11th June 1961

The Locomotive Club of Great Britain
The South Eastern Limited Rail Tour

Locos Used 31065, 31308, 31592, 31749, 31786, 32662 & 32670
Stock Used 9 coaches (Victoria to Robertsbridge & Robertsbridge to Charing Cross)
7 coaches (Robertsbridge to Tenterden & back)

Route :

Loco(s) Route
31786 + 31749

London Victoria - Stewarts Lane Jn - Factory Jn - Wandsworth Road - Brixton - Nunhead - Lewisham - Blackheath - Bexleyheath - Dartford - Gravesend - Strood - Snodland - Maidstone West - Paddock Wood
31065 + 31592

Paddock Wood - Hawkhurst
31065 + 31592

Hawkhurst - Paddock Wood - Tonbridge
31308 + 31749

Tonbridge - Tunbridge Wells Central - Robertsbridge
32662 (3) Robertsbridge - Tenterden
32670 (4) Tenterden - Robertsbridge
31786 + 31749

Robertsbridge - Tunbridge Wells Central - Tonbridge - Sevenoaks - Otford - Swanley - Beckenham Junction - New Beckenham - Ladywell - Parks Bridge Jn - St Johns - London Charing Cross

Notes :
(1) Last train over the Paddock Wood to Hawkhurst line and K&ESR Robertsbridge to Tenterden line.
(2) David Pearson comments: This was an extremely well filled tour. It was originally planned to have a load of seven Hastings line restriction "0" corridor vehicles. When applications flooded in the LCGB requested more vehicles, but as the line had gone over to DEMU operation it seems that there was no more corridor stock of the right loading gauge available. To accommodate all those wishing to participate two ex SE&CR non-corridor coaches, known as "S 100's"  were added to the formation. In a letter sent out with the tickets, passengers with tickets numbered over 250 were requested to use the non-corridor stock which, it was estimated, would be filled only with eight passengers per compartment instead of the twelve seating capacity. Because of the increased load the train was double headed throughout, except on the Kent & East Sussex section where only seven vehicles were used, and the train was "top & tailed." Due to the response received all passengers received a refund of 2/- per head, which was handed out when tickets were inspected. In a letter given to passengers the identity of each of the corridor vehicles was quoted. Leaving Victoria the consist was: 2x locos, 2x S 100's, BSK3687, CK5601, Buffet Car 7874, CK5598, BSK3690, CK5592, BSK3680. At Robertsbridge the last two were detached for the trip to Tenterden and back so that the two S 100's could be filled up with the displaced passengers. Even the names of the engine crews were given to passengers. I think they must have been enthusiasts too as there were some exhilarating performances, particularly on the down grades on the outward leg between Tunbridge Wells Cent. and Robertsbridge. The leading engine on this section was "H" class tank No. 31308, and looking out of the window at the speed of the coupling rods - well it was almost frightening!
(3) 32670 on the rear.
(4) 32662 on the rear.

Sources : Terry Jackson & Trevor Machell

Photo Review


Victoria station, at the start of the days outing (photo: David Pearson)


31065 & 31592 at Goudhurst (photo: David Pearson)


31308 & 31749 at Robertsbridge (photo: David Pearson)


Two shots at Tenterden, 32662 above & 32670 below (photo: David Pearson)


31786 pauses at Wateringbury station for a photo-stop.
photo : John Broderick (courtesy of www.30937.co.uk)


David Pearson's ticket.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Terry Jackson & Brian Halford)

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 Victoria 09.52d 09.53 [P1]
1.37 Stewarts Lane Jn 09/57 09/59
1.73 Factory Jn 10*02 ~ 10*06 10.00 ~ 10.05
3.18 Brixton 10/10 10/11½
3.72 Cambria Jn 10/11½ 10/13
5.78 Nunhead 10/15 10/17
7.63 Lewisham 10/23½ 10/25
8.55 Blackheath 10/26 10/27
10.61 Eltham Well Hall 10p32a ~ 10p37d 10.33 ~ 10.40
14.39 Bexleyheath 10/44 10/50
18.60 Dartford 10/53 10/57
25.44 Gravesend Central 11*07 ~ 11*10 11.09½ ~ 11.13
32.60 Strood 11/22 11/27
44.05 Maidstone West 11/42 11/46
48.69 Wateringbury 11p52a ~ 12p01d 11.56 ~ 12.06
54.01 Paddock Wood 12.12a ~ 12.22d 12.17 ~ 12.26
58.30 Horsmonden 12p32a ~ 12p42d 12.37 ~ 12.47
60.31 Goudhurst 12p48a ~ 12p58d 12.51 ~ 13.01
63.77 Cranbrook 13p07a ~ 13p15d 13.11 ~ 13.16
65.38 Hawkhurst 13.20a ~ 13.35d 13.25 ~ 13.43
76.75 Paddock Wood 14/00 14.19 ~ 14.20
82.18 Tonbridge 14.08a ~ 14.21d 14.31 ~ 14.36
87.07 Tunbridge Wells Central 14/33 15/01
92.00 Wadhurst 14/41 15/08
102.25 Robertsbridge 14.56a ~ 15.10d 15.20 ~ 15.45
105.60 Bodiam 15p23a ~ 15p32d 16.01 ~ 16.09
109.25 Northiam 15p39a ~ 15p48d 16.20 ~ 16.30
111.55 Wittersham Road 15p55a ~ 16p05d 16.39 ~ 16.45
114.31 Rolvendon 16p13a ~ 16p23d 16.56 ~ 17.01
115.65 Tenterden Town 16.30a ~ 16.55d 17.20 ~ 17.51
117.19 Rolvenden 17p00a ~ 17p10d 17.58 ~ 18.08
119.75 Wittersham Road 17*17 ~ 17*20 18/24
122.25 Northiam 17/29 18/33
125.70 Bodiam 17/39 18/43
129.25 Robertsbridge 17.55a ~ 18.10d 19.05 ~ 19.16
139.50 Wadhurst 18/24 19/30
144.42 Tunbridge Wells Central 18/32 19/41
149.32 Tonbridge 18/40 19/55
156.67 Sevenoaks 18/54 20/14
159.47 Otford 18/59 20/24
166.22 Swanley 19/09 20/34
171.29 Bickley Jn 19/15 20/41
173.68 Shortlands 19/19 20/46
175.01 Beckenham Junction 19/21 20/49
175.52 New Beckenham 19/25 20/51
177.54 Catford Bridge 19/28 20/54
178.71 Parks Bridge Jn 19/31 20/56
180.16 New Cross 19/33 20/59
183.15 London Bridge 19/38 21/05
183.53 Metropolitan Jn 19/40 21/07
185.04 Charing Cross 19.44a 21.15 [P6]


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