12th September 1954

R.C.T.S. (London Branch)
Invicta Special

Locos Used 31505, 31166, 31737, 31671, 68630 & 68639
Stock Used SR: 4440+1375+1286+7944+1434+1370+4432

Route :

Loco(s) Route
68630 + 68639 London Liverpool Street - East London Jn - Shoreditch - Whitechapel - Wapping - Rotherhithe - Surrey Docks - New Cross - Lewisham - Blackheath (No.1 Down Siding)
31737 Blackheath (No.1 Down Siding) - Angerstein Jn - Charlton - Woolwich Arsenal - Erith - Slade Green - Dartford - Gravesend Central - Hoo Jn - Strood - Chatham - Rainham
31671 Rainham - Western Jn - Middle Jn - Kemsley Halt - Sheerness
31671 Sheerness - Kemsley Halt - Middle Jn - Eastern Jn - Sittingbourne - Faversham
31505 Faversham - Selling - Canterbury Jn 'A' - Canterbury West - Minster - Deal - Kearsney Loop Jn - Deal Jn - Kearsney
31737 Kearsney - Deal Jn - Buckland Jn - Dover Priory - Folkestone Central - Sandling - Ashford
31166 + 31737 Ashford - Headcorn - Paddock Wood - Tonbridge - Edenbridge - Crowhurst Jn South - Crowhurst Jn - Hurst Green Jn - Oxted - Selsdon - Woodside - Elmers End - New Beckenham - Catford Bridge - Ladywell - Lewisham - Nunhead - Peckham Rye - Cambria Jn - Loughborough Junction - London Blackfriars

Notes :
(1) Tony Davies comments: The outward special was delayed – and caused heavy delay to boat traffic! – in the Dover/Folkestone area: signal stop Guston Jn (?Kearsney Loop Jn?) 8¼ min, sig stop at Buckland Jn (after Kearsney) of 10 min, but 60 m.p.h. max at Smeeth, followed by sustained 70 m.p.h. west of Pluckley (the two 4-4-0's).  The early departure from Paddock Wood resulted in signal checks: Tonbridge, Oxted, Selsdon, Woodside, and two signal stops total 4½  minutes at Elmers End.

Sources : John Clifford, David Davis & Chris Harley (compiled from contemporary sources)
& Tony Davies (on the train throughout)

Photo Review


68630 & 68639 at Liverpool Street (photo: The John Debens Collection)


By Rochester 31737 was in charge (photo: The John Debens Collection)


No doubting what this tour was! (photo: The John Debens Collection)


31737 swapping to 31671 at Rainham (photo: The John Debens Collection)


31505 comes on the train at Faversham (photo: The John Debens Collection)


31166 & 31737 at Ashford (photo: The John Debens Collection)


From Andrew Fairholms ticket collection.


Stock Detail
(from Tony Davies)

Coach Type
S4440 2nd Class Open Brake (“Nondescript”)
S1375 3rd Class Open
S1286 3rd Class Open
S7944 Buffet Car
S1434 3rd Class Open
S1370 3rd Class Open
S4432 2nd Class Open Brake (“Nondescript”)

All these were “loose” SOUTHERN stock mostly kept at Eardley Carriage Sidings.

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Tony Davies & John Debens)

Location Booked Actual
Liverpool Street 09.47d 09.47
Shoreditch 09/50 09/50
Surrey Docks 10/00 09.57 ~ 09.57½
New Cross 10/04 10/09
Lewisham 10/08 10/12
Blackheath (No.1 Dn Siding) 10.11a ~ 10.27d 10.15½ ~ 10.25½
Woolwich Arsenal 10/38 10/36
Erith ? 10/45
Dartford 10/58 10/54
Gravesend Central 11/11 11/10½
Strood 11.23a ~ 11.27d 11.20 ~ 11.25
Rochester 11.30a ~ 11.46d 11.29 ~ 11.48½
Gillingham ? 11/58
Rainham 11.56a ~ 12.06d 12.03 ~ 12.13
Kemsley Halt 12/20 12/26½
Sheerness 12.33a ~ 12.41d 12.41 ~ 12.50
Middle Jn 12/55½ 13/06
Sittingbourne 12/57½ 13/08
Faversham 13.08a ~ 13.15d 13.23 ~ 13.30
Selling ? 13/37½
Chartham Siding ? 13/44
Canterbury Jn 'A' 13/28½ 13/47
Canterbury Jn 'B' 13/31 13/49
Canterbury West 13/32 13/50
Grove Ferry ? 13/58½
Minster 13/47 14/05
Sandwich ? 14/12
Deal 14/02 14/18
Martin Mill ? 14/26
Deal Jn 14/21 14/44
Kearnsey 14.24 14.46 ~ 14.53
Dover Priory 14/40 15/08
Folkestone Jn 14/55 15/25
Sandling Jn ? 15/33½
Smeeth ? 15/40
Ashford 15.16a ~ 18.05d 15.46 ~ 18.05
Pluckley ? 18/13
Headcorn ? 18/18
Staplehurst ? 18/21
Marden ? 18/23
Paddock Wood 18.33a ~ 18.45d 18.31 ~ 18.37
Tonbridge 18/55 18/46
Lyghe Halt ? 18/56
Penshurst ? 18/58½
Edenbridge 19/10 19/04
Crowhurst Jn South 19/14 19/08
Crowhurst Jn ?North? ? 19/09
Oxted 19/22 19/16
Woldingham ? 19/23
Selsdon 19/39 19/30
Combe Road ? 19/33
Bingham Road ? 19/36
Woodside 19/45 19/39
Elmers End 19/49 19/48½
New Beckenham 19/55 19/54½
Catford Bridge ? 19/58
Ladywell ? 19/59
Lewisham 20/03 20/00½
Brockley Lane ? 20/03
Nunhead 20/07 20/04
Cambria Jn 20/10½ 20/08
Loughborough Junction 20/12½ 20/08½
Elephant & Castle ? 20/12½
Blackfriars 20.21a 20.16


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