Guildford to Reigate (North Downs)
20th November 2006

Many hours were spent lineside on this route especially during 1992 and 1993 whilst working shifts. The attraction was two engineering trains eastbound and one return working each morining with booked cromptons as the traction. The first train was the Woking - Godstone returning aproximatley midday with a further train from Woking - Tonbridge, also by midday. Oher engineering trains appeared including a Wednesday only working. During 1993 class 37's became more common and there after the norm. Autumn brought a "leaf buster" and a sandite train in the form of a "thumper unit", autumn colurs making the line even more attractive. Additional to all this were the humble DMU's working the line to and from Reading. All these will be featured in the collection. Weekend visits were also made due to engineering work being a regular occurance, though a lot of patience was needed for any sucess. Although only a short route many locations were found to keep us returning for a few years. Most of the shots will feature the North Downs prominent as these hills run the lenth of the feaured line. One of the reasons I chose to show these photo's is that few people will be familiar with this attractive route and that for a period there were some great oppertunities to photogragh classic traction. One day I intend to return to some of the locations to remember how it was with that distinctive thrash in the distance of a class 33.

<-- Index | Showing 1-30 of 30 pictures | Index -->
33051 takes a long rake of bogie ballast wagons east past Abinger Hammer. 17/9/92
33051 takes a long rake of bogie ballast wagons east past Abinger Hammer. 17/9/92
 37891 passes Buckland wrong line after leaving the posession on Sunday 28/10/95.
37891 passes Buckland wrong line after leaving the posession on Sunday 28/10/95.
 37891 crawls past Abinger Hammer with a weekend engineering train. 4/11/95
37891 crawls past Abinger Hammer with a weekend engineering train. 4/11/95
 37375 passes Chilworth with a very light weight engineers from Woking. 1/7/93
37375 passes Chilworth with a very light weight engineers from Woking. 1/7/93
37245 approaches the end of the possesion wrong line at Abinger Hammer. The loco had ran light engine into the posession earlier in the day. 21/10/95
37245 approaches the end of the possesion wrong line at Abinger Hammer. The loco had ran light engine into the posession earlier in the day. 21/10/95
 37220 catches a spell of sun light at Buckland with a train for Godstone. By this time 37's were the booked traction. 21/10/93
37220 catches a spell of sun light at Buckland with a train for Godstone. By this time 37's were the booked traction. 21/10/93
 37077 acelerates past the crossing at Buckland with an engineering train, probably heading for Tonbridge Yard. 5/11/95
37077 acelerates past the crossing at Buckland with an engineering train, probably heading for Tonbridge Yard. 5/11/95
 73101 leads 73107 as they head back to Horsham at Abinger Hammer. The train would run out as far as Shalford and then head back. The train ran three times a week during the autumn. 28/10/92
73101 leads 73107 as they head back to Horsham at Abinger Hammer. The train would run out as far as Shalford and then head back. The train ran three times a week during the autumn. 28/10/92
33103 passes Buckland with the first train from woking. Ligher loading than usual. 23/10/92
33103 passes Buckland with the first train from woking. Ligher loading than usual. 23/10/92
 33047 heads for Godstone, again at Albury. 13/10/92
33047 heads for Godstone, again at Albury. 13/10/92
 33026 at Chilworth with the second eastbound train from Woking. 15/10/92
33026 at Chilworth with the second eastbound train from Woking. 15/10/92
 73129 and 37697 growl westwards away from Dorking with a weekend engineers train. The 73 was an unexpected bonus and was looking a little faded by this time. 26/10/97
73129 and 37697 growl westwards away from Dorking with a weekend engineers train. The 73 was an unexpected bonus and was looking a little faded by this time. 26/10/97
73101 leads 73107 past Albury with the return working of the leaf buster train. This was a regular working during the autumn on this route. 4/11/92
73101 leads 73107 past Albury with the return working of the leaf buster train. This was a regular working during the autumn on this route. 4/11/92
 An immaculate 37248 leads 37057 near Dorking with another weekend engineering train. 28/10/95
An immaculate 37248 leads 37057 near Dorking with another weekend engineering train. 28/10/95
 33118 passes Abinger Hammer with the second train from Woking. This unsual shot was due to waiting for a Wednesday only engineers. As I recall it was a Horsham - Woking working. Needsless to say it was light engine, howver the result of 33118 is ok. 28/10/92
33118 passes Abinger Hammer with the second train from Woking. This unsual shot was due to waiting for a Wednesday only engineers. As I recall it was a Horsham - Woking working. Needsless to say it was light engine, howver the result of 33118 is ok. 28/10/92
 33109 passes Albury with Woking - Tonbridge. 13/11/92
33109 passes Albury with Woking - Tonbridge. 13/11/92
A panoramic view of 33108 passing Abinger Hammer with a return working to Woking. 3/11/92
A panoramic view of 33108 passing Abinger Hammer with a return working to Woking. 3/11/92
 33051 passes Shere with the second of the westbound morning trains. 18/5/93
33051 passes Shere with the second of the westbound morning trains. 18/5/93
 33046 at Albury on the first engineers train being the Woking - Godstone. 14/11/92
33046 at Albury on the first engineers train being the Woking - Godstone. 14/11/92
 33002 and 33030 crawl past Abinger Hammer as they get ready to leave the possesion. 21/10/95
33002 and 33030 crawl past Abinger Hammer as they get ready to leave the possesion. 21/10/95
73101 heads away from the camera with 73107 past Abinger Hanner on their way to Shalford. 28/10/92
73101 heads away from the camera with 73107 past Abinger Hanner on their way to Shalford. 28/10/92
 Unit set L428 heads for gatwick as it passes Albury 12/11/93
Unit set L428 heads for gatwick as it passes Albury 12/11/93
 73129 leads 73108 past Albury with the
73129 leads 73108 past Albury with the "leaf buster" in perfect autumn light. 12/11/93
 73110 and 73101 pass Buckland with the leaf buster on another glorious autumn day of 1992. 23/10/92
73110 and 73101 pass Buckland with the leaf buster on another glorious autumn day of 1992. 23/10/92
47851 heads for Brighton at Buckland. Not the most interesting traction but all part of the story. 23/10/92
47851 heads for Brighton at Buckland. Not the most interesting traction but all part of the story. 23/10/92
33108 passes Abinger Hammer with the first train off Woking. 28/10/92
33108 passes Abinger Hammer with the first train off Woking. 28/10/92
 33008 passes Shere with the first morning train from Woking. 4/11/92
33008 passes Shere with the first morning train from Woking. 4/11/92
 33008 passes Buckland heading for Godstone. 26/10/92
33008 passes Buckland heading for Godstone. 26/10/92
Ex DEMU 1067, now a sandite unit goes away from the camera at Buckland. This train again would go as far as Shalford before returning. 23/10/92
Ex DEMU 1067, now a sandite unit goes away from the camera at Buckland. This train again would go as far as Shalford before returning. 23/10/92
 33204 passes Abinger Hammer heading west on a typical weekend engineering train.4/11/95
33204 passes Abinger Hammer heading west on a typical weekend engineering train.4/11/95
© 1998-2009 Dean Cornthwaite - All copyrights rest with the Author
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