The double tracked cross country line from Horsham to Brighton might still be with us today had plans to electrify the route in 1946 not been abandoned. Closed in 1966, against a background of much local opposition and dubious BR financial figures, the line is still fondly remembered nearly 60 years later. In From the Adur to the Wey Volume 1: Brighton-Shoreham-Steyning-Horsham the line is recalled using images selected from the Transport Treasury’s extensive archive, featuring an assortment of motive power predominantly taken during the 1950s and 1960s. Also included are black & white images of tickets, an OS map from 1912 showing the LB&SCR Horsham & Shoreham line, and the Brighton to Shoreham timetable for September 1963 to June 1964.
This is the first volume in a duology, the second of which will cover the branch from Horsham to Guildford. It was originally planned that the two lines would form a through route from the Midlands to the South Coast. To this end a south facing spur was constructed at Stammerham Junction, but with the through traffic never materialising the line failed to develop into the important link originally envisioned, and both lines remained as two separately operated entities until the withdrawal of services.
Hardback. 93 black & white photographs. 80 pages.