Off To Work We Go - a photo on Flickriver

Off To Work We Go

            'Crompton' 33 004 picks up commuters at Sanderstead whilst working the 08.26 from East Grinstead to London Bridge in November 1985.

The Oxted line to East Grinstead and Uckfield played host to a few loco-hauled commuter services in the morning and evening peak periods. These trains, which were all worked by class 33s, would terminate in platforms 7 or 8 at London Bridge. A turnover loco would run from the short loco siding and work the ecs to the down sidings at New Cross Gate (the site is now London Overground's depot for it's fleet of East London Line class 378 'Electrostar' units). The train loco would then run into the loco siding to await the next arrival. The last arrival of the morning would be 'top and tailed' to New Cross Gate sidings. A reverse operation would occur for the evening peak services. Locomotives would run round their coaches at East Grinstead, which had about 3 loco-worked services each peak and also at Uckfield which had a single working in the morning and evening.

Services were booked to be formed of an '8 Set H' formation of 3 TSO, 1BSK, 1FK, 3TSO. All vehicles being Mk1 except for the Mk2 FK.

I'd often travel on the 17.20 from London Bridge, which ran fast to East Croydon, Oxted, Hurst Green, Edenbridge Town and Eridge from where I would alight and visit The Huntsman pub very close to the station and run by the very friendly Brian & Viv. A couple of pints of King & Barnes Bitter would be consumed, as well as a meal whilst the 17.20 continued to Uckfield and the loco would run round it's train in the former down platform, then propel it's stock to the south end of the station before crossing into the up platform for it's next working. This working would run as a stopping service to Oxted (I'd join the train at Eridge suitably refreshed) and then fast to East Croydon where it would terminate and run ecs to New Cross Gate.

Eridge station is now an interchange with the Spa valley Railway, so still sees class 33 activity, as well as other diesels and small steam locos. The Huntsman pub still survives, but Brian & Viv have long moved on and King & Barnes brewery is sadly no more. Uckfield line trains are now solely worked by Southern class 171 units which ain't quite the same!

Taken in: United Kingdom / England / London / South Croydon (show map)

Taken on: November 1, 1985

Tags:

Sanderstead

Railway

Station

Class_33

Diesel

Locomotive « less

Sets appears in: • Class 33 • Diesel Locomotives more » • Photo Photos • Railways (Diesel) « less

Groups appears in: • UK Railways • Southern Railway more » • The Railway Age • Loco Hauled passenger Trains • Rail UK: The Railways of South London • UK Class 33 • Loco hauled passenger services the southern region 1980's • British Rail 1980's the Southern Region « less

Camera: Fujifilm FinePix HS10 HS11, f/9.0, 1/40 sec, 30.3mm, ISO 100 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Fujifilm FinePix HS10 HS11
Aperture:	f/9.0
Exposure Time:	0.025 sec (1/40)
Focal Length:	30.3mm
ISO:	100
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Manual
Exposure Mode:	Manual
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Embettered by PicMonkey. http://www.picmonkey.com
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