Saturday 2nd January 1954 by Ralph Gilliam

First published in issue 93 of The Tenterden Terrier Spring 2004
Reproduced with permission of then-editor Mr P D Shaw and current editor
Mr B Janes

Charing Cross had all the bustle of a mid-1950s London steam terminus as our train pulled out across the bridge bound for Tonbridge hauled by Battle of Britain No.34098.

At Tonbridge a change of trains saw our part continuing forward behind 31756 class L1 on a stopping train to Headcorn under a grey overcast January sky.

At Headcorn, for a few more hours a junction station for the K&ESR branch, awaited a rather special empty stock train, This appeared from the Ashford direction behind 30164, class 01, which detached itself, ran round the six coaches, coupled up to the rearmost and pushed them forward past the trailing connection to the K&ESR. Further manoeuvres found the train with its engine, tender first, ready to depart from the curving K&ESR platform. Whistles from the guard and locomotive urged the milling groups on the platform to board and shortly we were off aboard the last departure for Robertsbridge.

The short lengths of chaired bullhead rail laid on ash and in some places broken bricks and stones set the coaches swaying and gently bouncing up and down, while blackening smoke drifts through open windows to hang in corridors. This was always the prettiest half of the line, here even in winter; the closeness of the bare branched trees filled the landscape. Unlike the open water meadows of the Rother Valley section.

At stations empty sidings underlined the intention to “close to all traffic”, the section to Tenterden. The Biddenden loop found sister 01, 31065, and two very old LSWR coaches which sported full commode style door handles, waiting for our special to pass. Groups of people met and some joined our train from the grass grown platforms unaccustomed to so many intending passengers.

By the time we arrived at Rolvenden the train had become crowded with people of all ages intending to sample their local line for the last time. Here 31064 left the train and Terrier 32655 pulled all six coaches up to allow the other Terrier 32678 to join on at the rear.

In the gathering winter gloom, whistles were exchanged and the little engines gradually gathered themselves for the final public journey to Robertsbridge. At each station the crowds came; some to wave, some to squeeze aboard, and later the train, but what did it matter, the wake had become a festive occasion.

Darkness cloaked the Terriers and their six green coaches as they struggled up and round the last curve into a Robertsbridge that had expected it an hour earlier.

The platform looked more like an Ealing comedy in the making, Flares lit a bizarre scene, at centre stage was a territorial army unit complete with their rifles, already to salute the arrival and departure. On arrival they were overwhelmed with dozens of passengers emerging from the train in a mass scrum. It was like Dad’s Army meets St.

Trinians as, in the background, the by now empty coaches were shunted out to allow the Terriers to take water. Once this was done and the coaches filled up again, the ranks of the elderly Territorials were again infiltrated by locals eager to wave off the last train for Headcorn, causing the military to abandon their attempts to present arms for fear of injuring someone in the process.

For whistling heralded this, the final departure on a journey that would never be repeated in its entirety ever again; off into an all enveloping winter darkness. A darkness that saw long delays at wayside stations and level crossings as the train emptied little by little en route. Each time with smiles and friendly waves after an old friend they did not expect to see again.

At Rolvenden a lengthy delay while the 01 No.31064 took over from the leading Terrier, saw a double deck bus and quite a few cars held up at the level crossing until, with 32655 still coupled at the rear, the train left for Tenterden. Leaving behind in the yard 32678 and in some sidings two birdcage coaches, one a corridor version now rendered surplus by the closure.

A mighty struggle up the bank to Tenterden succeeded, amid showers of sparks from the two engines. Wisely it was decided to uncouple the banking engine, but allow it to continue banking as far as Tenterden St.Michael’s at least. Another final departure but now at each station it would become more muted as the realisation dawned on everyone that this was indeed final.