East Sussex Narrow Gauge Sites

Locations of Narrow Gauge Railways in Sussex

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GAZETEER OF NARROW GAUGE RAILWAYS IN EAST SUSSEX

Originally compiled by Kevin Payne
"See map" links to the National Library of Scotland online OS 1:25000 maps. The line is not necessarily actually shown on the map, but shows the location. OS Grid references are given for some sites.

Operator	Location	Gauge	Type (1)	Traction (2)	Notes	References
ABCO Petroleum	Rye Harbour TQ931997	24"	SF	IC	Transport of waste oil, closed c5/1970 See map (New window)	TNG130, TNG133 (photo) SNG (map/photo) TNG135
Sir P C Allen	Crowhurst Road, Battle	600mm	Storage	S	Storage of eponymous locomotive before transfer to Leighton Buzzard	IRS Handbook EL 1970
Army	Belle Tout, Seven Sisters	?	SF	IC	Target practice. Rope worked by 'winch' (rear wheel of car used to pull canvas tank outline). East of Belle Tout. See map (New window)	Tyrell's List (WWII sites).
Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers	Asham/Rodmell, Lewes	24"	SF	S, IC	Extensive clay pit operation, closed c1975 See map (New window)	INGRB (photo) SNG (photo/map).* More…
Associated Portland Cement Manufacturers	Asham/Rodmell, Lewes	24"	SF	H?	Experimental lime kiln, demolished c.1990, site under refuse tip.See map (New window)	More…
Bexhill Corporation	Unknown	24"	SF	IC	Locomotives for sale following main drainage contract	The Contract Journal 12/08/1931
British Gypsum Ltd	Mountfield Mines	24" 18.5"	SF SF (?)	H, B	Large drift mine extracting gypsum. Early system used shafts and 24" gauge lines, from 1945 became drift mine with cable-hauled 18" gauge lines. Narrow gauge (BEV?) locomotives not used after c1966. See map (New window)	IRSE (photo) SNG (photo)
Borough Surveyor	Brighton Kemp Town and possibly others	24"	SF	IC	Believed temporary lines used on housing estate construction
British Portland Cement Manufacturers	South Heighton, Newhaven	24"	SF	H	Chalk pit/cement works. Formerly rail-served (STD). See map (New window)
Canadian Army/Air Force?	Seaford Head	24"	EF	H?	2nd World War target practice line. Several bogie wagons & turntables. Ran from South Hill Barn. Length c. 1 mile. Some "cuttings" remain. See map (New window) Similar line at Balsdean Farm nr. Woodingdean	"Barrack to Bunkers" Peter Longstaff-Tyrrell Sutton Publishing 2002
Cuckmere Brick Company	Berwick Station	24"	SF	IC	Clay pit, closed c1956. See map (New window)
Drusilla's Zoo Park	Berwick TQ525045	24"	SP	IC	Pleasure railway opened 1946 and still working	SNG (photo)
East Sussex County Council	Various works contract sites	24"	SF	IC	Locomotive supplier records are main clue, but locomotives offered for sale	The Contract Journal 20/03/1940
East Sussex Transport and Trading	Exceat Cuckmere Haven TV517978 TV518995	24"	EF	S(?), IC	Carrying shingle from near beach to main road, closed c1964. See map (New window)	IRSE (photo) TNG133 (photo) SNG (map/photo)
Freshfield Lane Brickworks (may not be correct title)	Danehill TQ385262	24"	SF	Unknown	Remnants of kiln cars and track found in 1980, may also have served clay pit
Guestling Brick Works	Guestling	24"	SF	H, IC	Clay pit, hand and cable worked until just before closure in c1973
Gosden Pierce Jervis, Breeders Ltd	Horam	24"	SF	H	Presumed agricultural railway, offered for sale	The Contract Journal 26/12/1945
Grimsdick's Nurseries	Haywards Heath	16"	SF	H	Advertisement seeking additional track material	The Contract Journal 06/01/1909
Hall & Company Crumbles	Eastbourne	24"	EF	IC	Shingle extraction, closed c1964. Show Map (New window)	NGN37/8 IRSE (photo) SNG (map/photo)
Hall & Company	Rye Harbour	24"	EF	IC	Shingle extraction, also serving various concrete product works, closed c1946 (?)	TNG120 TNG124 TNG130
