Paul_C Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Hi All, I'm modelling the Sheerness branch line as per 1959/60 and would like to get a true to life running number for a class 33 diesel. So, if anyone can give me a few suggestions to choose from I would be most grateful. I know that they didn't venture onto the Island until early 1960 when the new KF bridge opened as the old bridge couldn't take them. I think Q class hauled the freight until the new bridge was ready. Paul C. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithMacdonald Posted December 17, 2020 Share Posted December 17, 2020 Kent Rail suggests something : Quote On Monday 22nd June 1981, No. 33056 ''The Burma Star'' is seen approaching Rochester at 11:12, with Sheerness Steel scrap wagon No. PR3000. This is possibly a Willesden to Sheerness working. https://www.kentrail.org.uk/class_33.htm Based at Hither Green? https://www.brdatabase.info/locoqry.php?action=locodata&type=D&id=6574&loco=6574 More Class 33 based at Hither Green are listed here: https://www.brdatabase.info/sites.php?page=depots&subpage=locos&id=265 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul H Vigor Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Used to love watching Class 33s working over the New Forest at Ladycross/Woodfidley. Happy days of 1970s rail blue Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rivercider Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 (edited) Hither Green allocated locos would be most likely candidates. Have a search on Flickr, searching 'Hither Green 1960' brought up some photos, including a depot photo March 1960 with nice clean D6503 and D6505 in view, cheers Edited December 18, 2020 by Rivercider Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Chambers Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 I'm saying this with everything crossed 'cos the're very old memories but......I think the "new" bridge in the '60s was Queensferry, the old "rolling" bridge was Kingsferry and as C class 0-6-0s handled the passenger traffic with H class tanks, they would probably have handled the freight.I don't think the Q class was a Kentish beast. Best wishes and stay safe Tim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted December 18, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 18, 2020 6 hours ago, Tim Chambers said: I'm saying this with everything crossed 'cos the're very old memories but......I think the "new" bridge in the '60s was Queensferry, the old "rolling" bridge was Kingsferry and as C class 0-6-0s handled the passenger traffic with H class tanks, they would probably have handled the freight.I don't think the Q class was a Kentish beast. I think you'll find that they were both called Kingsferry. H and C Class were certainly 'favourites', according to my trainspotting classmates, in the late 50s and very early 60s. I'd expect (guesswork!) that any of the earliest batch of 33s would be likely candidates. Is there any evidence that the borrowed 24s were there, before the delivery of 33s? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul_C Posted December 18, 2020 Author Share Posted December 18, 2020 Wow, You guys have been working overtime so thank you for a fantastic response. (Tim) The new bridge is called Kingsferry as was the previous one but they were going to entitle the 1960 opening as Queensferry but for some reason that idea fell out of the sky. C and H Class certainly hauled most of the passenger services along with Ivatt 2MTs but Q class did do some of the freight runs as I have it from a reliable source who worked out of the Gillingham shed at the time. I've just bought a Heljan 33 showing a number of D6504 so reading your posts above I'm guessing that this number would have been there as well at that time. Thanks again for all your interesting comments. This shows it a million miles from being finished (lots of cosmetics to do) but it does lift electronically. The photos are not brilliant but will give you an idea. Paul C. 4 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Mick Bonwick Posted December 18, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 18, 2020 That's some construction! I could see this bridge from my parent's bedroom window when I lived in Gillingham, and used to cycle to it (not across it) on my Saturday bike trips. Doesn't help your modelling, but it brings back memories. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManofKent Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Nice job on the bridge. How far Kemsley/Queenborough way is the layout stretching? For many years there was an 08 operating or parked up between Queenborough and Sheerness to give you further variety, and you could add a stretch of the Bowater's Narrow Gauge - Ridham dock was pretty close to Swale. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyddrail Posted December 18, 2020 Share Posted December 18, 2020 Paul, I love your model of Kingsferry Bridge, but you have missed the buffers that cushion the span as it lands. You could add the tunnel under the baseboard too! Looks great, I used to manage the maintenance of the bridge until I took early retirement. Good luck. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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