Time Capsules - Old Photographs from the past

32351 at Hailsham signal box, East Sussex, in 1962

Class K 2-6-0 locomotive no. 32351 originated as no. 351 to a 1913 design by L. B. Billinton of the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. Built in January 1921, it was scrapped, along with all 16 of its sister engines, by British Railways in November/December 1962. This particular locomotive was one of a batch of 7 built at the Brighton LB&SCR Works.

The shed code 75E in the photograph refers to the Three Bridges engine shed.

Hailsham railway station was on the Cuckoo Line between Polegate and Hellingly serving the town of Hailsham. Originally built in 1849 by the London, Brighton & South Coast Railway. it was a terminus station serving both passengers and livestock for the nearby market. It remained a terminus until 1880 when it was connected with Eridge on a single line railway.

On 14 June 1965 the station became a terminus again when the line northward closed to passenger traffic. Freight continued northwards as far as Heathfield until 26 April 1968 when a lorry damaged a bridge at Horsebridge, north of Hailsham. The line never reopened to Heathfield - the northern section had already been earmarked for closure on the 7 May , and as such it was not deemed economic to repair the bridge.

On 8 September 1968, the last passenger train left Hailsham at 10:30pm and the station has remained closed ever since.

Photo © The Step Back Through Time Collection
Text courtesy of Peter Langsdale