Southern
A BRAND NEW E BOOK BY THE WEBMASTER OF THIS WEBSITE HAS JUST BEEN PUBLISHED - IT IS CALLED:-
BRITISH RAILWAY TRAINS AND STATIONS - BOOK ONE - SOUTHERN ENGLAND
This is the first book in the series, "British Railway Trains & Stations" and covers Southern England. It looks at fifteen different stations in the south of England, plus the various trains that pass through these stations. Stations included are: Southampton Central, Brighton, East Grinstead, Lewes, Ashford International and Guildford.
It is 40 pages in length and has over thirty colour photos.
PLEASE NOTE THIS IS AN E-BOOK AND NOT A PRINTED BOOK. It can be downloaded to you PC, Kindle or Tablet/Smart Phone. It is avaiable in three different e-book formats.
It is also available from Hadleigh Books, Amazon and the I-Tunes book shop
PRICE - JUST £2.99 - TO FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THIS BOOK OR TO BUY IT SIMPLY PRESS ON THE IMAGE ABOVE
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Brighton train at Ashford International station |
Ashford to Hastings
Name of Line: The Marshlink Line
Length of Line: 26 1/2 miles
Stations: Ashford International, Ham Street, Appledore, Rye, Winchelsea, Doleham, Three Oaks, Ore, Hastings
Train Operating Company: Southern
Rolling stock: Class 171 Turbostar Diesel Multiple Units
Trains start from: Brighton
Description: The line goes south west from Ashford across the flat Romney and Walland Marshes before it reaches the South Coast at Hastings. It is double track as far as Appledore, where a freight only branch goes off to Dungeness Nuclear Power station. It is single track as far as Ore, with a passing loop at Rye station. The line is not electrified apart from Ore to Hastings.
History: The line was opened by the South Eastern Railway in 1851 and narrowly missed being closed under the Beeching cuts in 1963.
Journey review
Web links: Marsh Link Action Group
Hastings station looking east towards Ore Hastings station looking west
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Ascot railway station - 2008 Class 450 Unit |
Ash Vale to Ascot
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Ash Vale, Frimley, Camberley, Bagshot, Ascot
Description: This picturesque line runs through the western part of Surrey to join the Reading to Waterloo line at Ascot
Trains start at: Aldershot & Guildford
History
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Bognor train arriving at Barnham Railway Station 24th May 2008 |
Barnham to Bognor Regis
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: Barnham, Bognor Regis
Description: A short branch which leaves the Coastway line at Barnham and goes south west to the seaside town of Bognor Regis.
History: The main line from Brighton and Worthing through to Chichester was first opened in 1846. It wasn't until the 1860's that the branch to Bognor Regis was eventually opened.
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Lymington train at Brockenhurst railway station |
Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Brockenhurst, Lymington Town, Lymington Pier
Description
History
Websites: Photo Link 1 Photo Link 2
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Class 452 unit at Alton Railway Station 5th July 2008 |
Brookwood to Alton
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Brookwood, Ash Vale, Aldershot, Farnham, Bentley, Alton
Description
History
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Class 455 unit at Crystal Palace railway station 2008 |
Crystal Palace to Beckenham Junction
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: Crystal Palace, Birkbeck, Beckenham Junction
Description - This short branch starts at the magnificent station of Crystal Palace and goes eastwards to join the East Kent mainline at beckenham Junction, running parallel to Croydon's tramline.
History
Beckenham Junction station Crystal Palace station - long view
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Faversham Railway Station |
Faversham to Dover Priory
Name of Line: The Dover Branch (of Chatham Main Line)
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South Eastern
Stations: Faversham, Selling, Canterbury East, Bekesbourne, Adisham, Snowdown, Shepherd's Well, Kearsney, Dover Priory
Description : The line goes south east from Faversham through Canbterbury and East Kent through several tunnels to Dover Priory on the Kent coast
History
Journey review
Websites: East Kent Railway
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Ford Railway Station 24th May 2008 |
Ford to Littlehampton
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: Ford, Littlehampton
Description: This small branch line leaves the Coastway Line from Brighton to Portsmouth at Ford and travels across some scrub land until it reaches Littlehampton on the estuary of the river Arun.
History: The main line from Brighton and Worthing through to Chichester was first opened in 1846. It wasn't until the 1860's that the branch to Littlehampton was eventually opened.
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Bromley North Railway Station 2007 |
Grove Park to Bromley North
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South Eastern
Stations: Grove Park, Sundridge Park, Bromley North
Description: This very short branch line leaves the main line from London to the Kent Coast at Grove Park and continues into the heart of Bromley, where it terminates at Bromley North station.
History
Bromley North station entrance Grove Park station - Bromley North train
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Guildford railway station |
Guildford to Aldershot
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Guildford, Wanborough, Ash, Aldershot
Description: This short but picturesque line joins the topwns of Guildford and Aldershot
Trains start at: Aldershot or Guildford
History
Journey review 1 Journey review 2
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13.10 train to Reading at Wokingham railway station 24/9/08 |
Guildford to Wokingham
Name of Line: The North Downs Line (northern section)
Length of Line: 25 miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railways
Stations: Guildford, Wanborough, Ash, Farnborough North, Blackwater, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Wokingham
Description: A cross-country line whcih moves north-westwards through the Surrey and Berkshire countryside round the south-western edge of London from Guildford to Reading.
History
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East Grinstead railway station - 27th February 2008 |
Hurst Green to East Grinstead
Name of Line: The Oxted Line
Length of Line: 8 3/4 miles
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: Hurst Green, Lingfield, Dormans, East Grinstead
Description: A pleasant country branchline through the Surrey countryside south of the North Downs.
