Hastings Line 175th Anniversary

[Rail_Sussex]

Hi All,
I couldn’t see anything else talking about this. I wanted to start a thread on the Hastings to Tonbridge Rail Lines 175th anniversary.
Hopefully we all get to see some celebrations for the line.

 

[Gloster]

Well, you have over a year to go. Opening throughout only took place on 1 February 1852, Battle-Bopeep Junction being the last section. The line from Ashford through Hastings to the old St Leonards West Marina did open on 13 February 1851.

 

[brad465]

A 'celebration' of why taking shortcuts in construction is a recipe for trouble.

 

[williamn]

I still remember the electrification celebrations - so successful that trains were full and standing and extra stock had to be drafted in.

 

[Rail_Sussex]

I’d also like to add the 40th anniversary of electrification to the thread

 

[williamn]

I’d also like to add the 40th anniversary of electrification to the thread

I’d rather you didn’t, that makes me feel really old…

 

[trentside]

Hi All,
I couldn’t see anything else talking about this. I wanted to start a thread on the Hastings to Tonbridge Rail Lines 175th anniversary.
Hopefully we all get to see some celebrations for the line.

Are there any community rail groups that cover the line? They’re usually really good at commemorating the anniversaries!

 

[Rail_Sussex]

Are there any community rail groups that cover the line? They’re usually really good at commemorating the anniversaries!

Yes I believe there’s one along that line, part of the Sussex community rail partnerships.

 

[Trainlog]

It depends on the scope of potential celebrations that could be planned for this event.

On a small scale its likely to be a cake and a blog post/local or Railadvent article at one of the stations along the line.

On a larger scale, perhaps something decent could be made of it, maybe repainting Robertsbridge National Rail Station in BR Southern Region Green? Perhaps the Rother Valley Railway could have a shuttle train with an SR V class locomotive, as they did for the KESR's 50th anniversary with Britannia. If so, it would be a nice last outing for Repton, provided such an anniversary isn't after its boiler ticket expires, which is also happening in 2027.

Hopefully, some railtours could come of it? It would be nice to see Tangmere come back down South for a railtour, especially for the Hastings line. If it were running back on the mainline by next year, I would like to see N15 'Sir Lamiel' run the Hastings line on a railtour.

 

[strimmer]

I still remember the electrification celebrations - so successful that trains were full and standing and extra stock had to be drafted in.

They used to refer to that as the "Sparks Effect".

 

[williamn]

Yes I believe there’s one along that line, part of the Sussex community rail partnerships.

I could be wrong but as a regular user of the line I’ve never seen anything about one.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 14 Jan 2026 ==

They used to refer to that as the "Sparks Effect".

Ha ha!

 

[Grecian 1998]

Given it's the Hastings line, perhaps set up a model railway with a tunnel that isn't quite wide enough as a tribute.

I have a Video 125 DEV of the line which mentioned that after the line was electrified, there was a problem with electrocuted badgers on the line for a while - the badgers had got used to crossing at certain places prior to electrification. They solved the problem by creating narrow underbridges at known crossing points.

 

[frankmoh]

I think a visit from a Hastings Diesel would be nice.

 

[Railwaysceptic]

I think a visit from a Hastings Diesel would be nice.

That would be very appropriate.