Re6/6 and I, accompanied by Captain Kernow who knows a good grice when he sees one, visited Sussex yesterday to have a look at Balcombe station for the first time. Initial reactions were good, and the following photos give an indication of what it is like now - only a double track main line now, all the yard and refuge sidings have gone, but many of the buildings and other features of interest survive.

Train services are very frequent (usual Brighton main line interval services) but with only some of the First Capital Connect trains (319s) stopping at Balcombe. The trains were otherwise exclusively Southern 377s.

(Self-portrait with 319!)

We then visited Balcombe (Ouse Valley) Viaduct after doing a quick return trip to Haywards Heath to cross it, and to say we were gobsmacked is a bit of an understatement! (see gallery at http://www.rmweb.co....album&album=407 . The character and beauty of the structure, especially the oval cutouts in the piers, is inspiring us to represent it a bit more faithfully than the model viaduct we already have does - how best to do this is now being thought about, whether or not it includes substantial parts of Nigel Hunt's magnificent freelance model.

A quick look at Copyhold Junction north of Haywards Heath couldn't be resisted! Excellent views in both directions and instant recognition of the viewpoint shared by many well known photos of the past. The line coming in from the east now only serves an aggregates quarry at Ardingly, but the fantasy of heritage electrics one day travelling the line to Horsted Keynes on the Bluebell Railway as they did until 1963 was something John and I were very aware of! For now it was just more 377s to look at.