The last thing I want to do is to repeat everything that appears in my books otherwise you'll never buy them! Therefore I've added some extra photos on this page that were kindly contributed for publication but didn't quite manage to fit in.
Since then, however, a large number of additional photos have been kindly contributed by such luminaries as David Rose, the Guildford Institute Archive, Pat Kinsella, Colour Rail, Jeffery Lloyd, Leigh Darnton, Malcolm Wyatt, Geoff Ball, Charlie Hampshire, Norman Hamshere, John Scrace, Ted Gamblin and Richard S Greenwood MBE.
In order to maximise webspace it was decided to add an extra page, and so the second part of 'Rambings of a Railwayman' can now be found on Page 33...meanwhile, I have been notified by Jim Lester. who contributes a tremendous amount of material for the Nine Elms Website, that a review of my latest book has been posted on the site here...many thanks to John McIvor of SVS Films for kindly publishing the review on his excellent Nine Elms site...



(Above-Below) However we start the page with an interesting map of Guildford railway station and engine shed circa 1935; the map also shows the surrounding area which is scarcely recognizable today! Sadly there is a grubby fold running directly through the station area; I have digitally removed the worst of it and hope that it doesn't detract from what is an interesting historical document. The numbered circles are as followed: 1 Billing & Son Printing Works 2 River Wey 3 Walnut Tree Close 4 Site of 'Mobile' Canteen 5 Guildford South Signal Box 6 Farnham Road Bridge 7 Chalk Tunnel Portal 8 Coal Stage 9 Orphanage Hut 10 Canteen 11 Cattle Pens 12 Guildford North Signal Box 13 Brick Works. (Below) Guildford station and town (looking in a Southerly direction) taken from a balloon in 1988.  Notice all of the trains shown are of  EMU 'slam-door' 1963 stock. The passometer (walkway) across the station which also links Guildford Park Road is also receiving a facelift.



                                                           THE HISTORY OF GUILDFORD STATION

One of the joys of producing a webpage is that it can be changed as you go along, and unlike the constraints of book publishing a webpage can be updated whenever any new material turns up thanks to the generous help of contributors. Therefore it seems appropriate to revamp this page with a number of previously unpublished photos I have received and begin with a potted history of Guildford Railway Station and Guildford Motive Power Depot dating back almost 170 years…
The original station at Guildford was opened by the London and South Western Railway (LSWR) on 5th May 1845 when a six-mile length of single line track was constructed to connect with the London & South Western's main line at Woking; this was followed by another line from Redhill and yet another line was built to join with Farnham and Alton. In 1849, a further branch to Farnham was opened at Ash Junction plus the 'through running' of trains commenced between Redhill, Guildford and Reading; indeed the single line from Ash Junction to Farnham played a big part in establishing Aldershot as the country's most important army camp.
In 1859, Godalming ceased to be the end of the short branch line when the Portsmouth Direct line was completed. This was followed by a 15½ mile single track branch from Horsham with a passing loop at Baynards (with additional loops installed later at other stations). This line ran from Stammerham Junction to Peasmarsh Junction where it joined the Portsmouth Direct line just south of Guildford. The last new route to be constructed to Guildford was the L&SWR's 'New Guildford Line', which is still called the 'New Line' to this day...continued below.



(Above-Below) This photograph from the Guildford Institute Archive shows the view through the main gates of Guildford station in the depths of winter (date unknown). The station is on the left, the goods shed in the middle and Walnut Tree Close on the right flanked by the Billing & Son Printing Works. Note the tracks with buffer stops running past the goods shed. A similar viewpoint in 1967 appears in Jeffrey Lloyds gallery - 'Memories of Guildford Station 3' - further down the page. (Below) Men and machines! Adams X2 Class 594 and enginemen stand proudly in the old shed at Guildford. I haven't been able to date this photograph, but the locomotive was built in March 1892 and withdrawn in 1930.



By the mid-1860s Guildford station had developed into an important junction of lines and appropriately named Guildford Junction. A twin-gabled train shed spanned the centre of the five platforms and a covered footbridge was erected along with a two-road engine shed. This was built on the eastern side of the station, with a turntable at the southern end. The majority of the goods workings were local in nature; pick up goods dominated but there was also a reasonable amount of cattle and sheep traffic (Guildford having its own cattle market nearby). The cattle pens were situated on the eastern side of the station beyond the coaling stage. The Downs bordering the lines were home to a number of horse racing stables and the movement of thoroughbred horses was commonplace, as was parcels traffic, much of which was conveyed in vehicles attached to passenger trains.



