27th January 2007

Railway Touring Company
Kent Coast Express

Locos Used 67018 & steam: 34067 'Tangmere'
Stock Used 35518+5276+5292+5322+3107+3140+1683+3112+3066+17015

Route:
1Z84 : London Victoria to Ashford International
1Z85 : Ashford International to Eastbourne (via Folkestone Harbour)
1Z86 : Eastbourne to London Victoria

Loco(s) Route
34067 London Victoria - (1) - Grosvenor Bridge Jn - Penge East - Bromley South - Swanley - Sole Street - Gillingham - Sittingbourne - Faversham - Margate - Ramsgate - Deal - Dover Priory - Folkestone Central - Ashford International
67018 (3) Ashford International - Folkestone East Train Roads
34067 (2) Folkestone East Train Roads - Folkestone Harbour
67018 (3) Folkestone Harbour - Folkestone East Train Roads
34067 (2) Folkestone East Train Roads - Ashford International
67018 (3) Ashford International - Rye - Hastings - Bexhill Central - Eastbourne
34067 (2) Eastbourne - Polegate - Lewes - Plumpton - Haywards Heath - Three Bridges - Quarry line (4) - East Croydon - Selhurst - Streatham Common (5) - Clapham Junction - Stewarts Lane - London Victoria (5)

Notes :
(1) Some sources report the train was banked by 67018 Victoria to Grosvenor Bridge however this has been disputed as 67018 was also reported stationary two coach lengths from the buffers after the train had departed, which also agrees with John Clifford's record of events. 67018 is therefore assumed to have run light-engine to Ashford to meet back up with the train.
(2) 67018 on rear.
(3) 34067 on rear.
(4) booked route via Redhill but diverted due to emergency engineering work following landslip on 13/01/2007.
(5) booked route between Streatham Common & Victoria was Streatham Common - Streatham - Tulse Hill - Herne Hill - Victoria: diverted due to late running.

John Clifford comments:
The tour was a good example of how a delay in the early stages can snowball & make a much later finish. The Newington stop was at signal EU10 on the fast line (not at Newington station) & we waited there for a late Victoria - Ramsgate train to pass. We were then checked at Sittingbourne (for the Sheerness train to cross to the branch) & again before Faversham to let a Faversham - Victoria train come out of the down loop. Further signal checks occurred before Ramsgate & before Deal, presumably we were following a local train.

Whilst I have shown the Folkestone Harbour - Junc section as 67018 (with 34067 on rear), it seemed that 34067 was doing the lion's share of the work.

Because we were late getting to Eastbourne there was not enough time to service 34067 in time for a punctual start. We then had to wait for path to get the loco from the yard back on to the train, hence the late departure. At this stage we were told that the train would go direct to Victoria rather than via Herne Hill. When we did get going some excellent running was made up the Brighton main line. Unfortunately the driver forgot to stop at East Croydon so a special stop was made at Clapham Junction.

Source : John Clifford

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Location Booked Actual
London Victoria 09.05d 09.08
Voltaire Road Jn 09/11 09/14
Brixton 09/13 09/16
Herne Hill 09/15 09/17
Beckenham Junction 09/21 09/25
Shortlands Jn 09/23 09/26
Bromley South 09.25a ~ 09.27d 09.28 ~ 09.31
Bickley Jn 09/30 09/36
St. Mary Cray Jn 09/32 09/37
Swanley 09/39 09/44
Fawkham Jn 09/46 09/50
Sole Street 09/53 09/54
Rochester Bridge Jn 10/02 10/03
Gillingham 10/09 10/10
Newington 10*19 ~ 10*33 10.19 ~ 10.41
Sittingbourne 10/38 10/50
Faversham 10/48 11/03
Whitstable 10w59 ~ 11w14 11w14 ~ 11w28
Herne Bay 11/21 11/34
Margate 11/34 11/48
Ramsgate 11/44 12/00
Minster East Jn 11/50 12/04
Sandwich 11/57 12/14
Deal 12/03 12/28
Buckland Jn 12/18 12/43
Dover Priory 12/20 12/44
Folkestone Central 12/32 12/55
Saltwood Jn 12/37 12/59
Ashford 12.50 ~ 13.07 13.13 ~ 13.26
Saltwood Jn 13/19 13/43
Folkestone Central 13/23 13/48
Folkestone Jn Sidings 13.25 ~ 13.31 13.54 ~ 14.03
Folkestone Harbour 13.36 ~ 14.06 14.09 ~ 14.34
Folkestone Jn Sidings 14.11 ~ 14.17 14.40 ~ 14.46
Folkestone Central 14/22 14/51
Saltwood Jn 14/28 14/55
Ashford 14.42 ~ 14.51 15.11 ~ 15.16
Appledore 15/05 15/33
Rye 15/16 15.45 ~ 15.53
Ore 15/34 16/10
Hastings 15/41 16/13
Bo-Peep Jn 15/48 16/18
Bexhill 15/52 16/23
Pevensey 16/00 16/31
Willingdon Jn 16/12 16/36
Eastbourne 16.17a ~ 17.35d 16.43 ~ 18.44
Willingdon Jn 17/41 18/50
Polegate 17/45 18/53
Southerham Jn 17/59 19/06
Lewes 18/02 19/08
Keymer Jn 18/19 19/22
Haywards Heath 18/23 19/26
Balcombe Tunnel Jn 18/31 19/33
Three Bridges 18/36 19/35
Gatwick Airport 18/42 19/37
Earlswood 18/49 19/44
Redhill 18/55 DIV
Stoats Nest Jn 19/06 19/54
Purley 19/11 19/56
South Croydon 19/17 20/00
East Croydon 19.24a ~ 19.29d 20/02
Windmill Bridge Jn 19/31 20/03
Selhurst 19/35 20/05
Streatham Common 19/44 20.10 ~ 20.14
Streatham 19/47 DIV
Tulse Hill 19/51 DIV
Herne Hill 19/57 DIV
Brixton 19/59 DIV
Voltaire Road Jn 20/02 DIV
Balham DIV 20/20
Clapham Junction DIV 20.24 ~ 20.25
Pouparts Jn DIV 20/28
Longhedge Jn DIV 20/30
Stewarts Lane DIV 20/31
Battersea Pier Jn ? 20/33
London Victoria 20.10a 20.36


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