EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY
 | One of the main reasons for doing these web sites is to try and explain to everybody the history of the footplate grades, the conditions they had to work in and the creation of the A.S.L.E.F. branches within the Brighton & Sussex area. I am therefore very grateful for people sending me personal photos from their personal collection and for allowing me to display them on the web sites. But unfortunately what is missing, are the stories that accompany them. What I want to do is to try and remedy this by starting to record the remaining stories that are still out there, before they too are lost in the midst of time. I have added some information about some of the drivers that I know and the comments that have already have been sent to me. If you too have any stories about your own working life on the footplate, the people that you worked with and the conditions you had to work in please send me and I will post, on the web site. If you are interested in helping me in capturing these stories by any means possible please let me know. |
I am trying to find out the names of the A.S.L.E.F. Branch Secretaries for the Newhaven Branch and the dates they served between. if you have any info please can you let me know.
NEWHAVEN LOCO
1847 ~1963
Newhaven locomotive Shed was opened on 8th December 1847 by the L.B.S.C.R. (Shed Code N) and located at Newhaven Harbour. The shed was closed in 1887 and relocated to behind Newhaven Town station.
Newhaven locomotive shed was a sub-depot of the Brighton shed and closed on the 9th September 1963.
The Newhaven Branch of A.S.L.E.F. was opened in 1912 and closed in September 1963
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Newhaven Loco Shed
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Left is the rear of a Almagamted Society of Railway Servants (A.S.R.S.) fob, which features the "Railway Dog". The dog was used to collect money on the London to Newhaven Boat Trains. The money that was collect was donated to Railway Orphans and Widows fund. This badge is extremely rare and is over 100 years old.
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Above is a list of all the engine men that where employed at Newhaven (Harbour) Locomotive Department in 1877. It is not know if this is list was compiled in seniority order or not. However, the list does clearly indicates the difference in the ages of both drivers & fireman at that period of time.
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL AUGUST 1912
Extracted from A.S.L.E.F. Organising Secretary W. Warwick's report
I then spent nine days at the Conference, and on returning visited Fulham in the morning and an open meeting at Covent Garden in the evening, and the following day left for Newhaven, with the view to open a branch of our Society there. This is rather a small depot on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway, but quite large enough to maintain a branch. I did the needful by way of visiting, bills, &c., and on the Sunday a few friends from Brighton with Brother Marshall, from Eastbourne, came over to lend a hand, with the result that a branch was opened and arrangements made for the future.
W. Warwick
At the opening meeting of the Newhaven Branch of A.S.L.E.F. The members decided to elected Bro. F. Wilmhurst to carry out the role as their Branch secretary.
Newhaven Loco Department in July 1925
Loco-men known in this photo are
Back Row 2nd from the left William Terrill, 3rd Maurice Smith, 1st from the right Walter Ware,
Third Row 3rd from the right James Browning
Front Row 2nd from the left Jack Simmons
LOCOMOTIVE JOURNAL APRIL 1928
NEWHAVEN BRANCH
A meeting was held on February 26th, with Bro. Wilmshurst in the chair, when we had a good attendance, and the pleasure of our Organizer, Bro. Barton Wild. After our branch business was disposed of, Bro Wild gave a very interesting address on the present position of our organization, also the Bills now before Parliament to give powers to Railways for road transport. Many questions were asked and satisfactorily answered. The best thanks of the meeting were accorded to Bro. Wild for the interesting time he had given us. I should like to thank all members for their attendance, as it shows they are taking a keen interest in our organization. Bro. Andrews, our A.A.D. delegate also came to over to see us.
A.PEARCE, Branch Sec.
Back Row L~R S. lower & F.wilde
Front Row L~R B. Pidlestone, C. Green & Collington
 Bill Terrill, Unknown, & Unknown |  Unknown, Bill Terrill & Unknown |
 Ernie King Jack 'Bogey' Simmons I might have the names muddle with the photo top right  Above Bill Terrill in 1957
Right Unknown group outside Newhaven Shed |  Ernie King & Jack 'Bogey' Simmons I might have the names muddle with the photo top right
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Driver Unknown & Fireman Unknown
Driver Bill Terrill & Unknown fireman
 Bill Terrill Bill Terrill standing on Loco No. 443 |  |
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 Unknown, Bill Terrill & Unknown in 1921 |  unknown, unknown Bill Terrill Unknown |
 Bill Terrill 1933 |  Bill Terrill Loco No. 64 |
L~ R: Alf Charman & Charlie Evans,
Ern Eacott-& Tim Norman
Photos above are of Brian Simpson & Ron Terrill
Ron Terrill & Brian Simpson at Newhaven in 1955
Ron Terrill & Brian Simpson at Newhaven in 1955
Maurice Smith
Maurice Smith is photographed approaching Plumpton station whilst working the 5.48 Newhaven Harbbour to Victoria 'Boat Trian' on the 16th June 1951
This photo is taken at Newhaven loco and it may have a connection to the photo below featuring Newhaven Engineman Sydney Turner & Fireman Fred Stratton one of whom may be seen in this photo.
