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The Prototype - Page Two
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Not much exists of the line now unfortunately. However there are a couple of the poles supporting the overhead wire. These were unusual in that they were made up of castings and the horizontal pole did not pass the the vertical like traditional tramway designs Update (4/9/03) - both poles have now disapeared. Apparently stolen. Photo by Barrie Collins Update (26/3/06) - the poles are still there !
Thanks to Robert Philpot for the photo.
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| Inside the shed
there is still some wire for the overhead lines. This photo shows it anchored
to the end wall. Strange to think this is around 100 years old. Photo by Barrie Collins |
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The hospital authorities obviously thought that the coal merchants would try and sell them short as they had a weighbridge installed. The lines show the position of the rails. The cast iron platform now sits in the car park. Unfortunately I have been unable to find any picture or descriptions of the hut that would have gone with this and since it is in the middle of the model this is a nuisance ! |
| In February 2002, the layout attended Brighton Modelworld exhibition, Since this is only 20 miles from Hellingly, lots of people who knew the line saw the model and we able to offer bits of information. S.Oglive kindly lent me the book "Around Hailsham in old photographs" which devotes a whole chapter just to the hospital, which, while it has no new (to me) railway pictures, does give a a lot of background detail to the area. A fascinating read - if you want a copy, just click on the title or picture to visit Amazon.co.uk and order. |
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Other useful links showing the hospital as it decays: Abandoned Britain - Hellingly Hospital Abandoned past - Hellingly Hospital Urban Exploration - Hellingly Hospital (East Sussex Mental Asylum) Derelicte - Hellingly Hospital The Richard Vobes Radio Show - Hellingly Hospital Video Other links: Disused stations - Hospital track bed Some nice photos and details of Hellingly Station
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As I mentioned on the first, the research of this fascinating railway "by-water" is still progressing. If you know anything of the line, or are just interested, please get in touch. There is much I don't know and many fascinating stories to be told, such as:
There were either one or three stories of the hospital buildings underground - I'm not sure exactly as people I have talked to disagree.
During the war, there were night time trains that conveyed mysterious persons, rumored to be famous faces.
To return to PAGE One of this history, click here.
What am I building now ?
- Check Phil's Workbench
