HUNDRED of HOO Kent steam train ride 1958

Exploring by steam train the Hundred of Hoo branch railway in Kent, as it was in 1958. Starting from Gravesend, ride to Allhallows-on-Sea, and return from Grain, the station built to serve a new oil refinery.
See the wild, remote scenery of this peninsular between Thames and Medway, and see enginemen and signalmen at work.
Although passenger service ceased in 1962, most of the line is still open to serve Thamesport, a container port - actually built beside the Medway. Grain oil refinery closed in 1997.
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Related links:
Hundred of Hoo Line en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hundred...
North Kent Line en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_K...
South Eastern & Chatham Railway en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_E...
Gravesend West Line en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravese...
Gravesend Central en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gravese... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/T101...
H Class Tank Engine Loco en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SECR_H_...
Milton Rd Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_...
Denton Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denton_... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R179...
Thames & Medway Canal en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thames_...
Milton Range Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milton_... www.kentrail.org.uk/milton_ra...
Hoo Junction / Hoo Staff Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoo_Jun... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R184... www.kentrail.org.uk/Hoo%20Jun... www.kentrail.org.uk/hoo_junct...
Shorne Marshes en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_K...
Single Line Token en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Token_(...)
Uralite Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uralite... www.kentrail.org.uk/uralite_h...
River Medway en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_M...
Sheerness Proposed Steaamer Link en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheerne...
Cliffe en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cliffe_... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R178...
Wybourne Farm Siding & Level Crossing www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R19...
High Halstow Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_Ha...
Sharnal St en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharnal... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R161...
Chattenden & Upnor Railway en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chatten...
Beluncle Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beluncl...
Berry Wiggins Sidings www.kentrail.org.uk/berry_wig...
Middle Stoke Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Middle_...
Stoke Junction Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoke_J... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R196...
Allhallows_on_Sea en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Allhall... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R188... www.kentrail.org.uk/Allhallow...
Disused Allhallows www.disused-stations.org.uk/a/...
Yantlet Line / Admiralty en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yantlet en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Admiral...)
Q1 Class Loco en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SR_Q1_c...
River Thames en.wikipedia.org/wiki/River_T...
Grain Crossing Halt en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_C... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R182... www.kentrail.org.uk/Grain%20C...
Grain en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grain_r... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R182... www.kentrail.org.uk/grain.htm
Thamesport en.wikipedia.org/wiki/London_...
Port Victoria en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Vi... www.s-r-s.org.uk/html/sra/R162...
SECR C Class Loco en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SECR_C_...
Southeastern Railway en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_E...)
Southern Railway en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souther...)
BR Southern Region en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Souther...
British Rail BR en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British...

[@ianburnett7333]

Films you made show a whole way of life now long gone.

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

I am a local Medway Taxi driver and last week collected from Grain , Railway House a Goods train driver and took him to an Ashford siding , where upon he swopped with his colleague whom I took home to Rainham. I enjoy chatting away to Freight train drivers, at the back of my home in Chatham is the link between Chatham train station and Gillingham train station, a track that was built in 1857 when Charles Dickens was still around.

[@biddylisduff]

I remember my Uncles talking about the Isle of Grain, when they ran the family Haulage firm back in the 60's/70's. I thought it sounded very romantic! Haha! They got phone messages to collect ballast / tarmac from there, to deliver /unload for companies like WayWardens. When their Bedford tippers carried hot tarmac, covered with tarpaulins. Later found the hamlet of Spendiff (a family name rooted in Kent), we were unaware it existed but we visited there in 1990's, very interesting history - Cooling Castle etc. Thanks for the film, always enjoy them!

[@signalbelle]

Many thanks for these memories. Used to go to Allhallows from Gravesend in the late 1950s summers where there was an open air swimming pool. Trains were an H, C,or a Q1. The last train I took on the branch I remember was hauled by a class 33 but still using the steam push pull stock. Delays on the electric services were often unfairly blamed on the 'Allhallows flyer'.

[@RUOKH]

Just brilliant. Thank you.

[@keithlevlevett3702]

I used to have my school summer hoilday at allhallows in the mid fifites we used camp in an old bell tent the were four of us so we had plenty of fun .l remember there was a 2nd world war German plane when the tide went out you could see the tail fin standing up we did lots of exploring and on our own great childhood !!

