2. Afternoon trip to Seaford-19.07.24

THE ARCHIVE FILES > Archive-2024 > 64. Trip to Brighton-18-20.07.24 > 2. Afternoon trip to Seaford-19.07.24

Whilst my wife rested I took a return trip to Seaford stopping off at the delightful Lewes station.

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Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.

700103, TL 13.18 Bedford-Brighton (9T37, 3L), Brighton station
Coming up for ten years now the Class 700s have been plying their trade on various routes in the southeast. One of the longest routes is between Bedford and Brighton which travels right through (and under) Central London. 700103 completes its journey working the 13.18 Bedford to Brighton service. This picture reveals the magnificent trainshed at Brighton which is a real jewel on the south coast rail network.
Keywords: 700103 13.18 Bedford-Brighton 9T37 Brighton station Thameslink Desiro

378211, GX 15.56 Brighton-Eastbourne (2U44, RT), Brighton station
Electrostar 387211 waits to leave Brighton working the 2U44 stopper service to Eastbourne. I was to travel aboard this train as far as Lewes. Notice the timber platform that is a feature of platform eight here at the eastern side of the station.
Keywords: 378211 15.56 Brighton-Eastbourne 2U44 Brighton station Gatwick Express Electrostar

378211, GX 15.56 Brighton-Eastbourne (2U44, RT), Lewes station
Having travelled from Brighton aboard 378211 it is seen leaving Lewes station working the 15.56 Brighton to Eastbourne service. It is passing the now closed and boarded-up 1888 LBSC signal box. The last time I was at Lewes back in 2009 the box was in use and wore its NSE nameboards.
Keywords: 378211 15.56 Brighton-Eastbourne 2U44 Lewes station Gatwick Express

Lewes station
Lewes station is a delightful and interesting junction for several routes. It once served a number of other lines that have since closed but it remains busy. The station is very well kept looking as though it has recently had some work done. On a sunny summer's afternoon it is a pleasant place to pause, take a coffee and watch the trains. Notice the now filled-in track bed in the foreground and its double-faced platform.
Keywords: Lewes station

Lewes signal box, closed (LBSC, 1888)
Constructed in 1888 for the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway (LBSC) Lewes signal box was shut in December 2019 when the branch to Seaford was resignalled with control moving to the 'operating centre' at Three Bridges. No doubt, much to the annoyance of Network Rail, the box was Grade II listed just two years before its closure meaning that it has to be kept largely as it is with maintenance needed. The citation makes special reference to its largely original looks and, in particular, the characteristic rounded upper lights (windows) as seen in this photograph. It also notes the personal needs facility added towards the end of the twentieth century! There have been various plans to re-purpose the box but nothing has happened as yet.

377311, SN 16.06 Brighton-Seaford (2C44, RT), Lewes station
The 16.06 Brighton to Seaford shuttle train arrives at Lewes station in some warm afternoon sunshine. I travelled on this train from here to Seaford, a journey of about twenty minutes. I am not quite sure what inspired me to take this photograph resurrecting my boyhood low-angle stance that was so popular with me back in the 1970s, see... https://www.ontheupfast.com/p/21936chg/24049435404/x1111-westbury-station
Keywords: 377311 16.06 Brighton-Seaford 2C44 Lewes station Southern Electrostar

377316, SN 17.24 Seaford-Brighton (2C51, RT), Seaford station
Having spent a short time exploring Seaford and getting as far as the pebbly beach I walked back to the station in order to return to Brighton. I travelled on the 17.24 shuttle service running as 2C51, a journey of about thirty-five minutes. Electrostar 377316 basks in the summer sunshine at Seaford as passengers board.
Keywords: 377316 17.24 Seaford-Brighton 2C51 Seaford station Southern Electrostar

Bishopstone Beach halt (Closed, 01.01.42)
The history of Bishopstone station (or halt) is a fascinating one. It was opened in 1864 as Bishopstone and served the workers of the nearby Tide Mills. When these closed in 1888 it became mainly the preserve of the Victorian holidaymaker. This itself closed in 1938 with the site of the present-day station re-built slightly east and renamed Bishopstone Beach halt. After just four years of use, during WWII, it finally closed in 1942. The Southern concrete former down platform is still extant as is the matching running-in sign. The excellent Disused Stations website has further details and photographs of the station, see... http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/b/bishopstone_beach_halt/index.shtml NB the foot crossing at the eastern end of the former station, and the adjacent holiday park, featured briefly in an episode of the ITV detective series Grace broadcast in September 2024.
Keywords: Bishopstone Beach halt

Tickets, Brighton-Seaford-Brighton
My off-peak return tickets from Brighton to Seaford cost the princely sum of £6.10.
Keywords: Tickets Brighton-Seaford-Brighton

Images 1-9 of 9 displayed.