Throughout the Victorian age The London, Brighton & South Coast Railway Company constructed, owned and operated a truly formidable enterprise, lasting until 1923 when it became part of the Southern Railway. The LB&SCR, or as it was fondly known, the 'Brighton', produced a devoted following among railway enthusiasts which continues to this day. Many of the LB&SCR's lines have been the subject of both illustrated books and serious histories. However, until now, there has never been one devoted entirely to the Uckfield line, providing the reader with a descriptive explanation of how and why it all came into existence. The author, Brian Hart, is well-known for his historical accounts of Kentish lines, but with Uckfield's Railway: Triumph and Tragedy he has fulfilled a desire to discover the whole story of Uckfield's railway. He has devoted an entire chapter to the uncompleted Ouse Valley Railway, which has always intrigued him and, he felt, warranted what is the most comprehensive history to date.
Chronicling the line from Lewes to Hurst Green and Grove Junction, Tunbridge Wells, the author covers the story of the railway from conception to construction, and then operation, describing how it became an integral part of the LB&SCR's system. 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 the railway’s first century of operation. It is appropriately juxtaposed with an account of tragedy, when the bright future it was expected to have was denied it, at the dawn of the 1960s. It is revealed that Dr Beeching was not the principal perpetrator, in spite of this enduring popular misconception. Instead, he was a convenient instrument used to help conceal the real villains of the piece, who connived and conspired to destroying this great asset. The inextinguishable flame of hope, and determination to right the terrible wrong, still burns as described in this book's final chapters. Consequently, one day the author hopes this story will turn out to be Uckfield's Railway Tragedy and Triumph.
Hardback. 288 pages