[@keithlevlevett3702]

@Bert Clarke Do you remember the fair it played the latest pop music all day

[@keithsweeting2971]

Take me back to 1958 please.

[@adamw2911]

Brilliant video clip. Thank goodness some had the foresight to undertake such tasks!

[@davidsedlickas8222]

Shame the government of the day did not have the foresight to moth ball the railways.

[@adamw2911]

@@davidsedlickas8222 They were literally tearing the track up the moment the lines closed. Dare I say they needed it elsewhere.

[@andyrbush]

A superb and meaningful video for me. I lived in High Halstow, and worked at the BP refinery in the 70s.

[@martinwelsford1353]

I remember using this branch several times. An aunt who lived in a touring caravan hired those 4 wheel bikes at Allhallows. She did not make much from that. But I enjoyed riding behind the steam engine. At Gravesend it went onto the centre road and blew down. Frightened the life out of me.

[@michaela1560]

So nostalgic, I went on it just before passenger services finished and again last year on the Hastings Unit special.

[@olddanb1]

Fantastic to see my own house as it was in 1958. Built 10 years earlier. White with a pyramid roof. Just to the north of Cliffe Station. At 2:00 as the people cross the rails, behind the signal box on the right of frame. Plus Station Road Cliffe bridge and Buckland Lane Cliffe bridge. And the goods trains still run daily. Pulled by diesel loco's. We love hearing them pass. The rail company conduct alot of maintenance on the line and last year, 2018 they re laid the complete line. Sleepers and all. A significant reduction in noise and rumbling. Not too much though. Still good enough to recognise their massive power and weight.

[@Ar-Rahman61]

Thousands of miles away and yet reminiscent in many ways of the Tasmanian Government Railways which ceased all passenger traffic in 78 apart from preserved heritage rail until 2006. Wonderful to get a glimpse of each half and station ....

[@MrBarnyardos]

Wonderful, My Dad used to use this line to go to the beach at AllHallows from Gravesend.

[@peterboyle2711]

Having lived at Lodge Hill,overlooking the Thames estuary in to 1950's, this brought back many memories of Cliffe ,Cooling,All Hallows and Hoo. I did go back last summer 2018 after leaving in 1960, many changes ,so great to see this film.

[@maggiesadler1489]

What a find. Went to Allhallows in about 1960 Came back to Gravesend on the footplate. Driver knew my Grandad. Hot tea from the enamel lidded jug thing and the fireman taught me to throw small coal at the rabbits

[@dax6376]

Amazing, thanks for sharing. I live on the Hoo Peninsula and this is a wonderful insight to railway life, thank god someone had the foresight to shoot it back then 😍

[@tango6nf477]

Your films are truly national treasures and will be watched avidly for centuries yet to come, thank you. I like to look up the current state of abandoned lines on Ordnance Survey maps, some are still almost intact except for tracks, buildings etc. Some have been totally obliterated and others turned into footpaths. One thing I noted from looking at the satellite image of Allhallows is that now the "insignificant caravan site" of 1958 is actually larger than the village so it must have something to offer.

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

Allhallows caravan park is huge and is the nearest caravan park to London , in the Summer it hosts many visitors from Holland and Germany.

[@Easternspotteralfie]

I live near here, it’s funny to see how it was back in the day

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Not too "Funny - Ha Ha" I hope !

[@Easternspotteralfie]

@@AlanSnowdonArchive it’s changed a lot

[@alanesplen2253]

Wonderful I never dreamed a video exsisted of this line. I remember this as a child it made Gravesend station interesting. My familly was from the area and I lived in Gravesend until 1969.

[@nicosnicholas5871]

Thank you Allen came to England in 1958 from Cyprus and remember the steam trains I was 9 years old now I am 69 years old thank you for the memories lovely to see the old trains got tears in my eyes looking at thous lovely steam trains.what a shame there not around any more.

