4th May 2010 Circular walk from Eridge railway station via Groombridge station on the Spa Valley Railway (rail photos)

This is the class 171 diesel powered train that delivered me to Eridge station for the start and end of my walk.

This is the platform seen on the far left of the first picture, and will be used by the Spa Valley railway. As far as I know, sharing a common entrance with a national rail station, and having their own platform within the station,  is a unique thing for this preserved railway.

Another unique occurence is that once the Spa Valley Railway platform comes into service there will be a choice of two toilets on what is really a rather small country station. The toilets pictured above are on the national rail platform, and actually being open also seems to be fairly unique ! Having said that, on my way home this toilet was shut and I had to resort to a slightly less ethical place to relieve myself.

This is the view looking south along Eridge railway station. The platform on the left is for Spa Valley Railway services, and that on the right for national rail services. The hut like building on the Spa Valley Railway platform is, I believe, the second set of toilets on the station.

After walking a few miles through the country lanes I was able to get back to the railway by following a footpath that crossed the railway just south of Groombridge station. This footbridge over the railway cutting has fairly good views of the railway both to the north and to the south.

Looking to the south from the footbridge the line towards Eridge curves away to the left. From this angle it looks as if it is double track, and maybe once it was, but the track on the right is now only a long siding where some assorted freight wagons are stored.

Still looking south, but to the right of the previous picture, there is the remains of a spur that connected to the mainline for trains heading to the north and west. All that remains is a few hundred yards of track where yet more stock is stored. Of particular interest is the two carriages on the left. These are quite rare ex-London Undergound T stock as used on the Metroploitan line before it was completely electrified. The very peculiar thing is why the Spa Valley railway should choose to put Bakerloo Line on them. The Bakerloo Line is classified as a deep tube line (even though the northern end is above ground) and carriages of that size could never fit in a tube tunnel.

Finally on to Groombridge station itself. This is the view looking down from the road bridge, and shows the station running in sign.

Just like bridges owned by national rail, the Spa Valley Railway marks it's bridges with plaques saying who to contact in the event of any damage happening to the bridge. This sign was on the road bridge that passes over the end of the station at Groombridge.

Once again looking down from the road bridge, this is the extent of the main platform area at Groombridge.

A few more miles of walking brought me to Forge Farm level crossing. This level crossing is not actually on the public highway, but is for farm traffic, and also a public footpath.

To cross the railway with a vehicle all these instructions have to be followed. Fortunately for pedestrians there is an adjacent gate that allows you to walk across the railway. I think when I crossed the railway here it was the first time I have ever used a foot crossing that is completely uncontrolled. By this section of the line to Eridge the Spa Valley Railway track runs adjacent to the national rail track. When the Spa Valley railway services to Eridge start special arrangements have been made to control access to the crossing. An old crossing keepers hut has been restored, and from within a Spa Valley railway worker can "tap into" the national rail signals to change the green light to red when a Spa Valley railway train is approaching. Unfortunately the small crossing keepers hut is too obscured by fancing and foliage to be nicely photographed. So no picture of it here, but there is one here on the Spa Valley Railway website.

One historical thing still in faded existance at the Forge Farm crossing is this old British Transport Commision sign that must date back to between 1949 and 1962.

Finally, after 6.15 miles of foot breaking walking I arrived back at Eridge station and a 15 minute wait for the 40 minute journey back to East Croydon. If you haven't seen them yet, click here to see the pictures of the countryside I took while walking the twisting country lanes.