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<title>Cuckoo Line</title>
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<span id="openzim-page-title" class="mw-page-title-main"><span class="mw-page-title-main">Cuckoo Line</span></span>
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</style><div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">For the railway line in Germany, see <a href="Cuckoo_Railway" title="Cuckoo Railway">Cuckoo Railway</a>. For the railway line in north-east England, see <a href="Castle_Eden_Railway" title="Castle Eden Railway">Castle Eden Railway</a>.</div>
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</style><span class=" nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="geo:50.831,0.253"><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">50°49′52″N</span> <span class="longitude">0°15′11″E</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">50.831°N 0.253°E</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">50.831; 0.253</span></span></span></a></span></span>
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</style><table class="infobox" style="width:25em;"><tbody><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-above">Cuckoo Line</th></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #efefef;">Overview</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Status</th><td class="infobox-data">Disused</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Owner</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="London_Brighton_and_South_Coast_Railway" class="mw-redirect" title="London Brighton and South Coast Railway">LB&SCR</a>;<br> <a href="Southern_Railway_(Great_Britain)" class="mw-redirect" title="Southern Railway (Great Britain)">Southern Railway</a> <br> <a href="British_Railways" class="mw-redirect" title="British Railways">British Railways</a></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Locale</th><td class="infobox-data"><a href="East_Sussex" title="East Sussex">East Sussex</a> and <a href="Kent" title="Kent">Kent</a>.</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Termini</th><td class="infobox-data"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1126788409">
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</style><div class="plainlist"><ul><li><a href="Polegate" title="Polegate">Polegate</a></li><li><a href="Eridge" class="mw-redirect" title="Eridge">Eridge</a></li></ul></div></td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Stations</th><td class="infobox-data">8</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #efefef;">Service</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Type</th><td class="infobox-data">Branch Line</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">System</th><td class="infobox-data">National Rail Network</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Services</th><td class="infobox-data">Eastbourne to Tonbridge</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Depot(s)</th><td class="infobox-data">Eastbourne Depot;<br> Tunbridge Wells West</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #efefef;">History</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Opened</th><td class="infobox-data">1880</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Closed</th><td class="infobox-data">1965-1968</td></tr><tr><th colspan="2" class="infobox-header" style="background-color: #efefef;">Technical</th></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label">Number of tracks</th><td class="infobox-data">Single</td></tr><tr><th scope="row" class="infobox-label"><a href="Track_gauge" title="Track gauge">Track gauge</a></th><td class="infobox-data"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1154941027">
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</style><span class="nowrap">4 ft <span class="frac">8<span class="sr-only">+</span><span class="num">1</span>⁄<span class="den">2</span></span> in</span> (<span class="nowrap">1,435 mm</span>) <span class="nowrap"><a href="Standard_gauge" class="mw-redirect" title="Standard gauge">standard gauge</a></span></td></tr><tr><td colspan="2" class="infobox-below" style="vertical-align: middle; padding: 0"><table style="border-spacing: 0; width: 100%; min-width: 100%" class="mw-collapsible mw-collapsed autocollapse">
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<td class="RMir"><div class="RM_"></div><div class="RM_"></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="CONTg"></span></span></div>
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<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="RMsplit" style="text-align:inherit;font-style:italic;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:105%"><a href="Hastings_line" title="Hastings line">Hastings line</a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit;font-style:italic">to <a href="Tonbridge_railway_station" title="Tonbridge railway station">Tonbridge</a></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>
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<td class="RMir"><div class="RM_"></div><div class="RM_"></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="TUNNEL1"></span></span></div>
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<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">Wells Tunnel</div>
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<td class="RMir"><div class="RM_"></div><div class="RM_"></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="HST"></span></span></div>
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<td class="RMir"><div class="RM_"></div><div class="RM_"></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="TUNNEL1"></span></span></div>
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<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">Grove Hill Tunnel</div>
