Higham & Strood Tunnels
Flooding: January 1988
In January 1988, heavy rainfall caused Strood Tunnel to flood. The water level rose to the height of the conductor rail and short-circuited the electrical system. Although electric services were prevented from running on this section of line, a temporary measure was put in place to run diesel-powered shuttles through the bores. Class 33 No. 33117 and 4TC unit No. 8024 were borrowed from the South Western Division to form part of a fleet operating a Rochester to Gravesend shuttle service. In addition, Class 117 DMU No. L411 was brought in from its haunts on the Paddington suburban lines, and DEMU No. 207008 came to the rescue from the Uckfield branch.
To reduce the risk of flooding in the future, water pumps were installed within the ''bomb hole'', the 100-foot gap which separates Higham and Strood Tunnels, to control the water levels within the surrounding chalk. This system was equipped with switches which could detect how high the water level was. When the water reached 2.5-metres below track level, the pumps were designed to kick in, and excess water was discharged through a hose. The latter ran the length of Higham Tunnel, before finally emptying its contents in those remnants of the Thames & Medway Canal which still existed behind Higham station's ''down'' platform. This was not an entirely foolproof method, and when both tunnels were closed for re-lining between the Januarys of 2004 and 2005, the pumps were superseded by a completely new drainage system.
January 1988
Class 33 No. 33117 is seen at Rochester's platform 4, having just propelled 4TC unit No. 8024 into the station.
No. 33117 can now be found on the East Lancashire Railway. © Wayne Walsh
January 1988
Ready for the return to Gravesend, 4TC No. 8024 is depicted at Rochester. These un-powered trailer units were
used for the push-pull diesel service between Bournemouth and Weymouth. Their decline began in 1988 with the
extension of third rail to Weymouth and the introduction of Class 442 ''Wessex Electrics''. © Wayne Walsh
January 1988
Wearing BR Blue and Grey, but with Network SouthEast ''flashes'', DEMU No. 207008 is seen at Strood, ready
to leave for Higham and Gravesend. © Wayne Walsh
Return to the Kent Rail Homepage or alternatively, check for Updates.
Website & Copyright information - Links - Contact the Webmaster
All content is copyright © David Glasspool unless otherwise stated