Horsham to London via Dorking

[Philip C]

Middleton Press are admirable for providing a good sweep of history for a lot of routes with a lot of interesting pictures that many of us wouldn't have had the opportunity to see otherwise. I've never found their captions disappointing, and whilst I'm glad that those with a deeper knowledge are happy to contribute further information, perhaps they might consider a less supercilious tone when discussing an excellent series.

I have a few of their books myself and concur with what you say; however they are not what I would term scholarly and, I doubt, are intended so to be. My recommendation remains that anybody wishing to establish 'facts' uses either original documents or more than one secondary source.

In no way is the world a worse place through the existence of series such as that of Middleton Press - long may it flourish!

 

[Deepgreen]

On the issue of headcodes, most of which has been said here is correct, and 46 was latterly the code for Victoria to Bognor via Mitcham Junction, whereas in earlier years 20 and 40 were used for Portsmouth and Bognor respectively.

My painting shows a 1959 Bognor working at Ashtead.

 

[wimbledonpete]

The one at Stoneleigh - sorry; it's a side on picture from the stairs of the flats opposite.

Of the two at Ewell West, one is 15 and the other is 16.

Just had the thought - would these have been the Waterloo - Horsham service? Although I thought that was all shacks and wouldn't have run fast through Stoneleigh / Ewell West?

I think there were occasional diversions of Victoria services via Tooting and Worcester Park so maybe it was one of those?

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I think there were occasional diversions of Victoria services via Tooting and Worcester Park so maybe it was one of those?

Does anyone know what the depot allocations of 7386, 7417 and 7737 were at the time I photographed them?



Regarding the other point raised while I was away, no I don't think there would be enough demand to re-introduce a regular through service via Epsom to the coast - what would probably be of greater use in stimulating demand would be to make the Dorking - Horsham bit an all day half hourly service with a later finishing time and at least in the summer hourly on Sundays.

There may be scope to run a two hourly through service to the coast on summer Saturdays, but as an extension to existing services - not as additional services.

 

[Hophead]

Regarding the other point raised while I was away, no I don't think there would be enough demand to re-introduce a regular through service via Epsom to the coast - what would probably be of greater use in stimulating demand would be to make the Dorking - Horsham bit an all day half hourly service with a later finishing time and at least in the summer hourly on Sundays.

There may be scope to run a two hourly through service to the coast on summer Saturdays, but as an extension to existing services - not as additional services.

To be honest, making it a reliable hourly service would be a start. There seems to be barely a day go by without at least one cancellation, which makes it a difficult service to rely upon.

 

[Deepgreen]

Some spirited running from Dorking this morning, with RTT showing the 0800 (1D16) departure as 154 minutes late leaving, but on time by Ashtead!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think there were occasional diversions of Victoria services via Tooting and Worcester Park so maybe it was one of those?

No, it is certain that the headcodes 15 and 16 were normal Waterloo routes (Horsham and Effingham Jct respectively). It was quite common for 'main line' stock to appear. In the 1960s there was at least one peak Waterloo to Effingham Jct, via Epsom, working which was rostered for 8COR!