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<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Tunbridge_Wells_West_railway_station" title="Tunbridge Wells West railway station">Tunbridge Wells West</a>
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<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">High Rocks <i>(original)</i></div>
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<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="HST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="High_Rocks_railway_station" title="High Rocks railway station">High Rocks</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="eHST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">Groombridge <i>(original)</i></div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="HST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Groombridge_railway_station" title="Groombridge railway station">Groombridge</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="CONTg"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="STR"></span></span></div><div class="RM_"></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="RMsplit" style="text-align:inherit;font-style:italic;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:105%"><a href="Oxted_line" title="Oxted line">Oxted line</a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit;font-style:italic">to <a href="London_Victoria_station" title="London Victoria station">London Victoria</a></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exdCONTgq"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="eABZg+r"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="STR"></span></span></div><div class="RMd"></div><div class="RM_"></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="RMsplit" style="text-align:inherit;font-style:italic;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:105%"><a href="Three_Bridges_to_Tunbridge_Wells_Central_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line">Three Bridges–Tun. W. Central Line</a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit;font-style:italic">to <a href="East_Grinstead_railway_station" title="East Grinstead railway station">East Grinstead</a></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="STRl"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="ABZgxr+r"></span></span></div><div class="RM_"></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">Birchden Junction</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="INT"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Eridge_railway_station" title="Eridge railway station">Eridge</a> <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="National_Rail" title="National Rail"></a></span> | <span typeof="mw:File"><a href="Spa_Valley_Railway" title="Spa Valley Railway"></a></span>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="STRc2"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="xABZg3"></span></span></div><div class="RM_"></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">Redgate Mill Junction</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="CONT1"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="xSTR+c4"></span></span></div><div class="RM_"></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="RMsplit" style="text-align:inherit;font-style:italic;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:105%"><a href="Oxted_line" title="Oxted line">Oxted line</a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit;font-style:italic">to <a href="Uckfield_railway_station" title="Uckfield railway station">Uckfield</a></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exHST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Rotherfield_and_Mark_Cross_railway_station" title="Rotherfield and Mark Cross railway station">Rotherfield and Mark Cross</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exTUNNEL2"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">Argos Hill Tunnel</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exTUNNEL2"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">Mayfield Tunnel</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exHST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Mayfield_railway_station" title="Mayfield railway station">Mayfield</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exTUNNEL1"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi">Heathfield Tunnel ( <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="RMsplit" style="text-align:right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit">265 yd</td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit">242 m</td></tr></tbody></table> )</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exHST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Heathfield_(Sussex)_railway_station" class="mw-redirect" title="Heathfield (Sussex) railway station">Heathfield</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exHST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Horam_railway_station" title="Horam railway station">Horam</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div class="RM_"></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exABZg+l"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exKHSTeq"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi"><i><a href="Hellingly_Hospital_Railway" title="Hellingly Hospital Railway">Hellingly Hospital Railway</a></i></div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exHST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Hellingly_railway_station" title="Hellingly railway station">Hellingly</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div class="RM_"></div><div><div class="RMov"><div