Clearance work commences at the Bluebell's Imberhorne Tip

Thats because the powers that be are afraid to ask people such as yourself Gordon who know that they are doing.

We all make mistakes and have the odd barney or two, thats life and nearly all of us move on and never bear a grudge because we realise only too well that we are human.

Sorry to say though that Bernard and some of the present Directors cannot get their heads around this one and never will. Perhaps they have too much to hide?

Regards
Chris

 

............... says the person who is no longer at the Bluebell but can't resist having a pop at "the management" there at every opportunity! Move on and ever bear a grudge? I think not!

 

Do wish you (edited) would shut up!

 

I doubt it. There is still a lot of inert spoil covering the Imberhorne Waste Tip that will eventually need to removed to Horsted Keynes.

There is no 'gap' to fill on the other side of Station Approach Road - the embankment comes right up to the road.

See: http://gallery74781.fotopic.net/p21716065.html

Chris

 

The language I used was extremely mild, beginning with a 'b' ending with a 'r' and including two succesive instances of a 'g'. If such a post is going to be interfered with by the old women who moderate this forum while letting through the really incendiary stuff that is posted, particulary about the Bluebell and Mid-Hants, then I can't see any more reason for posting on matters of the day.

 

I was merely replying to a comment made by someone else.

Please do not be so sensitive.

Regards
Chris

 

I dont know about other members, but when ever i see an update on this subject, i expect that its about track reaching the tip and that the first rubbish train has been carried out, What i dont expect to see is more posts about personal insults etc, can someone please edit this whole subject and request the parties involved settle their differences by PM or in a boxing ring , anywhere except out for all to read

 

Martin, I totally agree,I was expecting to hear an update when I saw this thread and was disappointed when it was just about raking up old differences. I look forward to hearing positive news shortly.regards,Tim(A)

 

My apologies Chris, I evidently don't know enough about that area as I should!

Regards,

Dan

 

Anybody like to edit their own posts before the mod team remove a lump of the thread?

Thanks, Neil.

 

Perhaps it would be better to start at the beginning ie. when the Sheriff Mill Viaduct was still there. When BR decided to stop running (electric) trains to HK. the powers that be decided that the viaduct was unsafe and must be removed on safety grounds. It was deemed advantageous to demolish it with explosives and so being the occupier of the nearest house I along with the family and neighbours etc were issued with 'cotton wool' to put in our ears for protection.

Came the moment.............

'Phut'

Oh dear. Cloud of dust which on clearing reveals....

One standing viaduct.

Two more attemps at a later time and down came this 'unsafe' structure, and thus the Bluebell was severed from Haywards Heath.

The track bed was sold back to the Borde Hill Estate as was required in the terms of original sale to the building railway but a few years ago it came up for sale and was bought for the Bluebell by a private individual.

As I understand it, the long term 'plan' is to straighten the road and build a simpler bridge across the gap utiliseing longer embankments.

There is as stated a great deal more inert spoil at Imberhorne that could be used for infill of embankments but a small portion of the 'triangle' between HK to SP and HK to HH is NOT owned by the Bluebell. Sadly it is most unlikely that 73136 PERSEVERANCE will be available for this work, but you never can tell.

Hope the above helps.

Edit. It may come as a surprise to learn that HK station and environs are built on 'made up ground'.

 

'2+2=5' post is most interesting, but it doesn't necessarily follow the thread! Wandering around the roads and landscape of the Bluebell, as I have for a number of years now, it has become very clear to me that the present surface of the land at HK is by no means the original surface but it has proved to be impossible for me to work out just where that original surface was. Perhaps the original plans and sections at the local record office (Lewes?) would be helpful but I've never had the time to go.

The original landscape that the railway was cut through is really quite broken and Joseph Firbank must have had his work cut out transporting earth from one part of the line to another. The HK station and yard site must have consumed a lot of spoil from the cutting which Three Arch Bridge spans.

Next to Three Arch Bridge, on the western side of the line, is a wood. In that wood there is a pond which has a number of pieces of lime and signs of the making of limestone mortar. It must have been quite a hive of industry when the line was being constructed.

Regards

 

Thanks guys - much appreciated

Regards,

Dan

 

I can't remember the details but the house deeds contain a copy of the original plan of the land prior to the railway being built. I assume a copy will also be available at SP.

Worth a try.

 

Very interesting. What is the height of the trackbed above Station Approach where the viaduct used to be? It looks to be way above a normal bridge height so any embankment made up from earth will need a 1:1 minimum slope menaing that the spoil required and the width at the base will be considerable. Is there enough land owned by the railway to do this?