14th May 2022

Southern Railway / Branch Line Society
The Metro Marauder

Route :
1Z55 : London Victoria to Billingshurst Sig.T1430
1Z56 : Billingshurst Sig.T1430 to Brighton
1Z57 : Brighton to London Charing Cross
1Z58 : London Charing Cross to London Blackfriars
1Z59 : London Blackfriars to Sevenoaks
1Z60 : Sevenoaks to London Victoria

Notes :
(1) John Clifford's comments: This tour was run as farewell to the Class 455/8 units on their last day of operation on Southern. It covered a number of lines over which they were passed to travel, although they may not have ever done so.
The tour left just over a minute late. We were timed to follow the 08.55 London Victoria - Dorking via Mitcham Junction, which we did and eventually caught it up. Hence the number of signal checks. There was a stop outside Horsham for the late running 09.05 London Victoria - Fratton & Barnham to carry out its station duties (it was 14 minutes late at this point). We reached the reversal point at Billingshurst 10 minutes late. A quick reversal saw us pick up some time. At Three Bridges we followed the 10.24 London Victoria - Eastbourne and picked up a bit more time, arriving at Brighton after reversal at Hove just a minute and a half late. After a break we set off for, initially, the other side of Brighton station via Hove and Preston Park, including going down the Carriage Road by Lovers Walk Depot. Then we made for Lewes, but caught up the 13.21 Brighton - Lewes near Falmer. We waited at the reversal point for the 13.29 Seaford - Brighton pass us (it was 5 minutes late at this point), then set off for London. The stop at Haywards Heath was for staffing purposes, likewise the one at East Croydon later on. At Norwood Junction we found ourselves behind the 14.31 West Croydon - Highbury & Islington, but luckily were turned on to the fast line at Sydenham, so could indulge in some faster running. Outside London Bridge we were held for the 13.25 Rainham - Luton to pass, then, through London Bridge, a stop at Metropolitan Jn let the 14.35 Dartford - London Charing Cross pass which also checked us outside London Waterloo East. A final stop outside London Charing Cross allowed the 15.15 Charing Cross - Dartford to clear platform 6 for us. After leaving London Charing Cross we were running OK until we got to Spa Road Jn where we were held for 10 minutes while 6 trains passed us (3 up & 3 down). There was a stop at South Bermondsey for staff purposes. We caught up the 15.54 London Bridge - Caterham near North Dulwich, then at Leigham Jn we had to wait for the 15.50 London Victoria to pass. A further stop at Balham Jn allowed the 15.41 Sutton - London Victoria to precede us. No further problems were encountered en route to London Blackfriars, where we arrived 9 minutes late. Due to this late arrival and a passenger being taken ill, departure was retimed to 17.12 for our journey to Sevenoaks. Near Peckham Rye we caught up the 14.46 Daventry - Dollands Moor freight. Apart from this and an unexplained stop at St Mary Cray Jn the journey was achieved without problems. We returned to London Victoria behind the 18.05 Sevenoaks stopper which checked us a few times. The stop at Ravensbourne Jn allowed the 17.52 Sevenoaks - London Blackfriars to pass us. Brief stops at Battersea Pier Jn and outside London Victoria saw us arrive back just over 20 minutes late. As a postscript to the tour, the two units went for scrap at Simms Metals in Newport the following week.

455835 at Brighton. (photo Simon Jeffs)

Source : John Clifford (on the tour throughout)

Timings (Booked & Actual)
(from John Clifford)

Associated E.C.S. Workings

5T55 : (455841 + 455835) : Stewarts Lane T&RSMD to London Victoria

5T60 : (455835 + 455841) : London Victoria to Stewarts Lane T&RSMD

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