Tonbridge-Polegate CUCKOO LINE steam train ride 1962

A steam-hauled journey in 1962 from Tonbridge in Kent, via both stations in Tunbridge Wells and on to Eridge. Then over the Cuckoo Line to Polegate, on a train bound for Eastbourne.
Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge is now the heritage Spa Valley Railway.
The film features several exchanges of single line tokens. These devices, still used on British heritage railways, provided authority to enter the section of single track named upon them, to the driver - OF ONLY ONE TRAIN. The instruments located at each end of a single track section could only issue one such authority at a time, and could not issue another until the first token had been restored to one of the instruments.
We see two types of tokens handled. At Grove Junction a circular disc known as a tablet is collected in its pouch, which is attached to a large loop for ease of exchange. Along the Cuckoo Line heavy “electric train staffs” were used. They needed care in exchanging, to avoid personal injury.
The origin of the name “Cuckoo Line” is explained during the journey.
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Related links & search keywords:
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuckoo_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souther...)
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beechin...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tonbrid...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hasting...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Br...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunbrid...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_B...
My Royal Tunbridge Wells West - Oxted Lines • Victoria-Tunbridge bot...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunbrid...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Ro...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Groombr...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eridge_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rotherf...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mayfiel...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heathfi...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Waldron...
Horeham Road, Waldron & Horeham Road en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horam
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hellingly
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helling...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hailsham
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polegate
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eastbou...
SR tank engine 80150 is now with the Mid Hants Railway en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BR_Stan... en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mid_Han...
www.historyfiles.co.uk/Railway...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cuckoo_...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spa_Val...
My Tonbridge & Royal Tunbridge Wells lineside steam • TONBRIDGE Kent steam t...
Enjoy @pwhitewick seeking Cuckoo Line lost tunnels • Searching for the Cuck...

[@MrTantrums007]

Excellent film of the Cuckoo line that ran through an area of outstanding natural beauty. The Beaching cuts went too far and this is another example of railway line that would probably be thriving today given the population growth of Hailsham and Heathfield.

[@DrewofDrew]

what a wonderful film ! the area now so needs that railway it is criminal that it was removed !

[@msparry1]

My grandfather was station inspector at Eastbourne during the 50s. He lived in Polegate and I well remember going to meet him from the train after his shift - and watching the locos striving / departing towards Hailsham

[@tango6nf477]

This was such a beautiful line, you made a really valid point that also refers to countless others, had the lines been spared they would have seen a revival fueled by the expansion of the towns and villages they served and we would once again have a thriving network. The benefit of hindsight of course!

[@kipsalviv5742]

The Victorian,s had great foresight...such a shame the way things have gone.

[@ipcress1066]

Wonderful footage, thanks for sharing this, a real pleasure to watch

[@jamesgilbart148]

Fascinating footage and very informative commentary too. The Cuckoo line station sites looked much more charming and the landscapes clearer then than they do now!

[@marcc3514]

Great historical document. And testament to planners folly in that such high useful infrastructures have disappeared.Thanks for the film and the upload.

[@jimbegin6554]

Thanks again Alan & Heather. If only we had digital photography back then? Thankful for these films though.

[@LLLLLLLLLucas]

This is amazing, Thank you for recording this for posterity, I was born in 1987 so never had a chance to see this beautiful piece of infrastructure intact, with this film we can in some way enjoy it forever. This film may even help in the return of the cuckoo line.

[@tonbridgeman]

This is a line that would be very useful today. Anything is better than the awful A267 drag down to Eastbourne from T Wells.

[@merledoughty5787]

Our intention next visit back to the UK is to walk the Cuckoo Line from Polgate, when last in Britan we had gone to see a family friend in Orpington, we got lost come home to Eastbourne, I ended up somewhere on the Hastings road and found myself in a tiny road leading to Frant, I had remembered the name on our way to Orpington, a stop for a beer and on home we went but got side tracked off the A267 into Mayfield and am sure that we ended up down where the rail station used to be. What a pity the trains don,t run in this line as I love this part of England exploring old church yards and old rail netwroks visiting quaint pubs in the little villages I yearn to sometimes live in the UK I could digest so much of its history, but alas our visits are too far between but having family in Eastbourne is an added bonus for accomdation. We hope to return before 2021, look after your country it goes without saying the British know how to care for its history well sometimes great video thank you

[@runlarryrun77]

I live near Frant!

[@christopherbraiden6713]

Thanks for this beautiful video such a shame the lines closed!!😎🚂🚃🚃🚃🇬🇧

[@marksmodelrailway2070]

A lovely video of a wonderful and much-missed line through rural East Sussex

[@alanmepham4157]

Wonderful films! I grew up in Groombridge and my first job was as junior porter in September 1959! Thank you for those wonderful memories.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

It's great to hear from someone who worked on one of the stations (since closed and demolished) shown in one of my films - which this was before it was converted to a video. So, MANY THANKS for getting in touch !