(Above) When the L&SWR lines first opened to Guildford the bulk of the motive power was made up of the company's early locomotives. A legacy of the LSWR is this 700 Class (Black Motor) 692 seen here on the Old Pit waiting to be placed in the shed. A shedman is busy cleaning out the ash from the pit below. This class of thirty 0-6-0 tender engines were designed for freight work by Dugald Drummond in 1897 for the London and South Western Railway and built by Dubs and Company at the company's Queen's Park works at Polmadie, Glasgow.

With the ever increasing traffic from the 'New Line' and Horsham Line in the mid-1880s, the original engine shed at Guildford was demolished to allow for rebuilding the station. The number of platforms was increased to seven, a subway was built and each platform was provided with a canopy. In order to provide sufficient space for a new engine shed, the chalk pit situated south of the Farnham Road bridge was enlarged to accommodate a semi-roundhouse with thirteen roads radiating from a 50ft turntable. The new brick built depot opened in 1887, however owing to the restricted space, the site of the coaling stage and ash pits had to be built opposite the station and the prevailing south west winds often blew smoke, ash and grit towards the station much to the annoyance of passengers. In 1896 sixty locomotives were allocated to the shed, hence a decision was made to build a seven straight road shed capable of housing three tender locomotives. When completed, the extension was used as a running shed allowing the semi-roundhouse to be used for repairs and boiler washouts.
In 1904, two new hydraulic cranes were provided for the coaling stage and a 55ft turntable was installed. The semi-roundhouse shed required a small locomotive as the shed pilot and several locomotives took their turn in performing this task. The motive power depot at Guildford continued to grow in importance following grouping in 1923 as the trains from Guildford to Havant, Horsham, Redhill and Reading remained steam hauled. In 1926, the shed had an allocation of just over 80 locomotives and boasted a staff of 465 men of whom 328 were Drivers and Firemen. Other staff consisted of foremen, boiler washers, coalmen, chargemen, boilersmiths, fitters and their apprentices. Among other grades of men employed were sandmen, ash loaders, gland-packers, tubers, painters and even carpenters - continued below...

(Below) This is Guildford Up Yard Dock showing the cattle pens and various types of rolling stock from different railway companies. The Passometer (footbridge) had recently been installed which gave access to the station from Guildford Park Road as well as the main entrance. Guildford's two gas towers can be seen in the background.



(Below) This photograph of Guildford Shed is an absolute classic! Since I haven't any idea what class of locomotive it was I contacted Mike Morant who replied - 'One has been fortunate. I won a set of the Bradley LSWR locomotive books in hardback at auction earlier this year and your enquiry typifies the reason why I've long wanted them. According to Bradley No 407 was a standard 'E' class Manning Wardle 0-4-0ST originally purchased by Relf of Okahampton in March 1876 and named 'Pioneer'. She was used with sister engines in the construction of the line from Meldon Junction to Holsworthy. 'Pioneer' was bought from Relf by the LSWR in 1881 and was based at Plymouth where she worked until December 1891 after which there followed a period in storage at Exmouth Junction. Then, late in 1892, she became the Guildford shed pilot until mid-1897 being replaced by a Beattie well tank. 407 then became the temporary shunter on the newly completed Waterloo & City. There's a bit more intermediate history but somewhat surprisingly 407 was again allocated to Guildford as shed and coal stage pilot. With a clapped out firebox she was eventually withdrawn from service in 1919 and scrapped at Eastleigh in 1921...' Thanks Mike