class="RMic"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exSTR; exLSTR+l"></span></span></div></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exSTR; exLSTR+l"></span></span></div></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exLCONTfq"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="RMsplit" style="text-align:inherit;font-style:italic;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:105%"><a href="Ouse_Valley_Railway" title="Ouse Valley Railway">Ouse Valley Railway</a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit;font-style:italic">to <a href="Bulverhythe_railway_station" title="Bulverhythe railway station">Bulverhythe</a></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exHST"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Hailsham_railway_station" title="Hailsham railway station">Hailsham</a>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exLCONTgq"></span></span></div><div><div class="RMov"><div class="RMic"><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exSTR; exLSTRr"></span></span></div></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exSTR; exLSTRr"></span></span></div></div><div class="RM_"></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="RMsplit" style="text-align:inherit;font-style:italic;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:105%"><a href="Ouse_Valley_Railway" title="Ouse Valley Railway">Ouse Valley Railway</a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit;font-style:italic">to <a href="Balcombe_railway_station" title="Balcombe railway station">Balcombe</a></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div class="RMd"></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="CONTgq"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="eABZql"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="exdHSTq"></span></span></div><div><span class="mw-default-size" typeof="mw:File"><span title="CONTfq"></span></span></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><a href="Polegate_railway_station" title="Polegate railway station">Polegate</a> <div class="RMsi">(original station)</div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td class="RMl" colspan="2">
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td class="RMir"><div class="RM_"></div>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td class="RMr" colspan="2"><div class="RMsi"> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" class="RMsplit" style="text-align:inherit;font-style:italic;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:105%"><a href="East_Coastway_line" title="East Coastway line">East Coastway line</a></td></tr><tr><td style="text-align:inherit;padding:0;line-height:.9;font-size:inherit;font-style:italic">to <a href="Lewes_railway_station" title="Lewes railway station">Lewes</a> & <a href="Eastbourne_railway_station" title="Eastbourne railway station">Eastbourne</a></td></tr></tbody></table> </div>
</td></tr>
<tr>
<td style="padding:0 3px 0 0;">
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td class="RMl1">
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td class="RMr1">
</td>
<td>
</td>
<td style="padding:0 0 0 3px;">
</td></tr></tbody></table>
</td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr>
</tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>
<p>The <b>Cuckoo Line</b><sup id="cite_ref-RAOB_1-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-RAOB-1"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>1<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup><sup id="cite_ref-BRPGAG_2-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-BRPGAG-2"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>2<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> is an informal name for the now defunct <a href="Railway" class="mw-redirect" title="Railway">railway</a> service which linked <a href="Polegate" title="Polegate">Polegate</a> and <a href="Rotherfield#Eridge" title="Rotherfield">Eridge</a><sup id="cite_ref-3" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-3"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>3<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> in <a href="East_Sussex" title="East Sussex">East Sussex</a>, <a href="England" title="England">England</a>, from 1880 to 1968. It was nicknamed the Cuckoo Line by drivers, from a tradition observed at the annual <a href="Fair" title="Fair">fair</a> at <a href="Heathfield%2C_East_Sussex" title="Heathfield, East Sussex">Heathfield</a>, a station on the route. At the fair, which was held each April, a lady would release a <a href="Cuckoo" title="Cuckoo">cuckoo</a> from a basket, it being supposedly the 'first cuckoo of spring'.<sup id="cite_ref-4" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-4"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>4<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
The railway line served the following Sussex communities: <a href="Polegate" title="Polegate">Polegate</a>, <a href="Hailsham" title="Hailsham">Hailsham</a>, <a href="Hellingly" title="Hellingly">Hellingly</a>, <a href="Horam" title="Horam">Horam</a> for <a href="Waldron%2C_East_Sussex" class="mw-redirect" title="Waldron, East Sussex">Waldron</a>, <a href="Heathfield%2C_East_Sussex" title="Heathfield, East Sussex">Heathfield</a>, <a href="Mayfield%2C_East_Sussex" class="mw-redirect" title="Mayfield, East Sussex">Mayfield</a>, <a href="Rotherfield" title="Rotherfield">Rotherfield</a> and <a href="Eridge" class="mw-redirect" title="Eridge">Eridge</a>. Services continued through Eridge and onward via <a href="Groombridge" title="Groombridge">Groombridge</a> to <a href="Tunbridge_Wells" class="mw-redirect" title="Tunbridge Wells">Tunbridge Wells</a>.
</p><p>The Hailsham-Eridge section closed in 1965, the Polegate-Hailsham branch surviving until 1968. Eridge-Tunbridge Wells closed in 1985, and this line has been resurrected as the <a href="Spa_Valley_Railway" title="Spa Valley Railway">Spa Valley Railway</a>.
