A view from the air of the Brighton to Horsham disused railway route. If you like this video, please buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.c... Thank you so much.
Were it still open, it would doubtless be well used. The Beeching methodology was questioned at the time, as season tickets and school journeys weren't counted. Allegedly, immediately before the traffic samples ordered by Beeching, the line was pegged out pending the onset of electrification, though how far that really got is moot. Regrettably, recent developments at the Shoreham end removed the embankment west of the A283, putting the final nail in the coffin. Network Rail did examine the route as a reopening candidate about 12 years ago and concluded too much formation had been lost, principally around Henfield where the water table makes any diversion unfeasible (unless YOU want to try and tell the locals their common and cricket ground don't matter!!). The other issue is level crossings on the extant Coastway line, which frequently snarl up traffic, backing up to the A270 (Old Shoreham Road) and A259, the coast road. Some hold, with only two full length platforms accesible from the West, that Brighton's ability to handle much more from that direction is in question. A far better candidate is reinstating the Uckfield Lewes line, unless the cycling lobby in Lewes Council get their way and total the much needed 2nd mainline to London for an overengineered cycle path.
My folks lived at Steyning for years after the closure but as with Cranleigh, north of Horsham, there was a movement to reopen just the northern part from there but the (by then) extremely wealthy inhabitants who had replaced the former generations would not countenance a new railway. I guess the same opposition would arise from Steyning. Certain sectors of Society look down on anything with rails and that goes for trams as well.
My dad and I took a train from Shoreham to Steyning on the day before the line fell to the Beeching axe. Happy memories and very nostalgic. Thanks for the fly-by!
I was born at No 2 railway cottage Steyning 1955. The cottages stand on the bank to the east of the old station and are still there. Dad was a fireman based at Guildford and often came through Steyning and Bramber where he met my mum. During WW2 mum lived with her mother and father at St Botolphs railway cottages just south of Bramber. The cottages being demolished sometime a go. Grandfather on mums side was a plate layer on the line so railway on both sides of the family.
Not a typical railway enthusiast here - stumbled across this by accident and felt obliged to comment and say bravo on a very interesting and thorough video - I dislike not being given enough information so was very satisfied that you labelled everything on that very picturesque fly by - you should do some more as I have subscribed - errrr yes - make more videos … just for me! 😂😂😂😂🎉❤
Wonderful - brought back memories. As a 10 year old, my grandmother took me on holiday to relatives in Seaford. Newcastle upon Tyne to London on the night train. London to Brighton. Then on to Seaford. A great aunt lived in Steyning so a two day trip from Seaford to Steyning by train was the way to go. Great memories of Steyning.
In 1968 the station buildings were still standing and there were rails embedded in the goods yard at Steyning. All swept away now of course. I did have the final sign from Steyning Station. A paper banner 'Demolition'.
I've got photos I took after it had closed but before the track was lifted, when one Sunday our cycling club rode along the track bed from Henfield to Partridge Green. JNS Rugby Warks.
I used to travel from Portslade to Horsham when I was a youngster. The last days of steam. Partridge Green and South water had very well kept floral stations in those days
We had Bullied's 'Royal Observer Corps' and I took a photo while watering at Steyning. Thence to Horsham and a couple of Bullied Q1s to Guildford via the Direct Line the day after it closed . The bunting was still out across the line for the closure the previous day.
That's the remnants of the Dyke Branch from Aldrington Halt, through the yards of Harrington Coachbuilders. Another line that is very traceable. Even a bridge over the A27 dual carrigeway to continue up to the Devil's Dyke.
I used to use this line as a teenager. The train was known as the Horsham Flyer or often as The Steyning Stinker. British Railways also owned the wooden toll bridge across the river Adur ( the former A27 main road river crossing) simply because the railway level crossing was at the eastern end of the toll bridge. British Railways made about £40000/yr profit from toll charges (6d) in the early 1960's. This money subsidised the railway and despite growing commuter traffic on the railway and road A27 Beeching decided to close the line. The impact was immediately apparent on the traffic levels on the roads leading to Brighton. The A27 was subsequently upgraded with a new river crossing and by-pass as seen in the video. There are still strong calls for this railway line to be re-instated to relieve traffic congestion in the area.
Thanks for dropping this vid on the tube, I didn't even know this one existed, I will have to look into this. *surreptitiously sashays towards man cave and activates nerd mode*
I totally didn't understand while seeing the first part of the video, until I realised that only at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="170">2:50</a> we had arrived at the start of the disused branch.