Following Maunsell's retirement in 1937, Bulleid took over the reign as Chief Mechanical Engineer of the Southern Railway, and his Class Q1 0-6-0 (coffee pot) became synonymous with Guildford. The infrastructure of the shed was again updated between 1933 and 1934; the coal stage was replaced and electric cranes were installed to ease the task of coaling locomotives. Improvements were also made to the approach roads and pits to rationalise movements in and around the shed. Between 1923 and 1948 the biggest change in the allocation of steam locomotives at Guildford was the arrival of the Maunsell classes - especially the 2-6-0s. By 1933, the shed boasted 25 U class Moguls, mainly for the Reading to Redhill line and 26 M7 0-4-4s. Other Maunsell locomotives appeared: 'Lord Nelson', 'King Arthur' and S15 4-6-0s on through trains to Portsmouth before the line was electrified.
I must mention the stunning images from the NMSI collection as it shows the superb artwork commissioned by the 'Big Four' railway companies and later British Railways for posters across the country. The NMSI family is comprised of four award-winning museums, each with their own diverse identity: the Science Museum, the National Media Museum and, of course, the National Railway Museum (NRM) at York which houses the world's pre-eminent railway collection. The Science Museum at Swindon is a massive site housing collections ranging from the iconic Lockheed Constellation airliner to super computers, bicycles and the last Fleet Street printing press, however the NMSI's full collection is so big that only 8% of the artefacts are on public view. The rest are hidden-away at an ex-WW2 airfield just off the M4, but enthusiasts are amply compensated with the NMSI Collections Online; a superb website displaying thousands of objects including a range of fabulous railway SR travel posters...click here...a visit is highly recommended.

(Inset Left) This Southern Railway poster - 'Electrification!' by T D Kerr was published in 1925 to advertise improvements to rolling stock and infrastructure. The image features several electric multiple unit trains, a signal gantry and viaduct. The text reads - '700 miles of Southern Railway will be electrified by spring next year. 3 new sections open this summer. 3 electric for every steam train now running. Total Cost £8,000,000, Southern. The World's Greatest Suburban Electric.' At the top and bottom of the poster six-car electrical multiple units are depicted.

(Below) Tar-rah! With bunting flying behind the gates to Guildford station and surrounded by a huge crowd of onlookers old and young alike, the Guildford Town Cryer, Albany Peters, reads a proclamation of the new electric train service on 9th July 1925. The new third-rail 660vdc electric multiple units (EMUs) were introduced on the Western Section from Waterloo to Dorking North and to Effingham Junction via Epsom, and to Guildford via Claygate and Effingham Junction; the first service arriving at Guildford on 9th July 1925. The Southern Railway adapted the design of the original LSWR EMUs as the basis for its own standard suburban sets, which like the LSWR were formed of three cars made up of two driving motors and a trailer composite in between. The first batch of 55 units was built in 1925 by two companies - the Birmingham Railway Carriage & Wagon Co Ltd and the Metropolitan Carriage, Wagon & Finance company. Twenty six of the units were for the western section with the remainder for the eastern section; the latter having 62 foot 6 inch underframes as opposed to the 57 foot underframes of the western section units. All electrical equipment was provided by Metropolitan Vickers.





(Above) With platform 1 crowded with spectators, the first electric passenger service arrives at Guildford on the 9th July 1925. The train headed by Unit No. 1295 has travelled from Waterloo to Guildford via the New Guildford Line' via Cobham. The early Southern Railway EMU stock used an alpha route indicator which was mounted on a single width fret and clipped to the illuminated middle panel on the front of the motor or trailer driving car- in this case the letter 'H'. Unfortunately, because the braking system of these new electric trains (Westinghouse Air-brake) was different in operation to the Vacuum brake (which was fitted on steam engines); three separate incidents occurred at platform 1 at Guildford within the first month of operation - all due to Driver error.  Luckily, these incidents were only minor and there were no injuries...my thanks to Pru Chambers of the Guildford Institute for allowing me to reproduce these photographs from their archive. Click here to visit the Institute's fascinating website.

(Inset right) Twelve years after the arrival of the new EMUs at Guildford, this SR poster - 'New Extensions', by John Chater was published in 1937. The artwork features a permanent way gang lowering a rail into position. The text gives details of the electrification planned from July 1937 to 1940, including work on the London to Portsmouth lines via Guildford and Horsham, lines to Staines, Reading, Ascot to Aldershot & Guildford, Sevenoaks to Hastings and Bexhill, and lines to Kent. In the event the SR's electrification scheme was delayed by the Second World War.



