Tonbridge West Yard

Kent Rail

Tonbridge West Yard

TOPS Code: TG

In 1940, the Southern Railway published the report ''Alternative Routes for Traffic Across River Thames'', which outlined wartime diversions that could be taken to keep freight traffic out of the capital. Part of this scheme included stabling and sorting goods trains at huge marshalling yards outside London, of which the 1928-opened sidings at Hoo Junction were included. To cope with heavy wartime freight traffic, and to support Hoo Junction in this role, the SR commissioned another extensive marshalling yard at Tonbridge, in 1941. This was located within the fork of the diverging routes to Redhill and Sevenoaks, west of the station, and comprised two dozen sidings running parallel with the Redhill line for approximately ⅓- mile.

Thameslink Scheme

By David Morgan

Unfortunately, the yard is currently under threat of redevelopment to provide stabling sidings for Thameslink stock and may only last another couple of years in its present form. The current Thameslink proposals for Tonbridge, should they come to pass, involve the construction of five freight holding sidings adjacent to the Redhill line on the site of the existing Jubilee Carriage Sidings, with the remainder of the yard (including the disused dead end sidings on the northern side) being replaced by carriage servicing sidings to hold fixed formation 12-car sets. This will potentially involve the elimination of most freight activity at Tonbridge, an outcome common to many railway "improvement schemes" in recent years.

1956

An eastward view towards the station, taken from the well known lattice footbridge, shows the plethora of

tracks converging towards ''A'' signal box. In the immediate foreground is a Bulleid ''Coffee Pot'', whilst to

the right is an ex-SE&CR ''C'' Class. In the middle-distance, on the right, can be seen the signal gantry which

at that time controlled the station approaches on the Redhill line. © David Glasspool Collection

May 1985

An all Rail Blue view! A trio of Class 33 diesels are in evidence, a pair of Class 09 shunters, and two Class 73

Electro-Diesels. In the background can just be seen the EMU berthing sidings which run parallel with the

departing Sevenoaks line. Treflyn Lloyd-Roberts

May 1985

Class 73 No. 73104 is depicted in the yard, wearing the then fairly recent ''Large Logo'' British Rail livery. No.

73104 is still in existence, and is currently based at Studley, Warwickshire, in the yard of the ''Allelys Haulage

Group''. Treflyn Lloyd-Roberts

17th January 1989

Class 101 No. L840 is seen passing the ''Jubilee Sidings'' alongside Tonbridge West Yard, as heads along the

non-electrified line to Redhill, with a service for Reigate. A pair of Network SouthEast-liveried 4 VEP units

are berthed in the sidings, whilst a ''Jaffa Cake'' 4 CEP can just be seen in the background. The yard itself

was full with wagons of the Civil Mechanical & Electrical Engineer's Department. Treflyn Lloyd-Roberts

Next >>

Return to the Kent Rail Homepage or alternatively, check for Updates.

Website & Copyright information - Links - Contact the Webmaster