The Surrey and Sussex Junction Railway (SSJR) was an abortive railway scheme to link Croydon to Tunbridge Wells, via Oxted. The company obtained powers to build the line, with the with the intention that it would be worked by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR). The project was abandoned, before completion, in 1867. Part of the trackbed was later used in the construction of the Oxted line.

History

The railway originated as an independent scheme drawn up by several former officers and directors of the LBSCR in 1864 to link Croydon to Tunbridge Wells, via Oxted. The intention was that the line, once built, would be worked by, or else leased to, the LBSCR. An act of Parliament was granted in July 1865.[1][2] It authorised the SSJR to build a railway from Croydon to Groombridge, where there was to be a junction with the East Grinstead to Tunbridge Wells line.[1]

The scheme was controversial as the SSJR was sponsored by the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSCR),[1][3] but ran into parts of Surrey and East Sussex which were considered South Eastern Railway (SER) territory.[1][4] In retaliation, the SER put forward proposals for a new 'London, Lewes and Brighton' railway, together with the London Chatham and Dover Railway.[5]

Between 1866 and 1869, the SSJR built the 2,267 yd long (2.073 km) Oxted Tunnel and two shorter tunnels at Riddlesdown and Limpsfield.[1] However, construction became increasingly difficult as a result of the 1866 financial panic caused by failure of Overend, Gurney and Company and, in 1869, there was a riot at Edenbridge because Belgian navvies were being employed to build the line.[1]

A second act of Parliament was obtained in 1869 to formally transfer line to the LBSCR,[6] who immediately asked for powers to suspend works. The company paid a penalty of £32,250 and construction ceased immediately.[1] Construction of the Ouse Valley Railway, which was to have linked Lindfield, Uckfield, Hailsham and Bexhill-on-Sea, was similarly abandoned by the LBSCR in 1868.[7]

No work took place on the unfinished railway line until 1878, when a third act of Parliament authorised the Croydon, Oxted and East Grinstead railway, which would take over construction and be jointly owned by LBSCR and SER.[7][8] Among the works that were completed by the new company was the iron viaduct between Oxted station and Limpsfield tunnel.[9]

The new line finally opened to passenger traffic on 10 March 1884.[10][11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Gould 2003, pp. 6–7.
  2. ↑ "Closing of Parliament". The Guardian. No. 5893. 7 July 1865. p. 3.
  3. ↑ "London, Brighton and South Coast Railway". The Morning Post. No. 28, 922. 22 August 1866. p. 2.
  4. ↑ "London, Brighton and South Coast". The Standard. No. 12942. 30 January 1866. p. 6.
  5. ↑ Turner 1978, pp. 171–172.
  6. ↑ "The money market". The Guardian. No. 7157. 26 July 1896. p. 2.
  7. 1 2 Gould 2003, pp. 8–9.
  8. ↑ "Imperial parliament". The Standard. No. 16818. 18 June 1878. p. 2.
  9. ↑ Gould 2003, p. 39.
  10. ↑ Gould 2003, p. 11.
  11. ↑ "Opening of the London and Brighton Company's new line to East Grinstead". Daily News. No. 11828. 11 March 1884. p. 7.

Bibliography

  • Gould, David (2003). The Croydon, Oxted & East Grinstead Railway. Usk: Oakwood Press. ISBN 978-0-85-361598-9.
  • Turner, John Howard (1978). The London Brighton and South Coast Railway. Vol. 2: Establishment and Growth. Batsford. ISBN 0-7134-1198-8.
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