Our Newhaven | Places | NEWHAVEN (East of the river). | Transport | HARBOUR STATION | STEAM LOCOMOTIVES - 1950's

Log in

User name: Password:

Forgot password?

STEAM LOCOMOTIVES - 1950's

Photo 1 Atlantic class loco "Beachy Head" with the Centenary run train at Victoria

Unknown

Photo 2 Beachy Head

GF Bloxam

Photo 3 Beachy Head. Centenary run Newhaven to Victoria

GF Bloxam

Photo 4 Back at Brighton

Unknown

Photo 5 Sydney Turner driving train

Unknown

Photo 6 Continental Platform Newhaven

Unknown

Photo 7 Boat Train Up, North Quay

Unknown

Photo 8 Young ladies back from Switzerland

Unknown

Photo 9 Terrier class at North Quay

Unknown

Photo 10 6-2 tank engine at Loco yard

Unknown

Photo 11 Harbour Station with the London and Paris Hotel

Ray Turner

Including Boat Trains.

By Sylvia Woolford (nee Turner) and Ray Turner (father)

I've just spent an enjoyable afternoon with my parents sorting through their photographs. I have also learnt a lot about my grandad Sydney Turner. He died in 1962 when I was 2.

My grandad Sydney Turner was born at Deal in Kent (1896). Like all steam engine drivers, he started off as an Engine Cleaner, later promoted to Fireman and eventually became an Engine Driver at Folkestone where he drove the little "Terrier" engines of which it needed three at a time to help the boat train up the steep ramp from the harbour to the main line. He moved to Newhaven in 1936 so that he could be a 'Top Rank Driver' and was promoted to driving the main-line Boat Trains to Victoria.

During the 2nd World War years he drove the Amunition and Tank Transporter Trains to and from Newhaven.

These photos were taken mainly by train spotters and copies were sent on to him.

LOCO "Beachy Head No 32424" was built at the Brighton Loco Works of the LB&SCR in 1911 and on the 5th October 1952 the "Railway Correspondence & Travel Society (RCTS)" arranged a special train of Pullman Coaches hauled by 32424 to commemorate a century of "Boat Trains" between Newhaven & London (Victoria)

Photo 1: 5th October 1952 Shows the Centenary Run train at Victoria. Driver Sydney Turner, Fireman Fred Stratton.

Photo 2: It's 10:14am and the Centenary Run train is seen here approaching East Croydon. Driver Sydney Turner, Fireman Fred Stratton

Photo 3: Shows "Beachy Head" at the Continental Station after the trip, with Driver Sydney Turner (left) & Fireman Fred Stratton. Note the small RCTS plate on the top at front of the boiler and the white plate with "SPL" to denote to the signalmen that the train was a special running.

Photo 4: 5 October 1952 and "Beachy Head" is back at Brighton after the run.

Photo 5: Late 1950's - Driver Sydney Turner at the controls of a loco.

Photo 6: Late 1950's - 11:33am and the daily Boat Train is seen leaving the Continental Station at Newhaven.

Photo 7: A Boat Train, here seen passing the sidings at the North Quay, en route to London

Photo 8: Taken at Newhaven's Continental Station & Grandad Sydney Turner is seen talking to some young ladies before departure of the boat train from Newhaven to Victoria London. These girls had been evacuated to Switzerland in 1939 as toddlers so that they were safe during the War and now that the war was over, they had now returned home as young girls.

Photo 9: Taken in the late 1950's, Grandad is seen driving one of the Terrier Class Locomotives at the North Quay. My mother's Great Uncle Harry Avis, used to walk in front of these Locomotives holding a red flag and carrying a bell when the trains travelled along the road and across the river bridge.

Photo 10: Another photo taken in the late 1950's of Grandad driving a steam Loco..

Photo 11: This photo is of the Harbour Station and the London and Paris Hotel. This station was used by passengers using the normal trains to reach Newhaven for the Cross Channel Boats, the Continental Station was used by the Boat Trains only. On the right of the picture is the water stand pipe for re-filling the Locomotive's Boilers.

This page was added by Sylvia Woolford on 02/02/2009.

Comments about this page

Photo 5 must have been taken before October 1951. The loco is ex London Chatham and Dover E class no 31273, which was taken out of service during October 1951.

By Charlie Verrall
On 07/02/2010

Hi, I can remember the boat trains very well. At some time in the early 50's one of these smashed through the town crossing gates before they were completely opened. My mother, myself and my sister in a pushchair were waiting at those gates and the impact and debris knocked me over. My sister was knocked out of her pushchair and my mother received a massive splinter of wood in her leg and bruising to her body. Nowadays compensation would be of prime consideration, but not then. Can anyone else remember this event? Incidently, I used to live opposite a Syd and Rita Turner in Gibbon Road and I believe a Ray Turner lived further down in the same road. Probably relatives of the author.

By Colin Brandon
On 06/06/2010

Did anyone come across my grandad Mark (Offington) WOOLGAR, he also drove these trains...

By VIRGINIA SWAN
On 17/07/2010

Does anyone have any pictures of Victor Morris, Steam train driver during the 50s.

By Lesley Ireland
On 04/09/2010

Yes to cousin Virginia Swann. Grandad (Mark) Woolgar was also one of the Victoria-Newhaven Boat Train drivers. He started on LBSCR and was bombed during WW1 by Zeppelins and in WW2 by Luftwaffe - scary stuff. I recall him telling me about it in the late 1950's. I think he drove one of the 4-4-0 atlantic locos or even a 'Schools class'. He switched from driving steam loco's to electric multiple units in 1950, before retiring in 1955. His railway house had it's roof blown off twice by Luftwaffe in WW2. He had lots more stories to tell as I recall.

By Malcolm Dubber
On 10/03/2011

To Lesley Ireland. I know Vic Morris and spoke to him today about your message. He does not recall your name , but is interested to know how your request for photos has come about. Richard

By Richard Beckett
On 10/03/2011

Vic was better known as POP Morris. He was a great driver to work with and he had a great sense of humor. I worked with him a few times on the footplate.

By william Still
On 11/04/2011

I am writing this for my dad Fred Stratton. He is on the third picture down on this page.It was the centenary run of the Brighton Belle. Dad is the tall one in the picture he was the fireman and Alf Welch was the driver. Dad had passed for drivng but was asked by Alf to fire for him. Inspector Jack McCarthy was also on the foot plate.

By FREDRICK STRATTON
On 22/05/2011