On Tue, 10 Jul 2012 14:13:04 +0100, "Peter Masson"
wrote:



"77002" wrote in message
...
On Jul 10, 1:08 pm, "Peter Masson" wrote:
"77002" wrote in message

...
On Jul 10, 12:24 pm, Geoffrey wrote:



Hi there.

Anyone know anything about the sidings situated to the west of the
line south of Victoria station, but north of the river? These appear
to fall away from the main station approach, from which they are
separated by a retaining wall, and terminate to the east of some kind
of medium-rise building. Two sidings remain of what appears to once
have been a greater number, and, to the west of the pointwork at the
entrance to these, there is another, shorter, and apparently disused
siding. The surrounding space contains some huts and an access road.
The whole area is contained in a triangle about 600 by 150 feet, and
intrigues me because it could make an interesting 4mm scale model. The
difference in elevation between the main lines entering the station
and the sidings, the retaining wall and, perhaps, a train or two held
waiting to enter the terminus, would make a convincing backdrop.

Many years ago the Boat Train was stabbled there. It utilized UK
guage Wagon Lits consists.



That would have been unusual - it normally stabled in Grosvenor Carriage
Shed on the down (east) side of the approach to Victoria, though there may
have been occasions when engineering work meant that it was handled on the
Brighton side of Victoria.

My memories of those sidings were that they were used for stabling Oxted
demus between the peaks. Among the buildings on railway land in the area
is
the Victoria BTP Police Station.

My mistake, East West confusion! :-)


Actually, in the period when I most remember it, the Night Ferry could only
use platform 2 at Victoria - it was too long for any other platform. The
wagon-lits passengers and the seating passengers had to be kept rigidly
separated, as the former went through border formalities at Victoria and the
latter at Dover. Each group of passengers had their own restaurant car.

Peter

Used the Night Ferry just once to go to Brussels. Interesting
experience.
My colleagues laughed at me for taking such an antiquated route - they
were going to fly the next morning from LHR. I got to the office
before they did because LHR was fogged in! That was despite my
sleeper coach missing its connection at Calais.

Guy Gorton

"Guy Gorton" wrote

Used the Night Ferry just once to go to Brussels. Interesting
experience.
My colleagues laughed at me for taking such an antiquated route - they
were going to fly the next morning from LHR. I got to the office
before they did because LHR was fogged in! That was despite my
sleeper coach missing its connection at Calais.

They were indeed antiquated. AIUI the wagons-lits were heated by coke
stoves - fuelling them was one of the attendant's duties.

Peter