Who’d have thought back then the 73s would still be around in this day and age. Not only in Tonbridge and the south but in the whole country. Amazing loco.
Spent many an hour around Tonbridge station when I was young. Mind you this was long before this film was taken. I remember bunking of school at Sussex Rd, hiding in the long grass opposite, the, what was then the lever box to watch the the Bullied Pacific’s make a slippery start around the Hildenborough curve. We were schooled to the the continual noise of the 0-6-0 shutters making up trains in the goods yard. Ah, those were the days. Thanks for sharing. All the best. Mick.
What great footage! It makes me wish I'd paid more attention to diesel activity when it was there instead of sneering at at it because it wasn't steam. Now its all gone.
Lovely video. We were spoilt for choice with great loco's back then.. not like the boring bland ones of today. Loved the way he Buffered up gently, 33 to 73,,, quality. Thanks for posting.
Thank's Ian, and yes certainly not the same these days although quite a different variety of rolling stock these days! I hope you have been watching some of my other stuff!
As a train spotter from the 80's, I can say that freight was almost exclusively hauled in this area by 33's and 73's. Occasionally a '47 would appear and that was exciting. Never tired of watching them, and listening to that Sulzer sound of the 33's though. I grew up in Paddock Wood but I regularly visited Tonbridge with my spotter books. A visit to the West Yard bridge would throw up some 08 and 09 shunters of Course and the odd 'exotic' visitor, like a '37 (rare). it was also a good place to get the Eastleigh 33's and 73's as they would rarely venture beyond the yard down to my hometown station of Paddock Wood, but hauled freight into and out of the yard down the Redhill line onto the western part of the Southern network.
Brilliant stuff. Ah plenty of memories there, my local spot in 80's/90's. Thats monday, i was there on the weds foting the 47's haha. First days of the 37 route-learning there, and the civils 56's were a daily feature by then. Cant believe its that long ago they quadrupled the track up to Barden Park rd bridge for the impending Eurostars lol! Dont time fly cripes!! Quality stuff sir, i shall watch it again now :D
Thank you sir for your nice words! I think that was my only visit there as well although in those days with the good old NSE Card ? I did travel quite a bit around the NSE area! I hope you have been enjoying some of my other stuff!
Impressive work. As a Southern man from early 70s good to see film of our work horses 4 Ceps. Interesting to see the footage of the train pull up at the London end of Tonbridge station and the workman get out the cab and make his Way to the platform. Authorised walking route ?…. Thanks and take care.
Awesome video,be interesting to know where the civil engineers( Dutch) livery class 56 came from and what depot during its time was stationed at.i know the 33s,73s were Stewart's lanes engines.