(Above-Below) This Southern Railway poster from the NMSI Collection Online features a painting by D W Burley depicting fields, woods and hills at Worplesdon in Surrey, published in 1936. The poster promotes the sale of plots of building land near the railway station serving the village of Worplesdon. The scene is probably Burdenshot Hill, a strip of land to the west of the station. Today there are about ten house built there with an elevated view of Whitmore common - each costing at least £1m-£2m each. The foreground was once a factory that made artificial stone; the factory has long since gone but some stonework is still evident under the surrounding bushes. The Company went bust when they found that the crumbling stone they made for a bridge wasn't as strong as it was 'cracked' up to be! (Below) This Southern Railway poster - 'Summer Services for Winter Visitors to Portsmouth, Southsea and Isle of Wight' - was painted by Charles (Chas) Pears in 1937. The text at the bottom of the poster is accompanied by the Southern Railway's lightning flash electric logo. The train is about to enter Buriton Tunnel heading towards Portsmouth. The tail lamp can just be seen…yes, even though it was an electric train, during 1937 and for many years to come, an oil tail lamp was still necessary in case of electric current failure. The train is a 12-car Portmouth Express consisting of two 4-COR units sandwiching a 4-BUF unit.



The arrival of the London and South Western Railway in 1845 brought about the biggest change to Guildford. It gave the 'middle classes' an opportunity to reside in the rural environs of Guildford and commute to London by train although the journey probably took a little longer than the 40 minutes it takes now!
In 1895 Dennis Brothers set up a firm to make bicycles and then went on to build buses and fire appliances (my father being employed there as an engineer in the mid-1950s). There was also a brewery in the town (Friary) and a printing works (Billing & Son) in Walnut Tree Close. Indeed as you can see by the 1935 map at the top of the page, Guildford's landmarks have now changed considerably and although some are still recognisable, others have disappeared forever. Over the years the Brewery, Cattle Market, Gas Works, Brick Works, Ice Factory, and Tuberculosis (TB) Isolation Hospital have long since gone, and in their place we now have shopping precincts, housing developments and modern industrial estates.

Talking of successful Guildford businesses, I must mention Ben Darnton, whose shop - 'Ben's Collectors Records' - in Tunsgate, has recently scored a top 10 chart position - being chosen as one of the UK's most favourite shops of its kind. In March 2013 the Observer newspaper ran a story highlighting the best independent record shops across the country. The Independent newspaper also ran a feature in its culture section in which readers were invited to name their best record stores - Well Done Ben! On top of that, BBC's Business Editor, Robert Peston was in his shop recently to record a programme about the history of shopping in the UK and the boom in leisure goods during the 1960s when record shops were so popular. Ben, who is a complete railway nut (and a top bloke) has always been extremely supportive of my talks and presentations and along with other railway DVDs has sold a large number of both my books in his shop here for  which I'm very thankful. If you're ever in Guildford, do drop in to see Ben, he'll always make you very welcome.

Despite Central London being less than 30 miles away, Guildford has always remained a thriving economic and cultural centre in its own right. Guildford Cathedral (built between 1936 and 1961) stands in a commanding spot on Stag Hill. It was so named because the Kings of England used to hunt there; the Cathedral's solid red brick outline is made from clay taken from the hill on which it stands and can be seen from miles around. It overlooks the University of Surrey which was established in 1968 and now features a second campus at Manor Park located a short distance away.
The Royal Surrey County Hospital (RSCH) is now situated on the outskirts of Guildford; a 527-bedded District General Hospital, serving a population of 320,000 for general services and 1,200,000 for cancer services. It is also a specialist centre for diabetes, ENT and maxillo facial surgery. The old RSCH site in Farnham Road has become a specialist mental health hospital, providing round-the-clock support to adults experiencing acute mental ill-health as well as housing community mental health and day services.



(Above-Right) This aerial view of Guildford circa 2013 is reproduced courtesy of Google Earth. Superimposed on the image is a section from the 1935 map featured at the top of the page which shows (A) Dennis Brothers Motor Engineering Works and (B) Hospital for Infectious Diseases. The other arrows point to (C) University of Surrey; (D) Guildford Cathedral and a second section from the 1935 map showing (E) the Guildford Park Brick Works...both the Brick Works and Dennis Brothers factory had rail links. (Right) Founded by John and Raymond Dennis in 1895, Dennis Brothers began manufacturing 'Speed KIng' bicycles. The company went on to make their first motor vehicle in 1898 and car in 1899. John Dennis then built the Rodboro Buildings in the centre of Guildford - the first purpose-built motor vehicle factory in Britain to manufacture motorcars (now the site of a Wetherspoons pub). Commercial vehicle activity increased and the first bus was made in 1903 followed by the company's first fire engine in 1908. In 1913 Dennis moved to a larger factory at Woodbridge on the outskirts of Guildford. This enlarged section of the map shows a close-up view of the factory (A) and the Hospital for Infectious Diseases (B) which treated patients suspected of contracting Tuberculosis (TB).

