The Ardingly Branch Line -46 years after closure

[willygrant1971]

It seems to be that the southern stretch would have been far less expensive to restore than the northern section that had 100 thousand tons of rubbish on it.

What gets me is the bluebell was purchased just three years after it was closed by BR so who let all that rubbish be landfilled there ? They must have known that possibly one day that stretch may want to reopen.

The Ardingly yard is a dump, the preservation of history and natural beauty should take preference over a little used aggregate

[MegaJake619]

@ 2:58 there's light at the end of the tunnel, pun intended

[Nigel16032009]

Will steam and smoke ever hit the roof of that tunnel again?

[thomasbosscat]

So, Is this a private line or can it be walked??

[bluebellsalmon]

@thomasbosscat Most of the closed section is now owned by the Bluebell Railway. There is a permissive footpath over part of it. The last 200 yard section before the Ardingly aggregates terminal is used by the terminal. The tunnel is still owned by the old BR property / residuary board or whatever it's now called.

[andrewbarrett42]

Thats what I love about this country,there is miles of disused railway,Beeching was,nt all that bad.

[Ingramdumpkiss]

Congrats to the Bluebell. Their success is long overdue and well deserved. WHen the East Grinstead extension is complete and proves itsefl to be a massive success, thoughts can turn to reconnecting this line to Haywards Heath and a second mainline connection. As far as I know Horsted Keynes will then be the only preserved station anywhere with 3 separate route destinations!

[easta007]

@Ingramdumpkiss Ardingly might only be a terminus or the Bluebell can build a bridge to link the line to haywards heath.

[bluebellsalmon]

@easta007 There is no possibility of connecting the line at Ardingly whilst the aggregates terminal is still used and needs the land there. There is an agreed route through the site protected from building, but that would not be available to the Bluebell unless the stone terminal were scaled back and needed less land. The important thing is that a route through to Haywards Heath is protected for the future. 

[bluebellsalmon]

@Ingramdumpkiss Getting to East Grinstead is the first priority. Returning track between Horsted Keynes and a temporary terminus at Ardingly is some years away, since the railway must concentrate its efforts on other things for serveral years after reaching EG, which will have taken 39 years to achieve - the first land purchase and planning application for a northern extension was made in 1974! So there's no hurry for a Westwards extension. It'll all happen in its own time.

[garyhornbuckle]

Used to work the stone trains on this branch. Happy memories.

[jamesyctfc]

Thought some of this line still existed?

[steamhauled68]

The line just to the west of Ardingly Station site still exists as a well maintained single track.This can be seen from 5:29 on the video and is used for goods only.