Walks in England: Exploring Tunbridge Wells West StationAnd Grove Hill Tunnel

[@Greenjuiceman]

I worked this line as a guard during the 70s and often rode in the cab of the 3 car demus so that view is very nostalgic - worked train down from Victoria to Uckfield and then on the way back would be relieved by another guard and would then do a shuttle between Eridge and T Wells Central - I remember the station well - it looked a bit tired by the 70s and very few passengers out of rush hour would use it so I'm not surprised it closed - there used to be a signal box not far from that portal and also one near the main line junction at the other end - that section was operated by a token for the singal track - a short section - the tunnel is 183 yards long - thanks for sharing the video :-)

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks for sharing your memories - fascinating stuff.

[@briskyoungploughboy]

We surveyed Grove Tunnel as part of the Hastings line electrification scheme around 1980 while working for Southern Region's Civil Engineering Department which suggests that at that time BR had not decided whether to close or electrify the line to Eridge. I could still see my survey marks on the tunnel walls when I revisited for a wee "trespass" 3 or 4 years ago! One thing I haven't seen mentioned on any youtube stuff is that the station building, platforms and signal boxes were all still gas-lit certainly in 1980 therefore I would suggest probably right until closure. you can still see an old gas-lamp, no doubt now electrified, on the forecourt in this video. Great stuff-thanks.

[@RichardVobes]

Kevin Mayes Thanks Kevin. That is so interesting. You are a top surveyor! Fascinating to read about the gas lamps. Were there many other stations on gas as late as that, do you know?

[@briskyoungploughboy]

There may have been, but I couldn't name one. Certainly nothing as impressive as Tunbridge Wells West. I can only surmise that since the line carried so few passengers in relation to the size of this station it was deemed unworthy of improvement.

[@RichardVobes]

Kevin Mayes Oh I see. Hoping to look at Bexhill Station soon.

[@andrewhutchinson36]

Even though its now heading for 40 years ago, I can still recall reading a strongly worded letter in the press re TW West station lighting. The irate correspondent had visited the west station shortly after the closure was proposed. He noted that workmen were very busy with the process of ripping out the Gas lighting & replacing it with brand new Electric , even as closure notices disfigured the booking hall. BR apparently had no money to save the line but plenty to waste on improvements to a doomed station. The new electric lighting would have had a useful light of 18 months at the very most.

[@francishuddy9462]

Brilliant film. I am from Tunbridge Wells, Kent, and lived in Rusthall, about a mile and a half from the West Station (a nice walk over the common, past Nevill Park, and Hungershall Park). In fact, in 1985 - the year of closure - I got a train from Tunbridge Wells West, to Eridge.

[@PortsladeBySea]

Excellent film. Beautiful old railway station. With all the congestion on our roads today and high levels of air pollution it is a great pity that so many railways were shut, but I do appreciate that the railway companies were, at the time of their closure, making massive financial losses 🤭

[@RichardVobes]

At least some of the buildings are still standing!

[@jenniferevans6334]

Thank you for sharing & taking us along on your jolly jaunts!

[@jenniferevans6334]

😊❤

[@RichardVobes]

Our pleasure!

[@gregoryholliday3806]

Great video i enjoyed it...i was a train spotter from the age of 8 years on...very few parents had cars,i had to cycle everywhere.The West Station was up and running in my youth,a man who lived next door Jack Walters was a cleaner/fire lighter,he did funny shifts,was always covered in coal dust..a hard dirty poorly paid job.. Lots of people worked on the steam trains..we had a family called Holland who were drivers,they lived a few doors down on Ramslye Estate. We,my mate Pete Harmer would cycle to the engine shed,we just used to wander in among the locos and smoke and dust..it was bliss,but we got very dirty. Being up to do a paper round early i was often awakened by a freight train that came from Groombridge...it was hauled by the same loco..a C2X...noise and steam,where it came from or went i never found out..? this was normal stuff for us,the winters were cold,especially 1963..i went out to do a morning paper round and did not get home to 4.00 PM.

