had run around the train at Tonbridge yard giving the opportunity to race here for a second shot of the morning. See the Kent collection for the first shot. 5.10.96
 33202 heads north at Coldwaltham with a loaded spoil train. 2.6.96
33202 heads north at Coldwaltham with a loaded spoil train. 2.6.96
 37047 passes South Stoke and heads north on a warm summers evening in Sussex. This was a great place to sit by the river and wait for trains to head back to their originating yard once the work had been completed. 21.9.97
37047 passes South Stoke and heads north on a warm summers evening in Sussex. This was a great place to sit by the river and wait for trains to head back to their originating yard once the work had been completed. 21.9.97
 37042 passes Woodgate with a ballast train. 9.6.96
37042 passes Woodgate with a ballast train. 9.6.96
37038 passes Woodgate. This was a very quiet place to sit and wait for weekend engineering trains as many would run around in Chichester to enter or after leaving the site of work. 13.4.97
37038 passes Woodgate. This was a very quiet place to sit and wait for weekend engineering trains as many would run around in Chichester to enter or after leaving the site of work. 13.4.97
 37025 approaches Burgess Hill with a loaded spoil train. 20.4.97
37025 approaches Burgess Hill with a loaded spoil train. 20.4.97
 37025 trundles through Balcombe Forest having not long departed the site of possession. 025 was allocated to Eastleigh depot during 1997 and so was regular on this type of work at the time. 18.5.97
37025 trundles through Balcombe Forest having not long departed the site of possession. 025 was allocated to Eastleigh depot during 1997 and so was regular on this type of work at the time. 18.5.97
 Well its not all rolling hills and village greens. 33204 basks in the autumn sun light at Bexhill whilst waiting for entry to the site of work. 19.11.95
Well its not all rolling hills and village greens. 33204 basks in the autumn sun light at Bexhill whilst waiting for entry to the site of work. 19.11.95
Having sat for an hour and a half the driver of 33116 slowly propels his load into Westham. 25.10.97
Having sat for an hour and a half the driver of 33116 slowly propels his load into Westham. 25.10.97
 33116 sits in glorious early morning Autumn light near Westham. 25.10.97
33116 sits in glorious early morning Autumn light near Westham. 25.10.97
 Having had cloud problems further up the line, we raced to this location at Woodgate to be rewarded with good sun light. 15.5.93
Having had cloud problems further up the line, we raced to this location at Woodgate to be rewarded with good sun light. 15.5.93
33103 leaves Horsham and heads for Three Bridges with loaded spoil from the site of work. 4.4.93
33103 leaves Horsham and heads for Three Bridges with loaded spoil from the site of work. 4.4.93
Well we have all had this happen. 33103 is in sun but not the train as it passes Amberley. 15.5.93
Well we have all had this happen. 33103 is in sun but not the train as it passes Amberley. 15.5.93
 33030 passes Pulborough with the second north bound Crompton hauled train of the morning. 2.6.96
33030 passes Pulborough with the second north bound Crompton hauled train of the morning. 2.6.96
 33030 heads west near Falmer with a rake of box wagons on a glorious autumn morning. 9.11.96
33030 heads west near Falmer with a rake of box wagons on a glorious autumn morning. 9.11.96
 33026 passes Westham on its way to a possession with empty box hoppers. 19.11.95
33026 passes Westham on its way to a possession with empty box hoppers. 19.11.95
33026 trundles past Southease on the Newhaven branch during a weekend possession. 18.10.97
33026 trundles past Southease on the Newhaven branch during a weekend possession. 18.10.97
 33026 passes Beddington and heads back to Three Bridges. 19.11.95
33026 passes Beddington and heads back to Three Bridges. 19.11.95
 Another of 33026, this time heading north past Adversane on a glorious summers morning. 9.6.96
Another of 33026, this time heading north past Adversane on a glorious summers morning. 9.6.96
33019 and 33103 head East past Ford with a heavy ballast train. The train had come from Three Bridges and had ran around at Chichester to get access to the possession towards Worthing. 4.4.93
33019 and 33103 head East past Ford with a heavy ballast train. The train had come from Three Bridges and had ran around at Chichester to get access to the possession towards Worthing. 4.4.93
No mistaking this loco. 33008 heads north over Balcombe viaduct with a long engineers train having completed the scheduled work. This was the first of two trains that evening. 25.4.93
No mistaking this loco. 33008 heads north over Balcombe viaduct with a long engineers train having completed the scheduled work. This was the first of two trains that evening. 25.4.93
 205012 is about to cross the Border into Kent as it nears the village of Ashurst. I did like the thumper units and regretted not taking more of them, especially in the later years before withdrawal. 6.6.93
205012 is about to cross the Border into Kent as it nears the village of Ashurst. I did like the thumper units and regretted not taking more of them, especially in the later years before withdrawal. 6.6.93
 Well this was the best I got here. I would have liked to have photographed an engineering train here but one never produced at the right time. However even the slam door units are now part of the lines history. 1750 and 1753 arrive at Arundel. 15.5.93
Well this was the best I got here. I would have liked to have photographed an engineering train here but one never produced at the right time. However even the slam door units are now part of the lines history. 1750 and 1753 arrive at Arundel. 15.5.93
© 1998-2009 Dean Cornthwaite - All copyrights rest with the Author
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