Whilst we may still mourn the loss of infrastructure that came with the famous cuts to the railway network in the 1950s and 60s, they have left Sussex with an interesting legacy. Some of the old railways are now greenways and bridlepaths, and others have been transformed into fascinating little pockets of history and nostalgia. Cue a collection of Sussex heritage railways, with each railway in the collection, well worth a visit.
There is nothing quite like hearing the toot toot of a train and the sights and sounds of an old steam engine chugging its way through the Sussex countryside. It both literally and metaphorically transports you to another time and place. So whether you want to spot trains from afar, ride in the style of yesteryear or hang out at one of the stations, grab your ticket (and get it punched by the ticket inspector). Because here’s our collection of Sussex heritage railways.
Spa Valley Railway
The Spa Valley Railway runs from Tunbridge wells (in Kent) to High Rocks (also Kent) and on to Groombridge and Eridge (the last two both in East Sussex). They have steam and diesel engines and throughout the summer, they operate a busy timetable (which is roughly Wednesday to Sunday). The stations are manned by volunteers and full of nostalgia, and the wonderful thing about this line is that you can hop on and off at the stop you require as if this was your normal mode of transport.
For train enthusiasts, it’s also great fun to spot the steam trains chug through the countryside from nearby Harrison’s Rocks. The railway itself is a standard gauge and was once an extension of part of the East Grinstead, Groombridge and Tunbridge Wells Railway (opened in 1855). It closed in 1985.
Kent and East Sussex Railway
The Kent and East Sussex Railway runs from Tenterden Town (Kent) to Northiam and Bodiam (both East Sussex). This railway is famous for being the first light passenger railway in Britain in the early 20th century and was created by Holman F Stephens (also known for the Selsey Tram). It also has steam and diesel trains and a busy year round programme. Light railways are equipped with full size trains, but have steep gradients and operate at low speed, and this route ran from 1900 until 1954.
The stations are manned by volunteers and designed to take you back in time. At Bodiam, there are additional attractions such as the Cavell Van and the small hop picking exhibit (as well as the castle, just down the road).
Again, in this corner of Sussex, you can often hear the sound of the steam trains coming and going and can sometimes catch sight of the trains from one of the local footpaths.
Rother Valley Railway
As part of an extension to the Kent and East Sussex Railway, the Rother Valley Railway will join Bodiam to Robertsbridge. It’s been a labour of love getting this project off the ground.
The Rother Valley Railway opened for passengers on the 2 April 1900 and closed to regular passenger services on the 2 January 1954. The site in Robertsbridge has been acquired and the task of restoring and re-opening this stretch of line is well underway.
Lavender Line
The main station for the Lavender Line is at Isfield between Lewes and Uckfield in East Sussex. It has one mile of track and a stop at Worth Halt.
The original line was part of the Lewes to Uckfield line opened in 1858 and closed in 1969. In 1978, the waiting room and the frame from the signal box were sold to the Bluebell Railway.
These days, the Lavender Line is run by volunteers and normally open on a Sunday, with a variety of rolling stock. If you walk south from Isfield towards Barcombe, it’s easy to spot other parts of the rest of this disused line.
The Lavender Line is also home to Riley’s Miniature Railway which has steam and diesel outline battery electric locomotives operating on a round trip line of 229.3 metres.
Bluebell Railway
The Bluebell railway is perhaps the most well known of all the Sussex heritage railways and was one of the first preserved heritage lines in the country. This has a nearly 18 km line that runs from between Sheffield Park (East Sussex) and East Grinstead, with stations at Horsted Keynes and Kingscote (all West Sussex). It was once part of the East Grinstead to Lewes line that closed in the early 1950s (having opened in the late 1870s).
The railway has a collection of steam trains and is largely run by volunteers. With a busy year round timetable, in summer you can often hear their trains in the nearby area, and at Christmas you might see one of their brightly lit trains (part of SteamLights) whizzing through the dark. They have a museum and SteamWorks locomotive shed exhibition.
Railway line walks
Sussex is criss crossed with disused railway, so if you would like to travel these by foot, bike or horse, try the Cuckoo Trail that runs for 23 km from Heathfield to Polegate or try:
Two dimensional railway experience
Cycle Worth Way and Forest Way and then catch a heritage train.
Catch a train to Three Bridges with your bike. Starting in Three Bridges, Worth Way runs along a disused railway for 11 km to East Grinstead. From East Grinstead, you can pick up Forest Way, which runs east for 16km to Groombridge (also along a disused railway). Then you can ride the Spa Valley Railway back to Eridge or Tunbridge Wells and catch the main train home.
By supporting our Sussex heritage railways, and making use of those disused railways that have been converted into greenways, we open up a more sustainable way of travelling about the county and help develop a slower, more meaning way of travel.