(Left-Right) This enlarged section of the 1935 map shows the old Guildford Park Brick Works (E) once dominated by tall chimneys but now a residential area and a 'Pay & Dispay' car park. (Below Right) I took this aerial shot of Guildford Cathedral in 1988. The Cathedral stands in a commanding spot on Stag Hill - so named because the Kings of England used to hunt there; the Cathedral's solid red brick outline is made from clay taken from the hill on which it stands and can be seen for miles around. On the left of the Cathedral is the construction site of the University of Surrey campus. In the middle distance alongside the railway is the residential area and 'Pay & Dispay' car park I mentioned above; both now occupying the site of the Guildford Park Brick Works.

(Below) Several photos of Guildford station are featured further down the page in Pat Kinsella's gallery - 'Memories of Guildford Station 4' - featuring photos taken during the 1980s when the old station buildings were being razed to the ground in readiness for modernisation. However, I include this photo here because it shows the Guildford Cathedral dominating the skyline. Meanwhile, in the foreground the bulldozers have started work at the country end of No 2 platform and the old 'mobile' canteen, EMU Drivers' room and Lamp room have been demolished, and in their place a temporary structure has been erected outside the Gents toilet.



(Left) The 1935 map shows Guildford Loco at the top and the old Royal Surrey County Hospital (RSCH) in Farnham Road at the bottom; I had the misfortune of visiting the outpatients department there whilst working at Guildford loco in the 1960s; on one occasion I trod on a rusty nail whilst filling sandboxes on a loco. The hospital has since moved to a larger site on the outskirts of Guildford; a 527-bedded District General Hospital, serving a population of 320,000 for general services and 1,200,000 for cancer services. It is also a specialist centre for diabetes, ENT and maxillo facial surgery.  The old Farnham Road building is now a specialist mental health hospital, providing round-the-clock support to adults and older adults experiencing acute mental ill-health as well as housing community mental health and day services.