</p>
<meta property="mw:PageProp/toc">
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="History">History</h2></div>
<p>The Cuckoo Line was built by the <a href="London_Brighton_and_South_Coast_Railway" class="mw-redirect" title="London Brighton and South Coast Railway">London Brighton and South Coast Railway</a> (LB&SCR) in two sections, starting with the branch from <a href="Polegate_railway_station" title="Polegate railway station">Polegate</a> to <a href="Hailsham_railway_station" title="Hailsham railway station">Hailsham</a> which opened to traffic on 14 May 1849. It diverged from the main <a href="East_Coastway_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="East Coastway Line">Eastbourne to London line</a> at <a href="Polegate" title="Polegate">Polegate</a>, and ran northwards on a single track to the market town of <a href="Hailsham" title="Hailsham">Hailsham</a>, which was the terminus for 31 years until the line through to <a href="Eridge" class="mw-redirect" title="Eridge">Eridge</a> had been completed by <a href="Frederick_Banister" title="Frederick Banister">Frederick Banister</a>; which opened to traffic to Heathfield on 5 April 1880<sup id="cite_ref-5" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-5"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>5<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> and to Eridge in September 1880.<sup id="cite_ref-isbn0-906867-63-0_6-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-isbn0-906867-63-0-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> The station buildings were designed by Banister's son-in-law, <a href="Thomas_Myres" title="Thomas Myres">Thomas Myres</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-7" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-7"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>7<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>The line then passed through the villages of <a href="Hellingly" title="Hellingly">Hellingly</a> (where a link to the <a href="Hellingly_Hospital_Railway" title="Hellingly Hospital Railway">Hellingly Hospital Railway</a> joined the route, worked by overhead electric traction), <a href="Horam" title="Horam">Horam</a>, <a href="Heathfield%2C_East_Sussex" title="Heathfield, East Sussex">Heathfield</a>, <a href="Mayfield%2C_East_Sussex" class="mw-redirect" title="Mayfield, East Sussex">Mayfield</a>, <a href="Rotherfield" title="Rotherfield">Rotherfield & Mark Cross</a>, then via Redgate Mill Junction to join the <a href="Oxted_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="Oxted Line">Oxted Line</a> for Eridge. The route continued north-eastwards, leaving the Oxted Line at Birchden Junction heading for <a href="Groombridge" title="Groombridge">Groombridge</a>, High Rocks Halt and eventually Tunbridge Wells West. Through trains could continue on the single-track connection through Grove Tunnel to join the <a href="Hastings_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="Hastings Line">Hastings Line</a> (heading towards Tunbridge Wells Central) at Grove Junction
</p><p><a href="Horam" title="Horam">Horam</a> station was originally built as <i>Horeham Road</i>. In 1900 it was renamed <i>Waldron & Horeham Road</i>.<sup id="cite_ref-8" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-8"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>8<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> Over the years, <i>Horeham</i> changed to <i>Horam</i> as the hamlet grew around the station, prompted by growth including an <a href="Express_Dairies" title="Express Dairies">Express Dairies</a> depot, and the name changed again in 1935, before becoming simply <i>Horam</i> in September 1953.
</p><p>The line from <a href="Three_Bridges_to_Tunbridge_Wells_Central_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells Central Line">Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells</a> (via <a href="East_Grinstead_railway_station" title="East Grinstead railway station">East Grinstead High Level</a> and <a href="Groombridge_railway_station" title="Groombridge railway station">Groombridge</a>) opened on 1 October 1866, with the connecting line from <a href="Uckfield" title="Uckfield">Uckfield</a> via Eridge opening on 3 August 1868. The connection between the LBSCR station at Tunbridge Wells West and Tunbridge Wells Central opened on 1 February 1876. This single-line section passed through the short Grove Tunnel to Grove Junction, sited a little south of the South Eastern Railway station on its <a href="Hastings_Line" class="mw-redirect" title="Hastings Line">Hastings Line</a>.<sup id="cite_ref-SBTWW_9-0" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SBTWW-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> In 1881 a new track alignment was built between Polegate and Hailsham allowing trains to run into Polegate at the west end of the station and direct to Eastbourne.