April 13th 1958
L.B.S.C.R Class H2 " BEACHY HEAD"
Built at Brighton works in October 1911 and was one of six of this class.
Beachy Head's final revenue earning run was April 13th 1958 when she worked a Rail Tour Special (RTCS). "The Sussex coast Ltd" from London Victoria - Newhaven Harbour, hauling 7 Pullman Coaches (255 tons gross). The 56.8 miles took 81 mins and 11 secs.taking in 2 signal stops, 2 signal checks and a long 15 M.P.H. P. Way slack nett time 70 mins.
Final run steamed at Brighton on April 24th 1958, light engine to Lancing Works, empty stock train from Lancing to Mitcheldever. Then light engine to Easleigh Works for breaking up. After breaking up one of her large brass name plates was ceremonially present to the Mayor of Eastbourne
 Left ~ Right: Engineman Sydney Turner & Fireman Fred Stratton standing in front of Beachy Head on "the Centenary of Boat Trains" running from Newhaven to Victoria (This photo may be connect to the photo above) |  Left ~ Right: Engineman Jack "Bogey" Simmons and his Fireman George Hilton (or John Nash). Jack worked the last boat train before the war and the first train after the war. |
NEWHAVEN HARBOUR
COMPANY'S LOCOMOTIVES
Owing to difficulties the Newhaven Harbour had to be controlled by an independent company, which worked in close co-operation with the LBSCR. Known as the Newhaven Harbour Company, this concern employed horses on the quays for some years before turning to steam power. The first indication of this was on 6th July, 1880 when the Minute Book records £300 being made available for purchasing a suitable tank locomotive. Apparently one was not found, for on 5th April, 1881 Stroudley suggested raising the price to £550 and offered to inspect a second hand engine advertised for sale by the Huslett Engine Company. The was accepted and on 3rd May, 1881 a saddle tank engine named ‘Wave’ was at work hauling sand from the beach to Denton Cement |  |
Works. A similar engine named ‘Bradford’ said to be ten years old and in good order, was inspected on 2nd May, 1882 and purchased together with a steam crane and patent grab, on 20th June at an auction in Manchester for £742. Both engines were repainted in standard Stroudley livery with their names inscribed across the tank sides. At weekends they were washed out and given minor repairs at Newhaven shed, while heavier attention was given by Brighton works. In July 1888 their regular crews were passed by LBSCR inspectors for working between the Harbour and the Town stations, thereby avoiding the necessity of providing pilotmen on journeys from the beach to the West Breakwater. In addition the senior driver was also passed for occasional journeys in daylight hours from Newhaven Town to Seaford or Lewes. Two carriages were borrowed in March, 1889 and purchased for £42 in February, 1892 on Billinton’s request because they were not fitted with the Westinghouse brake and he wished to inform the Board of Trade that all the company’s coaching stock was so fitted
With no signalling on the quay lines, apart from that applying to the Brighton Company’s track it is not surprising that minor incidents occurred from time to time. For instance ‘Wave’ ran into and killed one of the shunting horses on the night of 11th February, 1883, while in the following year on 6th May ‘Bradford’ collided with several loaded coal wagons and pushed two of them into the harbour. Of greater consequence was the accident on the evening of 23rd March, 1888 when Wave’s crew lost control of a heavy train of stone blocks and crashed at speed into some empty wagons, which in ran into Bradford. No one was injured, both crews having jumped clear in time, but the Harbour |  |
company’s complete stock of locomotives was out of commission, and ‘Terriers’ engines Nos. 69 ‘Peckham’ and 79 ‘Minories’ had to be borrowed until repairs could be completed. Bradford was quickly dealt with on the spot by fitters
sent out from Brighton shed and was back at work in four days, but Wave had to be towed away to Brighton Works and returned to traffic on 27th May, 1888, on the 7th December 1892 was sold for scrap. Bradford was again damaged by runaway wagons on 25th April, 1892 and was sent to Brighton for repairs and returned back to Newhaven on 28th July and was laid up in February, 1898. Terrier engine no. 69 acted as a temporary replacement, while negotiations were made for the purchase of Terrier engine No.72 ‘Fenchurch’ on 27th June 1898. Over the following months various Terriers were hired for varying periods, but once work ceased on the sea defences in February 1902, Fenchurch proved sufficient. |  |
NEWHAVEN'S WEST QUAY
LAST TRIP
The last train on the West Quay Newhaven line Saturday 10th August 1963
Left - Right: Harbour employ unknown, Fireman Roger Stone, Driver Maurice Smith
& Shunter/Flagman unknown
Above scenes of Newhaven tramway line to the West Quay
The last train ran on Saturday 10th August 1963 hauled by a Terrier tank engine No.32678,
driver Maurice Smith and his fireman Roger Stone.
