| Thanks to Roger Smith for allowing me to host these pictures, and for the information about the chapter of events at Lenham.
These pictures were all taken in 1987 during a period of extremely severe wintry weather, when the whole of the centre of Kent was cut off from both east and west. Most of these shots show the rescue of 33061 and a snow plough which had become stuck near Lenham on 15th January. The first five shots are at Maidstone, and the last one is a view at Queenborough. |
Maidstone East station from the road bridge, showing an 8-CEP in the siding. 800x542 F0942.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
The same 8 CEP from the opposite direction. Not a lot has moved in the back roads here! 800x547 F0943.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
Trains from London were terminating and starting back from Maidstone East for about a week. An unidentified "Jaffa Cake" liveried CEP waits departure in the up platform. 800x547 F0944.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
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The snow blower from the Highlands waiting in the through road at Maidstone East for despatch towards Lenham. 800x547 F0945.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
A second view of the same snow blower in the same place. 800x546 F0946.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
This map of the Charing to Lenham section of the line shows where the recovery took place from - thanks to Brian Stephenson for specific clarification. 800x563 F0946a.jpg 1987-01-20 00:00:00 |
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At the scene of the snowed-in snow plough. The snow blower had come up from Ashford and cleared the up line first. 800x545 F0947.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
The down line was well and truly blocked by the Class 33 and its snow ploughs. 800x546 F0948.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
33061 in close-up; the crew had to be airlifted out by helicopter on 15th January, but this was about a week later, I think. 800x544 F0949.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
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We're looking towards Lenham Forstal Road bridge here (again, thanks to Brian Stephenson for clarification). 800x543 F0950.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
33061 from the other side is only just visible in the snowdrift. 800x547 F0951.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
Another angle on 33061 in the drift. 544x800 F0952.jpg 1987-01-20 00:00:00 |
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Look closely at the "graffiti" on the hut - it says "We're getting there"! This was an advertising catchphrase of the time. 482x431 F0953.jpg 1987-01-20 00:00:00 |
The three figures on the top of the snowdrift seem to be having some kind of a planning meeting. 800x546 F0954.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
47131, having arrived wrong road from the Ashford direction, is now on site. Let digging commence! 800x548 F0955.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
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47131 against the sheer wall of snow approaching the trapped snow plough. The whole event was filmed for "Railscene". 800x547 F0956.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
The caption could be "What next, Fred?" 800x547 F0957.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
The first serious efforts to dig out the snow plough at the Ashford end of the trapped train. 800x545 F0958.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
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A cable was attached to 47131 to drag the country end snowplough from 33061, which had now been restarted, without any trouble, I understand. 800x544 F0959.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
The snow plough being dragged away from 33061; meanwhile the snowblower has arrived from Maidstone East, causing a blizzard of its own! 800x545 F0960.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
The dragging operation about to begin in earnest, now that someone has switched off the snowblower! 800x547 F0961.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
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Ready to drag! A collection of spectators are visible on the bridge in the distance, along with the snowblower's support train. 800x548 F0962.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
The snowblower's support train was formed of 2 more "Cromptons" and a couple of coaches. 800x546 F0963.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
The snowblower in action, clearing the down line. 800x544 F0964.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
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33061 appears free to move, but couldn't, so the snowblower came in closer, but it was manual digging that finally freed the train, by which time the light had faded. 800x542 F0965.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
Queenborough on the Sheerness branch around the same period of time. 800x544 F0966.jpg 1987-01-01 00:00:00 |