During the intermediate post-war year period, Guildford shed (70C) had six progressional and two voluntary Links in addition to the ash, turning and cleaning gangs. The youngest recruits to the shed started as engine cleaners and they then progressed to disposing of locomotives as they came on shed and finally to coaling, watering and turning locomotives for their next booked duty. The two voluntary Links were the 'Dual Link' where men could opt to train for driving the electric multiple-units (EMUs) as well as drive steam locomotives, and the 'Old Man's Gang' where Drivers nearing retirement age could opt for light duties which didn't involve working a night shift.
By 1950, Guildford shed was coded 70C, and in June that year it briefly witnessed the testing of Bulleid's futuristic 'Leader' class which made some test runs between Woking and Guildford. At the same time, the roof of the semi-roundhouse was replaced using corrugated sheeting. Towards the end of February 1958, Guildford's turntable was in need of urgent repair, which effectively closed the shed buildings. Four locomotives were left stranded in the semi-roundhouse while the Aldershot triangle was used to turn locomotives. Routine repairs and boiler wash-outs were transferred to Reading Southern shed and although coaling and watering could still be carried out at Guildford, the use of these roads to stable locomotives made it very difficult for the staff. To ease matters, some of Guildford shed's locomotives were stabled at Shalford.
By 1959, Guildford shed's allocation had reduced to forty-five locomotives incorporating four M7 Class, three G6 Class, eight 700 Class, sixteen U class Moguls, one T9 Class and shed pilot B4 Class 30089.  These were augmented in early 1960 by the arrival of three SR V Class 'Schools' 30903 'Charterhouse', 30906 'Sherborne' and 30909 'St Paul's' for use on the Reading to Redhill services. Also on the 31st December, the Tongham branch closed and as Aldershot gasworks had closed in the June, there was no further use for the already under-used line. However, the line was kept open for the early-winter sugar-beet traffic.
In September 1962, the Crompton Type 3 Bo-Bo diesel-electric locomotives started to appear on the Margate to Wolverhampton service and return workings. In March 1963, B4 Class 30089 was condemned and was replaced by USA Class 30064 and finally USA Class 30072. With the withdrawal of the M7 Class, the Horsham line workings became a virtual monopoly of the Ivatt Class 2MT locomotives. However, some of the services were hauled by Q1 Class locomotives.
In 1965, the Beeching report favoured the closing of the line and on the 14th June, Ivatt Class 2MT 41287 worked the last booked passenger train. On the 4th January 1965, the Reading to Redhill line was turned over to diesel traction with 3-car diesel electric multiple units (affectionately named 'Tadpoles') working an hourly interval service.
During the mid-1960s, the Portsmouth Direct line via Guildford was utilised as a diversionary route at weekends while electrification work was being carried out on the Waterloo to Bournemouth main line. This brought the spectacle of Bulleid Pacifics and BR Standard Class 5 locomotives running through Guildford with prestigious trains such as 'The Bournemouth Belle'. By 1965, Guildford's allocation was down to twenty-eight locomotives and comprised USA Class 30072, nine N and eight U Class, six Q1 Class and four Ivatt Class 2MT locomotives. With the withdrawal of the Maunsell S15 Class and the Bulleid Q1 Class, much of the variety which was once the trademark of Guildford Shed vanished forever.
On Sunday 9th July 1967, after years of decline and neglect, only four steam locomotives remained. The first two locomotives to leave (initially to Salisbury and then later to South Wales to face the cutter's torch) were BR Standard Class 5MT 73155 and 73118 coupled together. West Country Class 34018 'Axminster' followed them to Salisbury and finally USA Class 30072 left for Salisbury via Havant (destined for a new career on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway). All signs of the Motive Power Depot at Guildford have now been razed to the ground. The roundhouse engine shed has disappeared and all that remains on the site is a multi-storey car-park.

                                          'A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME - GUILDFORD MAY 29th 1961'
                                                 Photos Richard S Greenwood MBE Collection - 1

Whilst in conversation with my friend Mick Stone, he mentioned receiving several scanned images of Guildford Shed and its environs sent to him by Richard S Greenwood MBE. My senses were immediately heightened when he showed them to me - all taken in 1961, the same year I started work at 70C as an engine cleaner. Seeing these images for the first time took my breath away and I immediately contacted Richard to ask his permission to use them on my webpages. He readily agreed. I'm indebted to Richard because his superb photos revive so many memories of my first year at 70C...welcome to the first gallery of 'A Brief Moment in Time' featuring Richard's photos...

(Inset-Below) This photo shows the Shed Pilot B4 Class 30089 'Little Jim' standing on the Old Pit as Q1 Class 33019 moves onto the turntable on 29th May 1961. An interesting feature is the circular indicator or  'Bobbing Joey' as we used to call it, situated just before the mouth of the Chalk Tunnel. This track circuit indicator showed a black disc with a white ring when any portion of the track-circuited line was occupied by an engine, or an engine and vehicles, and a white disc only when the line was clear. The Signalman in Guildford South Box must satisfy himself by observation that the black disc appeared when an engine or an engine and vehicles had been shunted into the tunnel on the down line; and Enginemen and Shunters were instructed to see that the indicator showed a white disc only before carrying out a shunting movement into the tunnel. (Below) E4 Class 32468 trundles past the loco shed into the reception road and eventually into the coal stage area for disposal. The locomotive had failed for some reason and should have been working a return Horsham service.





(Above-Below) Guildford-based M7 Class 30132 departs from platform 2 with a Horsham bound 3-coach set on the 29th May 1961. This service should have been worked by E4 Class 32468 which had previously failed. (Below) Q1 Class 33019 shunts the Breakdown Crane and associated Brake Van.





(Above-Below) Guildford based C Class 31723 stands on the South end of the coal road on 29th May 1961. Designed by HS Wainwright in 1900, these 0-6-0 locomotives were the largest of the 0-6-0 classes to be found on the Southern, with locos being allocated to many sheds for mixed traffic duties. 31724 ended her days the following year and cut up at Eastleigh Works in 1962. Loco 31592 built in 1902, is preserved on the Bluebell Railway as SECR No 592. (Below) U Class 31633 departs platform 5 at Guildford with a stopping service to Redhill on 29th May 1961. Two workmen seem to be rodding out the drain leading from the downpipe stanchions on platform 8 and one of the chimneys of the Guildford Park Brickworks can be seen through the locomotive's chimney exhaust.