[@RichardVobes]

I heard about the winter of 1963 - I was born that year!

[@annosborne7365]

Very nostalgic for my husband who lived in that area many years ago, thank you

[@RichardVobes]

Ann Osborne So pleased he liked it!

[@chriswinter5765]

I was born and raised in Royal Tunbridge Wells. I don't have memory of it as a working station, but I do remember it as an abandoned station / waist-land during my teenage years as friends and myself headed down there on occasion on our mountain bikes, in part, to gain inspiration for our model railways. We got talking to a workman who told us at that time, of the future plans to restore it and run a steam railway. I walked around that station building in a less than safe state of affairs exploring. Only a few short years later I was in the same building enjoying it as a pub. They've done a fantastic job. Tunbridge Wells will forever be "home".

[@RichardVobes]

Great stuff Chris - thanks for the extra personal information - lovely to read!

[@andrewhutchinson36]

Very interesting video. I used the Station on the last day of servoe in 1985. Still have my return ticket to Eridge, purchased around lunchtime on that final day. Obviously I was one of the very last ticket office customers. Still sad to see the West Station no longer in use. But good to see that the building was saved, which was far from certain at one point.

[@ianmcclavin]

It's also good to hear that the "Thumper" unit, 1317, which formed the last service on the line back in 1985, is now a preserved unit on the line, and still occasionally makes trips between the current Tunbridge Wells West station and Eridge!!

[@DaveScurlock]

Born 1985 and grew up in crowborough, with sunny Tunny Wells a regular stomping ground. Interesting history, thanks for sharing

[@RichardVobes]

I need to do more in Kent. Thanks for watching!

[@missmaryhdream6560]

Hello there Richard something so beautiful and poignant about old Railways and Stations. Lovely video thank 🌿 you

[@sticehurst369]

These videos with Dumpman are great, I love disused train lines. I vaguely remember this station when it must have had just closed, Sainsburys had yet to be built

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks so much for saying so - we hope to get out and make another one before Christmas!

[@seanclark6438]

Oh yeah there’s a Sainsbury’s by where the preservation spa valley railway runs from

[@guapotomask]

Dumpman seems like a nice guy. Looks like a charming and interesting place so thank you for the upload!

[@RichardVobes]

He sure is - and thanks for watching!

[@peterhobbs7609]

Great vid Richard, dumpman is always a pleasure to have onboard

[@SidBonkers51]

Great video, I was in East Sussex yesterday myself Richard, had a great day visiting both Rye and Hastings, two of my favorite Sussex towns.

[@RichardVobes]

Sounds fab - I must get over that side of Sussex soon!

[@PortsladeBySea]

Old Town Hastings and it’s museum are full of English history and both are very beautiful and well worth a visit 👍

[@fitzgeraldsue6423]

As usual great visit with Dumpman.

[@RichardVobes]

fitzgerald Sue Thanks very much.

[@ramibu239]

Tunbridge Wells West Station is just a beautiful old Victorian train station!😍 Loved the area where they still run a heritage train too. However, I think that little train car would be more fitting for a serving a high tea (& not a buffet!😅)🍵🍰 Wouldn't be Dumpman vid unless we threw in a tunnel too!😄

[@SimonPJohnson]

Great video. I first visited the West station 50 years ago. The signalman in the B box allowed me to take photos of the tunnel and interior of the signal box. The sound of the Thumper DEMUs as they arrived back in the sidings could be heard from my grandparents' house situated on the other side of the Common.

[@ThePavtube]

Great video. I grew up next to Eridge station and I used this line to travel to work every day. The lack of foresight by BR and others meant that a vital link has been lost but maybe BML2 will see this line return to proper functional use.

[@MrSuperflye]

Hi Paul, I now live next to Eridge station. It'd be really interesting to hear any memories you have of the area when you were here.

