The Cranbrook & Paddock Wood Railway (C&PWR) was a branch line, constructed in sections, starting from the main line intersection at Paddock Wood and going through Horsmonden, Goudhurst and Cranbrook. An additional section was then later added to a southern terminus at Hawkhurst.
A further proposed extension on to Rye was never built.
It was locally known as the ‘Primrose Line’ as the speed on the uphill stretch between Cranbrook & Goudhurst was such, that you could hop off the front coach, pop into the woods to pick a bunch of primroses and still catch the second coach!
Holman Stephens, later known as Colonel Stephens, was the resident engineer during construction. The line was single throughout, with passing loops provided at all three intermediate stations, though only Goudhurst had two platforms. A short bay platform was provided at Hawkhurst. Goods traffic was mainly fruit and hops outwards and coal inwards. One mainstay was the transport of a million potted plants a year on behalf of F. W. Woolworth to branches all over the country.
From the outset traffic on the line was light, due in part to the inconvenient locations of stations, although extra traffic was generated during the summer hop picking season.
Also from the off, all train services were operated by the South Eastern Railway, though the Cranbrook and Paddock Wood Railway was not officially absorbed until 1900.
Goudhurst Station
Hope Mill Station (later renamed Goudhurst) in 1892
The station originally opened as Hope Mill, for Goudhurst & Lamberhurst, & was named after the parish, but following the presentation of a petition to the Cranbrook & Paddock Wood Railway Company, the name was changed to Goudhurst. The station was the terminus of the line for just over eleven months, until the extension to Hawkhurst was opened.
The station was approximately one mile to the west of the village of Goudhurst along the present A262 (Station Road), which was some 250 ft higher than the station, presenting a somewhat daunting task for a baggage-laden passenger! The station achieved some degree of fame when it appeared in the 1950s children's television series "The Old Pull and Push". It also featured in the 1953 children's film ‘Adventures In The Hopfields’.
The fine station building was demolished in the 1960s and replaced with a private dwelling called "Haltwhistle" which is situated on the area where the goods yard would have been. The property is surrounded by high conifer trees and a swimming pool has been put in between part of the former platforms. The old station lights line the drive to the house.
Across the road, the aforementioned Hope Mill itself & Hope Mill oast, still remain as residential properties.
Also the local Inn displays a very nice and relevant sign.
Take care this is a busy road
Other caches in this series:-
Long Lost Railway Stations #1 Hawkhurst
Long Lost Railway Stations #2 Cranbrook
Long Lost Railway Stations #4 Horsmonden