September 2007: - We get quite a lot of steam workings in the Brighton area these days and this one was definitely worth getting up early on a Sunday morning for. 34067 "Tangmere" works uphill through Falmer with a Charter train from Brighton to Faversham for the Shepherd Neame brewery.

 Photo taken 2nd September 2007. Photographer ACG.

October 2007: - An acquired photograph of Merchant Navy 35007 "Aberdeen Commonwealth". Seen here at Preston Park about to depart for Brighton with a RCTS/LCGB Railtour, "The Midhurst Belle". Photographer unknown. Photo taken 18/10/64. Webmasters collection

November 2007:- I almost couldn't believe my eyes when I rediscovered this slide. Taken inside Lovers Walk depot we find 1500v DC electric locomotive EM2 27000 "Electra". This was the station and depot open day on the 22/9/91 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Brighton line. More photos from the event can be found here. Photographer ACG.

December 2007:-  Taken in February 1986 and with a smattering of snow on the ground 4Big 7042 is about to depart Haywards Heath for the coast. Photographer ACG.

January 2008:- Christmas at York and after escaping the festivities for something more important, a quick 10 mins blast round the A64 to Colton Junction. Black 5 45407 and BR 4MT 76079 double head the York Yuletide Express from Mill Hill Broadway. Photo taken 22/12/07 by ACG.

February 2008:- 71002 runs through Ashford with a train of ferry wagons bound for Dover Western Docks and the train ferry to Dunkerque. This scene at Ashford has now been completely swept away by the new station and high speed line to the Channel tunnel. Photo taken 1974 by ACG.

March 2008:- With the Gatwick Express service about to come under the "Southern" umbrella from June and through workings to Brighton from December, back in 1984 we find 73105 with a Gatwick Express test train prior to the original service launch in May of that year.

 Photo by ACG

April 2008:- Preserved 4 Sub unit passes London Road (Brighton) on 26/2/83 on the "Seaside Sub" Railtour Photo taken by NIB.

May 2008:-This was the view at the bottom of Mill Road Patcham in 1980 with 4CIG 7406 leads a Brighton to Victoria semi-fast service out of Patcham Tunnel. Photo taken 22/5/80 by ACG.

Today this is the  equivalent view due to the A23 / A27 road junction and 28 years growth of trees...... The railway line is still there honest!

Photos by ACG

June 2008:- Trains from London to Brighton via Oxted often had substantial loads leaving London but this 4 car Maunsell set was all that was left as H2 Atlantic "St Albans Head" approaches London Road Brighton in September 1953. Photo by Peter Hay BMRC archieves.

July 2008:- With the two chimneys of Shoreham B power station in the background 33003 powers its typically short rake of Mk1 coaches on the Sunday Brighton to Bristol working. Photo taken 23/5/82. Photographer unknown, Webmasters collection

August 2008:- 220022 the former "Brighton Voyager" now in the new XC livery approaches Nightingale Lane bridge at Burgess Hill whilst working 1M11 the 0921 Brighton to Birmingham New Street. A then and now comparison can be made of this location can be made by clicking HERE Photo taken 25/7/08.

Photo by ACG

September 2008:- 73004 "The Bluebell Railway" at Haywards Heath with a gauging train. Getting in the way of the photographer is the now Commercial Director of the Bluebell Railway and former workmate Tim Baker ( he's the one without the HV vest ). The loco was named  19/9/87 so I'm guessing this photo wasn't taken long after that.

Photo by ACG

October 2008:- This purchased slide has a nice view of 5Bel 3053 in platform 8 at Brighton station. From the crowds of people and the steam locomotive behind it there must be a station open day on the go. Slide is dated 3/9/77.

Photographer unknown / Webmasters collection

November 2008: - 73208 front and 73206 seen here from Dyke Road Drive bridge with the train of scrap and building rubble from the Pullman Car Works demolition. The site will remain in railway use as additional sidings for Lovers Walk depot will be laid here. Photo taken 21/10/08.

Photo by ACG

December 2008:-  December saw the end of Cross Country train services from Brighton after a 30 year run. In better times 47612 'Titan' gets the 0952 Brighton to Manchester via Watford away from Gatwick Airport.

Photographer unknown / Webmasters collection

January 2009:-  SR electric loco 20002 with a long and heavy boat train from Newhaven. Looks like at least 14 cars including a Pullman plus a pair of CCT's. Location is northbound near to Hamsey level crossing between Lewes and Cooksbridge.

Date taken unknown ( late 1950's). Photographer J.H.W. Kent  Webmasters collection

February 2009:- Monday 2nd February and the heavy snow falls bought the South east and London to a near standstill. 319214 heads a Brighton to Gatwick FCC working at Preston Park.  First Capital Connect  were working a shuttle to and from Gatwick with Southern operating between Three Bridges and London Victoria.

March 2009:- Thanks to work colleague John Atkinson for once again getting the gen on this. This is 2HAP 6045 in the wall sidings at Brighton. Formed of coaches S61243 and S75363. The unit was repainted blue/grey in April 1983 and became half of 4CAP 3310 in May 1983 which pins the date down nicely.  

Webmasters collection

April 2009:- M7 30051. The location screams Brighton to me and an on line search shows this was a Brighton allocated locomotive.

Photographer J.H.W. Kent / Webmasters collection

May 2009:-On a nice sunny day 4CIG 7388 stands at Newhaven Town station, date taken unknown, but probably early 1980's.

Photographer unknown / Webmasters collection

June 2009:-This indicator board at Brighton was removed in the mid 80's and is now at Sir Alfred McAlpines' private railway. The Solari board that superseded it has also long gone as have the manned ticket barriers to the individual platforms. The chalk notice on the righthand side states that the Newhaven to Dieppe ferry service is suspended. Photo taken 30/1/82.

Photographer unknown / Webmasters collection

July 2009:- Occasionally the Webmaster gets let out for the day, one such day was 26th June 2009. With the wife at Woolfest a seventy minute trash along the A66 in the hire car to Kirby Stephen and on to the B6259 saw a pleasant hour or three spent on the S&C line......where have all the Peaks and Forties gone!!!Travelling at about 60mph 66025 makes light work of 4S70 the 0945 Milford to Falkirk coal empties. The train is seen here approaching Garsdale station spot on time too.

Photo by ACG

August 2009:- Captured on it's way home from Portsmouth with the Cathedrals Express Charter, 70013 'Oliver Cromwell' storms off the Cliftonville Spur and on to the up main at Preston Park. Taken in failing light Ollie made a fine sight. Thanks to Three Bridges Area Signalling Centre for putting a set of empty coaching stock, bound for Lovers Walk,  into the loop at just the right time.  Photo taken 30/7/09.

Photo by ACG

September 2009:- A busy scene at Lovers Walk in preparation for the station open day, Stored NRM stock is being towed out of the Pullman Car Works. Taken from the bridge at Dyke Road drive we can see the mix of locos behind 09023. A 4Vep can be seen in the foreground with an unidentified class 73 on a pway train approaching Top Yard.

Photographer unknown / Webmasters collection

Our home is London Road station in Brighton which gets approx 3-4 trains an hour in each direction all day long.  Pity the villagers of Chathill. Two trains a day twelve hours apart and both go south!  This is the evening service 2N53 the 1908 Chathill to Hexham. There are also two arrivals again both from the south.

Photo by ACG