Faversham early 80s. The one class 47 a day from Dover, memories/pictures/details?

[SouthernBlue80s]

Hi all

When I was in my teens very early 80s. I used to head to Faversham many days in the Summer to see the one class 47 that used to come up from Dover. From memory it headed through at about 11.00 ish. It was exotic in amongst the sea of units. I think it used to head to Action or Willesden?

 

This is just a bit of nostaglia on my part. I always remember when the guy in Faversham box let me set the points for it one day. It was 47233 that day. He was a bit of an enthusiast I gathered. It was a great memory for a young 15/16 year old lad.

 

Has anyone more details of exactly what the working was? any pictures? any records of the locos seen.

[SED Freightman]

The train you saw would have been 6V40 1053 (SX) Dover Town to Acton Yard ABS (air braked service), which was booked to pass Faversham at 11/43 and called en route at Hoo Junction 1230 - 1315. The service appears in the freight WTT commencing 01/06/1981, but may also have appeared in earlier editions, and ran until 03/07/1982.  From Monday 05/07/1982 the service was retimed to depart Dover Town at 0850 and was worked by a class 33, at least as far as Hoo Junction.

[Simon Lee]

Slight amendment to the previous post, the train was actually 6S73 1053 Dover Town - Mossend, the loco arrived Dover off 6O50 0150 Severn Tunnel Jn to Dover. 

 

6V40 was the 0840 Dover - Acton.

I started at Dover in the TOPS in September 1981, and remember producing lists for both services, the S73 having a gross train weight of 1090 tonnes, whereas all 33 hauled trains were 910 tonnes all up.

[SED Freightman]

20 hours ago, Simon Lee said:

Slight amendment to the previous post, the train was actually 6S73 1053 Dover Town - Mossend, the loco arrived Dover off 6O50 0150 Severn Tunnel Jn to Dover. 

 

6V40 was the 0840 Dover - Acton.

I started at Dover in the TOPS in September 1981, and remember producing lists for both services, the S73 having a gross train weight of 1090 tonnes, whereas all 33 hauled trains were 910 tonnes all up.

Interesting, I have dug out my old timetables for another look and they show the following :-

 

WTT valid 01/06/1981 to 04/10/1981

6S73 0855 (SX) Dover Town to Dundee - Air Braked Service via Ashford, booked for class 73 to Hither Green.

6V40 1053 (SX) Dover Town to Acton Yd - Air Braked Service via Faversham 11/43, Hoo Jn 1230-1315, booked for class 47 (ex 6O50 0150 (SX) Severn Tunnel Jn to Dover Town arr.0924)

 

WTT valid 05/10/1981 to 16/05/1982

6S73 0855 (SX) Dover Town to Dundee West - Air Braked Service via Ashford, booked for class 73 to Hither Green.  From 01/03/1982 this service was retimed to start 0850 and run via Faversham 09/38 and Hoo Jn 1032-1148, booked for a class 73 to Hoo Jn.

6V40 1053 (SX) Dover Town to Acton Yd - Air Braked Service via Faversham 11/43, Hoo Jn 1230-1315, booked for class 47 (ex 6O50 0150 (SX) Severn Tunnel Jn to Dover Town arr.0924)

 

WTT valid 17/05/1982 to 04/07/1982

6S73 0850 (SX) Dover Town to Dundee West - Air Braked Service via Faversham 09/38, Hoo Jn 1030-1145, booked for a class 73 to Hoo Jn.

6V40 1053 (SX) Dover Town to Acton Yd - Air Braked Service via Faversham 11/43, Hoo Jn 1200-1315, booked for class 47  (ex 6O50 0150 (SX) Severn Tunnel Jn to Dover Town arr.0928).

 

WTT valid 05/07/1982 to 15/05/1983

6V40 0845 (SX) Dover Town to Acton Yard - Air Braked Service via Faversham 09/38, Hoo Jn 1030-1145, booked for SR loco.

6S73 1053 Dover Town to Mossend Yd - Air Braked Service via Faversham 11/43 and Sole Street, presumably worked by a 47 to Willesden.

 

Copy of WTT Supplement No.1 confirming date of alteration to 6S73 & 6V40.

 

Edited September 16, 2019 by SED Freightman
Highlight WTT dates

[SouthernBlue80s]

Thanks for the information.

Does anyone have any pictures?

 

Here is 47233 at some point in the early 80s at Faversham

 

 

 

[ManofKent]

Times sound about right. Lots of 73's and 33's passed Canterbury (East Line) but just one 47 a day.