Mountfield Gypsum Mine, East Sussex. (1).
4wDH 'British Gypsum Limited no.2' (TH 184V/1967) is seen having placed its train under the loading bunker at Mountfield Gypsum Mine. The mine was established in 1876 by the Sub-Wealden Gypsum Co. but is now owned by British Gypsum Ltd. The bulk of mined gypsum was dispatched by rail for use in the cement industry with the remainder processed on site for the manufacture of plaster. In 1973 BGL established a plasterboard factory alongside the plaster plant and this remains to this day. The mine itself has since been abandoned with the headgear only retained as ventilation to the extensive underground workings. Raw gypsum is now brought to the plant by rail (a complete reversal of traffic flow). The gypsum is now either imported from abroad (South America) or is de-sulphur gypsum obtained from UK power station flue gas cleaning plants.
The mile long branch from the mine to the Tonbridge-Hastings mainline exchange sidings was always considered to be a mineral railway and not part of the national network. As such it was always worked by gypsum company owned locomotives. Since the mid 1990's however with the reversal of traffic flow the branch is now operated as a long siding and mainline locomotives do the work. The last two industrial locos being Thomas Hill 'Vanguard' type 4wDH's built in 1967.
Mountfield Gypsum Mine, East Sussex. (1).
4wDH 'British Gypsum Limited no.2' (TH 184V/1967) is seen having placed its train under the loading bunker at Mountfield Gypsum Mine. The mine was established in 1876 by the Sub-Wealden Gypsum Co. but is now owned by British Gypsum Ltd. The bulk of mined gypsum was dispatched by rail for use in the cement industry with the remainder processed on site for the manufacture of plaster. In 1973 BGL established a plasterboard factory alongside the plaster plant and this remains to this day. The mine itself has since been abandoned with the headgear only retained as ventilation to the extensive underground workings. Raw gypsum is now brought to the plant by rail (a complete reversal of traffic flow). The gypsum is now either imported from abroad (South America) or is de-sulphur gypsum obtained from UK power station flue gas cleaning plants.
The mile long branch from the mine to the Tonbridge-Hastings mainline exchange sidings was always considered to be a mineral railway and not part of the national network. As such it was always worked by gypsum company owned locomotives. Since the mid 1990's however with the reversal of traffic flow the branch is now operated as a long siding and mainline locomotives do the work. The last two industrial locos being Thomas Hill 'Vanguard' type 4wDH's built in 1967.