The engine took water beside the Railway Hotel at 07:30 a.m.; the shunter unlocked the gate from the rail connection on to the bridge. Railwaymen stopped the traffic , one controlling the gate at each end (this was not done before the last war, the train only being protected as it crossed the road). The engine run light across the bridge, with the instructions to clear all wagons. First the large warehouse used as a rope works and tarpaulin factory; this had been closed on the 2nd August, and the consequent loss of rail traffic contributed to the decission to close the tramway. The first job was to shunt some empties back into the siding, and then pass them on the adjacent loop to fetch an empty box van and an empty bogie luggage van from the former oil siding (oil traffic had ceased four or five years earlier). Ther train ran past the Sheffield Hotel, where the chairs showed evidence of post war relaying, and then beyond the Hope Inn the track had concrete sleepers, the line having been relaid due to storm damage. In the breakwater siding, material for maintaince of the breakwater was kept under lock and key; this had been the main traffic on the line, shingle etc., not necessarilly from local sources. Here a self propelling crane and an open wagon containing a tank for its water supply were left to make their own way across the bridgea week later - a new diesel crane had been provided for breakwater maintenance. The engine returned with five wagons, and a member of the breakwater staff locked the gate behind it. The engine did not need to go back onto the breakwater, with its old tied tracks; in the past when it did so sometimes when the sea was rough the breaking water might go down the chinmey. The train eventually formed up by the sheet stores comprised eight open wagons, two covered wagons, and the bogie luggage van (the largest load the driver could remember in recent years had been 19 wagons). About 10:30, the single gates at each end of the bridge closed against road traffic, and Maurice Smith and his engine No. 32678 made the last slow journey across, turning by the Railway Hotel into the main sidings.
It was some sixty years since the first Terrier tank made this trip; the driver on this occassion recalled that No. 32678 had been "on station" since 3rd July, instead of the usual weekly change-over, due to the poor state of the boiler of No. 32649, which had been sharing the duty.
Extracted from
the Newhaven & Seaford
Branch book
Alf Charman & Tim Norman
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Bulleid's electric loco 20001 working the down Newhaven Boat Train on August 24th 1956 The three electric locomotives (20001-3) took over
working of the Newhaven Boat Trains from steam locomotives on 15th April 1949. The Newhaven loco men gave these locomotive their nick-name "Hornbys" |
Above and Below
Driver Alf Charman & Fireman Bill Terrill at London Bridge having brought up the 7.17 ex Brighton via Eridge & Oxted 7th June 1962.
West Country Class No. 34008 'Padstow'
Nehaven Loco Depot in October 1962
Inside Newhaven shed sits a "Terrier Tank" 32662
Left ~ Right: Ron Terrill, Dave Creasey, George Hilton, Fred Wheeler, Unknown, Vic Harris, Colin Wickenden,
& Tom Holder.
All drivers with the exception of Ron Terrill & Vic Harris eventually moved to Seaford E.M.U.T. depot until their retirement.
Dave Creasey moved to Eastbourne with the closure of Seaford depot in Febuary 1994
 Fred Wheeler |
 Dave Creasey (THE POOR RELATION) |
 L ~ R: Dave Shopland (T B) & George "Honda" Hilton |
Vic Morris (Standing) & Ernie Southon (Bton)
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Unknown, Tug Wilson (T.Bdgs), John Nash, Vic Morris, Ron Knight (Bton), Ernie Southon (Bton), Tom Holder, Unknown & Ian Munro (Barnham)
Left~ Right: Colin Wickenden Centre & Ernie Southon (Bton)
Left ~ Right: Dave Creasey,Dave Shopland (T.Bdgs), Vic Morris, George Hilton, John Nash, Fred Wheeler, Unkown, Vic Harris, Colin Wickenden,Tom Holder,
& Ernie Southon (Bton).
