Why? It serves a purpose, each freight train into the depot takes a good dozen trucks out of the roads, it creates a handful of local jobs. Otherwise the line would have no purpose. You want to use it for running historical trains a handful of weekends a year? Is that really more useful then its current purpose? Is a connection between East Grinsted and Haywards Heath really useful? When the Brighton Mainline doesn't really have much capacity to absorb much more services. The line goes through the countryside and wouldn't really have much demand to justify stops. Unless you're looking at creating development along the line, but good luck getting the local residents of Sussex to approve any development.
I think it was Horace May (Bluebell General Manager) many years ago, who estimated that it would take 10 years to return the whole Ardingly branch to a useable railway (i.e. removal of everything post-closure, and re-building the permanent way).
Amazing!! That old photo was such a good touch. Thanks so much for this :)
Big thanks to Hanson for showing you around, lovely video thanks for sharing
it is possible to get the train back to Ardingly station! with planing position and everything else!
Interesting, thank you!
Terrific.... thanks for this...
Next stop Ardingly Station?
Will Hanson ever move out of Ardingly?
Why? It serves a purpose, each freight train into the depot takes a good dozen trucks out of the roads, it creates a handful of local jobs. Otherwise the line would have no purpose. You want to use it for running historical trains a handful of weekends a year? Is that really more useful then its current purpose?
Is a connection between East Grinsted and Haywards Heath really useful? When the Brighton Mainline doesn't really have much capacity to absorb much more services. The line goes through the countryside and wouldn't really have much demand to justify stops. Unless you're looking at creating development along the line, but good luck getting the local residents of Sussex to approve any development.
I wonder if it will ever run again
I think it was Horace May (Bluebell General Manager) many years ago, who estimated that it would take 10 years to return the whole Ardingly branch to a useable railway (i.e. removal of everything post-closure, and re-building the permanent way).
Too bad they demolished the station buildings at platform level.