Rye in 1979

(All 19.2.1979)

The Ashford to Hastings line only just survived - it was slated for closure in the 1970s. It was a diesel outpost in a mainly electric area and retained much charm in the 70s.

30 years and one month ago there was snow on the ground as I visited the line from my home in West Sussex. I think at this time the whole ine was still double track, some singling has taken place since. At Appledore there was, and indeed still is, a long branch line to Dungeness nuclear power station. This once continued to New Romney with an interchange with the 15 inch gauge Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. This line now of course gives East Sussex a direct link with the continent with a change at Ashford.

trains in the road - uk style

(All Weymouth Quay 14.8.1986)

In Switzerland, Germany, Austria and many other European countries, as well as the USA, street running is not that rare. But it was never commonplace in the UK. The most famous piece of street track here was the Weymouth Tramway, which saw regular trains connecting with the Channel Island ferries. Although this line still exists it no longer sees trains, and it hasn't for years. But there are always plans to run 'trams' on the route, though I suspect to be viable the route would need to be extended along the prom - the run through the back streets, apart from a short section near the terminus, is not particularly attractive.

But all this was a long way off in 1986. The spectacle of a class 33 pulling long trains through crowds of holidaymakers is not easily forgotten!

My first attempt at travelling on this route ended in failure when the jobsworth guard threw me off at Dorchester because my Southern Rover didn't cover this route. I did finally travel on the line on a special, and I think I did it one more time before the line closed. But this was one line which was better watched from the lineside rather than from the train ...

rustington 1986

This was the sort of regular traffic you'd have seen if you'd hung your head over the bridge in Rustington (Sussex) in the 1980s. It's all changed now! Top shot is of a class 33 with the Cardiff train, this consisted of 5 mark one coaches, compartments, the lot. It was replaced in the 90s by a 2 car Sprinter - an absolute nightmare on what could be a 3 or 4 hour journey!

Second shot is of a 4 car electric in the short lived NSE 'Jaffa Cake' livery, which was far too smart to survive. This could be seen for just a few years and was quickly replaced by a bland red, white and blue.

Shot 3 is of a class 73 electro-diesel running light, with the large logo livery.

Bottom shot is of the classic everyday blue and white slam door electric which could be seen all over the south, once commonplace and now history.

hymeks on the S&D

I'm very much a fan of the S&D - in fact I've given 3 years of my life helping to get it restored!

These are shots via Jeffery Grayer's book of Hymeks at work on the line (mainly demolishing it!) in 1967 and 1968. Diesels never worked regular trains on the S&D, it was the last steam worked line on the Western Region.

To my mind the S&D was the best line in the UK. It ran through superb scenery throughout, it had a huge variety of locomotives and trains, and a real family atmosphere.

It's now being reopened in places, but at last there is a group that wants to rebuild the whole route. It's about time!