SPECIAL: Ebbsfleet 12/12

Another day free resulted in visiting Kent’s recently opened Ebbsfleet International. The trip was more succesful than my earlier attempt late last month (i was given road directions). I couldn’t get to the platforms at the station but the concourse had me interested and one thing in particular had my attention for most of the time spent there. There is a full scale class 395 ‘Javelin’ EMU end coach mock-up on display which shows roughly what the yet-to-be introduced bullet trains will look like. The mock-up is in the older South Eastern trains livery minus the grey skirt at the bottom and the interior looks quite similar to the class 375′s. Cant wait until they get introduced in December 2009.

Ebbsfleet International is not a bad station, very bright and spacious. The first thing anyone who walks to the station will notice is the huge amount of parking spaces there are. When i visited the station was very quiet, only people i saw were staff and very few passengers but hopefully when the Javelin units are introduced (along with the new services) more passengers will use Ebbsfleet.  I would like to thank the staff at Ebbsfleet International for letting me walk around and taking a few pictures.

On to another subject and this may seem pointless but im gonna write this……..

I managed to travel on a class 376 for the first time and i must say these should be used for the Charing x – Gillingham services than the Dartford and Gravesend. They are much better than the older BREL 465′s which are already showing their age. Hopefully Southeastern will read this and consider using the Electrostar Metro’s on longer services.

And to another subject…….

On the same day i managed to photograph 3 more EWS 66′s two of which i jumped out of the train i was on to catch at Strood. 66146 passed Strood light engine and was unusually heading towards Paddock Wood via the Medway Valley line which hardly see’s anything other than EMU’s. Overall the entire trip was quite a decent one and it will be my last big trip before Christmas.

Below: The class 395 ‘Javelin’ EMU mock up on display at Ebbsfleet International.

Below: The bright and rather empty interior of the concourse at Ebbsfleet International, the rear of the class 395 mock up can be seen to the left.

Another North Kent trip.

Done another trip on the North Kent line to get a few more freight. But i visited Stone crossing and Dartford, the weather was terrible for most of the day mostly wind and rain but it didnt stop me from taking pics. I saw 4 more class 66′s (66030, 66198, 66502 and 66539) and an unusual Network rail plasser machine 999700 or as some call it a DMU on steriods which i saw whilst passing Rochester and again at Stone Crossing where i got a few pics of it passing by. After spending a while at Stone i headed to Dartford to get a few units in, the station is like a minature London bridge and one day i will do a full day there.

Plasser thing 999700 passes Stone Crossing at speed heading west.

 Freightliner 66539 cruises pass Dartford whilst heading towards Thamesport.

Early morning trip to Gillingham level crossing.

Just done a trip to Gillingham level crossing at dawn, the reason? well because i had a restless night the previous night and i thought it’ll be good to photograph the railway at a different light. 465903 ‘Remembrance’ was stabled at the depot for a short while and i tried to get the name on it but unfortunatly it was too dark and 465903 pulled off before it got any lighter. Got a few pics that are reasonably good although it was difficult in the dark. Overall it was a good trip (and cold).

Below: 466030 and 465184 await their duties at Gillingham depot at about 7am.

Few more updates.

Another few updates.

I have been creating a new gallery for the freight/railtours/odd movements that i have seen since January this year. Considering i dont frequently go outside the Medway towns i think i’ve seen a few good stuff other than the constant madness of Southeastern EMU’s. These range from the Northern Belle to Serco workings and there’s also freight (which i dont often see in the Medway towns).

Click here to see the new gallery

Got a few more trips planned before the year’s out, hopefully i’ll get a few more ‘unusual stuff’ like freight.

On another subject i have done a few videos of the Kent’s railway network, these were put on Youtube. So far 6 videos are on youtube and i must admit they aren’t the best but at least it shows something.

Click here to view my videos on Youtube

Please do not put in stupid or abusive comments please!!.

Below: Bit of a suprise at Northfleet when 1Q14 Serco working pased by on 29th November. 37612 (below) and 37608 handled the working.

 Below: Its that time of year, DR98917/67 passes Northfleet on a wintry 29th November.

Here’s my video from Northfleet station, 465025 (pest) departs with the all too common no smoking policy announcement in the background.