Along Disused Lines - Westerham

[@phu010]

Facinating! My Dad kept a dinghy down at Chiptead Sailing Club back in the 1950s and we used to go down there and watch. For me watching the " Westerham Flyer", a little tank engine and a couple of coaches, puffing back and forth was a lot more interesting then the dinghy races.

[@marcc3514]

Hi Martin. Congrats on a great presentation. Haven't seen this view of the railways before. Just to say the building you ask for information at the end of the film I believe was Charrington's coal office. There were two coal offices operating there. Also, the wooden buildings behind the coal office are originals. Flyers Way in the road sign refers to the name of the Westerham Flyer locomotive as it was lovingly known. Marc.

[@RUOKH]

Back in about 1969 I led a small group from my school in walking the railway from Dunton Green to Westerham; the track was still in situ. Many thanks for this well-presented record of the former 'permanent way' (no longer permanent!).

[@martinclitheroe]

Bet that was amazing. I grew up after most disused railways were long gone, so couldn’t do that explore

[@michaelhearn3052]

Great video, well done in your use of a drone. It was able to follow the route of the line. Am looking forward to your other projects on disused lines in the future. IIRC this line closed in October 1961 as being un-remunerative. You are correct that the A21 Sevenoaks By Pass, build by Kent County Council was the reason why the the heritage scheme failed as the efforts by the preservation society formed to run a heritage service on it, could not raise the funds to rebuild the demolished bridge at Chevening, as a result of the new road. Even though Kent CC had used its powers of compulsory purchase of the line from BR, they were happy for the Heritage Railway to lease the line subject to the bridge being rebuilt. 15 years later on in 1976 two contracts were let one in June to build the M25 from Denton Green eastwards, and another contract in December to build another part of the M25 westwards.

[@SimonPJohnson]

Great summary. Explored the line over 45 years ago. Dunton Green had sidings & a signal box then, with Mr Burgess working at the station. Brasted station was still standing and Westerham included the platform but little else. I wasn't old enough to remember the line in operation. Walked the short section from the old A21 bridge two years ago. My father remembers the line in operation and walked it 70 years ago.

[@leey7h]

those buildings at Dunton Green werent there in 1989 when I visited. there was no car park either. My Grandad drove the H class engine and two coaches as a push pull train up to when it closed 1961.Great memories, as a child I went on the footplate! I never thought the M25 would obliterate it. Westerham station completely gone forever. Hard to take in that all is left is the base of the goods crane.

[@9fq6z]

Great Video .......loved the aerial shots ....giving a clear understanding of where the line was. wonderful

[@lrp_745]

This line wold have been so useful for me

[@sigower1430]

Really interesting to watch this, I live in Westerham and have often wondered if was possible to walk part of the old line.

[@roomullan3050]

Unfortunately, they built the M25 on it

[@michaelhearn3052]

@@roomullan3050 part of it not all.

[@roomullan3050]

@@michaelhearn3052 yes M25 is on some of it lol. We used to play in the old Brasted station before the m25 came x

[@fallen0ver]

THANK YOU love seeing old lines. subed. all the stations sent me here

[@RSDonovan]

Well done Martin this was really interesting! I share your passion for railways and drones and it’s fascinating to see how well it works to combine the two! I have subscribed to your channel and I hope you will make more such videos.

[@martinclitheroe]

I always intended this to be the first in a series - I’ve just never got around to making more! It will happen, promise!

[@peterwilson9934]

Loved watching this very good film and dialogue well done.

[@clivegretton4535]

Forgot to add to my comment that Alan Snowdon who I mention was one of the people who were very active in trying to save the line and make it a heritage railway. Clive.

[@CallingAllStations]

Loved this! More of this please :D How far is the range on the drone?

[@martinclitheroe]

Calling All Stations There is a plan for more. This was a pilot to test the concept, and it's local to home. My editing skills are the biggest let down! When I get some time I'll look to do more. The drone will (in theory) go 3 miles, but I've had issues with transmitter strength on anything over a mile. So I keep moving where I fly from to get around that

[@CallingAllStations]

and if it goes out of range whilst flying what happens?

[@martinclitheroe]

Calling All Stations If they lose contact with each other, the drone automatically returns to the GPS coordinates it took off from

[@CallingAllStations]

clever!

[@martinclitheroe]

Considering another in this series this week. Watch this space....!

[@roomullan3050]

Didn’t realise you were a hairy railway person Martin 🤣🤣 we used to play at the abandoned Brasted Halt before they built the M25 Love to Vik

[@martinclitheroe]

Love my railway bits and bobs! Will pass your message on to the ball and chain 😂😂

[@JohnTalbot-k6xi]

Drone footage tells the story-

[@martinclitheroe]

John Talbot I enjoy flying the drone, as I think it offers a vantage point that is otherwise impossible