SECR tank engines

The Golden Arrow draws slowly towards Folkestone Harbour station hauled by Stirling R1 class 0-6-0T 31047. This was the normal arrangement and this small locomotive had sufficient braking power to maintain control of this hefty rake of Pullman cars on the steep descent from Folkestone Junction. The viewer who corrected my original caption has also pointed out that 31047 is probably about to cross from the Down to the Up line's platform. I was previously unaware that there were crossovers on the harbour bridge itself. The exhaust visible in the distance is/are from loco(s) waiting on the Up line behind the shunt signal to come on to the other end of the train for the return trip. [Photo taken by Mike Morant]

Drummond M7 class 0-4-4T no. 30104 Lymington Pier station. 30104 was a Bournemouth allocated loco when this undated view was taken and would remain there until withdrawal in May 1961. [Mike Morant collection]

SECR Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31005, a Tunbridge Wells Wets engine at the time, traverses Oxted viaduct on 15/6/63. 31005 hadn't long left on this earth being withdrawn only three months after this shot was taken.

Wainwright 'P' class 0-6-0T no. 31027, with BRITISH RAILWAYS in full on the tank side, is depicted here on the coal road at Brighton shed which poses the question, “Why was it at Brighton when it’s a popularly held belief that 31027 was a Dover Marine based loco from nationalisation until withdrawal in March 1961?” February 1952 to Eastleigh ‘for attention’ whatever that means and why Eastleigh when Ashford was much closer to Dover? March 1952 stored at Fratton shed. October 5th, 1952 and on its way back to Kent, 31027 stopped over at Brighton mpd where it was obviously put to good use as seen in this picture. Mid-November 1952 (precise date not known) 31027 proceeded to Ashford and was stored there until May 1953. Thereafter 31027 reverted to type and worked out of Dover Marine shed. [Mike Morant collection]

Stirling ex-SER R1 0-6-0T No. 31107 and a cut down class compatriot double-head a goods train at sometime in 1958. An interesting contribution from David Woodcock: "Both locos are working very hard and I suspect that the location is where one might expect to find R1s in multiple heading a train - the Folkestone Harbour branch. The first wagon appears to be an (empty) oil tank wagon for ship's bunkerage and, perhaps surprisingly, there was still a thrice-weekly cargo service between Folkestone Harbour and Boulogne using TSS Whitstable (in her last year in 1958) and TSS Deal."

An undated view of former SER Stirling designed R1 class 0-6-0T no. 31147 shunting at St. Leonards (West Marina). The building behind 31147 is the engine shed whilst the turntable is directly in line behind the covered wagon. 31147 was one of the 'cut down' versions for use on the Whitstable branch and would be sithdrawn from service in June 1958 at Fokestone Junction. [Mike Morant collection]

A triple-headed departure from Folkestone Harbour station in the early 1950's with the focus of Wainwright/Stirling R1 class 0-6-0T no. 31154 in early BR livery. 31154 would be withdrawn in August 1955. [Mike Morant collection]

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31177 at Westerham in 1958. The Maunsell push-pull set is no. 482 comprising former SECR railcars with stock numbers 915 (formerly 5581) and 3583.

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31177 at Westerham in 1958. The Maunsell push-pull set is no. 482 comprising former SECR railcars with stock numbers 915 (formerly 5581) and 3583.

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31177 at Westerham in 1958. The Maunsell push-pull set is no. 482 comprising former SECR railcars with stock numbers 915 (formerly 5581) and 3583.

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31177 at Westerham in 1958. The Maunsell push-pull set is no. 482 comprising former SECR railcars with stock numbers 915 (formerly 5581) and 3583.

A June 1957 shot of Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31261 assisting a departing boat train as it leaves Victoria station and ascends the steep and curved Grosvenor bank. [Mike Morant collection]

LCGB: The Kentish Venturer (Farewell To Steam) 25/2/62 An all SECR double-header at New Romney with Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31263 as pilot and 'C' class 0-6-0 no. 31690 as the train engine.

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31263 together with a green liveried Pullman car that has been used as a restaurant car photographed at Robertsbridge circa 1965/6 long after 31263 had been withdrawn from service at Tonbridge shed in January 1964. This temporary home was used prior to their moves to the Bluebell Railway where 31263 still resides today whilst The 1926 Hastings gauge Pullman car will be either Barbara or Theodora - both are still on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. [Mike Morant collection]

SECR Wainwright designed 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31263 about to enter a tunnel whilst in charge of a push-pull set. The location was unknown to me but I had a feeling that this train is an Oxted to Tunbridge Wells West working which Alan Goodwin has suggested is the case and that the most likely location is from inside Little Browns tunnel where the line passes under the South Eastern's Tonbridge to Redhill route just north of Edenbridge.

Not the crispest of images but just about worthy of inclusion. Flat bunkered Wainright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31266 in is charge of a green liveried SECR birdcage set between High Rocks and Tunbridge Wells West in September 1959. 31266 was a Tunbridge Wells West allocated engine when this shot was taken and would remain at TWW until withdrawal in September 1960. The 'birdcage' brake shown is part of two coach PP set 659 which was the last regular 'birdcage' brake left in passenger service, no. S3324S whilst its driving companion was brake compo renumbered to S6409S, also ex SECR. This PP set came about because of the 1937 Swanley crash where 'Trio' Birdcage set 535 was involved and one brake was totally destroyed and so the centre composite vehicle was rebuilt as a driving brake compo and paired with 3324 in 1938. It was the only ex SECR Birdcage brake to receive BR (S) green livery and was withdrawn in November 1961. [Mike Morant collection]

Ex-SECR Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31266 with pre-grouping rolling stock as Maidstone West station. I'm once again bemused by the headcode and the supplied date is evidently wrong. My guess is that this was taken whilst 31266 was allocated to Tonbridge mpd between Match '58 and March '59. [Mike Morant collection]

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31276 Ramsgate shed. [Mike Morant collection]

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31278 in charge of a Tunbridge Wells West to Oxted service. The location and date aren't specified but a viewer has opined that the rather flat landscape suggests somewhere between Hever and Hurst Green. [Mike Morant collection]

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31278 is in charge of teh 11:40 Oxted to Tunbridge Wells service at Edenbridge Town station on 9/9/61. 31278 had been a Tunbridge Wells West engine since February 1956 and would remain at TWW until withdrawal in October 1962. [Mike Morant collection]

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31279 in push mode departs from Sidley station with pull-push set 660 on a Crowhurst to Bexhill West service. [Mike Morant collection]

Wainwright 'H' class 0-4-4T no. 31308 enters Newington station on the main line between Gillingham and Sittingbourne. A viewer has pointed out that the number 227 carried on the headcode disc was a special traffic number for excursions worked by Gillingham locos which was where 31308 was allocated when this shot was taken. 31308 moved from Gillingham to Brighton in March 1959, to Tonbridge in January 19661 and finally to TWW in May 1962 where withdrawal came in the December. [Mike Morant collection]