Actually it wasn't really a branch line, it was double-track all the way from Shoreham to Christ's Hospital, it was scheduled for electrification by SR but WWII got in the way. The cement works was a very important part of the line. Until the early 1960's K class 2-6-0s worked the morning cement trains, then Q1s after the Ks were withdrawn, although sometimes there was a Q or a Maunsell 2-6-0. From 1963 it was generally Ivatt 2-6-2T on the passenger, but towards closure the SR dmus took over. Ironically the whole area has grown considerably after closure, the buses are shite and it would have been a great line to keep open for when engineering works were going on - on the main line from London to Brighton.
This is a prime example of a closure that should not have happened, At least Horsham - Southwater (now a busy, thriving town) should be re-opened and electrified. Also, Shoreham - Henfield is worth a serious examination of potential usage - I suspect there is a lot of traffic to be had, including Brighton commuting. I can't justify the Henfield - Southwater bit for now, but I suggest whatever is left of the trackbed is protected.
The same is often said of the Horsham-Guildford branch through Cranleigh (where I now live), which converged with the Steyning branch at Christ's Hospital. Every few years there's a flurry of excitement when someone in a 'high place' suggests that restoration of the Cranleigh branch ought to be looked into. The last time I remember that happening was 2019/early 2020. The newly elected MP for Guildford, Angela Richardson, made a few noises about it. She later admitted that there was really no prospect of it ever happening, though. The restored line would have to diverge at several places from the original route, as much of it is built over with new housing etc. I think Slinfold is one such place. I remember at the age of 4, when my family lived in Guildford, we had a summer holiday in Hove at some boarding house. We travelled to Christ's Hospital by rail, then changed for a Brighton train, via Steyning. The main thing I remember about that journey was that we travelled on two trains - one engine was pushing and the other was pulling.
@@tocaat2410Developments at Cranleigh mean the only realistic reopening would be between a resited station at Cranleigh and Guildford (the section nearly retained and sparked up back in the 60s). It's an option still brought up at times and I feel may grow legs as the A281's traffic issues between Guildford and Bramley are truly dreadful at times.
The Brighton ML desperately needs a ‘diversionary route’ to provide capacity and well as offering another way when the service gets disrupted - given there seems to be little chance of re-opening the Lewes - East Grinstead line!
@@andrewbrown6786 Well, the 'Bluebell' part of the Lewes East Grindstead line still operates. The last journey I took on that line was behind the Flying Scotsman. But there's little chance of the Lewes-Sheffield Park section being re-built - about as much as there is for Horsted Keynes- Haywards Heath (taking in Ardingly). Come to think of it, theoretically, the Haywards Heath- Horsted Keynes section could be re-built and electrified. Then if the HK-East Grinstead bit of the Bluebell is electrified, that might provide the diversionary route you mention. There would be obstacles, though. The Hanson Aggregates company occupies the land around Ardingly (and what is left of the station) so they would have to be incentivised to move. And I wonder what reaction the Bluebell Railway would have to electrifying part of their route. Maybe something for future generations to think about.
@@TheHoveHeretic You make good points. Certainly it's not feasible to re-build Craneligh station where it used to be, but there's probably space for it to the south of the original site. Your comment about traffic on the A281 is certainly valid. It's all very well to put up ever more residential property around Cranleigh, but what effect is it going to have on the capacity of main roads to handle the increased traffic?
With all the emphasis on more efficient transport than using cars, why hasn't this line been reinstated? Looking at the aerial shots it's clear that the line serves a huge number of private residences and even if reinstated as a commuter route with an end stop it would take a huge amount of traffic off the roads as people avoid the congestion. Commuters for London or similar locations could change at Brighton for main line services. Why do all the climate change zealots think up solutions like this rather than just "ban the car, go on a bike" attitude?
Wow memories of train travel there when at school. Then flying lessons from Shoreham at ten and six an hour! Now Google Earth, times change but West Sussex remains beautiful.
The main road is still the A27 at this point (from which the motorway separates Cosham, just north of Pompey) When I worked at Lancing (actually the site of the erstwhile C&W works), the one remaining line to the cement works had been OOS for a couple of years, but was still very much there. I believe the last working to visit the line was a tour special for either the SLS or RTCS. I've seen a photo of the working about to rejoin the coastay, but can't recall the class of loco used. Probably either a 33 or 73. The shell of the cement works stil stands. In an area notoriously short of building land, it's amazing this large site (straddling the A283) is standing idle. Perhaps cement production involves some toxic substances which mean the site needs extensive decontamination? I didn't mention the reuse of the formation to create the Steyning by-pass as preventing any reopening, as I'm actually certain the line could be reinstated beneath a raised roadway, but conditions at Shoreham and Henfield mentioned in my reply to the first post unfortunately DO kybosh any viable route. I've not been to Southwater for many moons, but a swift look at Google Earth suggests too much redevelopment for restoration through this village too.
