24th September 1960

Railway Enthusiasts' Club
The North Kent Rail Tour

Locos Used 31512, 31177, D3721
Stock Used 3 coaches (push-pull set 610?)

Route :

Loco Route
31512 Gravesend Central - Hoo Jn - Stoke Jn - Allhallows-on-Sea
31512 Allhallows-on-Sea - Stoke Jn
31512 Stoke Jn - Grain
31512 Grain - Stoke Jn - Hoo Jn
31177 Hoo Jn - Strood - Snodland - Maidstone West - Maidstone Tovil Goods
31177 Maidstone Tovil Goods - Maidstone West - Snodland - Strood
31177 Strood - Chatham - Gillingham - Chatham Dockyard Jn
31177 Chatham Dockyard Jn - Chatham Dockyard (2)
31177 Chatham Dockyard (2) - Chatham Dockyard Jn - Sittingbourne Western Jn - Sittingbourne Middle Jn - Queenborough
31177 Queenborough - Whiteways Crossing
31177 Whiteways Crossing - Queenborough - Sheerness on Sea Dockyard
31177 Sheerness on Sea Dockyard - Queenborough - Sittingbourne Middle Jn - Sittingbourne Western Jn - Gillingham - Chatham - Strood - Hoo Jn - Gravesend Central

Notes :
(1) Tony Davies comments this tour effectively used the Kentish section of the cancelled 'Thames & Medway Rambler' tour scheduled for 20/09/59.
(2) D3721 was added to the train whilst traversing the steeply graded Chatham Dockyard branch. Confirmation is required as to exactly where it was added and removed.

Sources : David Hills & John Clifford (compiled from contemporary reports),
Tony Davies, David Pearson &
Brian Read/Edwin Wilmshurst

Photo Review


31512 at Allhallows-on-Sea (photo: David Pearson)


The train at Maidstone Tovil Goods (photo: David Pearson)


D3721 & 3117 at Chatham Dockyard (photo: David Pearson)


David Pearson's ticket.


Timings (Booked Only)
(from Brian Read/Edwin Wilmshurst)

Location Booked
Gravesend Central 14.12d
Sharnal Street 14.33a ~ 14.39d
Allhallows-on-Sea 14.49a ~ 15.00d
Stoke Junction 15.04a ~ 15.07d
Grain 15.10a ~ 15.20d
Hoo Jn 15.48a ~ 15.53d
Maidstone West 16.22a ~ 16.26d
Tovil Sidings 16.34a ~ 16.42d
Strood 17.12a ~ 17.20d
Chatham 17.26a ~ 17.31d
Gillingham 17.35a ~ 17.43d
Chatham Dockyard 17.50a ~ 18.12d
Queenborough 18.53a
Whiteways Crossing ??.?? ~ ??.??
Queenborough 19.11d
Sheerness Dockyard 19.18a ~ 19.25d
Sheerness-on-Sea 19.30a ~ 19.47d
Middle Jn 20.03 ~ 20.07
Sittingbourne 20.09a ~ 20.28d
Gravesend Central 21.00a


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