Dunton Green Station Gallery 3: After April 1960 - Last Day green_old30.jpg) ‘Occasional sunny spells between heavy shows, winds light, south-easterly, pressure 25 inches falling slowly, chance of thunder. ‘This would appear to have been the forecast on the day the above photograph was taken as a Class H tank and Maunsell set waits at Dunton Green between forays on the Westerham branch. The various concrete items scattered around are visible in many views taken towards and on closure day and seemingly in the same positions. This view therefore dates from the final few months of the Westerham branch. Certainly the date is post-April 1960 when this locomotive, No.31263, was push-and-pull fitted. She had been one of a handful of the class to be so-fitted quite late and she went on to become the only member of the class to survive into preservation, her final job for BR being on Tunbridge Wells West - East Grinstead - Three Bridges services until January 1964. Reports conflict regarding what happened to her next. Some reports say that she was stored at Dunton Green while others insist that, to all intents and purposes, she spent a period dumped at Robertsbridge before moving to Ashford. Whichever story is correct, she ultimately went to the Bluebell Railway where she remains, splendidly restored in SE&CR livery at the time of writing. One of the Maunsell push-and-pull driving trailers has also survived and is currently awaiting restoration to a 2-car set at the Swanage Railway. It is, however, No.619 and not the set familiar on the Westerham branch, No.610,
Photo from David Glasspool collection green_old31.jpg) Here is No.31263 again and almost certainly at the same time as the picture above at Dunton Green. Here she is seen departing for Westerham with a number of enthusiasts present. The apparent bilious colour of the locomotive's tank is, in fact, a reflection. Although we must be grateful to those who took these photographs over half a century ago, it is unfortunate that not all have survived with details. No.31263 was a Tonbridge locomotive from April 1960 so her presence on the Westerham branch is nothing remarkable, but her spruced-up condition and the presence of enthusiasts suggest that there was something special about the occasion. Possibly it was nothing more than a visit to the branch by one of the established railway clubs whichwould probably have informed BR in advance. BR was often very good at making a little extra effort when they knew of a pending railway club visit.
Photo from David Glasspool collection green_old36.jpg)
Sometime in 1961, but not on the final day of the Westerham branch service, Class H No.31324 is coming either onto or off the branch at Dunton Green. Duty 239, a middle turn, involved other work in addition to a stint on the Westerham branch. The branch service had ran basically hourly, but in the final years there were a number of Saturday-only journeys which meant gaps in the Monday to Friday service, this being not uncommon on branches in areas just outside London where much of the traffic was in the peak hours. The signal which is 'off' in the left background was Dunton Green down home signal and applied to the main line. Adjacent to it, a new colour-light signal can be seen. As with that in the right foreground, it was awaiting commissioning. The notice partly obscured by the signal post was of Southern Railway origin and warned that 'passengers must not cross the line here'. The sign bearing the numbers 10, 8 and 6 informed drivers where to stop their passenger trains, the numbers referring to train lengths in number of carriages. The suburban electric multiple units which served Dunton Green could be coupled together as traffic levels demanded. The units which operated following electrification of the two routes to Sevenoaks in 1935 were 3-car (3-SUB) types. These 3-car sets eventually disappeared as they were strengthened to 4-car by the insertion of an additional trailer. Thereafter suburban units were of 2 or 4-car formation with trains formed of any combination. Photographers and enthusiasts generally ignore suburban trains, the result being photographs of the older units, which were in their own way quite full of character, at Dunton Green are few and far between and this is a great shame. The new post directly ahead of the camera is curious. It was for an Up Starting colour-light signal for the Westerham branch. It was later fitted with a signal head, only to be removed again just prior to closure of the branch. One possible reason for the abortive installation of this signal may have been the intended continued use of the branch track through the platform to access the goods sidings following closure of the branch beyond this point. This did indeed happen but the sidings lasted only until April 1962. This may not have been foreseen at the time the colour-light signal was installed but once closure of the sidings was announced the resignalling was dropped as an unjustified expense. Following removal of the colour-light signal and until closure of the sidings it is assumed the Up Starting semaphore signal remained in use. What signalling arrangements were put in place for the subsequent reopening of the sidings are not known.
Photo from Mike Morant collection green_old12.jpg) A train-less view of the branch platform at Dunton Green on a pleasant August day in 1961. The wooden building appears to be well maintained and on the right, bearing a British Railways noticeboard, is what constituted most of Dunton Green's goods facilities. The station handled only general goods and parcels. The spur to the goods siding can be seen branching off, bottom right. In the background the colour-light signal which was due to replace the adjacent semaphore can be seen. The signal box closed in 1973 when the signalling was converted to fully automatic operation, colour-light signals at this location being initially semi-automatic. It is not clear in this view if the lamp standards, background, bear BR totem nameplates.
