Rambling Railwayman's Recollections - Driving Days - Effingham Junction

[@johncourtneidge]

Lovely. Again please ensure that these valuable histories are deposited at The Peoples Museum in Manchester and the Bishopsgate Institute Library in London.

[@peterjhillier7659]

What a lovely Video, I worked on the Southern 1966 till 1977 before moving to the Western, loved every Minute even met my dearest Wife whilst at East Croydon. How I miss the old Electric Stock, happy Memories rekindled, I’ll always be a Southern Man. Thanks for sharing.

[@mdhazeldine]

Great to hear your stories. I was born in 82 and grew up living next to Hersham station, so hearing your story about missing Hersham made me laugh :). It always seemed to get the bum deal in terms of facilities, and yet it was always really busy at rush hour! I love all the old photos. So fascinating to see how the network has changed over the decades.

[@matthew0605]

What a beautiful painting the 6 pan unit at 12.00 mins . What detail . -bud the painter .

[@martyn6792]

Absolutely fascinating to hear of your railway life from those days

[@OlafProt]

I trainspotted at Dorking North in the 70s and early 80s, but only ever got to Effingham Jn one rather unfortunate evening coming home late from work in 1990 very drunk and some random guy offered me a spliff and I had a drag, threw up, and fell asleep. Meaning I didn’t change at either Epsom, Ashtead or Leatherhead. Cue 1am phone call to parents at the phone box by the railway bridge. So I saw it in the dark with a sore head 😂 You probably still knew some of the guys at Dorking though. Fred, Mick, Simon, and manager Mr Dixon. Oh wow!! 6:11 I can still hear that thing!! And the hope it brought of the correct train…..

[@robertclare6137]

What can I say Mate!! I too loved my time at Effingham Junction before it shut as a Drivers Depot, I worked with Terry Drudge, Len the Boy Scout Leader, Alfie, John Kates, Nigel Kates and "Bruno" the Big Tabby Cat that lived in the Drivers Room. He use to curl up in the foot well of the drivers cab next to the heater, One morning I took him from Eff Jct to Wloo via Epsom then Changed ends Wloo to Shepperton 😆 and back, I had to carry him to an Eff service and give him to the Driver to put out at the shed😆, When the place shut he went back to his owner, Keep em coming mate.I remember working to Redhill 3 Bridges and Sals with you North Camp and Aldershot Gov Sidings, Farn Tip and Gfd yard when I was a Guard at Woking, You Always made nice Tea and Posh Coffee

[@edencooper7162]

Great to hear real life stories,priceless please carry on

[@angelsone-five7912]

Great video. How you remembered all the rules and regs etc I`ll never know. I loved the journey from Surbiton to Guildford via Cobham, It was a lovely route and I used to do it just for the ride.

[@tonywise198]

Re 4-COR stock - I used to ride Havant-Waterloo and return wekly and can say that the passenger seats in the 4-COR/RES stock were the most comfortable of any train anywhere. Today (2022) it's like sitiing on hard wood by comparison.

[@kamana6435]

Thanks very much I enjoyed your photos and stories you really brought to life the history of the line at that time.

[@mx5mad]

I can’t imagine what it was like driving a train at night with no headlights and perhaps semaphore signals. I suppose that’s where your route knowedge really comes into play!

[@rocketmantakeoff]

Another great video

[@nicholasroberts6954]

Without being disrespectful, the narration is so Michael Palin. Bless.

[@robertclare6137]

Terry, Len, Alfie ,Nigel Kates and Frank Corbett whom I went to school with at Hinchley Wood,were still there When I started at Effingham jct in 1989. John Kates was still there plus Bruno the cat. Who was the Driver who had the Shire Horse? Cant Remember his name.I started with Karen Thake.

[@geoffburch7959]

Hi Robert His name was Dave Lucas - I think he was my replacement when I moved back to Woking. Cheers Geoff

[@robertclare6137]

@@geoffburch7959 He use to come to work with hay and straw all over him from when he slept with his horse if she was sick? He's now a Shunt driver at Southampton apparentley

[@zaheerqamar4530]

When did the Waterloo to Wimbledon service via East Putney stop? Was it a poorly used service?

[@geoffburch7959]

As far as I recall, there was never a passenger service from Waterloo to Wimbledon via East Putney. Some special services (from other regions) were occasionally diverted via this route but otherwise Empty Coaching Stock (ECS) used this route as it was more convenient to enter Wimbledon Park Depot this way.

[@andrewfrancis3591]

Fail to call, stuffing half a coach through. Considerably less a problem before mobile phones. I can remember putting a door through Rainham in the wet with a pair of 310's. I called to a woman disembarking to use another door. She looked me in the eye and pretended to turn her ankle leaving the train. She then started cursing me and saying she would report it. I was in two minds as to report myself. but no fear. nothing came of it.

[@JL-fx4ic]

I’m sitting at this station rn