www.thesussexmotivepowerdepots

Welcome to

"The Sussex Motive Power Depots"

website

KEN PUNTER

Brighton, West Worthing & Barnham

It is with great sadness to inform you all that Ken passed away over the weekend.

Ken's funeral is on Friday 2nd March, 11.00 Worthing crematorium west Sussex, a get together afterwards at the "Frankling Arms" Washington

Over many years much has been written about the

railways and the various forms of traction that

operated in and around Sussex.

But very little has been documented about the footplate-men who actually worked on them.

This web site tries to remedy this and is dedicated to all A.S.L.E.F. members who have worked at Sussex depots over the years,

and it features A.S.L.E.F. members who brought the trains of Sussex to life.

This site will also try and trace the history of A.S.L.E.F. at these depots, which are feature on this site.

"A DRIVER'S VIEW OF THE BELLE"

I have recently been in correspondence with Neil Marshall from the “Brighton Belle Preservation Society”. Neil is researching the history of the “Brighton Belle” and is always seeking to find out more information about the “Belle”. I had invited Neil to last year’s reunion, but he was unable to make the event. However Neil has been in contacted with me and he will be endeavouring to make this year’s reunion.

Neil would like to video the Drivers who worked on the Belle, so their memories can be recorded for prosperity. I am hoping that “Brighton Belle drivers” will be able to give Neil some assistance, by allowing your memories of working this famous train to be recorded at next year’s reunion.

IF YOU HAVE ANY PHOTOS, SLIDES, NEGATIVES (35mm & 110), NEWSPAPPER/MAGAZINE CUTTINGS OR STORIES THAT YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO ADD TO THE WEB SITE. PLEASE BRING THEM ALONG WITH YOU TO THE NEXT BRANCH REUNION ON TUESDAY 8th MAY 2012

Training School after leaving steam to become an electric train driver taken at No.7 platform London Bridge April 1949

Seated with cross legs Mr. Marchant (ex B. Arms)

Seated from L ~ R: S. Nash, M. Donague, W. Beadle & B. Dreery

Standing front row L ~ R: H. Bishop, H. Davis, R. Fulkner (ex Basingstoke, Addiscombe & Farnham) , C. Hopkins & D. Cass (in trilby)

Standing back row L ~ R: Chief Traction Inspector H. Hotts & Bob Wheeler.

Does anybody know any of the Motormen pictured above? I am hoping that there may be a link to Brighton or any of the other Sussex depots.

The only info I have is below curtsey of Steve West (Farnham Branch).

The photo was taken in April 1949 at London Bridge (L.L.) whilst they were on their electric training.

Ron Fulker (middle row 3rd from left) who started at Basingstoke as a cleaner and then Fireman in 1938. He got his drivers job at Addiscombe in 1949 and then moved to Farnham in the late Fifties.
The Traction Inspector S. Bass (in the trilby hat) never worked on the steam. When the L.B.S.C Rly electrified with the overhead wires in 1911. In the early days of electrification a lot of the steam drivers did not want to become motormen owing to the difference in wages, so the railway opened the vacancies to the various traffic grades like Guards and Signalmen and they became Motormen.

I have been in contact with retired driver Alan Cook

(ex Nine Elms/Waterloo, Vic "E", Orpington & Tonbridge).

Alan is trying to find out more about his late uncle Alfie Moon whose was a Motorman at Littlehampton Depot.

Alfie Moon was involved in incident that happened at the first crossing on the Bognor branch.

Shortly after this incident, Alfie Moon suffered a heart attack and passed away in c1957.

Alfie lived next door to his mate who was also a Motorman, by the name of Norris.

If anyone has any photos of Alfie Moon at work

or as any info about him. We would be very grateful to find out more about him.

Many thanks to Andy Derrett (Ipswich Branch), Alan Pentney (Leicester Branch), Bob Dorkings (Barnham Branch) & Mark Organ (Ex-Brighton Branch) for allowing me to display their photos of A.S.L.E.F. Badges on this website