Croydon Oxted & East Grinstead Railway

Why should the Oxted line, amongst so many in the southern counties, deserve a history? After all, it is nowadays just another suburban electric railway whose trains look the same as those anywhere else in the south. But it was not always so. Long after all the other lines into London had been electrified steam traction was retained and the line definitely had the status of a secondary main line. Even when diesel trains took over the sense of being 'different' and somewhat special did not entirely disappear. The origins of the line lay in two companies, the Surrey & Sussex Junction and the Croydon, Oxted & East Kgrinstead, both having unusual features: no engine ever turned a wheel for the Surrey & Sussex Junction; and the Croydon, Oxted & East Grinstead was a joint committee of two other railway companies. So here then is the full story of the Oxted line and its fascinating services, from construction to the present day.