Horsted Keynes railway station

Infobox UK disused station
name = Horsted Keynes


caption = The station sign and "Sharpthorn"
gridref = TQ371292
manager = London, Brighton and South Coast Railway
owner = Southern Railway
Southern Region of British Railways
Bluebell Railway
locale = Horsted Keynes
borough = Mid Sussex, West Sussex
platforms = 5
years = 1882
events = Station opened
years1 = 1962
events1 = Commencement of Bluebell Railway services
years2 = 1963
events2 = Cessation of British Railways services

Horsted Keynes railway station is a railway station in Sussex. It was closed by The Branchline Committee in 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).

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 3/4 mile (1km) from the village of Horsted Keynes.

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. 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 lines Carriage and Wagon department.

There are plans to make this station a junction again if the Bluebell plans to extend toward Ardingly are realised, creating something rare in UK preservation, a junction station where both lines are operated by preservationists. However whether this is opened by the Bluebell itself after their extension to East Grinstead or as a separate third-rail electrified preserved line remains to be seen.

See also

* List of closed railway stations in Britain

External links

* [http://www.trainspots.co.uk/locpage.php?ts_number=544 Horsted Keynes railway station] on Trainspot