</p><p>At the <a href="Railways_Act_1921" title="Railways Act 1921">'Grouping'</a> in 1923, the railway passed into the control of the <a href="Southern_Railway_(UK)" title="Southern Railway (UK)">Southern Railway</a>. When the Southern Railway was nationalised in 1948, the line became part of the Southern Region of <a href="British_Railways" class="mw-redirect" title="British Railways">British Railways</a>.
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Incidents">Incidents</h3></div>
<p>The line had a good safety record: there was only one reported accident on the line. On 1 September 1897 at Tooth's Bank, 2 miles north of <a href="Heathfield%2C_East_Sussex" title="Heathfield, East Sussex">Heathfield</a>, the 08:18am service from Eastbourne was running around 4 minutes late and was trying to pick up time in order to meet a connecting train at Groombridge. As the train entered the curve at around 40 mph it left the tracks. <a href="Railroad_engineer" class="mw-redirect" title="Railroad engineer">Driver</a> James McKinlay was killed and <a href="Fireman_(locomotive)" class="mw-redirect" title="Fireman (locomotive)">Fireman</a> Lewis Minns seriously injured, whilst 30 passengers suffered minor injuries.<sup id="cite_ref-isbn0-906867-63-0_6-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-isbn0-906867-63-0-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> At the subsequent inquiry, <a href="George_William_Addison" title="George William Addison">Lt. Col. G. W. Addison</a> reported that the main cause of the accident was excessive speed as the driver was attempting to make up lost time in order to make a connection at <a href="Groombridge_railway_station" title="Groombridge railway station">Groombridge</a>. The track itself was in poor shape with many rotten sleepers and "curves having irregular elevation" which contributed to the accident. Following the inquiry, much of the track was relaid and the train scheduling was altered.<sup id="cite_ref-10" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-10"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>10<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p><p>In April 1968 a lorry collided with a low road bridge under the line at Horsebridge north of Hailsham damaging the bridge causing immediate closure of the line. As the freight train service between Hailsham and Heathfield was due to be withdrawn the following month it was not considered worthwhile repairing the bridge so the line was prematurely abandoned forthwith. Some wagons isolated at Heathfield goods yard were cut up on site.
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading3"><h3 id="Closure">Closure</h3></div>
<p>Following the <a href="Beeching_Report" class="mw-redirect" title="Beeching Report">Beeching Report</a> in 1963, the line was recommended for closure. The section from Eridge to Hailsham was closed to passenger traffic in 1965 (the section between Heathfield and Hailsham remaining open for freight until 1968), whilst the short branch from Polegate to Hailsham remained open until 8 September 1968. The closure of this section was hotly disputed<sup id="cite_ref-isbn0-906867-63-0_6-2" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-isbn0-906867-63-0-6"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>6<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup> – even British Railways itself agreeing that Hailsham was a growing town and that buses would be unable to cope with the demands of the increasing population.
</p><p>The line between Eridge and Tunbridge Wells West remained open until 1985. Despite having survived 'Beeching', no money was spent on the line and British Rail regarded a track and signalling upgrade to be unviable. Closure was announced in February 1985, and the last passenger trains ran on 6 July 1985. Grove Junction was removed the day after closure, but the depot at Tunbridge Wells West remained in use for another month.<sup id="cite_ref-SBTWW_9-1" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-SBTWW-9"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>9<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="Preservation">Preservation</h2></div>
<div role="note" class="hatnote navigation-not-searchable">See also: <a href="Spa_Valley_Railway" title="Spa Valley Railway">Spa Valley Railway</a></div>
<p>A footpath and cycleway known as The <a href="Cuckoo_Trail" title="Cuckoo Trail">Cuckoo Trail</a> runs uses much of the former railway between Polegate and Heathfield. Polegate retains a railway station, albeit on a different site to that formerly used by Cuckoo Line trains, whilst the site of the station in Hailsham is now occupied by a housing estate and a public car park. Hellingly station (used in the 1964 film <i><a href="Smokescreen_(film)" title="Smokescreen (film)">Smokescreen</a></i>) survives as a private residence. At Horam sections of the platforms are preserved including a nameboard. Heathfield station building is now a cafe but the site of the platforms is now occupied by industrial units. At Mayfield the station building survives as a private residence but the trackbed has now been removed and replaced by the <a href="A267_road" class="mw-redirect" title="A267 road">A267</a> Mayfield bypass. Rotherfield and Mark Cross station is a private residence.