County Borough of Hastings	Brede Valley	18"	EF	S	To carry building materials and coal from river wharf to pumping station, 1899 to 1935. See map (New window)	TNG52 Brede Waterworks Tramway, Brian Clarke SNG (maps/photos) 18" Gauge Steam Railways, Mark Smithers
County Borough of Hastings	Crowhurst (Adam's Farm)	18"	SF	H	To carry building materials and coal from road wharf to pumping station, closed c1950. Some track in situ (2000). See map (New window)	"Brede Waterworks Tramway" Brian Clarke TNG163 Photos…
County Borough of Hastings	Powdermill Reservoir, Pebsham Aerodrome, Darwell Hole Reservoir and St.Helen's Road*	24"	EF	S, IC	Reservoir construction c1927 to c1933. * Road construction	Locomotives for sale Contract Journal 29/03/33
County Borough of Hastings	Unknown job for Water Engineer	24"	SF	IC		Locomotives for sale Contract Journal 12/04/1950
Hove Corporation Destructor Works	Hove	24"	SF	H, IC	Locomotive traction ceased 1966
Great Bush Railway Tinkers Park	Hadlow Down TQ538241	24"	SP	S, IC, B	Preservation site, possibly preceded by agricultural use from c1946, still in use	TNG
Hamsey Brick Company	South Common, Chailey TQ390176	24"	SF	?	Clay pit line, possibly locomotive worked
G T Jennings	Camber Circa. TQ939199	24"	SF	IC	Shingle extraction, rail traffic ceased 1955	The Rye and Camber Tramway, L A Cooksey (photos)
W Claude Johnson	Broadstone Farm, Forest Row TQ330435 TQ333434	Unknown	SP	E or B(?)	Two short tramways in use c1908 to c1928, owner was director of a large electrical equipment manufacturer. Lines used for pleasure, possibly also experiment.
Kent & East Sussex Railway	Various	18"	SF	H	Horse hauled 18" gauge line used at Tenterden in 1903, similar probably also used on Rother Valley section in Sussex	Branch Line to Tenterden, V Mitchell & K Smith
Kidbrooke Farm	Forest Row	18"	SF	H	Line serving cow sheds	Sussex Industrial History No.25 NGN224
Lavender Line Preservation Society	Isfield Station TQ452171	24"	Storage	IC	Preservation site	IRS Handbook 12EL, amendment list No.6
Ludlay Brick and Tile Company	Berwick	24"	SF	IC	Clay pit line and kiln car system, closed c1966. See map (New window)	IRSE (photo) SNG (photo)
Maidenhead Brick and Tile	Burgess Hill	24" 18"	SF/ SF	IC/ IC	Two separate clay pit lines, rail traffic ceased 1965
Mid Sussex Timber Company	Vert Wood, Laughton, East Hoathly Circa. TQ520140	24"	EF	H,IC(?)	Forestry systems using WWI surplus material
Miller Construction	Warrior Square, Hastings	750mm	SF	IC	Bathing water contract, underground tunnels c1990	IRS Handbook 12EL
Mount Caburn Chalk Pits (may not be correct title)	Mount Caburn, Lewes TQ447088 TQ457087	Probably standard, consider deletion	EF	H	Chalk pit system descending by rope incline, crossing river and terminating at lime kilns at Glynde LBSCR station western end. Closed 1927 See map: top left (New window)	Railway World 10/1977.
Navy	South Heighton (Newhaven)	24"	SF	H	Construction of H.M.S. Forward 1941 Underground command centre. See map(New window	"Barrack to Bunkers" Peter Longstaff-Tyrrell Sutton Publishing 2002.)
Newington & Company	Glynde Station	24"	SF	IC	Lime works system closed c1960, probably preceded by hand / horse worked system, possibly of different gauge. See map: bottom right (New window)
Offham Chalk Pit	Offham, nr. Lewes TQ401115	44"?	SF	H	Incline to river from chalk pit. Bridge under A275 still extant. Possibly the oldest railway in Sussex. (Opened March 1809) See map (New window)	SRM (photo) **
Peacehaven Eatate Co.	Peacehaven	24"	SF	H	Temporary line used during construction of Peacehaven Hotel 1922	more…
Redland Bricks Ltd	Jarvis Brook, Crowborough	24"	SF	IC, B	Kiln supply system closed c4/1980. Earlier clay pit line of unknown gauge. See map (New window)	IRSE (photo) SNG (map/photo)