Copyright photo from Colour Rail 112788 green_old7.jpg) A September 1961 view of the Westerham branch train at Dunton Green. The train is one of the Maunsell sets and the Class H locomotive appears to be No.31308. She is in lined BR black and looks quite smart, other than around the smokebox which shows signs of overheating. This would occur if ash was allowed to build up in the smokebox. In the left background Dunton Green's Saxby & Farmer style signal box can be seen. It replaced the original three-storey Stevens box which stood in the 'V' between main and branch lines. Also visible is a colour-light signal which will presumably replace the adjacent semaphore signal. This was the year in which electrification was extended beyond Sevenoaks to Dover. The colour-light signalling at Dunton Green was commissioned early in 1962 and was of the semi-automatic type. Signals of this type changed to red automatically following the passage of a train but had to be manually changed to green by the signalman.
Photo from John Mann collection green_old2.jpg) Here is our old friend Class H No.31518 with Maunsell set at Dunton Green. Compare this view to the similar, but black and white, view taken in September 1961. The concrete conduit and other items lying around suggest that this colour view was taken around the same time. Had the Westerham branch preservation scheme succeeded, a sight little different to this would have been seen today although not with No.31518. However, as BR continued to use Dunton Green goods yard for a further decade or so after the branch closed one wonders precisely what operating agreements would have been put into place as private railways were not permitted to operate over tracks in use by BR.
As can be seen, by this date the Up Starting colour-light signal for the branch
has now received its head. Photo from Jim Lake collection green_old16.jpg) A somewhat grubby Class H No.31324 waits at Dunton Green while working on the Westerham branch. Business would appear to be quite brisk, but then this was the final day of the Westerham branch service, 28 October 1961. This locomotive had spent odd periods at Tonbridge shed between flitting around several other sheds and seemed to be one of those locomotives which no shed wished to keep for very long. This was quite common with some locomotives, ostensibly identical, within a class having a better reputation than others. Of note in this view is that No.31324 is not carrying a shedplate on her smokebox. This locomotive worked the early turn on the final day of the branch and was later replaced by No.31518. Other views show the change-over in progress. The bases of the canopy support columns have long since lost their wartime white paint, applied to make them more visible during the blackout. Once a common sight was oil lamps lingering on platforms awaiting their next duties and one can be seen on the right, in front of the small staff room.
Photo from Ted Burgess green_old18.jpg) This and a handful of other views show a locomotive changeover in progress at Dunton Green on the final day of the Westerham branch service. Above, No.31518 is backing up to Maunsell set 610 having taken over from No.31324. The fireman watches from the cab as another member of staff waits by the carriages to couple-up. A group of what are, presumably, enthusiasts watches from the platform. The locomotive was yet to receive its inscriptions and patriotic decorations as seen in numerous other views. On the right, Dunton Green's small goods shed is seen. Although by no means clear we can also see the 'dumb' end of the Maunsell set with the plated-over former corridor connection just discernible.
Photo from Ted Burgess green_old19.jpg) Locomotive changeover in progress at Dunton Green on the final day of the Westerham branch service. No. 31324 had worked the early services on the branch that day, with No.31518 taking over later. Here, the latter has coupled up to the train while the former waits to proceed onto the main line to
return to Tonbridge. Photo from Ted Burgess green_old20.jpg) Locomotive changeover in progress at Dunton Green on the final day of the Westerham branch service. Above is a further view of No.31518, right, and No.31324, left. The latter has probably been held on the loop to await the passing of the main line train seen in the background before being given the road to return to Tonbridge, this move requiring crossing over and reversing on the main line.
Photo from Ted Burgess green_old21.jpg) Locomotive changeover in progress at Dunton Green on the final day of the Westerham branch service, 28 October 1961. In this view No.31324 has disappeared, probably on her way back to Tonbridge, while No.31518 has drawn her train forward and awaits departure for Westerham.
Photo from Ted Burgess green_old24.jpg) Dunton Green branch platform on the final day of the Westerham branch service, 28 October 1961, with Class H No.31518 and Maunsell set 610 about to operate the 11:50 service to Westerham. This train was to make two further trips on the branch before being replaced by the main line set. The wooden platform edging is clear in this view as are a handful of enthusiasts. These people got everywhere, as photographs in these pages show, but it is not clear if the person hanging from the side of the train is an enthusiast or one of the train crew. Under magnification the chap on the left with his left arm in the air appears to be carrying a portable radio on his right arm. It could also be a portable tape recorder although it looks a little too small for this.
Photo by Ian Nolan from his Flickr photostream Click here for Dunton Green Station Gallery 4:
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