18th October 1964

R.C.T.S. / L.C.G.B.
The Midhurst Belle Rail Tour

Locos Used 30064, 30530, 30839 & 35007 'Aberdeen Commonwealth'
Stock Used Booked for load 7 (SR set no.237 plus buffet car) formed: BSK, 3x SO, RKB, SO, BSK

Route :

Loco Route
30839 London Waterloo - Brentford Central - Ascot - Bagshot - (via Sturt Lane East Curve) - Woking
30064 Woking - Guildford - Baynards - Christ's Hospital - Stammerham Jn
30530 Stammerham Jn - Christ's Hospital - Pulborough - Hardham Jn - Petworth - Midhurst
30530 Midhurst - Pulborough
30530 Pulborough - Littlehampton
35007 Littlehampton - Preston Park
35007 Preston Park - Brighton
30530 Brighton - Kemp Town
30530 Kemp Town - Brighton
35007 Brighton - Haywards Heath - Three Bridges - (via Quarry line) - East Croydon - Selhurst - Clapham Junction - Battersea Park - London Victoria

Notes :
(1)The tour provided a last chance to travel over the closed Midhurst branch and for a non-stop steam hauled run over the Brighton - London line, which by this time was a rare opportunity.
(2) John Clifford also comments : The was an interesting tour for a number of reasons. We were the last passenger train over either of the Sturt Lane curves, the only regular service having been over the East curve which had ceased the previous month. There was the use of a 'USA' shunter between Woking & Guildford where we reached a maximum of 37 mph. We were probably the last revenue earning train to reach Midhurst and finally the use of a "Merchant Navy" on the Central Division culminating in a fast run from Brighton to Victoria. This was booked in 58mins (the electrics were allowed 60). We took a few seconds over 56mins. Also there was the use of steam over lines which rarely saw steam passenger work. A very good day out.

Sources : David Hills (compiled from contemporary reports),
John Clifford (on the train throughout) & The Bluebell Railway Museum

Photo Review


30064 caught before departure from Woking (photo: Alan Sainty Collection)


30064 at Baynards (photo: The John Debens Collection)


From The John Debens Ticket Collection.


Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from Terry Jackson)

M.C Location Booked Actual
0.00 Waterloo 09.30d [WTL] 09.29½
3.71 Clapham Junction 09/38 09/39½
7.04 Barnes 09/46 09/47½
13.41 Hounslow 10/02 10/02½
14.40 Feltham Jn 10/04 10/07½
20.09 Staines Central 10/14 10/20½
24.23 Virginia Water 10/21 10/29½
30.08 Ascot 10/31 10/40
36.41 Camberley 10/43 10/51½
38.59 Frimley 10p47a ~ 10p56d 10.56 ~ 11.04½
39.58 Sturt Lane Jn 11/00 11/08
43.61 Brookwood [Local Line] 11/09
47.34 Woking 11L10a ~ 11L21d 11.20½ ~ 11.28
53.35 Guildford 11w30a ~ 11w34d 11.42½ ~ 11.48½
55.14 Peasmarsh Jn 11/38 11/54
56.69 Bramley 11/41 11/58½
61.65 Cranleigh 11/51 12/13
64.57 Baynards 11p58a ~ 12p05d 12.22 ~ 12.29
70.53 Christs Hospital 12.19a ~ 12.20d 12.42 ~ 12.??
70.57 Stammerham Jn 12.21a ~ 12.28d 12.?? ~ 12.??
70.61 Christs Hospital 12.29a ~ 12.30d 12.?? ~ 12.56
80.53 Pulborough 12*45 ~ 12*49 13.13 ~ 13.16½
81.41 Hardham Jn 12/52 13/19½
91.59 Midhurst 13.20a ~ 14.08d 13.46½ ~ 14.09
97.47 Petworth 14p26a ~ 14p35d 14.29½ ~ 14.35½
101.77 Hardham Jn 14/46 14/48
102.65 Pulborough 14w49a ~ 14w59d 14.50½ ~ 15.00½
112.61 Arundel Jn 15/14 15/16½
114.34 Littlehampton 15L18a ~ 15L36d 15.21½ ~ 15.35
116.07 Arundel Jn 15/40 15/39
124.40 Worthing Central 15/52 15/50½
129.18 Shoreham 16/00 15/59
133.52 Hove 16/08 16/08
135.05 Preston Park 16.12a ~ 16.25d 16.13 ~ 16.22½
136.32 Brighton 16L30a ~ 16L50d 16.28½ ~ 16.49
137.28 Kemp Town Jn 16/53 16/53½
138.60 Kemp Town 17.00a ~ 17.20d 16.59½ ~ 17.23½
140.12 Kemp Town Jn 17/27 17/28
141.08 Brighton 17L30a ~ 17L47d 17.32 ~ 17.46½
150.68 Keymer Jn 18/00 17/58½
153.79 Haywards Heath 18/03½ 18/02
162.36 Three Bridges 18/12 [TL] 18/08½
170.09 Earlswood 18/19 [QL] 18/15½
176.78 Coulsden North 18/26 [LL] 18/22½
181.77 Windmill Bridge Jn 18/32 [TL] 18/29
185.37 Streatham Jn 18/36 18/33
187.12 Balham Jn 18/38 [TL] 18/35
192.01 Victoria 18.45a 18.42½


Back to "The Railtour Files"