Great Bush Railway


The Great Bush Railway is a private, narrow gauge running round the edge of Tinkers Park, Hadlow Down, Sussex. The railway is operated by the Claude Jessett Trust Company.
The line is 500 meters long and has three stations, Hadlow Down, Bracherlands Junction and Tinkers Lane.
The railway only runs on Tinkers Park events.

History

The line was laid down by Claude Jessett as an attraction to accompany the yearly steam rallies and as a replacement for an earlier miniature railway that existed around his garden. A heavily converted Motor Rail was acquired from a nearby brickworks. This, alongside coaches built from brick trolleys, ran for a couple of years.
A volunteer group established themselves on the site and ran the line. More locomotives were acquired, putting the very worn Aminal out of use. Later the coaches were retired and a bogie coach built to take their place. Over time the FIDO group left for pastures new and the line has since been run by the Claude Jessett Trust as part of the Tinkers Park site.
The Line was extended gradually, with a cutting dug by hand, to allow the line to run along the edge of an adjoining field.

The line today

The line runs in a U shape around the edge of a field. From Hadlow Down station, there is a straight run alongside the "Great Bush" which gives the railway its name, before reaching the locomotive shed, workshop and various sidings. After passing alongside, the line then reaches Bracherlands junction passing loop. The line then drops into a 1in25 curve situated in a cutting. The cutting being the largest feature on the line, having been dug gradually while the old organ museum halt being the end of the line
After the cutting the line has taken a 180 degree turn running alongside another hedge before crossing over an access road between event fields and ending at Tinkers Lane station.

Current Locomotives

NumberNameBuilderTypeDateWorks
number		NotesImage
1AminalMotor Rail 19335361Purchased from the Ludlay Brick and Tile Company. Heavily modified using parts from a Trojan Van
4MildMotor Rail19418687Purchased from the Crowborough Brickworks
5AlphaRuston & Hornsby1937183744Purchased from the APCM Rodmell Works
10CapeOrenstein & Koppel19355926Purchased from Cape Universal Products, 1976. Moved to Amberley Museum. Then to Abbey Light Railway. Returned 2018.
14AlbanyRuston & Hornsby1941213840Purchased from the gauge Royal Arsenal Railway, converted to gauge in 1973
22LamaBEV19535033Purchased from the Crowborough Brickworks
23BEV1972M7534ex Crowborough Brickworks, In unrestored condition
24TitchBEV1972M7535Purchased from the Crowborough Brickworks
25WolfMotor Rail19407469Worked at Ham Marsh Gravel Pits, Faversham
28São DomingosOrenstein & Koppel192811784Worked at the Douro valley coal mines, Portugal.
29RJ BrownRuston & Hornsby1955382820Worked at Penrhyn Quarry Railway
30DrusillaMotor Rail196522236Worked at Drusillas Zoo Park

Former Locomotives

NumberNameBuilderTypeDateWorks
number		Notes
2Sezela No. 2Avonside19151720
3GoatLister19368022Purchased from the Crowborough Brickworks, sold to the Surrey Light Railway, 1977
6Sezela No. 6Avonside19281923
7FidoMotor Rail19315297Purchased from the Surrey Light Railway, 1976; sold to Ian Jolly, 1977, Now at Old Kiln Light Railway
8TuesdayHibberd19412586Purchased from the Surrey Light Railway, 1976; sold to the Leadhills and Wanlockhead Railway, 1988
9SmifsagitHunslet Hudson19443109Purchased from the Surrey Light Railway, 1976; sold to Alan Keef, 1979
11LayerFowler193621294Ex Brockham Museum, later Leeds Industrial Museum at Armley Mills
12Hibberd19382136Ex Horam Brickworks, later to Nick Williams, Reading
13Peter PanKerr Stuart19224265Arrived September 1977, left May 1978
15OldeHudson Hunslet19402176Arrived 1977, left 1979. Now at the Stevington & Turvey Light Railway
17BearRuston & Hornsby1952339209Arrived 1978, left 1979
18OwlRuston & Hornsby1939283513Arrived 1978, left 1979
19Hibberd19432631Arrived 1979, left 1987
20Wingrove & Rogers19514634Arrived 1980 ex Crowborough Brickworks, scrapped 2006
21Wingrove & Rogers19535035Arrived 1980 ex Crowborough Brickworks, Scrapped 2006
26No 4Ruston & Hornsby1936177638Arrived 2000, left 2011
27Number 22Ruston & Hornsby1944226302Arrived 2000, left 2011

Current Rolling Stock

NumberNameBuilderTypeDateNotesImage
105Robert HudsonBogie Coach1981Built in 1981 to replace former 4w coaches built on Crowborough brickworks wagons.
106"Trev"4w CoachBuilt originally for a private line in Newbold Vernon. Was used in the 2017 season as a generator coach.
110Great Bush Railway4w Penrhyn Replica Coach2018Built in 2018 to a Penrhyn Quarry Railway Design.
111A Vaughan WoodworksBogie Coach2019Built in 2019 to a freelance design inspired by Manx Electric Railway trailer cars.
201Du Croo & Brauns4w flatCurrently carrying barrel.
202Robert Hudson4w SkipEx Rodmell Cement Works
203Robert Hudson4w SkipEx Rodmell Cement Works
204Robert Hudson4w SkipEx Rodmell Cement Works
205Robert Hudson4w SkipChassis converted to a planked side wagon.
207Robert Hudson4w skipChassis converted to a flat wagon
208Robert HudsonBogie FlatEx MOD
209Robert HudsonBogie BolstersEx wagon bogies converted to bolster wagon pair.
210Robert HudsonBrick WagonEx Crowborough Brickworks, was used as a coach before rebuilt.
211Robert HudsonBrick WagonEx Crowborough Brickworks, was used as a coach before rebuilt.-
301Great Bush RailwayPump TrolleyOld skip frame converted to a pump trolley.

Former Rolling Stock

NumberNameBuilderTypeDateNotesImage
101Robert Hudson4w Toastrack19694w Coach built on Crowborough Brickworks chassis.
102Robert Hudson4w Toastrack19694w Coach built on Crowborough Brickworks chassis.
103Robert Hudson4w Toastrack19694w Coach built on Crowborough Brickworks chassis.
1044w Toastrack with roof19694w Coach built on Ludlay Brickworks chassis. Body later used on old 206 bolster wagon as a temporary passenger coach.
107East Hayling Light Railway4-wheel thirdSold to the Old Kiln Light Railway. Awaiting overhaul and conversion into a coach for disabled persons.
108East Hayling Light Railway4-wheel third1996Sold to the Old Kiln Light Railway. Awaiting overhaul.
109East Hayling Light Railway4-wheel third1992Sold to the Old Kiln Light Railway. Now under overhaul.
206Great Bush RailwayBogie BolstersReplaced by current 209, bolsters built from Crowborough Brickworks wagons
207Great Bush RailwayTool VanTool van built on ex Lydd Ranges chassis.