Malling - February 1969Malling - February 1969Though the line had originally been scheduled for closure on 6 January, delays over the licensing of replacement buses left it to hang on until official closure came on 4 May.
In the meantime a weak structure -- the section of viaduct over the Lewes avoiding line -- necessitated first single line working to Barcombe and then complete closure of this section, with an 'emergency' railway bus service replacing the trains .
During the brief period of single line working on 22 February 1969, a Hampshire DEMU heads north towards Barcombe Mills on the 2.46 shuttle service. This is the only part of the route near Lewes to survive comparatively intact.