Uckfield in the mid-1980s

At this time the rails still ran half a mile beyond the level crossing and past the shunting box, beckoning enticingly towards Lewes.

Until the route was singled, the crossover here was often used by trains to switch from the down line (towards Brighton) to the up line for the return journey to London, the box being manned as necessary.

Even though the route was in serious decline during the 1980s, the state of affairs shown here, with double track and shunting facilities still in use, would constitute a marked improvement on the facilities available today.