[@ThePavtube]

@@MrSuperflye Hi Chris Good to hear from you. Yes, I was born in Crowborough and grew up next to Eridge Station. My family lived at Timberyard Cottages from the early 1950’s. So much has changed since then and the land we owned was divided up and sold off when my dear gran died back in 1985. Our garden went all the way down to the river bridge and followed the railway line up to the field comes down to the line at the end. There were apple trees in this area of the garden and climbing them to get a better view was good fun. Also a delicious apple or two to eat whilst train spotting. The timber yard was quite big and there used to be a bridge connecting the yard now occupied by CVS / Airport taxis across the river to the goods sidings at the station. See this photo (courtesy of Disused Stations) www.disused-stations.org.uk/e/eridge/index4.shtml This shows the small engine shed and also behind you can just make out the crane in the goods area. I believe that local timber used to be loaded onto wagons here. You can also see the water crane on the platform - the water for this was provided by a large water tower on the other side of the old A26 road bridge. Check out the Britain from above website - there is a photo on here of Hamsell Lake with the station top right. If you register with them you can then enlarge the photo and the water tower can be seen along with other buildings adjacent to Timberyard Cottages that were involved in timber. britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EPW017133 One of my earliest memories was trying to feed a steam loco with grass just by the engine shed - I thought it was a big horse! Needless to say the engine driver thought it would be good fun to exhaust some steam from the cylinders and that frightened the life out of me. I am surprised I ever went near one again! We all knew the station staff who lived in the cottages next to the station and also the station master who kept the station immaculate. As you came across the road bridge from Groombridge Lane into the station car park / yard there were flower beds either side on the bridge and they were beautifully kept. There were also a set of wooden gates that were closed from time to time and were always kept well painted. The station was lit primarily by gas and up at the main road level there was one lovely old gas lamp. I used to be fascinated by the mantles when it was time to light up. Watching the station master come round with the pole and pull the handles and the lamp would miraculously spring into life. But as my mum kept telling me there was a pilot light in there. We did not have a telephone so had to come to the station to use the public phone. In Winter the gas lamp would give a bit of cheer and warmth and you could hear the mantles “singing” in the flames. I’d stand and listen to it whilst gran called one of our aunts or uncles. I’d hear her push Button A and then say hello and then after a while she’d ask me in to talk to whoever was on the line. I’d stay in there until the end of the call and would then help nan to push Button B to see if any change came out - it never did though. My aunts and cousins would come to visit us from London and beyond and if it was in Winter, then nothing was better than to sit in the waiting room on the platform and there would be a blazing fire in the hearth - very comforting and warming whilst looking at the clock and asking my gran “are they nearly here?”. Again, all of this was taken care of by the station staff who were always around to help out and chat about local things. Steam trains were still being used when I was very young but the advent of DEMU’s was clearly present and most of my travels that I can remember were on these. I remember going to Brighton and Lewes and this must have been just before the line south of Uckfield was closed. The other lines to Eastbourne and Three Bridges were already being closed down and I never had the chance to travel on these lines. We used to go up to London some weekends and it was always exciting to travel up there as the three car DEMU’s were “different” from the other trains and also hearing the power of the English Electric diesel engines was great. We used to visit our relatives in Tunbridge Wells and going by train was often the best way to get there. We’d also travel to Hastings from Tun Wells and enjoy lunch in the buffet cars of the Hastings Diesels fleet. It was so exciting! Being able to see the railway from my bedroom window and also right down at the bottom of the garden near the river bridge meant I could keep an eye on stock movements. I used to love it when a Class 33 dragged Coach Set 900 through Eridge (See Southern Electric Railway Email Group) photo and description of this: sremg.org.uk/coach/900.html The Class 33 also used to bring in a rake of MK1 carriages from London Bridge every evening and it was a grand sight to see that. Very occasionally and before the line was severed at Uckfield, I used to see a Class 73 / 33 drag a group of BILs through - maybe routed this way due to pathing issues on the Brighton line on their way to and from Stewarts Lane / Selhurst. My first job was in Tunbridge Wells and I commuted every day from Eridge to High Brooms. It was great to be able to do that and hopefully the Spa Valley Railway’s good job at preserving things will mean it will be easier to reopen the line (See www.bml2.co.uk/) Best regards Paul

[@deadm101]

I know that these are lovely country stations, or were, but thank goodness st Pancras in London was saved. What a travesty if that had been demolished

[@seanclark6438]

I believe that the spur between the West and Central stations allowed trains to travel between Brighton and Tonbridge

[@RichardVobes]

Oh right - that's cool. Thanks Sean.

