Oxted to East Grinstead - Crowhurst Junction and Lingfield Intermediate signal box (both closed)
1st January 1998 to 31st December 2008

Railways came to this area relatively late, and it was not until 10 March 1884 that the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Company opened the line that ran from Oxted to East Grinstead.

Subsequently a junction was created south of Hurst Green (then a simple railway halt taking a maximum of two carriages), and a line was constructed from the Hurst Green junction south through Edenbridge (called Edenbridge Town from 1 May 1896), Hever, Cowden and Ashurst to join with the existing line from East Grinstead through Withyham to Tunbridge Wells. This line opened to passengers on 1 October 1888 and is covered in a separate collection.

PLEASE NOTE: Photos in this section were taken from safe positions to which the public have access. Please remember that a long lens can give a false impression of where the picture was taken. Do NOT trespass on any railway.

<-- Index | Showing 1-12 of 27 pictures | Next -->
South of Hurst Green Junction the Oxted to East Grinstead line runs through open countryside for some distance en route to Lingfield Station. A northbound train had just passed leaving a safe interval to take this shot looking north towards Hurst Green from the public foot crossing at Sunt Farm. 14.09.2008
South of Hurst Green Junction the Oxted to East Grinstead line runs through open countryside for some distance en route to Lingfield Station. A northbound train had just passed leaving a safe interval to take this shot looking north towards Hurst Green from the public foot crossing at Sunt Farm. 14.09.2008
 The same view but with a long lens shows the northbound train curving left towards Hurst Green. The train is actually about three quarters of a mile away but the lens makes the straight section of track appear much shorter than is actually the case. 14.09.2008
The same view but with a long lens shows the northbound train curving left towards Hurst Green. The train is actually about three quarters of a mile away but the lens makes the straight section of track appear much shorter than is actually the case. 14.09.2008
 This view looks south from the Sunt Farm foot crossing. In the very far distance a bridge can just be seen which carries the line from Redhill to Tonbridge. 14.09.2008
This view looks south from the Sunt Farm foot crossing. In the very far distance a bridge can just be seen which carries the line from Redhill to Tonbridge. 14.09.2008
 The same view south but with a much longer lens. The bridge carrying the Redhill to Tonbridge line can be seen more clearly. Nearest the camera is a farm crossing, and just beyond the crossing is the site of Crowhurst Junction, where a spur branched left towards Tonbridge. Most services over the spur ceased in June 1955, but it was subsequently used by diverted trains for some years. 14.09.2008
The same view south but with a much longer lens. The bridge carrying the Redhill to Tonbridge line can be seen more clearly. Nearest the camera is a farm crossing, and just beyond the crossing is the site of Crowhurst Junction, where a spur branched left towards Tonbridge. Most services over the spur ceased in June 1955, but it was subsequently used by diverted trains for some years. 14.09.2008
The same view but from a slightly different angle. Just beyond the farm crossing and before the Whistle sign is an area of raised ballast which marks the point where the spur left the Oxted line and curved away to the left. 14.09.2008
The same view but from a slightly different angle. Just beyond the farm crossing and before the Whistle sign is an area of raised ballast which marks the point where the spur left the Oxted line and curved away to the left. 14.09.2008
 Moving now to the authorised farm crossing seen in the previous picture, this view looks north towards Hurst Green. 14.09.2008
Moving now to the authorised farm crossing seen in the previous picture, this view looks north towards Hurst Green. 14.09.2008
 Taken from the authorised farm crossing, this is the site of Crowhurst Junction. The line to Tonbridge turned left in front of the Whistle sign. It can be seen that the line to East Grinstead drops under the Redhill to Tonbridge line, and in reality the gradient up to the Tonbridge line on the spur was quite slight. 14.09.2008
Taken from the authorised farm crossing, this is the site of Crowhurst Junction. The line to Tonbridge turned left in front of the Whistle sign. It can be seen that the line to East Grinstead drops under the Redhill to Tonbridge line, and in reality the gradient up to the Tonbridge line on the spur was quite slight. 14.09.2008
 Changing angle slightly this view of the western side of the line shows the site of Crowhurst Junction signal box which stood on the extreme right. It has been demolished without trace; only a pile of ballast remains. 14.09.2008
Changing angle slightly this view of the western side of the line shows the site of Crowhurst Junction signal box which stood on the extreme right. It has been demolished without trace; only a pile of ballast remains. 14.09.2008
The presence of the spur created a triangle of land between the three lines which was effectively cut off, and which can still clearly be seen on Google Earth. Access to this area was provided by a farm crossing over the now disused spur. This gate marks the position of the crossing. 14.09.2008
The presence of the spur created a triangle of land between the three lines which was effectively cut off, and which can still clearly be seen on Google Earth. Access to this area was provided by a farm crossing over the now disused spur. This gate marks the position of the crossing. 14.09.2008
 Adjacent to the disused crossing is this fragment of a broken sign. It probably said something like Southern Railway, Beware of Trains. 14.09.2008
Adjacent to the disused crossing is this fragment of a broken sign. It probably said something like Southern Railway, Beware of Trains. 14.09.2008
 Looking past the broken sign, this undergrowth conceals the East Grinstead to Oxted line, and if cut down the old junction would be revealed. There was an old sign within the bushes which was assumed to be related to the railway, but it was impossible to find an angle to view it. 14.09.2008
Looking past the broken sign, this undergrowth conceals the East Grinstead to Oxted line, and if cut down the old junction would be revealed. There was an old sign within the bushes which was assumed to be related to the railway, but it was impossible to find an angle to view it. 14.09.2008
 Gaining access to the triangle is challenging owing to undergrowth, but once inside a pleasant disused field is revealed. To the south at the top of the picture the Rehill to Tonbridge embankment crosses from right to left. On the right of the picture is the Oxted to East Grinstead embankment, and on the left of the picture the disused spur. 14.09.2008
Gaining access to the triangle is challenging owing to undergrowth, but once inside a pleasant disused field is revealed. To the south at the top of the picture the Rehill to Tonbridge embankment crosses from right to left. On the right of the picture is the Oxted to East Grinstead embankment, and on the left of the picture the disused spur. 14.09.2008

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© 1998-2009 Derek Hayward -All rights reserved - All copyrights rest with the Author
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