Disused Stations: Crowhurst Station

Crowhurst Station Gallery 2 1950s - 1965

Pull-and-push unit 661 with an H Class 0-4-4-T has just arrived at the up bay at Crowhurst in the 1950s; passengers travelling on from Crowhurst will not have to wait long for the next London train. 661 was in regular use on the Bexhill branch until Hastings DEMUs took over the service in 1958. The short goods yard siding is seen on the left; it terminated alongside a dock which is out of view to the left.
Photo from Mike Pannell's collection

A pull-and-push unit with an H Class 0-4-4 tank 31279 is seen arriving into the up bay at Crowhurst station in the 1960s. The coal stage can just be made out to the left of the loop but the water tank has gone, although its base can be seen to the left of the station building. A loading gauge can be seen over the short siding. 31279 was built at Ashford works to Harry Wainwright’s SECR H-Class design. It entered service during November 1909 numbered 279 and was renumbered to 1279 by the Southern Railway as 1279. Withdrawn by BR with just short of 50 years’ service from 75A, Brighton shed during September of 1959, it was broken up a month later, probably at Ashford works.
Photo from Mike Pannell's collection

The same pull-and-push unit is seen in the up bay at Crowhurst station in the 1960s. The run-round loop is seen to the right and on the far right is the coal stage. The goods siding is seen to the right of the loco and Crowhurst No 2 (East) signal box is seen in the distance.
Photo from Mike Pannell's collection

This March 1961 view of the up bay platform at Crowhurst clearly shows the brick base that once supported the water tank. The coal stage is still in front of the building, presumably now out of use as the branch went over to DEMU operation in 1958. A two-car 2H set (one of four units built in 1958 for use in East Sussex and Kent) has just arrived from Bexhill West. Southern Railway 'target' signs are still mounted on the lamp posts; ‘totems’ would soon replace them.
Photo by David Pearson

Looking towards the down platform from beneath the generous up canopy at Crowhurst station c1960s. A two-car DEMU stands in the down bay awaiting departure for Bexhill West. When the diesel service started on 9 June 1958 two DEMU sets were allocated to the branch but after a short period BR reduced this to one set to reduce operating costs.
Photo from Mike Pannell's collection

Trains arriving from Bexhill West would arrive into the up bay to allow passengers to connect with a London train which would arrive shortly afterwards. Once the London train had departed the Bexhill train would cross the main line and run into the down bay where it waited for a train from London to arrive before departing for Bexhill.
Photo from Mike Pannell's collection

Another view of the same pair of Hastings units at Crowhurst station in c1964. The London train is a Class 203, 1036 which survived until 1987-89. The branch train is a class 205, 1121 which was regularly seen on the branch. The trailer of 1121 was withdrawn in September 1991 and is now owned by Hastings Diesel Ltd who have restored it to a high standard; it is on long-term loan to the
Lavender Line in Sussex.
Photo from Mike Pannell's collection

By closure of the Bexhill branch in 1964 'totem' signs had replaced the Southern Railway 'targets' at Crowhurst station. The BR running-in board seen here is at the east end of the down platform. At least one board inviting passengers to change for Sidley and Bexhill was still in place in November 1973, almost a decade after the branch closed.
Photo from Mike Pannell's collection

Crowhurst station looking north-west along the down platform in January 1965. A six-car class 201 Hastings 'thumper' awaits departure for Hastings. Six months after the Bexhill branch closed little has changed with the track still running into the two bays. Within a few months the bay lines and the two fast lines would be lifted.

Photo from Mike Pannell's collection