Lavender Line celebrating 50th Anniversary of last train
The Lavender Line at Isfield Station, near Uckfield in East Sussex, is holding a special event on Saturday and Sunday, February 23 and 24.
This is a delightful, volunteer run, standard gauge heritage railway, which operates preserved steam and diesel locomotives/units (subject to availability).
It offers a two mile round trip from the preserved Victorian station at Isfield to Worth Halt, in the parish of Little Horsted, travelling through wonderful Sussex scenery and is perfect for families, enthusiasts or even those just looking for something different to do for a day out within this lovely county.
Last train
The event is rather special for the Lavender Line as it will be remembering the 50th anniversary of the last train to leave Isfield Station when the railway was once part of the main national network, branching off at Lewes to the north east, passing through Barcombe Mills, Isfield and then onto Uckfield, where the national network terminates today.
On Sunday, February 23, 1969, the last British Railways DEMU (Diesel Electric Multiple Unit for non-railway folk) 1316 service train left Isfield Station and the line was subsequently closed, track lifted and trackbed, stations and railway land sold, all in an effort to cut costs and save money.