History
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Brighton train at Seaford Railway Station 22nd March 2008 |
Lewes to Seaford
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: Lewes, Southease, Newhaven Town, Newhaven Harbour, Bishopstone, Seaford
Description
History
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Hayes train approaching Lewisham railway station |
Lewisham to Hayes
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South Eastern
Stations: Lewisham, Ladywell, Catford Bridge, Lower Sydenham, New Beckenham, Clock House, Elmers End, Eden Park, West Wickham, Hayes
Description
History
Hayes railway station Hayes train at London Bridge station
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Chessington South Railway Station looking north November 2007 |
Motspur Park to Chessington South
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Motspur Park, Malden Manor, Tolworth, Chessington North, Chessington South
Description: This branch leaves the mainline to Epsom soon after Motspur Park and continues south through the outer London suburbs before it reaches the end of the line at Chessington South.
History
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Caterham railway station - Victoria train ready to leave November 2007 |
Purley to Caterham
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: Purley, Kenley, Whyteleafe, Whyteleafe South, Caterham
Description: a short branch line of around five miles which goes through the outer London suburbs to Caterham in Surrey.
History
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Tattenham Corner railway station - November 2007 |
Purley to Tattenham Corner
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: Purley, Reedham, Smitham, Woodmansterne, Chipstead, Kingswood, Tadworth, Tattenham Corner
Description
History
Tattenham Corner train leaving Purley Tattenham Corner railway station
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13.47 train to Redhill leaving Guildford Railway Station 24/9/08 |
Redhill to Guildford
Name of Line: The North Downs Line (southern section)
Length of Line: 21 miles
Train Operating Company: Great Western Railways
Stations: Redhill, Reigate, Betchworth, Dorking Deepdene, Gomshall, Chilworth, Shalford, Guildford
Description: The route makes for a pleasant journey along the southern edge of the North Downs through Surrey
Frequency of Trains: half hourly
Traction Used: 2/3 car Class 166 DMUs
History:
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Shanklin train at Ryde Pier Head railway station |
Ryde to Shanklin
Name of Line: The Island Line
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Ryde Pier Head, Ryde Esplanade, Ryde St John's Road, Smallbrook Junction, Brading, Sandown, Lake, Shanklin
Description: The only surving national railway track on the Isle of Wight goes down the eastern side of the Island to Shanklin.
History: Originally there were over 50 miles of railways on the Isle of Wight, with this line going to Ventnor. It was first opened in 1864 from Ryde St John's Road to Shaklin.
Trivia: The stock used comes from London Underground trains from the last century
Web site links: Photo link
Shanklin Station View south from Ryde Pier Head station
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Sittingbourne Railway Station - Sheerness train on right |
Sittingbourne to Sheerness-on-Sea
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South Eastern
Stations: Sittingbourne, Kamsley, Swale, Queenborough, Sheerness-on-Sea
Description
History
Websites: Photo Link
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Uckfield railway station buffers - 20th February 2008 |
South Croydon to Uckfield
Names of Line: The Oxted Lines (Uckfield Branch) The Wealden Line
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: South Croydon, Sanderstead, Riddlesdown, Upper Warlingham, Woldingham, Oxted, Hurst Green, Edenbridge Town, Hever, Cowden, Eridge, Crowborough, Buxted, Uckfield
Description - A very picturesque line which winds through the Kent and Sussex countryside to Uckfield.
History - Originally this line went all the way to both Eastbourne and Lewes.
Traction used: Class 171 Turbostar DMUs
Web links - Wealden Line Campaign Spa Valley Railway Lavender Line
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Windsor & Eton Riverside railway station - leaf clearing train on right |
Staines to Windsor & Eton Riverside
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Staines, Wraysbury, Sunnymeads, Windsor & Eton Riverside
Description
History
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Maidstone West railway station |
Strood to Paddock Wood
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South Eastern
Stations: Strood, Cuxton, Halling, Snodland, New Hythe, Aylesford, Maidstone Barracks, Maidstone West, Wateringbury, Yalding, Beltring, Paddock Wood
Description: This is a branch line of two halves - the first half from Strood to Maidstone goes through some industrial lanscapes, whilst the second half from Maidstone to Paddock Wood goes through some picturesque Kent countryside, all the time following the course of the River Medway.
History
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Hampton Court Railway Station |
Surbiton to Hampton Court
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Surbiton, Thames Ditton, Hampton Court
Description: This short branch line leaves the Waterloo to Southampton main line soon after Surbiton and continues north to terminate next to Hampton Court Palace.
History
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Sutton railway station - Epsom Downs train |
Sutton to Epsom Downs
Name of Line: The Epsom Downs Branch
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: Southern
Stations: Sutton, Belmont, Banstead, Epsom Downs
Description
History
Website link: The Epsom Downs Branch Photo Link
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Blackfriars train at Sevenoaks |
Swanley to Sevenoaks
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Stations: Swanley, Eynsford, Shoreham, Otford, Bat & Ball, Sevenoaks
Train Operating Company: South Eastern
Rolling stock: Class 466 EMU's
Trains start from: London Blackfriars
Description:
History:
Journey review
Web links:
Bat & Ball station sign Giant BR logo on roof of Sevenoaks station
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Shepperton Railway Station - looking east |
Teddington to Shepperton
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Teddington, Fulwell, Hampton, Kempton Park, Sunbury, Upper Haliford, Shepperton
Description
History
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Virginia Water Railway Station looking west |
Weybridge to Virginia Water
Name of Line:
Length of Line:
Train Operating Company: South West Trains
Stations: Weybridge, Addlestone, Chertsey, Virginia Water
Rolling Stock Used:
Description:
History:
Weybridge Railway Station Viriginia Water railway station