Redland Bricks Ltd	Baxter's, Bexhill	24"	SF	IC	Clay pit line, closed c1969. See map (New window)	IRSE (photo) SNG (photo)
Robertsbridge Sawmill (probably not correct title)	Robertsbridge Station TQ734234	24" (?)	SF	H	System derelict in 1984
Ross (?) Limeworks London Road	Newtimber, Hassocks	24"	SF	IC	Rail traffic ceased before 1978
Rother Iron Works	Rye	3'?	SF	?	Works which supplied stock for the Rye & Camber Tramway, also advertised to hire locomotive. Short line to jetty (not NG)	Machinery Market 01/04/1885
Rother and Jury's Gut Catchment Board	Various sites on east and west of the Rother estuary	24"	EF	IC	River and coastal defence works	TNG120 TNG124 TNG130 SNG (map/photo)
Rugby Portland Cement Manufacturers	Lewes Quarry	18" (SG only?)	SF	IC(?)	Chalk pit, short narrow gauge system out of use post WWII. Main system SG	IRSE (photo - SG loco)
Rugby Portland Cement Manufacturers	Piddinghoe Quarry	24"	SF	IC	Clay pit system, out of use post 1939. Jubilee turnout found on site 1967, did line work later than assumed?
Rye Town (location owners not known)	On the southern side of Rye town on the banks of the River Brede, which flows into the Rother near the fish quay TR209199 ?		SF	H	All associated with shipyards/ timber importers. Rails were still present in 2005 at Sea Cruisers' Chandlers (near the Rye Harbour turning off the A259)	more…
Rye Harbour (location owners not known)	Line running along the "south" side of Rye Harbour houses.	24"	F	IC	On the opposite side from the "William the Conqueror" PH. several flat wagons & Simplex loco. Small engine shed.	Aerial photo… (new window) You need to register (free) to enlarge images.
Rye & Camber Tramway	Rye to Camber Sands (nearly!)	36"	EF	S, IC	Passenger and freight carrying railway. Some track in situ at Rye Harbour (east side)	The Rye and Camber Tramway, L A Cooksey (photos) SNG (map/photo)
Scrap Dealer (South Wales)	Birling Gap	24"(?)	SF	H	Temporary track laid on beach in 1928 to remove remains of S.S. Ushla - ran aground Nov. 1916 under Bailey's Brow west of Birling Gap	"Barrack to Bunkers" Peter Longstaff-Tyrrell Sutton Publishing 2002
Sheffield Park Sawmills (wrong title)	Sheffield Park Station TQ403236	24"	SF	H	See map (New window)	TNG
Sussex Brick & Tile	Crowhurst 539500/147500	24"	F	H	Probably hand worked, photo 1931	BGS P205284
Sussex River Authority	Plant depot at Coast Road, Pevensey.	24"	SF	IC	Portable system used on river defence works, certainly at Hamsey Weir, Lewes c1958
Sussex Tileries	Horam TQ590159	24'?	SF	IC	Brickworks line. Loco at now at Tinkers' Park	SNG
Taylor Woodrow	Brighton sea front	900mm	SF	IC, B(?)	Sewer and storm drain construction contract	NGN209
S M Tidy	Brighton	24"	SF	IC	Locomotives offered for sale, possibly associated with East Sussex County or Brighton Borough Council	The Contract Journal 15/05/1946
Timber Supply Department	West Dean (Friston Forest)	24" or 36" ?	SF	?	Timber extraction lines in place during 1920, possibly locomotive worked, but wording of source ambiguous	The Kerry Tramway & Other Timber Light Railways, Cox & Krupa
Benjamin Ware Sussex Pottery	Ridgewood, Uckfield	20"	SF	IC	Clay pit line, locomotive worked 1945 to closure in 1967, probably horse hauled before that. See map (New window)
Unknown, public authority d.l.o.	Brighton	24"	SF	IC	Sea defence contract	The Surveyor 18/08/1977
Volks Electric Railway	Brighton seafront cTQ326035	Initial section 24", then 825mm	EP	E	Passenger carrying seafront railway	Volk's Railways Brighton, Alan A Jackson. SNG (map/photo)
George Wimpey & Company	Newhaven	24"	SF	S	Sea defence contract 1924-25 - east of R. Ouse ***	***
Woodgate Dairy	Sheffield Park Station TQ403236	24"	SF	H	See map (New window)	TNG
George Young	Seaford	3'6"	SF	S	Contract at Seaford c1897-99

