Spa Valley Railway - Royal Tunbridge Wells to High Rocks, Groombridge, and Eridge

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page)

An East Sussex tunnel which was last used by passenger trains 60 years ago will be reopened to pedestrians for one weekend.

Volunteers have spent thousands of hours restoring the 256 yard (242m) Heathfield Tunnel to open to the public on 13, 14 and 15 June from 10:00 to 17:00 BST.

The tunnel was once part of the now disused Cuckoo Line, running from Polegate to Eridge via Heathfield, which was fully opened in 1880 and closed to passengers in 1965.

The reopening is part of Spa Valley Railway's Cuckoo Line gala, marking 60 years since the rail line was shut to passenger trains following a recommendation by the British Railways Board.

The last passenger train to run through the Heathfield Tunnel on 12 June 1965 was a BR^▸ (British Rail(ways)) Standard 4MT 80144.

The tunnel remained open to freight trains until 1968 and was closed to pedestrians in 2015.

The train line's name came from a tradition at the Heathfield Fair where the "first cuckoo of Spring would be released", says Spa Valley Railway.

In the 1990s, the Polegate to Heathfield portion on the track was turned into the 10.4-mile Cuckoo Trail, jointly owned by Wealden District Council and East Sussex County Council.

Six steam and diesel locomotives once used on the Cuckoo Line will run from Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge via Groombridge as part of the celebrations.

A spokesperson for Spa Valley Railway said: "This is as close as we're probably going to get to recreating the Cuckoo Line."

[Ralph Ayres]

From Wikipedia:
In 2019, Wealden District Council stated: "due to constant vandalism and anti-social behaviour, the tunnel is to remain closed indefinitely with no plans to look into it".
So it seems occasional openings such as this will be all that happens, which is a pity. I wonder why this particular location suffers more than similar tunnels elsewhere such as in the Bristol/Bath area.

[Mark A]

It might be that in part that's because it's not open as a matter of course. It'll help if it's put on a more functional active travel route too - I'm now thinking of examples of other instances of shortish tunnels in urban areas that don't acquire a bad rap, so it can be done. The retrospective publicity around the 2007 opening very much hands the chalice to the people treating the location in an antisocial fashion  too.

Going off at a tangent, the sight of Heathfield Station's building and entrance on the road above the station site is a bit achy: here's Google Streetview.

https://tinyurl.com/4pr3f7yk

The disused stations site is informative on both the station and the line, and makes mention of its distinctive source of fuel for the station lighting.

http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/h/heathfield_sussex/

Mark

[grahame]

... I'm now thinking of examples of other instances of shortish tunnels in urban areas that don't acquire a bad rap, so it can be done ...

Indeed ... after MANY years of looking for a "solution" for the subway (= shortish tunnel) to Melksham Station, a solution has been found in a legal art all.  Not only the initial job, but now continuing.

[Mark A]

Hoping the spiral ramp bit attracts a gardening group too, it's compact, defined, manageable, prominent.

Mark

[Chris from Nailsea]

From the BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page):

Heritage Spa Valley Railway reopens after new bridge installation

[Image from here is not available to guests]
The Broom Lane bridge has been replaced, the Spa Valley Railway says - Image © Spa Valley Railway

A Kent heritage railway has confirmed it is reopening following the installation of a new bridge, which cost £500,000.

The Spa Valley Railway in Tunbridge Wells replaced the Broom Lane bridge, between High Rocks and Groombridge, East Sussex, after it had become corroded. It said the upgrade ensures trains can continue to travel safely between Tunbridge Wells and Eridge.

Jonnie Pay, general manager, said they were "excited" to resume full operations after only being able to offer a limited service between Tunbridge Wells West and High Rocks stations while the new bridge was installed.

"We want to thank our supporters and volunteers," he said. "Without them, we would not have been able to complete this project which was vital to ensure the railway can stay open for all to enjoy into the future."

Pay says the Spa Valley has two years to pay the remainder of the money owed for the project. "We hope people who visit can help us raise the additional money required or donate on our fundraising page," he added.