Disused Stations: Brasted Station

Brasted Station Gallery 5: 1963 - September 1967

Sometime in 1963 the Railmobile arrives at Brasted from Westerham. Motive power on this occasion was the Ford Consul, SJG 142, with soft-top down despite it apparently being a damp day. It is likely the Railmobile was stationary and the car's soft-top folded back only to allow a clearer photograph of the arrangements at Brasted. On the track ahead is not what, at first glance, looks like a second trolley but it is a structure built on the track to facilitate positioning of the car. The various films made at the time were very clever regarding what was and what not shown. One thing not shown was what happened following arrival at Brasted; for example, it is possible the structure on the track was never used and thus was merely for show. On the one hand it is difficult to see what the car could have done once driven onto the platform and on the other, the Railmobile trolley only had rollers at one end (its Westerham end) so at Brasted it would not have been possible to turn the car and drive it forwards to return to Westerham. Therefore the Railmobile must have returned to Westerham whilst being driven in reverse! Unloading the car and then physically lifting and turning the trolley may have been possible providing those doing the lifting had eaten their three Shredded Wheat but, as this would necessitate turning the trolley by the same means at Westerham, it is highly unlikely. It seems that BR gave consent only for the Railmobile to run between Westerham and Brasted. If this be the case, BR would almost certainly have required some form of physical boundary or bufferstop and the structure on the track may have served this purpose. The various impracticalities of the Railmobile have been touched on elsewhere but it is worth noting that at least one film shows the trolley moving after the car driving wheels had stopped revolving, indicating that the wheels had locked and trolley was sliding along the rails. Therein lies one of the fundamental problems with lightweight railway vehicles. The solution might have been a much heavier trolley but that in turn would require a more powerful car which itself might be heavier; and so it would go on until the final result ended up more akin to a conventional railway vehicle which would require proper railway skills to operate. On that basis alone we think
we can say 'case rested'

Brasted station building and forecourt area in 1965, some four years after closure and looking in the direction of Dunton Green. Although there is much evidence of dereliction with smashed windows and weeds, this side of the station was rather less derelict than the track side. Brasted station building was similar to that at Westerham but a little narrower and, of course, orientated differently being on the south side of the line. Both were 70ft in length as built but that at Westerham was later extended. This building and that at Westerham were deliberately constructed with economy in mind, unlike on many railways where solid and rather grand structures were provided with, often, nods to the local gentry. Nevertheless, Westerham branch buildings served their purpose perfectly adequately.
Photo by Chris Jenner

A disused Brasted station sometime in 1965 when the track was still in situ, looking towards Westerham. Since closure in 1961 the only rail vehicle, if that is what one may call it, to visit Brasted was the Railmobile but by this time even that had probably spluttered its last. After closure, as with elsewhere on the branch, fittings had been removed but, left, Brasted's distinctive running-in board remained. This comprised individual letters, probably of metal, screwed to a backboard which resembled the style of the canopy valance. One might be forgiven for wondering if the board was indeed once a section of valance but close examination shows it was to a slightly different design. Not immediately obvious above is a lamp standard, minus lamp, standing in front of the bushes directly ahead of the camera. The scene above is decidedly rural: Brasted station stood at what was then a fairly remote spot to the north of the village it served. Today traffic of the M25 roars through this location, no doubt watched by unmarked police vehicles with a plethora of cameras - a far cry from the days of the little push-and-pull trains.
Photo by Chris Jenner

The Station Road bridge just west of Brasted station, seen here in 1965. The station is in the distance but obscured by undergrowth. The telegraph pole, to the left of the track in the distance, stood opposite the station building. The M25 motorway bridge now occupies this spot but the main bulk of the bridge is a little to the left. Track-lifting started at the east end of the branch in the summer of 1965 so it is possible that lifting had begun at Dunton Green by this time.

Photo by Chris Jenner

An undated view of Brasted station looking towards Westerham. Compare this view to that from 1965 taken from the same spot but with the track still in situ. Above, some sleepers can be seen dumped on the right while sleeper indents are clearly visible in the ballast in front of the platform. Track-lifting began at the Dunton Green end and worked back to Westerham. It is known that by no later than 1965 the cutting at Chevening had been infilled. It is possible track-lifting between Chevening and Westerham waited a little longer but, in any event, all track had certainly gone by 1966. In view of the above image suggesting that the track had been lifted recently a date of 1966 seems likely. The infilling of Chevening cutting seems to have been treated with some urgency which, given that Chevening is close to Dunton Green, may explain why track-lifting commenced at Dunton Green.

photo from John Mann collection

Looking east towards the forecourt side of Brasted station at the same time as the picture above. The fencing on the right seems to have been installed after closure, and part of it is of the familiar Southern Railway style so may been removed from another part of the station site. On the left, the familiar shape of the rear of the road vehicle tells us it is a Morris Minor, or Morris 1000, van. Behind the van lurks another form of transport, a bicycle; one of them probably belongs to the photographer. Readers are reminded that Brasted station officially became a halt in 1955 but the term 'station' is used in these image captions for convenience and continuity.
photo from John Mann collection

A further 1966 view of a derelict Brasted station from the trackside. In the years since closure the fencing on the right had clearly taken a battering. Beneath the canopy is what appears to be a suspended sign. It is a piece of wood that once held one of the Southern Railway 'target' signs'
photo from John Mann collection

In September 1967, we are looking along the length of Brasted's platform towards Westerham. The trackbed shows evidence of use by road vehicle. Platform edge stones are still in situ but the encroaching grass and weeds behind them would likely soon to conceal them.
Photo by Nick Catford

Brasted in September 1967 looking north-west towards Dunton Green. At the far end of the platform the lamp room hut still stands. The platform surface would appear to have had a cobbled surface opposite what had been the way out after September 1955.
Photo by Nick Catford

Brasted in September 1967 looking towards Dunton Green. At the far end of the platform the hut still stands. The photographer certainly chose some inclement days for his photographs.
Photo by Nick Catford

The rear of the station building and the now-fenced former goods yard at Brasted in September 1967. The nearest window on the rear of the building has been covered with what looks like corrugated iron sheeting. This would seem to be a pointless move as the other window, left, appears to have left the interior open to the elements. Note the car tucked in between lorry and station building. In the right background some hoppers can be seen. These would have been kept filled from a coal stockpile for discharging into lorries. The coal merchant operating from the yard at this time appears to be G Bowser Ltd. George Bowser had an office in Westerham High Street and also became a local coach operator.
Photo by Nick Catford

By September 1967 Brasted's original running-in board, which had been hidden behind the BR version, had become quite dilapidated. One of Bowser's coal lorries is seen in the background.
Photo by Nick Catford

Click here for Brasted Station Gallery 6: August 1968 - 1976

[Source: Nick Catford]