The Hawkhurst Branch Line - 48 years after closure
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- Опубликовано: 15 окт 2024
- Tracing the remains of the former SER branch line that ran from Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst in October 2009.Looking at what remains at each of the four station site's,Hawkhurst,Cranbrook,Goudhurst & Horsmonden and following sections of the old trackbed (where possible)through Badger's Oak Tunnel towards Cranbrook.To the north of Horsmonden after the tunnel and embankment much of the line followed fairly flat land with a number of level crossings most of the trackbed here has dissappeared.
As a youngster I used to enjoy exploring disused railways on my bike (there are plenty of them in Kent and Sussex). I thought I was a bit of a nerd doing this and therefore didn’t tell my friends as I thought I would be teased about it however with the advent of the internet and RUclips it seems I am not alone in this hobby!!
I think there must be scope now for re-opening some of these lines as there is greater demand with a larger population, road traffic congestion, ever more draconian parking restrictions, speed cameras and motoring taxes etc - I think those vandals Beeching and Marples have a lot to answer for - they could have at least shown some foresight and preserved track beds, bridges and tunnels for future use and prevented building on the old lines. For example it was very poor planning to allow Sainsbury’s to block the Tunbridge wells west- to TW central line. If that didn’t happen then we could have had scope to reopen Eridge - T/Wells and Uckfield - Lewis and then could have had a fast rail service from Tonbridge to Brighton and Eastbourne instead of the current painfully slow bus service and expensive parking in the coastal towns
Regarding Tunbridge Wells Sainsbury's - I understand the land still belongs to the relevant railway authority & is on a kind of rolling lease arrangement on the understanding there was always the remote chance of the line returning, but given that the building sits across the old trackbed & the last time the Frant Road tunnel was surveyed it was deemed not cost effective to repair it seems unlikely that the line could be reopened.
In respect of the old P Wood to Hawkhurst branch line - this is one of the few old lines where nothing major has been built obstructing the line & most of the infrastructure is intact. Not saying it will ever be reinstated but if they do seriously look at reopening any of these lines then this branch would be a prime candidate.
Very interesting and well put together. What amazes me is tunnels WITHOUT overkill fencing at each end.
This was 2009, there may well be fencing now.
I’ve just explored both Horsmonden and Badgers Oak tunnel (March 2021) and they are still both accessible no fencing yet, you will however need to negotiate fallen trees and lots of undergrowth and you’ll need some good wellies as they where both pretty water logged
A most enjoyable, but sad video. For me the only thing that spoiled it was no commentary.
That aside, thank you. I used to go 'Oppin just outside Goudhurst..........
Do you know Bob Kenward's song "Old Country Train"? It's about this line:
Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst by way of Horsmonden
Pulling through the hopyards,pushing back again
Ramblers for Cranbrook, wagons for Churn Lane
We’ll never see the like of the Old Country Train
Driver up the car end, sitting at his ease
Fireman on the engine, doing as he please
By Wealden woods and orchards, all the seasons through
We worked the line by pull-and-push on duty 312.
We’d a Chatham tank from Tonbridge, 17-0-4
And a two-set off the Brighton line,seen better years before
Never had a guard, just a crate or two of fruit
And a couple-or-three passengers all in their market suits:
Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst by way of Horsmonden
Pulling through the hopyards,pushing back again
Ramblers for Cranbrook, wagons for Churn Lane
We’ll never see the like of the Old Country Train
September brought the hoppers, we watched them all go past
Coppertops and Converts, working fit to bust
Hammering through Goudhurst,charging Badger’s Oak
With the roughest of the old stock they could find up in the Smoke:
Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst by way of Horsmonden
Pulling through the hopyards,pushing back again
Ramblers for Cranbrook, wagons for Churn Lane
We’ll never see the like of the Old Country Train
I’ve taken out a Crompton from the yard at Hither Green
Come home off the Dover run,my working clothes all clean
But give me back the rails and that old Chatham tank
I’d be back on steam tomorrow, charging Cranbrook bank:
Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst by way of Horsmonden
Pulling through the hopyards, pushing back again
Ramblers for Cranbrook, wagons for Churn Lane
We’ll never see the like of the Old Country Train
I sing it at open mics and folk clubs sometimes and it always goes down well, especially locally in Kent. Might make a good soundtrack???
Your song sums it all up nicely, well done writing it Bob Kenward.
Enjoyed this very much - thank you.
Robin Richardson
Great video past and present of our old steam railway history. Cheers!! :D
Good work sir, much appreciated.
Its sad that an old line was shut down but it happened I think nearly everywhere world-wide around the early 60's & they didn't stop till the early 80's.
*Am I correct in saying that this is in England? Good to see someone recorded history for the younger ones, & us arm-chair back-packers ;-)
Just to say the Cranbrook station is one of my families members house :D, nice to see it on there :)
Victoria Harding I worked there when I left school in the pottery in 1976!
Adrian Clarke wow ! my grandad use to run the pottery there Keith Harding? do you remember him?
Victoria Harding yes I remember Keith,can you FB me,I am ..Age Clarke...
I seem to remember that the former Hawkhurst station was some distance north of the village. I do not remember it running, I was 5 in 1963 and did not live in the area. I do seem to remember that in the '70s [by which time I was living in Hastings, not too far away, the former station was a timber yard, which has also since closed. Cranbrook station became a pottery, IDK if this still exists.
Looking at the video again I can't understand why the beautiful Victorian building of Goudhurst station was demolished. Complete and utter sacrilege........
So creepy where the trees have grown and where the trackbeds were. Only hearing the birds and creatures
Gone forever. Nature soon takes over again.
Really enjoyed ! thank you :o)
nice video
good record of history .
found both ends of the tunnel !!!
it must have been a very sad day indeed for the folks who used this line most no longer with us i agree beeching and maples have a lot to answer for most of the lines should never have closed built on they should think about reopening lines not building more roads the railway should be moving goods not roads
I did the walk a vey enjoyable day out
he got closed in the year were my brother have born
Re open it as a steam railway like the bluebell or Kent and East Sussex
great stuff
time dosnt get lost. people do?