South Eastern Transition
The transitional years on the Southern Region (SR) Eastern Section, with ex-works Maunsell 'N' Class 2-6-0 31844, bearing an Exmouth Junction shed code plate (72A) on a proving diagram running through Ashford station in the early 1960s, soon after the Kent Coast electrification programme had been completed in June 1959. The 'N' class migrated from the SR Eastern section to work additionally on the Central and Western sections, and in their latter BR(S) days continued to excel on passenger and goods duties in the West Country. Withdrawals took place between 1962 and 1966, 31844 being taken out of service from Exmouth Junction shed in December 1963. Ashford locomotive workshops eventually closed on 16th June 1962, the last locomotive to be outshopped from Ashford being sister 'N' class-2-6-0 31400, on 9th June. A BR Sulzer Type 2 was running alongside into the station heading a parcels train from the Hastings line. The Southern Region had made a request to 'borrow' from the London Midland Region the first nine of the class that were rolling off the production line at Derby Works, prior to the delivery of their BRCW Type 3s (later Class 33), and the first seven, D5000-D5006, were allocated to Hither Green depot (73C) from January 1959. Following crew training, the Sulzers were put to work in the Ashford - Ramsgate - Dover - Faversham area and ultimately numbered fifteen. By January 1962, the SR was accepting its final deliveries of BRCW Type 3’s, and receiving the first of its electro-diesels and new DEMU’s for the Oxted line. These additions allowed for the gradual return of the loaned LMR Type 2’s, the majority visiting Eastleigh Works for overhaul prior to heading north.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission
South Eastern Transition
The transitional years on the Southern Region (SR) Eastern Section, with ex-works Maunsell 'N' Class 2-6-0 31844, bearing an Exmouth Junction shed code plate (72A) on a proving diagram running through Ashford station in the early 1960s, soon after the Kent Coast electrification programme had been completed in June 1959. The 'N' class migrated from the SR Eastern section to work additionally on the Central and Western sections, and in their latter BR(S) days continued to excel on passenger and goods duties in the West Country. Withdrawals took place between 1962 and 1966, 31844 being taken out of service from Exmouth Junction shed in December 1963. Ashford locomotive workshops eventually closed on 16th June 1962, the last locomotive to be outshopped from Ashford being sister 'N' class-2-6-0 31400, on 9th June. A BR Sulzer Type 2 was running alongside into the station heading a parcels train from the Hastings line. The Southern Region had made a request to 'borrow' from the London Midland Region the first nine of the class that were rolling off the production line at Derby Works, prior to the delivery of their BRCW Type 3s (later Class 33), and the first seven, D5000-D5006, were allocated to Hither Green depot (73C) from January 1959. Following crew training, the Sulzers were put to work in the Ashford - Ramsgate - Dover - Faversham area and ultimately numbered fifteen. By January 1962, the SR was accepting its final deliveries of BRCW Type 3’s, and receiving the first of its electro-diesels and new DEMU’s for the Oxted line. These additions allowed for the gradual return of the loaned LMR Type 2’s, the majority visiting Eastleigh Works for overhaul prior to heading north.
© Gordon Edgar - All rights reserved. Please do not use my images without my explicit permission