[@johnbyrne2756]

I remember Lemmy Kilmister in his Hawkwind days Dumpman, I bet you don't !!!!

[@stephenblaikie1161]

great as ever guys

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks very much!

[@xifressshh1563]

So nostalgic 😔

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks for watching!

[@philwaller9329]

Well done on this - not much to see but what there is, you did it justice.

[@seanclark6438]

Thanks for that, I live in Polegate, which is where the Cuckoo line ran from and up to Eridge, I’d also be interested to know a bit more about the Wealden line Lewes to Eridge, which I believe joined the Cuckoo line just south of the Spa Valley line into Tun Wells west

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks Sean - I will have to look into that!

[@stevegray5263]

Not mentioned in the video is the quite large Sainsburys supermarket and car park in what was an extensive sidings area. Local legend has it that Mr Sainsbury is/was (?) a massive train geek and paid for the Spa Valley bridge upgrade from his own pocket.

[@user-wn9mn1be4u]

great video

[@roomullan3050]

I expect Tunbridge Wells council will build on it soon

[@RichardVobes]

Oh dear!

[@deanmc178]

i remember traveling on this line alas no more ..

[@RichardVobes]

Sadly gone indeed.

[@kathymcbride2425]

im sure i went in their when i was a kid and my friend in the late 60s worked on the west station he parked or shunted a train he let me go with him also i had a saturday morning job in a building five tracksforward of the front elivation of the main through rail and my friend raymond ecclsiy and his family lived on eridge station on the main platform had so many teas on the west station my mate had the easiest job iv ever known thanks for the vidio i lived on ramsly estate i used to walk under the bridge also good old tunbridge wells xx

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks Kathy - so pleased you enjoyed it and thanks for the memories too!

[@johnbyrne2756]

GREAT TRAIN ROBBERY (verse 2 of 4) Gone the noisy junction clatter exploding steam between the trees valley folk who didn't matter forgotten farm come winter's freeze rotting sleeper 'mongst the brambles abandoned wasted rusting tracks eerie station building shambles reflections in the Doctor's axe ... JB07

[@sarahstrong7174]

Thankyou.

[@Red_____________]

Awesome

[@gregoryholliday3806]

I used to use this Station ticket office a lot in the late 50s and early 60s,as a child it looked huge inside..it was dark with few gas lights,but what i remember was the floor was bare wooden floorboards.? it was noisy to walk on and a bit scary...a return to Tonbridge for a young lad was 10 old pence..4 1/2 new pence.!

[@RichardVobes]

What a lovely memory from those days - how things have changed. Thanks so much for watching.

[@Duffy512]

What a shame to abandon a beautiful train station. At least it is saved for us to see. Too bad the economics of train travel keeps shifting over time. Would have been a treasure trove for tourism if these old lines were still available.

[@RichardVobes]

I think the government is now kicking itself for having shut so many - you are right.

[@MrGreatplum]

Ian Duff - much of the rest of the line is preserved as the Spa Valley Railway - it starts at the old goods shed nearby into eridge...

[@chriswinter5765]

Think yourselves lucky though. I now live in Perth, Australia. The "rail network" here is non-existent compared to the UK and Europe. It connects Perth Suburbs, and that's it. There's no on-going connections to other cities or major towns outside of Perth for the most part. There is one Railway connecting Western Australia to South Australia, and hence the "east" but at that point, you're talking the equivalent of trans Europe distances. There is NOTHING to take people North bar some very dodgy roads.

