70000 Britannia on the Dover Seawall | The Garden of England & Sunset Steam Express - 13.08.24

Hauling the penultimate circular tours for Steam Dreams, 70000 Britannia would prove to be of little threat to the reasonably dry conditions as she powered around Kent and Surrey in glorious sunshine.
Starting out at Gillingham Level Crossing for 'The Garden of England Lunchtime Tour', Britannia is captured powering away from the station heading for the Kent coast. She would soon however be put to a stand at Faversham, as a bridge strike near Selling resulted in the line being closed to be checked over. Spotting this while heading for Dover, we diverted to the footbridge just outside the station. Eventually, the line was deemed safe, and the train departed the station an hour late, using the crossover which rarely sees use, let alone by a steam engine.
Overtaking the train while it stopped for water at Canterbury, we carried on to the Dover Seawall, with Britannia once again putting the power down as she heads away from the speed restriction on the curve. There were plans for one more shot after this, but with the train making up time from it's late running it wasn't possible to catch up with it. We therefore move onto 'The Sunset Steam Express' and head to Betchworth station in the Surrey Hills. With the light drastically fading, Britannia once again get's signal checked by the level crossing, opening up upon sighting of the green signal, as she heads back towards the capital.
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[@DavidFennessy-yj7du]

The smell at Dover Western Docks was absolutely amazing in the days when the ferry service ran from the docks, , like hemp and herring oil, it immediately took me back to Fishguard harbour as a child travelling to Rosslare

[@RailandSky]

That view at around 5:44 is beautiful!

[@SimonTog]

Very good video Thomas :)

[@themodster]

Thanks Simon.

[@prafter7]

Appreciate the view of Faversham. My home station in the 70/80s. What was the holdup at Faversham. I see the train lost quite a bit of time there. Kind regards.

[@themodster]

Thanks. It was held there as a vehicle had struck a bridge near Selling, had to be inspected before it could continue.

[@prafter7]

@@themodster great shot of Dover area. I recall when there were sidings at Dover Town and quite a bit of traffic. Plus the boxes at Dover Marine/Western Docks, Hawkesbury Street Junction and Archcliffe Junction. A busy area. Thanks again.

[@iandocwra1169]

Nice scenes, including my home station of Betchworth!

[@themodster]

Thanks Ian

[@basictraincontent]

Nice capture, I’m right at the front at Betchworth :)

[@themodster]

Thanks! You must've been the group I spoke to that had chased it from Chertsey.

[@iandocwra1169]

It seems that my quiet little halt was the place to be last night! I was at Shere - film to follow.

[@basictraincontent]

@@themodster yes it was. Just me and my mum only :)

[@spark6886]

Hello - Terrific vantage points for filming with good following ‘ after sound ‘ ~~. Well done and thanks for sharing. ~~ Well done and thanks for sharing

[@BrianRussell-di9gp]

What an amazing clean exhaust when pulling from start I saw this beautiful machine at The Festival Of Brittain in the Dome of Discovery. Yes I know I am bloody old.