Soon after closure of the Eridge to Tunbridge Wells West section, a preservation society was formed with the intention of reinstating the passenger service on the line. The <i>Tunbridge Wells and Eridge Railway Preservation Society</i> (TWERPS) acquired the line in March 1996 and by December 1996 had started to run a steam-hauled passenger service along part of the route. The line has been marketed as the <a href="Spa_Valley_Railway" title="Spa Valley Railway">Spa Valley Railway</a> and it has gradually extended services with the most recent section to Eridge opening on 25 March 2011.
</p><p>In January 2019, Campaign for Better Transport released a report identifying the line was listed as Priority 2 for reopening. Priority 2 is for those lines which require further development or a change in circumstances (such as housing developments).<sup id="cite_ref-11" class="reference"><a href="#cite_note-11"><span class="cite-bracket">[</span>11<span class="cite-bracket">]</span></a></sup>
</p>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="See_also">See also</h2></div>
<ul><li><a href="List_of_closed_railway_stations_in_Britain" class="mw-redirect" title="List of closed railway stations in Britain">List of closed railway stations in Britain</a></li>
<li><a href="Spa_Valley_Railway" title="Spa Valley Railway">Spa Valley Railway</a></li>
<li><a href="Cuckoo_Trail" title="Cuckoo Trail">Cuckoo Trail</a></li></ul>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="References">References</h2></div>
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<li id="cite_note-RAOB-1"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-RAOB_1-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><style data-mw-deduplicate="TemplateStyles:r1238218222">
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.mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit;word-wrap:break-word}.mw-parser-output .citation q{quotes:"\"""\"""'""'"}.mw-parser-output .citation:target{background-color:rgba(0,127,255,0.133)}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-free.id-lock-free a{background:url("./mw/Lock-green.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited.id-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration.id-lock-registration a{background:url("./mw/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription.id-lock-subscription a{background:url("./mw/Lock-red-alt-2.svg")right 0.1em center/9px no-repeat}.mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background:url("./mw/Wikisource-logo.svg")right 0.1em center/12px no-repeat}body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-free a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-limited a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-registration a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .id-lock-subscription a,body:not(.skin-timeless):not(.skin-minerva) .mw-parser-output .cs1-ws-icon a{background-size:contain;padding:0 1em 0 0}.mw-parser-output .cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:none;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{color:var(--color-error,#d33)}.mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{display:none;color:#085;margin-left:0.3em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right{padding-right:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .citation .mw-selflink{font-weight:inherit}@media screen{.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}html.skin-theme-clientpref-night .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}@media screen and (prefers-color-scheme:dark){html.skin-theme-clientpref-os .mw-parser-output .cs1-maint{color:#18911f}}
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</style><cite id="CITEREFBaker1980" class="citation book cs1">Baker, S.K. (1980). <i>Rail Atlas of Britain</i> (3rd ed.). Oxford Publishing Company. p. 12. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-86093-106-4</bdi>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-BRPGAG-2"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-BRPGAG_2-0">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFConolly1976" class="citation book cs1">Conolly, W. Philip (1976) [1958]. <i>British Railways Pre-Grouping Atlas and Gazetteer</i>. Ian Allan Ltd. p. 5. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-7110-0320-3</bdi>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-3"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-3">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation cs2">"Cuckoo Line", <i>GeoHack</i></cite> <span class="geo-inline"><span class=" nourlexpansion"><a class="external text" href="geo:50.837,0.46"><span class="geo-nondefault"><span class="geo-dms" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location"><span class="latitude">50°50′13″N</span> <span class="longitude">0°27′36″E</span></span></span><span class="geo-multi-punct"> / </span><span class="geo-default"><span class="geo-dec" title="Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location">50.837°N 0.460°E</span><span style="display:none"> / <span class="geo">50.837; 0.460</span></span></span></a></span></span></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-4"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-4">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071023135249/http://www.villagenet.co.uk/history/1880-cuckooline.html">"The Cuckoo Line"</a>. <i>Villagenet</i>. 2000. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.villagenet.co.uk/history/1880-cuckooline.html">the original</a> on 23 October 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">23 June</span> 2007</span>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-5"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-5">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFCatford2017" class="citation web cs1">Catford, Nick (21 May 2017). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.disused-stations.org.uk/h/hellingly/index.shtml">"Hellingly"</a>. <i>Disused Stations</i>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-isbn0-906867-63-0-6"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-isbn0-906867-63-0_6-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-isbn0-906867-63-0_6-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-isbn0-906867-63-0_6-2"><sup><i><b>c</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFElliott1989" class="citation book cs1">Elliott, A.C. (1989). <i>The Cuckoo Line</i>. Wild Swan Publications Ltd. pp. 23, 33, 139. <a href="ISBN_(identifier)" class="mw-redirect" title="ISBN (identifier)">ISBN</a> <bdi>0-906867-63-0</bdi>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-7"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-7">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFGreen2013" class="citation journal cs1">Green, Alan H.J. (July 2013). "The railway buildings of T. H. Myres". <i>Newsletter of the Sussex Industrial Archaeology Society</i> (159): 12.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-8"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-8">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFCatford" class="citation web cs1">Catford, Nick. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/h/horam/index.shtml">"Horam Station"</a>. <i>Disused Stations</i>. Subterranea Britannica<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 June</span> 2007</span>.</cite></span>
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<li id="cite_note-SBTWW-9"><span class="mw-cite-backlink">^ <a href="#cite_ref-SBTWW_9-0"><sup><i><b>a</b></i></sup></a> <a href="#cite_ref-SBTWW_9-1"><sup><i><b>b</b></i></sup></a></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFCatford" class="citation web cs1">Catford, Nick. <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071029091653/http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/t/tunbridge_wells_west/index.shtml">"Tubridge Wells West Station"</a>. Subterranea Britannica. Archived from <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.subbrit.org.uk/sb-sites/stations/t/tunbridge_wells_west/index.shtml">the original</a> on 29 October 2007<span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">5 July</span> 2007</span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-10"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-10">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite class="citation web cs1"><a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://thesussexmotivepowerdepots.yolasite.com/eastbourne.php">"Derailment at Tooth's Bank on 1 September 1897"</a>. <i>The Sussex Motive Power Depots</i><span class="reference-accessdate">. Retrieved <span class="nowrap">24 January</span> 2015</span>.</cite></span>
</li>
<li id="cite_note-11"><span class="mw-cite-backlink"><b><a href="#cite_ref-11">^</a></b></span> <span class="reference-text"><cite id="CITEREFCampaign_for_Better_Transport2019" class="citation web cs1">Campaign for Better Transport (January 2019). <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="https://bettertransport.org.uk/sites/default/files/research-files/case-for-expanding-rail-network.pdf">"The case for expanding the rail network"</a> <span class="cs1-format">(PDF)</span>. p. 42.</cite></span>
</li>
</ol></div></div>
<div class="mw-heading mw-heading2"><h2 id="External_links">External links</h2></div>
<p>The History Files: <a rel="nofollow" class="external text" href="http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/RailwayWalks/Britain/Polegate_Eridge/Polegate_Eridge01.html">Railway Walks - Polegate to Eridge</a>
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