Sandling Junction
As part of the Kent Coast Electrification Scheme, three-aspect colour signalling
was installed on the section of line between Smeeth and Archcliffe Junction. These formally replaced semaphores
on 18th February 1962, marking the end for the SER signal box at Sandling. The
decommissioning of this cabin saw that access to the still extant single track
of the closed Hythe branch was controlled from a ground frame, the latter of
which was released by the signalman at Westenhanger. When the cabin at
Westenhanger was taken out of use, Sandling’s ground frame could be controlled
from Ashford’s ‘’power box’’. After 1970, infrastructure cutbacks at the station
were severe. The former ‘’up’’ side branch line station building was demolished,
the truncated remains of the Hythe branch lifted, the footbridge lost its roof,
and all existing structures on the ‘’down’’ main line platform dispensed with.
Only a 100-foot-long section of platform canopy was retained on the ‘’up’’ main
line platform, fronting the still extant building, which had become the main
ticket office.
The rural landscape north of the station was subject to considerable
redevelopment after the April 1999 announcement revealing that ''Balfour Beatty
Major Projects'' had won the contract to build the ten mile Ashford to Cheriton
section of the CTRL’s ‘’Phase 1’’. This section runs parallel with the Kent
Coast route for virtually its entire extent, and is elevated above the ex-SER
line in the vicinity of Sandling. The whole of the CTRL’s ‘’Phase 1’’ was
formally deemed complete on 5th August 2003, and scheduled international
passenger services began using the new high speed route on 28th September of
that year.
Sandling Pullmans
During 1960, numerous wooden-bodied Pullman vehicles were withdrawn from service to become camping coaches. Conversions took place at the Pullman Car Company's Preston Park Works, every British Railways Region being a recipient of the modified vehicles. In March of that year, Third Class cars Nos. 15 and 16 were withdrawn for rebuilding into this format, the pair being bound for the Southern Region at Sandling.
Pullman Nos. 15 and 16: The carriages were completed during World War I, initially being commissioned into service during 1918 as ambulance cars by the LNWR. The end of the conflict rendered the ambulance vehicles obsolete, and in 1921 both carriages were rebuilt into Pullman cars under the instruction of the Midland Railway's Carriage & Wagon Superintendent, Thomas Clayton. Further re-buildings took place in 1932, when both vehicles were converted into Kitchen Cars (or, in Pullman parlance, ''Supply Cars'') at the Pullman Car Co.'s Longhedge Works in Battersea. Most of the Pullman workshops had transferred to Preston Park, Brighton, four years previously, where a vacant LB&SCR engine shed building had become available. The carriages comprised no seats, but a partial rebuild of each Pullman in 1937, this time at Preston Park, provided a bar counter. A final in-service rebuild of both carriages occurred in 1949, again at Preston Park, which sought to convert the pair to Brake Parlour Cars. A last visit to Preston Park in 1960 involved the conversion of the vehicles to Camping Coaches: this involved the blocking up of the gangway ends, but the restoration of the umber and cream livery. The carriages formerly displayed ''CAR No. 15 THIRD CLASS'' and ''CAR No. 16 THIRD CLASS''' respectively, within their name panels upon the lower half umber-coloured panel; these designations were replaced by ''CAMPING COACH'' text in a simpler, larger font. Car No. 15 was recoded by the Southern Region as No. P42, and Car No. 16 similarly became No. P41.
21st June 2007
After walking along the track bed for a short time, the disused Hayne Wood Tunnel looms out of vegetation;
it is quite a sight to behold. At 94 yards in length, the tunnel has been fortunate in escaping being blocked up,
which very much adds to the interest. The tunnel floor was flooded on this day, but it is still possible to walk
through the tunnel if one is feeling bold. Alternatively, the footpath ascends on the left-hand side. David Glasspool
21st June 2007
The footpath ascends to a height which allows an interesting side-on view of the tunnel portal, showing the
railway cutting to good effect. Continuing along the footpath eventually allows the other tunnel portal to
be viewed. David Glasspool
22nd June 2007
The pictorial now returns to the station, looking at the main line platforms in particular. This westward view
shows the remaining Mock Tudor station building on the ''up'' platform, complete with canopy, and the lattice
footbridge, now devoid of roof. The simple triangular canopy design seen here is the same as that which was
used on the triangular surface with the branch line platforms, and that which could once be found on the
''down'' platform. David Glasspool
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