Notes:

(1)
S = a short line confined within relatively small site, track length a less than about 1/4 mile
E = an extensive line, typically linking more than one site with track length greater than 1/4 mile
P = passenger carrying railway
F = freight carrying only
(2)
H = hand, horse or cable
S = steam locomotive/s
IC = internal combustion locomotive/s
E = electric traction, current collection
B = electric traction, batteries

TNG = The Narrow Gauge
NGN = Narrow Gauge News
BGS = British Geological Survey: Geoscenic Photos
IRR = Industrial railway record
IRSE = Industrial Railways of the South East, (Chalk Pits Museum)
INGRB = Industrial Narrow Gauge Railways in Britain, Peter Nicholson
SNG = Sussex Narrow Gauge, Mitchell & Smith (Middleton)
SRM = Sussex Railways Remembered, L. Oppitz (Countryside Press)

* N.B. the map in the book shows an older system. Photo shows the line NW of B2109/A26 which survived until closure. The "See map" link shows the line pictured in the book.
** shown on 1878ish OS map; also maps in "Kent & East Sussex Waterways", P. Vine (Middleton) - also has maps & photos of Brede Tramway
*** A photo appears to show skips with a ramp to tip into standard gauge wagons. 2' gauge skips were present in 1937. "Sand" was transported by rail to South Heighton Cement Works from this area — but this works had closed in 1914, and was used for ammunition storage during WWI
There was also a line on the west side of the river Ouse — possibly short-lived — in connection with the extension of Newhaven Fort in WWII - the line was used to carry shingle to the foot of a hoist to the cliff top not far from the start of the breakwater. There was an earlier line in the 1860s, probably NG, to another hoist below the eastern end of the fort during a previous reconstruction.

BROCKHOUSE "ROAD TRAIN" —

This was an "0" gauge guided "road train" demonstration line at/near Mayfield (1950s) more...
This seems to have been located on land to the west of Mayfield bypass – NW of the roundabout where the A267 leaves the route of the closed "Cuckoo Line" railway, and turns to the southwest.
There's a short film of the "train" running in 1951 here

There were also brickworks' lines at Aldrington TQ274053; Hailsham - nr. station TQ589091; and Ringmer TQ476141.
(from "Brickworks in Sussex" (Middleton)

Plashett Wood near Isfield was worked by German POWs in WWI — did this have a railway?

Emailif you have any further details of any of the above or unlisted lines

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