The Seaford Branch - Lewes to Seaford

This line was used mainly to transport shingle from the beach for building works around the port. There is one photo of a rail-mounted long-range gun being tested on it, back in the 1880s, I think.

The Harbour station no longer serves the ferry port and Marine is effectively mothballed, although I believe it has not officially been closed. The pale blue ferry loading ramp can be seen behind the signal box. Foot passengers have to trek round from Newhaven Town station - thank goodness for wheeled suitcases!

This box is still functioning as a level crossing control. Most of the trains on the Seaford to Lewes branch are these 3-coach 313s, that we got when they were made redundant in London, by the introduction of London Overground's new stock. On Brighton & Hove Albion FC's home match days they use 377 eight-coach trains, to serve the Amex Stadium at Falmer. On down trips the 377s park their rear 4 coaches across this crossing, while the front 4 unload at Newhaven Town Station.

Newhaven Marine Station is effectively closed, although not legally so! It is occasionally used for parking trains terminating at Newhaven Town.

I debated whether to clone-out the supporting wire cable, that runs across 90% of the picture's width, but thought that it was an integral part of a functional urban transport intersection. Now didn't that sound pompous. By the way, the station is to the right and the train is heading left, to Southease, Lewes & stations to Brighton.

This looks like an extra service. The passengers that got off wouldn't have justified an 8-coach special on their own. They went across the road and packed out an east-bound Brighton & Hove 12 bus. Brighton & Hove Albion FC weren't playing today, so it doesn't seem like a football special. I expect someone will be able to enlighten me - one of my friends accesses working timetables so he may solve the mystery. 22/9/2013 There was a fatality at Polegate yesterday, so this could have been an Eastbourne-bound train depositing passengers at the nearest point to a bus route to Eastbourne, having been diverted at Lewes. For those unfamiliar with Newhaven's three stations - Town is on the main road, A259, and is in fact the station for the current ferry service to Dieppe. Harbour is a little used station serving relatively few houses and some businesses in a much diminished industrial area. Marine is the former ferry terminal on its own branch off the Seaford line. It hasn't formally been closed and there is theoretically a service, provided by taxis. The station is unsafe for public use, but the tracks remain and as in this case can be used as a headshunt or storage for services terminating at Newhaven Town or Harbour.

I wanted to catch the action, not the train or the individuals. So posterizing the shot anonymized the people and reduced the train's details.