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I could cry.

There was a time back in the 1950s and early 1960s when one could travel in any direction from Tunbridge Wells Central including to East Grinstead and Brighton and now today what is left is a fragmented dysfunctional railway no thanks to the Beeching cuts of the 1960s.

Great pictures but always sad seeing railways pulled up 😩

Thanks for sharing. Maybe consider allowing more time between slides. I had to slow down to x25

And the Brighton loco side…or does it not matter?

Can anyone/someone tell me of the very best reading ie published book, of and on the history of the ‘Brighton’ aka the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway? Am particularly interested in how the amalgamated result aka the resultant grouping aka the Southern Railway combines of the LSWR & the SECR booted out all respect of the LB&SCR. Anyone out there of similar sentiment?

Great video 👍 enjoyed looking back, it really helped having the year the photo was taken showing

Beautiful unfinished layout

The viaduct at East Grinstead was Imberhorne, not Copyhold.

Roco close couplings

Replaced farms with a lake of drinking water.

This brings back a lot of memories for me. I live in Crowborough and remember going on the train to Uckfield a lot in the 80's and then in 1990 I started my first job in Uckfield so got the train every day. I remember old Uckfield station and waiting on the foot bridge for my train to arrive. Always remember there being a big wheel in the signal box that opened and closed the gates. I remember the old station closing and never saw the gates open ever again. I have similar photos of Crowborough station from 1986.

I dont usually watch slide shows, but the photos and textual descriptions are brilliant. I learned a great deal from following the video. Now, remove the romance and beauty of those buildings, lets talk about the practial effects that removing this line has had. I was a regular commuter between London and Brighton, as other have said, you get an issue on that line, it becomes a nightmare, even today. If there was this capacity, it would ceritanlty of helped. What is happening with BML2 ? Why isnt this on the agenda since HS2 has been scrapped. The south needs more rail capacity then ever before, and as this video clearly shows, these lines would of been invaluable now. Its going to cost millions, if not billions to correct the shortsightdness.

Excellent but what a short sighted decision on the part of the railway company.

The "Parcels" train at Barnham in 1972 was quite likely to have been market-garden or horticultural produce, heading for the London markets, sadly such traffic is now long gone, either lost to road haulage or simply not grown in the area anymore, often the glass houses being replaced by (dolls) housing....

Great pictures! Looking at remains of East Grinstead station today, it's hard to imagine what it was like when the high level platforms, station buildings and sidings were all there.

Cooksbridge photos are great. A much un photographed station

"Eric the unfinished" was an old king of medieval England... Superb work again mate, I must come down for another visit soon. 😊

You'll never be finished, but your plant will always be more beautiful! It's really beautiful now!

'REMNANT' A three part vocal harmony band with guitar, bass and harmonica. Playing a wide variety of music styles, including mainly Folk/ Country/ Irish/ and pop. Formed in Crowborough East Sussex in 1997, with Ken Mellor ( harmonica and vocals), Chrissie Walker (Bass guitar and vocals) , and Clive Woodman (Rhythm guitar and vocals). Played extensively throughout East Sussex and Kent , at Folk Clubs/ Pubs/ Parties/ Shows/ Golf Clubs/ Hotel ballrooms /Weddings -- and a Funeral!. We'll loved and enjoyed by many hundreds of followers. After 26 years, in 2023, the band retired from their long time together, but still continuing with music individualy. (Clive Woodman 's own songs are on line.) ( Search Clive Woodman ) 🎶

Great cover big hit in 1962

Some great pics there, especially of Grange Road. I remember seeing the DEMUs going by just before closure. I wish Siemens would see the benefit of linking Three Bridges back to Kent again. The traffic a Gatwick to Kent link would create for the railway and remove from the roads would be massive. Even just linking Three Bridges back to East Grinstead would be good because they would have a great link for the return of EMUs back to the depot.

She's got some growl and a raspy voice, nice. You go girl.

Blimey. I remember those days and the RFs on the old 434 route. I grew up in Edenbridge and wonder, does anyone remember the yellow malt hopper lorry and matching trailer? Often saw it heading south on the B2028, destination unknown, leaving a delicious aroma in its wake.

Could do with a voice over or some music in the background tbh, something to make it more interesting to watch

Closing of this line was I dead a real travesty. Years of living in Edenbridge has shown that when there are problems, the whole south comes to a halt.

I've noticed since uploading that the title actually on the video reads Part 3! That will teach me not to copy & paste without changing the important bit!!!

Thank you Eric.

Excellent, very nice video with an historical value.

Excellent, thank you! I got fewer than I thought I would, then kicked myself at the answers!

Happy Christmas Eric!

I particularly like the atmosphere.. 👍

Great to see an update from your layout, especially the trees you've made look absolutely amazing. I gotta say I love the overall idea of the layout with two branch lines, both electrified and unelectrified. I came across your videos from Austria showcasing the goods traffic on local lines like Salzgammergutbahn, and gotta say it's amazing how you captured all the important things from a modellers perspective! I myself model Austria, and as a matter of fact, 90's aswell. Your layout is a great inspiration for me as I don't have a permanent layout yet :) Keep up the great work!

Wonderful photos. Thanks for uploading and the info. I have very fond memories of the 3R “tadpole” units on the Reading-Tonbridge line in the 70s. I grew up in two (different!) houses that backed onto that line at Dorking. The sound of the engines takes me back. I loved when they were idling at the station. It’s a shame more than one set wasn’t preserved. As a child I thought the tadpoles were cheerful looking trains, and the black triangle was a tongue or a smile

Wonderful pictures. Do you have more pictures from the station building from stainach irdning? I want to build it for my model railway. Greetings to you, Peter

Superb pictures, thank you. Just subscribed to your channel, really enjoying these Sussex photos. Cheers !!

I’ve got pictures I took of the cowden crash

Saw this band at Groombridge on the spa valley last Saturday

That brings back memories. Dogfish and Mermaids, I`m glad we don`t have them anymore.

Not too shabby!!

not good for their lungs

I recall sometime about 1977 being told to meet a Driver and go light engine (Crompton) to Clapham Yard, pick up a brakevan and take it to W'loo North Sidings for a W&C job. We got to Clapham and the pointsman directed us to the said van. We walked round it and saw a stencilled notice on a side proclaiming "No Hand Brake". Nevertheless, we hooked up, did a brake test, took it to Waterloo and dumped it on the Coal Road. It always seemed like a wasted journey to me.

Enjoyed your video very much thanks for sharing DD.

Honestly I thought I went deaf. Too silent, no voice over or music. Great photos but bad video.

I'm in Downton Training Band at the moment and we're learning this. It's really useful to see and hear how a senior band play this. Well done to the band and the conductor for coping with that strong breeze!

Superb set of photos Eric, very evocative. 👍😊

Почему титры на английском, а не на немецком?

Lovely set of photos. All gone now.

I was a driver at Norwood Jct 1966 to about 1972.We use to work a bannana train Monday to Friday early in the morning to Lingfield and be on stand by till all the morning loco hauled East Grinstead to London trains had passed.I always remember after doing some shunnting for Geest we were given some bananas .

In 1966 i moved from Thornaby motive power depot to Norwood jct motive power depot as a driver. I remember some of the driving turns to East Grinstead Victoria and London Bridge.One in particular is we went light engine early in the morning to Tonbridge Wells West and the worked a passenger train to London Bridge via East Grinstead