Bill Curtis: “…I travelled with my father on the Westerham branch in the summer of 1959 and as we were the only passengers boarding the empty train at Dunton Green, we were invited by the driver to accompany him and his fireman in the cab for the journey – what a treat! Suffice it to ...
Reference: WH0113
Introduced in the early 1930s, ‘H’ Class locomotives were popular amongst the crews from Tonbridge shed. Being of 0-4-4T wheel configuration and tank-engines (no tender), they were stable and easy to manoeuvre in both directions, there being no turntable on the line.
Reference: WH0116
Clearly an example of ‘time on your hands’, the attractive station garden opposite the platform at Brasted. With one train an hour, plenty of time to do the weeding.
Reference: WH0118
This locomotive worked out of Tonbridge shed between July 1953 to June 1956 and then again between March 1961 to the end of operations in October 1961. It was ‘Push-and-Pull’ fitted in June 1953 for branch-line use.
Reference: WH0120
An annual occasion for the men’s section of the RBL branch.
Reference: 0065
members of the ‘Senior’ Youth Club in 1952 L-R back Roger Mills, Bob Draper, Derek Crouch, John Pickett, Jim Morgan, Donald Gibbs, Arthur Abbot L-R front Jane Gill, Mary Benson, Betty Carey, Audrey Taylor, Derek Taylor, Kathleen Barnes, Doris Jarrett Peter Myhill “…much against my better judgement I was made secretary of the Youth Club in the last ...
Reference: 0061
a keen camera group from the Senior Youth Club in 1952 – gaberdine raincoats a ‘must’ for the boys standing L-R Harold Cuckow, not known, Brenda Austin, Doris Jarrett and Mick Griffiths front Donald Gibbs and Len Jupp
Reference: 0062
Armistice Day is commemorated every year on November 11th to remember the armistice signed between the Allies and Germany for the cessation of hostilities at the Western Front of WWI. This took effect at eleven o’clock in the morning, signified by ‘…the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month of 1918’ Westerham has always ...
Reference: 0064
In the Coronation year of Queen Elizabeth II, a smart new ‘Taylor Walker’ lorry from the Black Eagle brewery makes its way through Market Square. We are informed ‘Beer is Best’, but it is impossible to see what the theme of the float was.
Reference: WH0697
From Percy Reid’s ‘Churchill Townsman of Westerham’: “…Already on his second visit, Churchill’s interest in the carnival was obvious He chatted for some minutes with the year’s carnival queen Jacqueline Musaphia, commented to those near him that entries seemed more numerous than the year before, and gained great laughs from the crowd when, referring to ...
Reference: WH0700