[@mikedyble3648]

Thanks for making this video available. My grandfather served at RNAS Kingsnorth during WW1 and would likely arrived by train, probably to Beluncle Halt as this was the nearest station. RNAS Kingsnorth was connected to the rail network, and had an engine, Lord Fisher, an 0-4-0ST which has survived into preservation at the Yeovil Rail Centre. I have a couple of pictures of the engine and my grandfather taken at the site dating from 1917. So this film completes some blanks for me.

[@tuc-dh4df]

Beautiful film, totally beautiful!

[@colingymer]

31512 0-4-4T SECR Wainwright H class; that loco had only two years life left before being cut up - but you can still ride behind one on the Bluebell :) Totally unprofitable route no doubt but strangely appealing, pleasing it was recorded for posterity.

[@meakinroy4341]

Stunningly historic footage with a truly superb commentary. A credit to all concerned in its production, I am deeply indebted to you for sharing this gem,. Tt brought back many fine memories of my years in and around the Medway towns as a schoolboy in the early 1950's.

[@briggstristan3724]

a trick : you can watch movies on kaldrostream. I've been using it for watching all kinds of movies during the lockdown.

[@quintonellis558]

@Briggs Tristan definitely, have been using kaldroStream for months myself :D

[@deangelolangston199]

@Briggs Tristan Yup, been using kaldrostream for since november myself :D

[@NickRatnieks]

This film is the next best thing to a Time Machine!

[@5705Seahorse]

A wonderful window on a past age. Being from the North of England, I didn't know this line, but referring to my Railway Atlas Then and Now I see it still exists as a freight only line.

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

And still in use as a Goods train line in 2022 from the Isle of Grain. Diesel Electric engines are used.

[@batman51]

We took the train to All Hallows once. But only once!

[@fordlandau]

Marvellous. Thank Goodness that Alan made these wonderful movies. A picture of long vanished England.

[@JayJay-nc7pr]

Outside the big cities England is still like this, London doesn’t reflect England thankfully

[@joefuller8078]

I wish all this remained in place.. whilst the railway is still working freight it is nothing like how it used to be

[@TheAudiostud]

61 years ago Wow! Great memories

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

In WW2 at Allhallows there was a huge Canadian army tented camp, and the soldiers would catch the train to London for a night out. Kingsmead Park in Avery Way Allhallows inside it still has the train water tower.

[@Simonize41]

I love your videos Alan, they are an absolute delight. Thank you.

[@patcoen1113]

A beautiful timepeice! Takes you back to 1958, like it was today. Wonderfully filmed!

[@garrymartin6474]

A fabulous film as always, but cannot help butimagine the disappointment people would have felt if they had booked a holiday at Allhallows on Sea !

[@Seansaighdeoir]

Horses for courses. In the pre-war years people used to go to the 'beach' at Upnor for their holidays!

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

Cheap flights to Spain, Thailand, Greece and Turkey did not exist.

[@freightrambler7199]

A wonderful film of a bygong time of one of my favourite routes to drive over, and i have also filmed it recently, so it is interesting to compare the two, thank you for posting this...

[@martinpiggins5772]

Wonderful thank you 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@wordsmith52]

Very well narrated - can actually hear and understand clearly what is being said - spoken in good English - with no stupid background music - unlike many other YT videos! As for Allhallows-On-Sea, I hardly think it suffered for not being like Southend-on-Sea!

[@toptotter2697]

Superb video, thanks for sharing!

[@Seansaighdeoir]

Wow this is an incredible piece of local history. This is Dickens country and a lot of what we see formed the inspiration for Great Expectations. Having used the line from Rochester / Strood to Gravesend and London many times over the years I only found reading material about the canal from Gravesend to Strood. I never expected to video of it. I have wondered and walked this 'line' over many years as obviously it was a major hub at one point - the spur from Gravesend obviously had a rich history and it is amazing someone took the time to capture it. Interesting that some of it still remains and interesting the commentary also mentions the line down to Upnor as part of the MOD land on the western side of the Medway. Never seen Cliffe and Sharnal Street stations and didn't know they existed. Thought this was a local industrial spur rather than a passenger service. Wonderful many thanks!

[@mutualbeard]

A good document of a time

[@foxcell]

Amzing good footage of this nearly forgotten line

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

Thank you.

