Disused Stations: Brasted Station

Brasted Station Gallery 3: 1961 - Last Day

Looking east along Brasted's platform sometime in 1961 with the platform edge newly repainted. Commentators often pick up on work such as this being done just prior to a station closing, but it was mere coincidence and nothing to with alleged attempts to bolster any supposed deficit; those determined to close a railway or station being quite capable of doing that without the help of a tin of paint. Sharp-eyed readers may notice that the cable running from the telegraph pole (out of view to the left) to station building has gone by this time but a bracket and insulators for telephone wires had appeared on the rear corner of the building. It can be seen above the car, which appears to be an Austin A40 or perhaps an 1100. The rails are well polished but then the Westerham branch enjoyed a good service, generally hourly in each direction. Visible beyond the far end of the platform, the hut was originally a lamp room in the days when Brasted was oil-lit. Brasted had another 'hut'; an ex-SER van body, which sat behind the station building and out of view above.
photo from John Mann collection

Class H 0-4-4T No.31308 pauses at Brasted with a service to Dunton Green on 3 August 1961, two months prior to closure. At the far end of the train - Maunsell set which is standard for this era -the figure leaning out and looking back along the platform is probably the guard. With Brasted being an unstaffed halt by this time, train crew would have had sole responsibility for ensuring that all was well before the train continued on its way. This, of course, was the procedure at all unstaffed stations and remains so today but CCTV and power-operated doors have changed the nature of the task. To the left of No.31308 grass and weeds are growing. When the station was staffed this area was neatly maintained (see the circa 1900 and 1933 views) and the subsequent neglect was one of the drawbacks of unstaffed halts. Permanent way staff, however, generally kept track neat and tidy
for reasons of drainage.

photo from John Mann collection

Brasted station from the top of the approach road in September 1961, the month prior to closure. The notice on the fencing, left, is unfortunately impossible to read other than the second line which says 'Station', beneath which is an arrow pointing to the right. Behind the notice, the gas lamp bears the wooden backboard which once supported the 'target' nameplate which disappeared sometime in the late 1950s/early 1960s. The 'way out' gate adjacent to the building is something of a mystery in that it is not known precisely when it was installed. Photographs from the 1930s suggest fixed fencing was in place but the gate was present before the station became an unstaffed halt in 1955. The 'Way Out' sign was a later addition and appears to have been of Southern Railway origin. The goods yard is in the right background. It had no conventional goods shed, just a collection a three small sheds, one of which was the well-known ex-LB&SCR goods van body. Following closure the fencing in front of the goods yard was moved forward to the near end of the station building. Although by no means clear, the fencing, as seen above, appears to have included a gate across the back siding which extended a little further west than the other two sidings.
Photo from Jim Lake collection

Here is Class H No.31518 at Brasted with the 11.57am service to Westerham on the 28 October 1961, the final day of service. This locomotive had come onto the branch in place of No.31324 sometime during the morning, these changeovers being normal practice. At this stage in the game, No.31518 was yet to receive the patriotic decorations it bore for the final run of the push-and-pull service - duty 239. For reasons unknown, this locomotive always seemed the have a clean smokebox numberplate whereas others were often so grubby as to be difficult to read.

Photo by Ian Nolan from his Flickr photostream

One of several images showing Class H No.31518 at Brasted in the morning on the final day of service, 28 October 1961. On this occasion she carries the 'Flyer' inscriptions but has yet to receive the flag and bunting seen below. The goods yard, right background, appears to be quiet, perhaps because
it is a Saturday.
Photo by from John Mann collection

Our old friend, Class H No.31518, is seen at Brasted on 28 October 1961 with the 1.08pm service to Dunton Green on the final day of the service. On this occasion the locomotive has some bunting around the smokebox to complement the Union Flag. Numerous photographs exist showing No.31518 with flag but less often with the bunting: perhaps it dropped off somewhere along the way. The 'Flyer' inscription on the smokebox door is also familiar, but less well known is that the right-hand side tank was also suitably inscribed. One suspects this was applied at Westerham, the right-hand side of the locomotive being the platform side at that station. The train is Maunsell set No.610. Close examination of this image shows the driver or fireman fiddling with what looks like another length of bunting
on the side of the cab.
Photo by David Pearson

