Hellingly railway station

Hellingly was a railway station on the now closed Polegate to Eridge line in East Sussex. It served the village of Hellingly.

History

The station was opened by the London, Brighton and [South Coast Railway] on 5 April 1880 It was on the line extension from Hailsham to Eridge.
The station closed to passenger traffic on 14 June 1965 but freight trains continued to pass through until 1968 when the line was closed completely.

Hellingly Hospital Railway

There was also a separate platform for passengers visiting Hellingly Hospital by tram, until 1933, the passenger service via Tramcar being discontinued from 1931. The line, known as the Hellingly Hospital Railway continued in use for transporting coal wagons from Hellingly Station for use at the Hospital until 1959.

Film

The station featured in the 1964 film Smokescreen. The two investigators visited the station and met the station master, who said that the whole line would be closed the following year. There are some excellent shots along the platform towards the road bridge. Also clearly visible is one of the 3-car stop marks put in on this line for the British [Rail Class 207|Class 207] 'Oxted' diesel units.

Present day

The station building survives today as a private residence, complete with canopy. The "Cuckoo Trail" public footpath and cycleway now runs along the trackbed.