I live there now and it's a shame it's no longer open

Thank you for posting this video, I used to live in Crowborough and travelled a lot on these trains to/from London Victoria and Tunbridge Wells & Tonbridge. They smelled of tobacco and on a still night could be heard thumping their way through the countryside for miles around as the sound reverberated off the hills. Early morning commuter runs comprised three units and one evening run was made up of mk1's and a 33 until the early 80's, most units were stabled at T Wells west, Happy days

From a former Crowborough resident, a massive thank you for this footage! It's the first clip I have seen that includes the operation of the Uckfield crossing gates...something I used to love watching as a child. When I left the area, it was very much as seen in this video, although the majority of my memories feature twin track and the headshunt still in use. I don't think I could ever return, it's changed so much, and not for the better. I prefer to remember the "real railway".

I've waved at that box window many dozens of times from 1987 - 1994 from the rattly cabs of Thumpers. I always felt like we were on a preserved line even then, as we were so far removed from the "Network". It's interesting to see Eridge preserved side is mint and the old "BR" side is dilapidated. Didn't realise it at the time but they were good days. I left BR just before the Cowden crash, fearful of exactly that situation!

Even better standing where you were on the footbridge - when they ran steam . Exellent early 60`s fun .

wow this is what i looked like! thanks for the footage

Yes they do. Southern runs an hourly service to London Bridge using 4-car class 171s

Those gates made late for school. I got bollocked for it.!

Thanks, it is a real shame they are no longer pounding away.

hi i have just found your video i have been to uckfield in the 90s what a shame what a shambles😠 a total look of it's formal self this should have never happened it's a disgrace the old station has been demolished because of flooding that wouldn't have happened if they kept it open there's talk of it being reopened hope it happens and rebuilt back to its former self 👍

@ryanodonovan9497

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There have been attempts to revive the old line south of Uckfield to Lewes since the 80s. The problem is - it's far too late for that now with how much you'd have to demolish and rebuild, all whilst shutting public routes down and causing more disruption. You'd have to start way up the line with the stations that were reduced to one platform and close them until you revive their other platforms and rails. Then when you get to Uckfield, you'd have to demolish both the current station and platform that's built on top of where the old down line was, rebuild the level crossing that was there before, build a new station building on the original site, rebuild the rails going through the town and out the other side, and then find a way through all the farmlands and other properties currently in the way as you go down to Lewes, where you'd also have to rebuild the old viaduct. I prefer trains to buses, and wish they went south of Uckfield as they used to, but there'd be too much wading through to bring that old line back. Also, I'm surprised it took flooding and vandalism to demolish that old building nine years after that site closed, since the whole site has just been left there to rot for no particular reason.

briliant, but sad, what a great station building. i managed to get into the wood recently and take some up to date pics, some of the track is still in situ

Wow thats old footage

Kind of shows the uninitiated consequences of closing the route beyond Uckfield. The closure of the route beyond to Lewes left the station at Uckfield stranded helplessly on the wrong side of the level crossing, causing traffic chaos every time a train arrived or departed

One of the gates survives in kit form somewhere in Buxted.

Uh the Uckfield branch the stub of a former through line from Tumbridge Wells to Lewes tell me BRsignalman do they still run services to Uckfield and what kind of trains do they use if you are able to tell me that would be great thank you.

@peterharvey1762

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Yes they do class 171 turbo stars introduced in 2004 , and run up to London. Bridge as they’re not allowed in Victoria