[@Lingwaixiaowai]

Remarkable to see 80150 in this film, now being preserved on the Watercress Line in Hampshire.

[@johnjephcote7636]

I seem to remember pacifics from Eastbourne being used to fill in on locals up to Polegate or Hailsham.

[@paulwhitear4983]

Nice to see the history of railways in Kent and Sussex.

[@ianguppy5547]

Great film of the old line, thank you for sharing

[@dbirnie1]

thanks for up loading, I had grandparents in Heathfield and remember the line being lifted in the late 60's..( freight had continued to Heathfield till '68 I believe.). was so sad to see the old station stripped of track and signals.....I now live in Wales where I drive Trains but still come back to Sussex and quite often ride the old line on my bike...if only I could have driven it in a train...but great views..took me back to my child hood!!!!..again many thanks.

[@merledoughty5787]

Thank you for this film. I am not from the UK but do visit family in Eastbourne sometimes. Visiting this area in 2015 I ended up in Mayfield having got lost while driving, I google earthed the area and was able to follow the old rail easments. This film filled what was once before the closures, I would love to have the time to explore these abandoned networks but films like yours give me an insight to the old networks

[@steveellis8849]

I was born in Hellingly in 1961 and lived in the station house, wonder if we were home when this was filmed?

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

I'm sorry I was inable to stop and ask !!

[@richardpiper4828]

I too was born in Hellingly and lived at the end of Station Road. Ironically I now live in Tonbridge.

[@dodgydruid]

My dad sometimes worked down as far as High Brooms as a relief signalman, he spent some months at Tonbridge and sometimes he would be called in for flagging and lookoutman on engineering duty but I think High Brooms was the limit of his duty, with Effingham Jnc his westward and Sittingbourne his southern limit he pretty much covered every box save Meopham and Dartford in that huge area. Oh and London Bridge lever box, he was supposed to move there from North Kent East but got sent to Charlton instead.

[@richarddavis5613]

Nice to see footage on the cuckoo Line very impressed.

[@deanmc178]

thats a bit of long lost history..remembered .

[@alanmunro]

railway video brings back memories thank you all

[@theliqful]

Thanks so much,to both of you for this interesting and historical,footage,big up to you Both....steven g

[@mikemundy2005]

Yes, very time consuming to edit and upload. At least you had the forethought to video at a time when I didn't even have a B&W camera. If I could video my memories it would be fantastic, but nobody has invented software for that yet! Congratulate your narrator as well....very professional.

[@glennmrosek3358]

Fantastic! I've been looking for pics of the line between tonbidge & t.wells for ages. Finally seen the old gas works sidings at last! Thanks.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

It's a bit unusual to express interest in Old Gas Works or their Sidings. I wonder what your special interest may be, please.

[@glennmrosek3358]

I lived near that part of the line for 19 years. I still have an interest in the local area, especially railways.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Did you also notice the Gas Works overhead monorai? Just a quick glimpse of it. It wasl for taking coke from the retorts to be quenched before being unloaded onto the heap for later sale.

[@glennmrosek3358]

I did now that you mention it. Only a few seconds in the whole area, but so much to see!

[@johnjephcote7636]

Heathfield was lit by natural gas. It had its own well. I remember the line well. I seem to remember pacifics from Eastbourne working locals up to Hailsham to fill in.

[@dryliner65]

Thanks for posting , very interesting .

[@PaulCheesemusic]

so good to see

[@fransutton7257]

very interesting keep them coming cheers Andrew

[@gaucher28]

used to hear keep them coming all the time during hopping

[@mikemundy2005]

Thank you for sharing. (Just how could you have kept that secret for 55 years!)

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

I don't think KZbin has existed that long! Also until a few years ago I was still filming/videoing my travels - by water as well as by rail. Abroad as well as in UK. Getting films (in particular) into a form where they can be uploaded is rather time-consuming also. For a while I tried to make subjects as DVDs, but then you have to sell 'em. See my channel for the previous 19 mostly steam-powered journeys.

[@simon_ansell3599]

Is there anymore footage of the train running along the hailsham route please

[@seanclark6438]

Is there anything on the Wealden line?

[@thewatercressline]

We are creating a fundraising film for 80150 which appears in this film at 3:54, 5:30-5:44, 6:16 and 7:26. Would be able to use this footage as part of the fundraising film? Credit would be given for the use of footage - if this would be possible please email [e-mail]