Horsted Keynes railway station

Horsted Keynes
300px The station sign and Sharpthorn
Location
Place	Horsted Keynes
Area	Mid Sussex, West Sussex
Grid reference	TQ370292
Operations
Managed by	London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
Owned by	Southern Railway Southern Region of British Railways Bluebell Railway
Platforms	5 (with tracks 1,2,3 and 4/5)
History
1882	Station opened
7 July 1935	Electric trains commence via Ardingly
1962	Commencement of Bluebell Railway services
1963	Cessation of British Railways services
Stations on heritage railways in the United Kingdom
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Horsted Keynes railway station is a preserved railway station on the Bluebell Railway in Sussex. The station is used in the television series Downton Abbey.

History

File:Horsted Keynes Bluebell Railway train in 1964 geograph-2687674-by-Ben-Brooksbank.jpg

Bluebell Railway train at Horsted Keynes in 1964

It was closed by British Railways under the Beeching Axe on 28 October 1963 with the cessation of trains from Seaford via Haywards Heath (trains over the Lewes to East Grinstead line having ceased in 1958). However, the first Bluebell Railway trains had run on the last day of the 1962 season using the disused eastern side (electrified services only used Platform 2). Between 1960 and 1962 Bluebell Railway services had terminated at Bluebell halt- a temporary station about half mile to the south.

As a junction station it was the busiest station on the line in terms of services but arguably one of the quieter for passengers. The station lies about one and half miles (2 km) from the village of Horsted Keynes itself.

File:Bluebell line train luggage.jpg

1930s ambience of Platform 5

Since being taken over by the Bluebell the station has become one of the most popular stations in UK preservation, and has won many awards. It has been restored under a 1930s theme with period newspaper headlines on boards by the buffet and adverts of the period. With five platforms it is the largest preserved heritage railway station in the UK. It is the crossing place for services when two trains are operating and hosts several events a year for collectors and enthusiasts. It is also the home of the line's Carriage and Wagon department.

The Bluebell Railway plans to eventually make this station a junction once again if plans to extend toward Ardingly are realised, creating something rare within UK preservation, a junction station where both lines are operated by preservationists.

Listed buildings

The main station building, the signal box and an engine house to the south of the station are all Grade II Listed buildings. All three were originally built in or shortly after 1882 to the designs of Thomas Myres, the railway company's staff architect.

Television

The station is used as Cambridge Station in the television series Grantchester which is a detective drama set in the 1950s. The station also doubles as the Downton railway station in television series Downton Abbey. The station was also used as the station used in the 2000 television film, The Railway Children.

See also

• List of closed railway stations in Britain

Preceding station	Heritage railways			Following station
Kingscote		Bluebell Railway		Sheffield Park
	Disused railways
West Hoathly Line open, station closed		London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Lewes and East Grinstead Railway		Sheffield Park Line and station open
				Ardingly Line and station closed

• 34028 Eddystone at Horsted Keynes railway station.jpg

  The classic view of the north end of the station, here with 34028 Eddystone.

• Horsted Keynes railway station.JPG

  E4 32473 in the double sided Platforms 4 and 5.

• Horsted Keynes railway station (1).JPG

  The north end after resignalling to allow both lines to the junction beyond the bridge to be used.

• Std 4 at Horsted Keynes.JPG

  The south end of the station featuring the signal box on the right with the junction beyond and carriage works on the left.

External links

• Horsted Keynes railway station on Trainspot