(Above-Below) C Class 31510 and 700 Class 30693 stand patiently on the Old Pit, both waiting for their turn to be berthed in the shed. The bicycle shed and staff canteen can be clearly seen in the background. (Below) N Class 31870 and E4 Class 32468 have now joined the queue to be placed in the shed behind B4 Class 30089. The Upper quadrant signal arm with a circle round the white band (WY45) when in the clear position, would allow a movement to the main line a far as the next stop signal whereas the ground signal (WY38) would allow a shunt movement as far as the line was clear.





(Above-Below) Ex-GWR 2-6-0 4300 Class No 6385 runs into platform 6 and 7 with a Reading passenger service from Redhill on 29th May 1961.Turns worked by these types of locomotives were worked by Reading 'Western' depot crews. A number of notices displaying warnings about using the foot crossing are situated on the ends of each platform and an audible bell warning was also provided. (Below) A small freight train hauled by 700 Class 'Black Motor' 30350 runs tender first into plaform 3 (Up Cobham). This train had probably come from Godalming Goods and was one of the turns in the 'Old Man's Gang' involved working local freight services to and from Godalming or Dennis's sidings, Shalford or London Road station Yard.





(Above-Below) The Driver with feeder in one hand and oil bottles replenished from the stores walks towards U Class 31621 which is in the engine road near the coal stage. 31621 was also based at Guildford (70C) and two of this type of loco (31625 and 31797) were temporarily converted to oil burning in 1947. Both were subsequently reconverted for coal burning. 31621 was withdrawn from service on 31st October 1964. (Below) With 'white feather' flying' N Class 31400 climbs the 1 in 100 bank towards Pinks Hill with a passenger service to Reading on 29th May 1961. The photo has been taken from the A3 bypass bridge and the land to the right of the photograph is now occupied by the University of Surrey Campus.





(Above-Below) This shot of V Class 'Schools' 30901 'Eton' climbing Pinks Hill Bank out of Guildford with a 'Conti' (short for Continental Express) is from the Colour-Rail collection…click here for link. The Dennis Bros factory can just be seen in the background. (Below) Q Class 30541 drops onto the turntable from the New Shed at 70C on 5th June 1964. An Ivatt 2MT Class 2-6-2T locomotive stands in No 1 road; the Ivatt tank locos replaced the ex-LSWR M7 Class 0-4-4Ts for passenger services over the Guildford-Horsham branch. The crane in the background is working on the new block of flats at Bishops Court.



                                                        THE END OF GUILDFORD SHED (70C)



(Above-Below) A view from beneath Farnham Road Bridge looking towards the abandoned Coal Stage; workmen are already removing rails from the Coal Road. (Below) On 29th June 1970 the Coal stage has been demolished and workmen are now making headway to form a new car park.







(Above-Below) This is the view from the opposite parapet of Farnham Road Bridge looking towards the area where the semi-roundhouse loco shed once stood. The concrete steps that led from Farnham Road to the depot can still be seen to the right of the photograph. (Below) On 29th June 1970 the footings are being concreted to support the steel girders for the multi-storey car park and on the right the completed building belies any evidence of a once-busy steam locomotive depot.





(Above-Below) These aerial shots of Guildford will give readers a better idea of where Guildford MPD was situated. I took this photo (above) from an Auster light aircraft (of which I was a passenger) in 1967 just after the shed closed. The second shot (below) was taken from a hot air balloon as my Dad and I passed over Guildford some 20-odd years later. It shows the huge multi-storey car park that now occupies the area where 70C once stood. The two signalboxes (Yard Box and South Box) have been removed as well as the panel box that followed it! The present panel box is situated at the southern end of the station and the only two carriage sidings that exist are the ones shown in the photograph with EMU slam door stock berthed there.



