Dartford
| Whilst photographs on the SEmG picture pages are mostly of things specific we are pleased to be able to display this remarkably atmospheric photograph taken by Michael Taylor at Dartford in 1970. Note from left to right - the cab of a Bulleid design EPB unit, BR "Brute" trolleys, SR concrete post with BR(S) station totems attached, signal box, 4/6/8 car unit stop board, semaphore signal with shunting signals below, SR concrete platform sides, third rail laid the opposite side of the running rails to the platform, class 73 loco stabled and SR concrete yard lamps. Such photographs are valuable to modellers trying to create the correct atmosphere for their layouts, and indeed good for those of us trying to remember the details of how it used to be. |
photograph by Michael Taylor |
| Dartford is served by three railway lines and four routes from the London direction and main line services go further east to the Medway towns, coastal towns and ports. A station was first opened at Dartford in 1849 on the North Kent Line. There are two staggered island platforms hosting an intensive service of both through trains and terminating commuter services from London. All platform roads are currently reversible. |
photograph by David Glasspool |
| A very similar shot, taken in winter 2002, shows a lot of
changes! Perhaps the most obvious are to the signalling where the old Signalbox
has gone, to be replaced by a "Portacabin" style, rather
uninteresting, building and all the semaphore signals have been replaced by
four aspect colour lights. Then there's the Rolling Stock which has been
replaced by Classes 465 and 466, new station lighting, the absence of the old
BR(S) Totems and the shortening of Platforms 3 and 4.
The road which dominates the 1970 view, can still be seen in the background of this picture. Money has, apparently, been allocated to the rebuilding of Dartford Station, thus if this view changes once again, David will try to get another shot. |
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Here we have another photograph, taken from the same place but looking in
the opposite direction, towards the current structure.
photograph by David Glasspool |
| The current viaduct on to which the line from the station,
towards London, extends.
photograph by David Glasspool |
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The dark block in the centre is the modern signal box know as the
"Dartford Panel", which controls all the signalling in the area,
whilst the structure to the left of it is the modern booking hall. The smaller
brick-built building on the right is the only original building which
accompanied the old station, which was demolished in 1972. It is now used as
the train crews' "mess hut".
photograph by David Glasspool |
Dartford in the snow, 8 January 2003
| An eastward view of Dartford station viaduct, looking up at the station.
This side of the viaduct wall is original, since it cannot presently be widened
in this direction due to the road (although future plans may change this).
photograph by David Glasspool |
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The approach to Dartford Junction - looking east towards the
station and the oncoming lines, which form Dartford Junction (behind the
camera). It is nice to see the point heaters are functioning correctly!
photograph by David Glasspool |
| Looking in the other direction at Dartford Junction, where the lines divide
just outside Dartford station. The lines to the left go towards London via
Sidcup and the lines on the right go via Woolwich or Bexleyheath, known as the
Dartford loop line. The junction Signalbox closed on 1st November 1970, when
control was transferred to the Dartford Panel.
photograph by David Glasspool |
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The Loop taken from a local level crossing. The two lines in
the background indicate the start of the "loop" which is often
confused with the "Dartford Loop Line". Although situated in
Dartford, it simply creates an entire circle in-between the dividing lines,
enabling trains to bypass Dartford altogether - e.g. A train from Sidcup can go
through Woolwich by coming down to the "loop", cutting out Dartford
Station altogether and continuing up the Woolwich line - effectively doing a
U-turn manoeuvre. This often leads to confusion on a station's electric
timetable, due to one often forgetting about the 'loop' facility!
photograph by David Glasspool |
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This page was last updated 12 February 2003
