D1 Class 4-4-0 31739 at Ramsgate on 15th April 1961 after arriving on the 07.24 from London Bridge.
With my steam loco mentor and elder brother Don, we had travelled behind the 4-4-0 from Dover.
D1 Class 4-4-0 31739 at Ramsgate on 15th April 1961 after arriving on the 07.24 from London Bridge.
Earlier that year Don had taken me on a trip on that train behind 31489 from Orpington to Ashford.
Photo with help from Don Benn, (I used his photo of the platform for the foreground!).
D1 Class 4-4-0 loco 31739 at Tonbridge on the 16.12 departure to Ashford, 10th June 1961. Thanks to Don Benn for the timtable information.
D1 Class 4-4-0 loco 31739 and H Class 0-4-4 tank at Dunton Green on 28th October 1961, the last day of operation of the branch line from Dunton Green to Westerham
My photos of the last day of operation of the Westerham Branch Line on 28th October 1961 were taken with a Brownie 127. A camera that could take reasonable photos of stationary subjects under good lighting conditions. But not a camera suitable for photographing moving steam locomotives. But 31739 was a lovely steam locomotive, from a class that saw none preserved. So with a lot of help from Photoshop on negs that are in a dreadful state, I have included this and the next photo of that lovely D1 class 4-4-0 working trains from Dunton Green to Westerham on that last day of Westerham Branch service. 28th October 1961.
Photo of D1 Class 4-4-0 loco 31739 working a train between Dunton Green and Westerham on
28th October 1961, the last day of operation of the Westerham Branch Line
A last look at D1 Class 4-4-0 loco 31739 at Dunton Green on 28th October 1961, the last day of operation of the branch line from Dunton Green to Westerham
E1 Class 4-4-0 loco 31507 on the 07.24 from London Bridge to Ramsgate approaching Elmstead Woods Tunnel on a date believed to be 3rd June 1961. Many thanks to brother Don for finding this old photo of mine recently.
A closer look at E1 Class 4-4-0 loco 31507 on the 07.24 from London Bridge to Ramsgate approaching Elmstead Woods Tunnel on a date believed to be 3rd June 1961.
My last photo of these wonderful 4-4-0s was very late on the evening of June 11th 1961, the last day of main line steam in Kent. The Brownie 127 just could not have been expected to produce any image at all in such dull lighting conditions. But some vague image is there, and a lot of work with PhotoShop Elements just about captures the moment! As D1 Class 4-4-0 31749 doubleheads L1 Class 4-4-0 31786 on an up special train near Bromley South on June 11th 1961.