                                       A BRIEF MOMENT IN TIME - GUILDFORD - MAY 30th 1961
                                                The Richard S Greenwood MBE Collection - 2



(Above-Below) Guildford Shed (70C) locomotive U Class 31635 trundles down the bank towards Guildford Up Yard with a evening mixed freight from Aldershot. (Below) Brighton based E4 Class 32509 runs into platform 3 (Up Cobham) with the 10.14 ex-Horsham passenger service on the morning of 30th May 1961. Meanwhile, on the turntable, an unidentified 700 Class 'Black Motor' is being turned to take her place in the shed and B4 Class 30089 'Little Jim' is berthed in her normal place in the Stores Road. By the looks of it, the top of the chalk cliff has also subsided and created a whiter colour to the chalk.





(Above-Below) E4 Class 32509 has run round the train in platform 3 (Up Cobham) and is waiting to propel the empty coaching stock towards the London end of the station to return to platform 2 (down Cobham) and form the 10.34am passenger service back to Horsham. The passengers on platform 2 await the train's arrival. Behind the locomotive, two posters advertise two holiday destinations - one to the Isle of Man and the other to Loch Erie, Ireland. (Below) Brighton based E4 Class 32509 shunts the empty coaching stock from platform 3 to platform 2 to form the 10.34am passenger service to Horsham on 30th May 1961. She was withdrawn from service on 31st March 1962 and cut up a month later. E4 Class 32473 is preserved on the Bluebell Railway in LBSCR livery as No. 473 and carries its original name 'Birch Grove'.





(Above-Below) U Class 31625 leaves the station and passes Guildford shed with a Reading - Redhill passenger service on 30th May 1961. The breakdown crane can be seen berthed between the New Shed and the Up running line. (Below) Viewed from Yorkie's Bridge, Ivatt Class 41301 shunts a horsebox into Guildford Up Yard Cattle dock for unloading. This has been transported from Horsham on an earlier regular passenger service. 'Moons Timber Merchants' premises can be seen in the background and the old gas works can be seen on the horizon.





(Above) C Class 31510 departs Guildford Up Yard with a freight for Woking Yard on 30th May 1961. Unable to perform any shunting whilst this move takes place, the Driver of the 350hp diesel shunter takes a break and reads his newspaper. Note that the 350hp shunter doesn't display any black-yellow chevron markings.

                                                                  GUILDFORD RAILWAYMEN



(Above-Below) Shedman Frank Mitchell glances towards the photographer as he makes his way towards the coal stage and disposal pits with his trusty shovel...a laborious task! Frank would load a low-sided wagon with clinker that had been deposited by firemen after disposal duties of their locos. There wasn't much that Frank didn't know about horse racing - and, typically, Frank is seen here with a 'roll up' of his favourite Old Holborn tobacco dangling from the corner of his mouth. (Below) Guildford fireman Paul Schofield keeps a look out for the stop mark on the platform as the Driver uses the vacuum brake while running into Guildford with a passenger service from Reading to Redhill; the loco is a V Class 'Schools'. The original 'Bridge House' is visible in the background.





(Above) A pair of locomotive crew make their way from Guildford MPD to the station using the foot crossing situated at the Country end of the platforms adjacent to Farnham Road Bridge. Following two fatal accidents, including one when an engine cleaner was killed whilst he and a colleague were pushing a hand-barrow across this lines, the crossing was condemned and taken out of use. From then on, all loco staff had to use platform 8 and the passometer stairs to access other platforms; the walking times allowed were adjusted accordingly.

(Insert Left & Right) 'The Old Boys!' These photos were sent to me by Mike Wallace, a relative of  Driver Reg Beer who was my regular mate in the 'Old Man's Gang' in 1962. As so often happened back in the old days, it was nigh on impossible to get promotion to a drivers job at your own depot, hence quite a number of railwaymen moved from the West Country to further their careers on the railway in the Surrey and London area…they were known as 'Devons'. The first photo (left) is of Reg Beer with some cleaner buddies at Guildford and the second (right) shows a group of Guildford men, including Mike Wallace's Grandfather Driver Randall (at the back) and the man wearing the trilby hat is Fred Price - one of the Running Foremen at Guildford MPD when I started work there. He was also Acting Shedmaster when George Stovold was on holiday. (Below) The driver of the coal stage duty takes a look at the wagon label, the wagon being left there for Frank Mitchell to load with ashes. Note the empty cattle wagons and horse box berthed in Guildford Up Yard in the background.