Selsfield Common Halt
00, Southern Railway/Southern Region, 8 foot by 4 foot
History
Electric Multiple Unit
Halt
Panoramas
In 1864 the London, Chatham and Dover Railway {LCDR}
deposited a bill for a Beckenham and Brighton Railway {B&BR} and in 1866
re-proposing the B&BR in conjunction with the South Eastern Railway {SER}. In
1876 a similar scheme, ostensibly independent of both railway railways, was
proposed. Finally in 1883 W. J. Vennel re-proposed the B&BR with the support of
Brighton Council who felt the London, Brighton, and South Coast Railway {LB&SCR}
wasn't giving the town the services it deserved. The challenges of a railway
from London to Brighton are climbing over the North Downs, High Weald, and South
Downs. Steam loco development 1864-83 had made them much better at hill climbers
making Vennel's proposed line much cheaper than earlier proposals. I've
twisted history with the LCDR and
SER, soon to merge into the South Eastern and Chatham Railway {SE&CR} stumping up
for the B&BR. However cheap construction meant it was expensive to operate with
heavy trains running over steep grades and unattractive to passengers due to
slow timings. It remained secondary to the Brighton Mainline and was never a
money spinner. In 1923 the LB&SCR, SE&CR, and others merged to form the Southern
Railway. The new management saw the B&BR in a very different light as a route
that could be used when the Brighton Mainline was over burdened or in trouble so
it was electrified in 1935.
Electric Unit
Halt
The Halt is staffed by a porter-signalman who operated the crossing box, sells
tickets, handles parcels. and supervises the siding.
The siding is a mileage/public delivery siding where customers rather than
railway staff load, unload, sheet wagons etc.
Panoramas