5th October 1952

The Railway Correspondence and Travel Society (London Branch)
Brighton Works Centenary Special

Locos Used 32424 'Beachy Head' & 32636
Stock Used main train: 8x Pullman vehicles
Kemp Town shuttle: push-pull set 727 (S3824S+S6246S)

Route : at least SPL112

Loco Route
32424 London Victoria - Battersea Park - Pouparts Jn - Clapham Junction - Balham - Streatham Common - Norbury - Selhurst - Windmill Bridge Jn - East Croydon - Purley - Coulsdon North - (via Quarry line) - Three Bridges - Brighton
32636 Brighton - Kemp Town
32636 Kemp Town - Brighton
32636 Brighton - Kemp Town
32636 Kemp Town - Brighton
32424 Brighton - (reverse of outward route) - London Victoria

Notes :
(1) The RCTS produced a tour brochure which described the runs to Kemp Town under the title 'The Kemp Town Branch'.
(2) Outward journey to Brighton was completed in 58m 48s, the return in 60m 13s for the 50.9 miles.
(3) 32424 photographed at Brighton station carrying headcode SPL112 - was this used throughout?
(4) Bruce Nathan comments: the train kept very closely to the tight schedule.  There was a permanent way check in the East Croydon area in the down direction which caused a loss of time between Windmill Bridge and Coulsdon North but this was later made up.  The up train reached 80 mph near Horley but was checked in the London area, but nevertheless arrived on time.

Sources : John Clifford, David Davis, Bob Bridger/ John M Cramp, Chris Harley & Steve Armitage

Photo Review


From the John Debens ticket collection
(originally supplied by Andrew Fairholm)


From the John Debens ticket collection
Presumably 'part fares' were available.


32424 at Brighton works with the crew (photo: John Debens Collection)


32636 approaches Lewes Road (photo : The Jim Porter Collection)


Kemp Town was quite a station! 32636 is dwarfed by its surroundings.
(photo: The John Debens Collection)


32636 at Kemp Town (photo: The Mike Morant Collection)


32636 approaches Brighton on one of the runs from Kemp Town.
(photo: The John Debens Collection)


32424 at Brighton with the return to London (photo: John Debens Collection)


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from
Bob Bridger/John M Cramp & Bruce Nathan)

Miles Location Booked Actual   Booked (rtn) Actual Miles
0.0 Victoria 10.14d 10.14½   17.28a 17.27½ 50.9
4.9 Balham Jn 10/23 10/23   17/20 17/19½ 46.0
10.0 Windmill Bridge Jn 10/29 10/28   17/14 17/12½ 40.9
15.0 Coulsdon North 10/35 10/37   17/08 17/06½ 35.9
21.9 Earlswood 10/43 10/44½   17/00½ 16/58 29.0
29.6 Three Bridges 10/51 10/51½   16/53 16/52 21.3
38.0 Haywards Heath 10/59 10/59   16/44 16/43½ 12.9
41.1 Keymer Jn 11/03 1/02   16/41 16/40½ 9.8
50.9 Brighton 11.14a 11.13   16.28d 16.27½ 0.0

 

Location Booked (out) Booked (rtn)   Booked (out) Booked (rtn)
Brighton 13.30d 14.09a   14.40d 15.14a
Kemp Town 13.39a 14.00d   14.49a 15.05d


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