29th April 2023

Branch Line Society / Southern
PEP's on Tour: Sussex Rambler

Route :
1Z31 : Brighton to Portsmouth Harbour
1Z32 : Portsmouth Harbour to Littlehampton
1Z33 : Littlehampton to Three Bridges
1Z34 : Three Bridges to Hastings
1Z35 : Hastings to Newhaven Marine
1Z36 : Newhaven Marine to Brighton

Notes: 
(1) This was a charity railtour marking the withdrawal of Class 313s raising funds for Railway Children and Chestnut Tree House Children’s Hospice.
(2) John Clifford's comments: We set off from Brighton slightly late, making for Portsmouth Harbour via Preston Park. We were booked to get to Preston Park via the Carriage Road, but were routed via the Up Main Line. Having got to Hove we were behind the 09.04 Brighton - Portsmouth Harbour semi-fast, so there was some slow running in parts. On leaving Portsmouth Harbour it was a case of following the 10.29 Portsmouth Harbour - Brighton. At Farlington Jn we should have followed the 10.13 Southampton Central - London Victoria. However , it was running 5 minutes late, so we went first and got to Chichester early. There we were told that we would leave early so as not to delay the Southampton train further. This we duly did. There had been an announcement that anyone missing the tour could go to Barnham and get back on board there. The tour continued to Barnham, reversed and went Bognor Middle Road, then back to Barnham, but didn't stop there! The tour continued to Littlehampton for a break. We left Littlehampton slightly late and eventually caught up the 12.43 Littlehampton - London Victoria, which stopped at most stations up to Haywards Heath. We went onwards to Three Bridges, reversed there and made for Ore, but did get stopped at Haywards Heath as we had caught up the 12.18 Bedford - Brighton. The stop at Willingdon Jn allowed the 14.35 Ore - Brighton to pass. There were no further problems and we duly covered the Up Siding at Ore, then back to Hastings, platform 1. Here there was a short break. It was hoped that we would be able to travel on the shunt to platform 2, but this was an E.C.S. working. We set off with a stop at Bexhill so that we did not catch up the 15.25 Ashford International - Eastbourne. After reversing at Eastbourne we set off for Lewes. A reversal there was made in platform 2, since we had been refused the use of the Up Siding. The next bit of rare track was at Newhaven Marine which was duly covered. Before we could leave Newhaven Marine we had to wait for the 17.25 Seaford - Brighton to appear, which it did, 5 minutes late. Some time was lost following it as far as Lewes. The next bit of rare track was Haywards Heath Down Siding North. This covered, we left Haywards Heath on time, but then stopped at Preston Park to allow the 18.24 Brighton - Bedford to pass. The tour was then routed via the Carriage Road to make up for it not being done in the morning. Arrival at Brighton was 7 minutes late.

Source : Alan Sheppard & John Clifford (both on the tour throughout)

Photo Review

313213 leading, passing Southease (photo: Simon Jeffs)

313201 passing Southease (photo: Simon Jeffs)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Alan Sheppard & John Clifford)

Mileages taken from Tour Brochure.

Associated E.C.S. Workings

5Z31 : (313213 + 313201) : Lovers Walk T&R.S.M.D to Brighton

5Z35 : (313213 + 313201) : Hastings to Hastings Sig EDL70
5Z35 : (313201 + 313213) : Hastings Sig EDL70 to Hastings

5Z36 : (313213 + 313201) : Brighton to Lovers Walk T&R.S.M.D