Tunbridge Wells West to Eridge in 1985 (inc the last passenger train)

Rather old film to video conversion of super 8 sound film documenting the last days on the Eridge to Tunbridge Wells West railway line. Also for the record is the last two passenger trains to arrive at Tunbridge wells West Station on 6th July 1985. All footage is pretty much raw, as filmed, the noise in the background on some scenes is the super 8 camera running. Technical stuff, filmed on a Canon cine camera with kodachrome and ektachrome film stock.

[@OlafProt]

Absolutely fabulous. The sounds of the engine, the sun, the birds, the old buildings, the handover of the token at the single track bit..... I can still smell the summer and the diesel fumes. That old WHISTLE sign at 1:39 - theres one on the Guildford direction track coming into Chilworth. At least i think its still there. 3:35 sounds like an EMU (likely an EPB?) going past in the background too! That unmistakeable station building in the background 6:05. Wonderful! Thanks!

[@davidroberts7425]

Great footage. Hard to believe it was 35 years ago. How short sighted to close the line.

[@ThePavtube]

Maybe BML2 will bring this line back into operation - I spent my childhood and early working years living next to Eridge station. I travelled to work every day using this line. It was such a bad decision by BR and the Govt. at the time. We desperately need this line back.

[@antonyshepherd7835]

Went on the Spa Valley Railway last year, where they were running the same Thumper that ran the last BR service on the line.

[@grahamfunnell5590]

My father manned signal box 'B' (the tunnel end). I remember him exchanging the leather pouch with a hoop with the driver. The pouch had a token/key that had to go into a machine which I think was meant to make sure only one train could be on the single track through the tunnel. I used to spend the day in 'B' box with him sometimes.

[@Tullian100]

A fantastic record of the line. So interesting to see footage of the final trains, and the atmosphere at Tunbridge Wells West, complete with exploding detonators! Thanks for sharing.

[@seanclark6438]

Should have left the Cuckoo Line alone and the Wealden Line

[@OlafProt]

I’d forgotten About those detonators!! I remember them at the sidings in Dorking!

[@1258-Eckhart]

Thanks so much for this historic document. Groombridge clearly needed a Penelope Keith character as in "Miss Bessemer Saves The Train" (Radio 4).

[@michaelhaywood8262]

This line closed on my 27th birthday. I only ever used it once before that when it was part of BR, I have been on it a few times under preservation when it only ran from TWW to Groombridge and once since it was reconnected to Eridge. My age and health probably preclude further visits. This was 39 years ago so that child in the white clothing at around the 7 minute mark will now be in her late 40s to early 50s.

[@Neilinsurbiton]

I lived in Blatchington road in the 70s with the branch line between tunbridge wells central and west at the bottom of our garden. As kids we used to love watching the trains go up and down on the single track. They were always in solid blue livery, no white.

[@lindenbeeches]

Thanks for putting this up. You have shown it before at the Spa Valley Railway and it was much appreciated.. I had forgotten that it had sound.

[@HSTHoward]

What fantastic footage!

[@azrailfan2717]

Awesome film 😎. I like the fact it has the original sound. And the vintage look

[@planningto]

I can actually vaguely remember that evening. We lived just up the hill and I could hear all this happening. Shame I wasn't there, but I guess I was probably too young to be allowed or something.

[@davidthurman-newell3633]

brilliant video, not much footage of this quality around. thank you for sharing.

[@gloriouskodachrome]

thanks, though the film to video transfer was done a few years ago onto DV Cam, a new 2k transfer should polish the images up a little...

[@edwardbarnes2702]

Love the sound, not like the boring electrics😟 yet again a, bygone era. Real people doing real jobs on all the infrastructure, be it drivers, guards and all the signalman along the routes, all gone replaced by plastic stations’ speak ‘ to someone on a faceless communications thing, as cannot provide any human contact, as hey that would cost the company money! Still good luck to all those that still use the system, and not got a ticket be about six months before they decide to target a route and when they fine you, if especially got away with six months. Sounding on this because in BR days like I was employed, nearly every station had a early/late staff, be it platform etc, now a days go to my local station so no ticket office open get off other end travel free.

[@TheDaf95xf]

What a lovely but of Railway history on film 🎥 How mad was it pulling up that line ☹️ With the cost of fuel and congestion on that horrible M25 it should of been mothballed at least 👍🏻

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

And the station building of groombridge is still here

[@EM-yk1dw]

This is gem footage. 1125 is now at the Mid Hants.

[@admiralsouthdown485]

Fantastic. The sounds!

[@RUOKH]

A lovely compilation, bringing back many memories of the line for me. Thank you for sharing.

[@glennmrosek3358]

Awesome. I'd forgotten just how noisy it was that last day!

[@JamesHodgson-v2r]

I used to travel regularly on this line in late 70s early 80s, deliberately run down by BR with awkward timings and poor maintenance, very short sighted closure. Closing this line put paid to any hope of reopening Uckfield to Lewes cutting the link from Brighton to TWells which is probably why it was closed. That damn supermarket blocking the route made doubly certain it couldn’t fully reopen. The line should have been singled and modernised. I think there were still some ‘high ups’ in BR management left over from the days of Beeching who wanted to continue the good doctors work!

[@TheZacDJ]

Really amazing image quality - especially considering the technology available at the time. Watching this now on an approximately 30" LCD TV - its honestly not far off broadcast quality. Really impressed. And just such a wonderful record of a significant event. Probably the last significant line closure, certainly on this region. Later closures were generally for conversion to Tram or Underground line. This was SUPPOSED to close, and stay closed. But the people of Tunbridge Wells (in the county of Actually) rarely take 'No' for an answer. Hence, we now have the SpVR. Pity the promised public/community/commuter services never came to anything, but maybe one day - once the Heathfield and Forest Row lines are brought into the Sussex Weald network - we'll see a truly sustainable public transport service. Hey, I can dream - ok? I'm getting old, I've lived more years than ive got left, give me something to look forward too!!!

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

excellent video👍 this line should never have closed it would cost to much to keep it open rubbish they can find money for other things i hope one day they reopen it again we need it

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

As of now the spa valley line now reunites with eridge station as of today

[@Sam_Green____4114]

That signal is not correct at 01:38!! It's neither off nor on !! Driver should have stopped !

[@christineriseley1816]

SHOULDN'T HAVE CLOSED... WOULDN'T TAKE MUCH TO REOPEN THE LINE AGAIN AND RECONNECT THE LINK...

[@markcf83]

It will be impossible especially at the Tunbridge Wells end of the line.

[@Creative_Devise]

@@markcf83 Not really, theyd only need to remove sections of sainsburys and redesign the area a bit! Hoping it'll happen one day as we do need it. The Three Bridges line wouldnt be possible though.

[@CullenRick]

@@markcf83 Isn't the line still operating as a heritage line?