Plumpton
| Plumpton station, opened in October 1847 with the line from Keymer Junction to Lewes, only ever really comes to life on race days when a number of additional services call to deposit and collect the punters for the adjacent Plumpton Race Course. The up platform is unusual in that it is in two sections as it was extended to cope with long trains on race days, but as there is a footbridge to the race course at the end of the original platform, rather than rebuild this footbridge the up platform stops at the footbridge, then re-started on the other side. Although this feature remains extant, sadly it is no longer used. |
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An overall view of the station taken from the station footbridge
on 7th July 1983.
photograph by permission of Alan Elliott |
| At this time the re-signalling of the line was well under
way, note the new four aspect colour light signal head under wraps. The level
crossing is a real survivor as it is still extant as a gated crossing twenty
one years after this photo was taken. The Signalbox, however, is reduced in function to that
of a ground frame released from the Three Bridges power 'box.
photograph by permission of Alan Elliott |
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The level crossing and old and new down starting signals viewed
from the road during June 1984.
photograph by Mark Westcott |
| The outside of the station buildings on Saturday, 22nd May 2004.
The station is mainly unmanned with the ticket office open for just a short
while each Monday to Friday morning. Unlike many of the stations in this area,
none of the original buildings is being used by a third party, possibly the
result of a Grade II listing that certainly applies to the Signalbox and all
the station buildings and footbridge. The whole station is presently very
agreeable having recently been completely repainted and fitted out with new
lights. For summer 2004 there are 17 up trains and 14 down trains on each
weekday, nine and seven on Saturdays with seven and six on Sundays, although
Sunday trains operate just between 25th May and 26th September.
photograph by Peter Richards |
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The main station building from the up platform. When closed,
the entrance to the platforms is through the gate seen open on the near side of
the building. Fresh tarmac around the base of the lamps shows how recently they
were installed. The building is on the down side and it is also possible to
enter or leave the up platform from the road, though there is a sign
instructing one not to do so!
photograph by Peter Richards |
| The race course at Plumpton is always mentioned but a more
regular traffic was milk (in 15 gallon churns) to the Plumpton Creamery. The
Creamery was on the western side of the road, south of the level crossing, and
although it has now been coverted into dwellings, it has hardly changed over
the years. The dwelling nearest the road carries the name "The
Creamery".
photograph by Glen Woods |
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The substantial waiting shelter on the up platform. As with
neighbouring Cooksbridge station, there is no
longer any glass in the windows!
photograph by Peter Richards |
| The footbridge that takes passengers to and from the up
platform, and from which the 1983 photographs were taken. Originally there was
a bay platform on the far side, with access from the Haywards Heath direction
and the track terminating adjacent to the bottom steps of the station
footbridge. There was also a small two road Yard with side and end loading
docks. Now there is just a row of bungalows!
photograph by Peter Richards |
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All photographs are copyright
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This page was last updated 12 January 2009
