Wild Swan Books
Uckfield's Railway
Triump and Tragedy
Brian Hart
Hardback - 288 pages - £39.95
Contents- A Marvel of its Age
- The Ouse Valley Railway
- Railway Triumph
- A Time There Was
- The Sunshine Line
- Such Auspicious Prospects
- Railway Tragedy
- An Injudicious Reckoning
- Annihilation or Expansion?
- Railway Renaissance
The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Company constructed, owned and operated a truly formidable enterprise throughout the Victorian age which lasted until 1923 when it became part of the Southern Railway. The LB&SCR, or the 'Brighton' as it was so often more fondly known, engendered a particularly devoted following among railway enthusiasts which continues to this day. Indeed, Sussex's 'Bluebell Railway' supremely offers the opportunity to experience so much of this era with its beautifully-restored stations, steam locomotives and rolling stock.
Many of the LB&SCR's lines have been the subject of illustrated books as well as serious histories. The appetite to learn more about the company's numerous railways, why they were built and what happened in the ensuing years, shows no sign of waning. However, until now, there has never been one devoted entirely to the Uckfield line and providing the reader with a descriptive explanation of how and why it all came into existence.
Although the author is already well-known for his historical accounts of Kentish lines, at the back of his mind has always been the yearning to fully discover the whole story of Uckfield's railway. Within this book is an entire chapter devoted to the uncompleted Ouse Valley Railway which, because it has always so intrigued him, warranted what is the most comprehensive history to date.
Chronicling as much as possible the stupendous effort which went into creating the Uckfield line as an integral part of the LB&SCR's wonderful system chiefly throughout Sussex, has been of prime importance. Equally, there is a rich mixture of the everyday occurrences which help bring this whole narrative to life, showing how this railway brought abundant prosperity and such great advancement to a beautiful and dearly-loved part of England.
As the book's title suggests, this is a story of triumph - one of sheer hard work and determination to improve everyone's lives and opportunities throughout its first century of operation. It is appropriately juxtaposed with an account of unbelievable tragedy when the bright future it was destined to have was so wickedly and deliberately denied at the dawn of the 1960s. As revealed for the very first time, the infamous Dr Richard Beeching was not the principal perpetrator, in spite of this enduring popular misconception. Instead, he was a most convenient instrument used to help conceal those real villains of the piece who perfectly intentionally and shamelessly connived and conspired to achieve their aims in destroying the great asset bestowed upon the County of Sussex by the truly magnificent LB&SCR. The inextinguishable flame of hope and determination in righting the terrible wrong still burns; described in this book's final chapters. Consequently, one day this story will then come to be Uckfield's Railway Tragedy and Triumph.
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