West Hoathly railway station

West Hoathly

The station remains seen in early 2006
Location
Place Sharpthorne, West Hoathly
Area Mid Sussex, West Sussex
Grid reference TQ371328
Operations
Pre-grouping London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
Post-grouping Southern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways
Bluebell Railway
Platforms 2
History
1882 Station opened
28 May 1955 station closed
7 August 1956 station reopened
17 March 1958 Station closed
1992 Line reopened
Disused railway stations in the United Kingdom
Closed railway stations in Britain
A B C D–F G H–J K–L M–O P–R S T–V W–Z
UK Railways portal

West Hoathly is a closed railway station on what is now the Bluebell Railway. The station was finally closed in 1958 but was used by the contractors in the 1960s demolishing the line as a good place to bring equipment in and out.

The station site today

The station site was purchased by the Bluebell Railway in 1975 as there was a possibility that the land would be sold for housing development. When approval was given for construction of the railway, in order to overcome objections from local residents, the station was not reopened. Trains returned to the site of the station in 1992 with a loop installed just north of the station to allow engines to 'run round' their trains, however this was removed with opening of the extension to Kingscote in 1994.

Today much of the platforms remain in place and it had since been the site of a large store of ballast and sleepers for the extension to East Grinstead. Despite its name the site of West Hoathly station is actually situated in the village of Sharpthorne, half a mile from the village West Hoathly itself.

It is sited immediately to the north of Sharpthorne Tunnel, the longest railway tunnel in UK preservation. Plans to reopen the station are proposed as it is the only built-up area on the line south of East Grinstead, however these have been held for the future if ever funds permit and there is support from local residents.

Preceding station Disused railways Following station
Kingscote
Line and station open		   London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
Lewes and East Grinstead Railway		   Horsted Keynes
Line and station open

See also

External links

Coordinates: 51°04′43″N 0°02′37″W / 51.0787°N 0.0437°W