25 February 1962 — The Kentish Venturer Rail Tour

June 1962 would see the official completion of Phase 2 of the Kent Coast Electrification Scheme although, in reality, by the spring of that year there were very few steam workings in Kent with the exception of local services around Tonbridge and Tunbridge Wells West. What few remained would be swept away by the introduction of additional Type 3 diesels, the narrow version of which would eliminate the last steam workings on the Hastings line.

A steam ban through various South Eastern Division tunnels, following the introduction of colour light signalling, no doubt prompted the LCGB to run The Kentish Venturer Rail Tour (Farewell to Steam) on 25 February 1962 rather than wait until June. The weather responded with snow falling in East Kent!

The tour started at Victoria, as shown in the photograph, with ex-SR N15 (King Arthur class) 4‑6‑0 30782 Sir Brian of Bournemouth shed (71B) on nine coaches. It would run down the former LCDR main line to Ramsgate, continuing via Deal, Dover Priory and Folkestone Central to Ashford.
After a visit to Ashford Works the tour continued to New Romney and back to Appledore behind ex-SECR H 0‑4‑4T 31263 and ex-SECR C 0‑6‑0 31690, both based at Ashford (73F). Waiting there, to take the train back to Charing Cross was ex-SR V (Schools class) 30926 Repton of Bricklayers Arms (73B). The tour ran late for much of the journey, arrival time at the London terminus being 6.17pm rather than the scheduled 5.26pm.

Only two of the four locomotives used that day were scrapped. 31690 was withdrawn in June 1962 whilst 30782 followed in September 1962, being cut up at Ashford and Eastleigh Works respectively. 30926, after withdrawal in December 1962, was used both in the USA and Canada before returning to the UK and the North Yorkshire Moors Railway. 31263 was withdrawn in January 1964 and after a spell at Robertsbridge and the Ashford Steam Centre is now resident on the Bluebell Railway.

Photo Credit: JJ Smith [046100]