No.31518 again from a different angle for the final push-and-pull services on 28 October 1961. Just visible is the 'Flyer' inscription on the side of the tank. This appeared only on one side of the locomotive and is thought to have been applied at Westerham. Note that, as ever, the track is maintained in tidy condition including the ballast shoulders. The one-time station 'garden' on the far left has, however, seen better days. Work on it would have ceased after Brasted became an unstaffed halt in 1955.

Photo by Ian Nolan from his Flickr photostream

One of several images showing Class H No.31518 at Brasted on the final day of service, 28 October 1961, with Maunsell set No.610. The locomotive now carries the Union Flag but the bunting has yet to appear - or perhaps it had but had dropped off somewhere along the line.
Photo by from John Mann collection

Brasted station forecourt on the final day of service, 28 October 1961. Our old friend Class H No.31518 waits at the platform with the final push-and-pull train on the branch. On this occasion the locomotive is adorned with both Union Flag and bunting. The 'Way Out' sign appears to be a BR version, the previous incumbent having appeared to have been a Southern Railway type despite, photographs suggest, it not being fitted until sometime during the 1950s; the sign was not present in a 1952 view which has been seen but is not reproduced here. The estate car is either a Ford Squire or Escort. Both were based upon the Ford 100E saloon, with the Squire being the posh version and the Escort being the more basic, and thus cheaper, version. The vehicle can be seen lurking in several last-day views of Brasted. To the left, a drop-handlebar bicycle can be seen; perhaps it conveyed the young lad seen beneath the 'Way Out' sign to the station. Drop-handlebars had been around since the 1930s but they became popular from the 1960s onwards, especially with young people as they gave a sporty look and dispensed with that embarrassing 'district nurse sit-up-and-beg' image. Behind the fencing, right background, is what appears to be the ex-SER van body.

Photo by Ian Nolan from his Flickr photostream

Class H No.31518, is seen at Brasted on 28 October 1961 - the final day of the service. On this occasion the locomotive has some bunting around the smokebox to complement the Union Flag. Numerous photographs exist showing No.31518 with flag but less often with the bunting. Perhaps it dropped off somewhere along the way. The 'Flyer' inscription on the smokebox door is also familiar but less well known is that the right hand side tank was also suitably inscribed. One suspects this was applied at Westerham, the right hand side of the locomotive being the platform side at that station. The train is Maunsell set No.610.
Photo from Jim Lake collection

A final view of No.31518 as it propels Maunsell set No.610 past the east end of the Brasted goods yard with the 1.08pm service to Dunton Green on the last day of service. The loading gauge, right, is of the necessarily standard design insofar as the actual gauge is concerned but the bracket is of a rather unusual design which seems to have been peculiar to the South Eastern. However, no further details are known. A gauge of the same design was to be found at Westerham. The purpose of loading gauges was to ensure that wagons had not been loaded to the point beyond which they might strike such structures such as bridges and tunnels. The man standing on the right, apparently preparing to take a photograph, is clearly well within the loading gauge limits.
Photo by Ian Nolan from his Flickr photostream

Approaching Brasted, Westerham-bound, and passing the goods yard. The train appears to be BR MkI stock; this, and the number of people visible, strongly suggests that the photograph was taken on the final day of service, 28 October 1961. The two sidings on the left were those once connected at their outer ends to provide a loop. A wagon can be seen behind the station platform on No.1 siding. The building in the background is the stationmaster's house.
Copyright photo from Colour Rail 197522A

Click here for Brasted Station Gallery 4: Last Day - 1963

[Source: Nick Catford]