[@officalbrandonperfect]

Hoo and Allhallows have completed transformed with a Haven Caravan Park with nearly 3,000 homes and 12,000 homes being built in Hoo and surrounding areas by 2050. Plans to revitalise this line to Grain have been introduced but avoiding Allhallows and set to start construction of née stations and electrification by the end of this summer

[@keithrose6931]

Moments in time .

[@grahamcroucher5251]

Little did I know what effect High Halstow Halt would have on my life. From there was born a love of railways, now evident in one form in a collection of tickets from this lovely, if not bleak, line.

[@colinsbane]

Very interesting indeed, and hopelessly uneconomic even at the time of this film, with only a handful of passengers who are probably outnumbered by the railway staff serving them. It gets pretty cold in Kent during the winter. Imagine driving one of the C class (I think) 0-6-0s tender first in near zero temperatures with an easterly wind blowing. Life was very different then!

[@andrewlong6438]

I can see why it closed. No passengers and the workers who it was meant to serve are non-existent. Even the stock and loco were clapped out. Great footage though as a historical record. The use of a DMU would have saved all that reversing and uncoupling but that would have cost money and wouldn’t have been justifiable whereas keeping old expired stock was.

[@alfredscoggins3206]

Hello Alan - I hope you have already but you do realise that these films should be lodged with the National Railway Museum? They're a wonderful record, not only of the trains and railways but the local scenery of that time - and they're in colour. They should be stored and preserved, no question about it. If you haven't already, I do hope you consider it. Thanks.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

I'm delighted with your reaction to this film I shot as a young man, BUT several years ago, long before the internet existed, I DID contact the NRM - they just weren't interested. However, now that KZbin exists, it allows a much greater, even WORLDWIDE audience. I've had some response from t'other side of the world !

[@kevinbays3408]

The commentary questions the name 'Cliffe'. In old English, pre 7th century "clif" means, slope, bank, cliff or river bank. Cliife does in fact have a small cliff, which now has a radar tower built at the top of it.

[@robnewman6101]

All Aboard, All Aboard.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

I guess you're an American, or maybe Canadian.

[@robnewman6101]

British actually.

[@robnewman6101]

Mr Conductor.

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

I seem to recall recently reading or hearing that Kent County Council and/or the local authority for the Medway Towns are trying to develop a scheme for housing lots of people in the Hundred Of Hoo area, and having the railway re-opened for Passenger Trains to serve them. Can anyone say more about this, please ?

[@johnsmith-ht3sy]

I live in Chatham and am a local Taxi operator, yes from Strood station they are going to lay a line into Hoo . Hoo has doubled in size with new houseing estates built on green belt land. Deangate Golf club, owned by Medway council is closed and it is planned for a huge houseing estate.

[@paulbarber1960]

There are plans to relay and add electrification on the branch. All along the medway housing is planned

[@AlanSnowdonArchive]

I hope they will confine the new housing areas to the higher ground of this peninsular. Houses usually last for well over a hundred years, and we are warned of long-term sea level rise. Electrification is predicted for most of Britain's rail network (WHEN we can afford it!!) in the interest of clean air and controlling Global Warming.

[@MsNorthernsoulboy]

Wonderful wonderfull film ,i have a copy of kingswear castle,does anybody have any films or information on that trip

[@dougcoleman9927]

Thanks to the Government decision to withdraw the £170m Housing Infrastructure Funding in June 2023, it is unlikely that we will see the return of passenger trains to this line in the foreseeable future. Meanwhile, Allhallows now comprises a large holiday park (Haven), and mobile home park (Kingsmead) on the site of the former station, a housing estate and a school. The 1930s pub shown in film has recently closed. And the small signal box and Grain Crossing is now listed.

[@Lenkilburn]

Barges

[@exposingbullies260]

At the end she sounds pissed.

[@jazzman1626]

It would be great if schools would take a break from their absurd “gender studies” to show these marvellous films.

[@andrewlong6438]

Tell you what - lets do a deal. You watch their ‘absurd’ gender studies programmes and they can watch these videos. I bet you will both love the experience!

[@jazzman1626]

Andrew Long Gender needs no study in schools. You already know what which one of the only two genders you were born as.