Trains at: Tonbridge West Yard - 22 September, 2021

A visit to Tonbridge gave me the opportunity to visit the famous footbridge across the West Yard.
Includes clips of the new class 69 locos getting ready for a day out to the coast.
The yard is spanned by a long footbridge giving views of the yard, Jubilee stabling sidings and the line to Redhill. The station can also be seen in the distance.
At the start of my visit there were 8 class 73 locos, 2 class 69 and 1 class 66.
I will upload a separate video of activity at the station.

[@Wally-H]

It always amazes me that I watched these same '73's at Tonbridge when I was a teenager in the early 80's. What great workhorses they've been, over the course of several decades.

[@richardincm]

I remember, as a child, watching a steam-engine shunting goods-wagons in that yard, the days when more of Britain's freight moved by rail.

[@quirkrail]

Nice video, been thinking of visiting Tonbridge what seems like forever.

[@BoogiesTrains]

I really enjoyed my visit.

[@rubyait]

Thank you. What an interesting area. This is one of the best mish-mashes of train antics ever! A signaling nightmare/paradise depending on your POV.

[@steveallen808909]

great clear footage love the captions . shame their isnt a gift shop for the trainspotters hehe cheers for sharing

[@BoogiesTrains]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@djtrainspotter3079]

Nice, i been seeing them 69's float past my gaff, reminding me of when grids worked the Mountfield gypsum along the Hastings branch. And i havn't seen 56's in that yard since 1993!! . . Ex 56031 and 56057 (i painted a model of that one, on my channel btw) when in old Rf livery! I would never of thought this yard would be this interesting back when first here in 1983! But then again, i never would of thought i'd be a spotter eneding up with a lady loco driver breifly during my tenure on this earth!! I took her to this very bridge a few times. It was beyond heaven hehe x

[@andrewknights1304]

It was good to see such a variety of stock on a southern region line. Thanks

[@bingbong7316]

The track analysis train is luxurious. 47 years ago, as a Junior Tech, I assisted a Senior to do track analysis on part of the Bournemouth line. We loaded a big, heavy wooden box full of all-mechanical accelerometers and pen-recorders onto a service train, set up the paper graphs and wound it up, then pressed the tit to record specific track lengths of interest located by observing mileposts. How things change!

[@royhollingsworth5341]

Roy Hollingsworth A very intersting video for me as I live in Tonbridge, about a half mile from Tonbridge West Yard, and often use this footbridge

[@BoogiesTrains]

My first visit. Seen plenty of stills from the footbridge before but no video.

[@djtrainspotter3079]

@Roy Hollingsworth Same here, next to the former steam locomotive depot. I'm often on that bridge hunting locomotives for sanity!

[@Leonard_Smith]

Nice video.

[@deauvilledad07]

Super video . Tonbridge looks like an amazing place. Well done Mr Boogie. Stay safe 🤓💙

[@matthewbull7]

Great video capturing all that Tonbridge has to offer when I went there in May there was no movements at all but none the less a great location.

[@BoogiesTrains]

There was nothing much showing on RTT through Tonbridge but when I got to the yard it all kicked off. Was only there for 30 minutes.

[@theimperialist2686]

Excellent railway video as always Boogies Trains.

[@pauloconnor2980]

@14:11 it's good to see some lunar lights that haven't been replaces with theater boxes!!!!

[@derisleybrittain]

Superb footage 😀💖👍😍😆😃😃😃😃😃😃

[@BoogiesTrains]

Thank you.

[@maimadha]

Great video.

[@petersmith4455]

great video. the 73s could do with a wash and polish to keep them in line with the class 50s

[@BoogiesTrains]

They are working hard so probably not much time for TLC.

[@davidsheriff8989]

Had no idea it was such a busy place...

[@BoogiesTrains]

I think I struck lucky. There was nothing much showing on RTT beforehand.

[@user-hd8yx3jf7o]

Nice train video.from Japan.

[@daciatravel.647]

Very good video!

[@BoogiesTrains]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@kevinbradley1112]

I need to go to tonbridge i only want a few engines and would have scored at least 6 there great video

[@BoogiesTrains]

The yard is a longer walk from the station than it looks. Check a map before you set out to make sure you know the way. Well worth the effort.

[@AndrewG1989]

The Class 707 Desiro City cascaded from South Western Railway to Southeastern have now entered service and I wonder if they can go little bit further on the Southeastern network. Plus they have been nicknamed as “City Beam”.

[@Keithbarber]

I saw one at lewisham 30/09/2021 and saw one and took a ride on it to Slade green

[@tobys_transport_videos]

This looks like a good train watching spot for GBRF!!! Of interest, that bridge you were standing on over the yard, is that exclusively for the use of GBRF, or is it general public access?

[@BoogiesTrains]

It is a good spot. The footbridge is a public footpath. The walk from the station is about 12 minutes according to Google Maps. I had my bicycle so it was a bit quicker.

[@tobys_transport_videos]

Thanks, I've since looked into it and I see what you mean. 🙂 Are there any other freight yards you can think of that are good for train watching and not too far from a station? I'm particularly interested in GBRF, but any freight operator is worthwhile 🙂 🚂

[@ianbouglas]

@@tobys_transport_videos. The only other one that I know personally is Acton which is next to Acton Main Line station. Lots of comings and goings plus container trains going through.

[@ianbouglas]

@@tobys_transport_videos. I forgot, there is a public footbridge over the north end of Wembley yard just south of Wembley Central station. It features in one of my videos about the DC lines.

[@tobys_transport_videos]

Thanks for your replies, Ian! I ask this as I only know a fraction of Britain's rail network. I'm not actually a Brit - I'm an Aussie that prefers British stuff over most of what's on offer here 🙂 Examples of this can be seen on my own channel.

[@steveluckhurst2350]

Seems daft that there is not a least one line with third rail in the yard. Why start the diesels up just to get to the station?

[@BoogiesTrains]

I'm not sure that the 73s have third rail shoes fitted. They left for Hastings on diesel.

[@steveluckhurst2350]

@@BoogiesTrains As far as I know, with the possible exception of those on the Caledonian sleeper, no 73s have had their shoegear removed.

[@tomfitzpatrick7335]

:)

[@kianmclaren3487]

Dose the bridge have a postcode

[@BoogiesTrains]

TN9 2UE is close.

[@christopherindonesiajakart5832]

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