[@stevenwest3555]

I started a new job in Tunbridge Wells

[@TubbyDerp]

I remeber when sainsburys wasnt there back in the 80s and the car auction opposite turners

[@RichardVobes]

Oh right - I didn't know that.

[@Gez-C]

Love your videos with Dumpman, does he have his own you tube channel ?

[@RichardVobes]

He does have a channel but I don't think he puts videos up, sadly.

[@roze-hunters7389]

I fell in that water when I went there with my friends 😂😂

[@RichardVobes]

Did you indeed.

[@roze-hunters7389]

@@RichardVobes yep

[@gregoryholliday3806]

A further comment..on the site that is now show fields estate was a large building that was a Car auction house.It sold old cars,i remember seeing a Ford V/8 Pilot coming through,it was an ordinary not very expensive car back in those days..lots of tatty cars that would fetch a fortune now. There was the Baltic Sawmills site, Fyffes bananas,there was Romary's chocolate factory..that turned into another firm,and then into Turners meat factory. My mum worked at Turners factory,every single day i got burger sandwinches as a packed lunch..a lady worker lost a finger in the burger machine,but did not matter much,the meat was scrap,but a lot was taken home.? my work mates used to ask if there was an odd finger in the burger..aaarrrggghhh.. So much industry back then and so many boring but needy jobs..no one was ever out of work then..because benefit's did not exist.

[@RichardVobes]

Those good old days, eh?

[@madisonharvey3519]

It's next to sainburrys

[@RichardVobes]

Yes it is.

[@JamieBoy-ij2ri]

The station closed the same year Beaching died

[@madisonharvey3519]

Hey I live near there!

[@RichardVobes]

Lucky you! :)

[@kathymcbride2425]

so did i xx

[@AndyJarman]

Wonder why the tunnel floods now? Blocked drain or something? Shame it's not accessible to pedestrians and cyclists, the best way of ensuring they don't get built over.

[@kawaiiscriblez741]

Smith and western near Sainsbury’s lol

[@RichardVobes]

Yes, that's the place!

[@kawaiiscriblez741]

I live near there in showfields! 🙃

[@willallen3492]

I love Smith and Western

[@RichardVobes]

Good food and nice people.

[@peterg957]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/pJ_Lh4Z_atB6mpo for the full cab ride in 1985...

[@RichardVobes]

Thanks - I now understand where the Spa Valley station is.

[@jamesneilsongrahamloveinth1301]

Was that a 'gothic-type' arch at the entrance of the Grove Hill Tunnel? The geometry seems unusual - not the usual 'Norman-type' semi-circle that you find with most railway tunnels. The sides are sloping outwards (at least to my eye) and the arch departs at an angle, rising to a 'point'. It's complex. The aesthetic impulse was strong not only in those who designed Tunbridge Wells West station but also in those who designed the tunnel - I guess the gothic revival was in full swing in the 1880s . . .

[@RichardVobes]

Ah yes. I hadn't given it any thought - so thank you fo making me revaluate the tunnel arch.

[@jenniferevans6334]

What is dumpman's real name? Love the videos!

[@RichardVobes]

Ah, well, that's his secret! :)

[@maryburgess1920]

Where exactly is Grove Hill Tunnel? It looks like the tunnel entrance is approached from the end of Blatchington Road, and emerges onto Madeira Park ... is that right?

[@RichardVobes]

The tunnel is to the left of the station.

[@regulator67bj]

Another unscripted gem Have to agree with "Dumpman" the western theme of the station is gross

[@RichardVobes]

john salsbury Thanks so much. A lovely building for sure!

[@SidBonkers51]

A great shame they didnt just go with a railway theme.

[@jitulvslife03]

True.... Could have chosen from any of the multi English themes. Thanking God they did not choose a more bizarre theme like African or Arabian restaurant. The local council should have appropriate guidelines in place when they approve the renovation.

[@RichardVobes]

RichGuy You would certainly think so.