In message , Mrs Redboots
writes

Troy Steadman wrote to uk.transport.london on Sat, 18 Dec 2004:

Didn't there used to be trains that instead of disgorging their
passengers at the docks actually drove (drove?) steamed on to sidings
on the decks of ships then steamed off Stena-like to continue their
journey across Europe?

There was indeed - the "Golden Arrow" ran from London to Paris
overnight, via Dunkerque. Only first-class passengers (I think I am
right in saying) remained on the trains; the others had to get off.

Not quite correct. The Golden Arrow was the day-time service via
Dover-Calais. The traditional departure time was 11.00am, arriving in
Paris soon after 5.00pm. There were separate trains either side of the
channel, connecting with the SS Canterbury, but carriages were not taken
on board the ferry for this service.

This was the "Night Ferry" service beloved of generations of students,

That was a different service, and was indeed the one on which passengers
could stay in their cabins for the channel crossing - and this was the
one that used the Dover-Dunkerque (rather than Calais) route.
Traditionally leaving Victoria at 8.00pm and arriving in two sections
(one to Brussels the other to Paris) at 9.00am the next morning.

and used by many of my contemporaries as a cheap way of travelling
between the two capitals. But the train service was considered the last
word in luxury when it was inaugurated.

Indeed, the Golden Arrow was all-Pullman when it started, and some of
the restored carriages are still in use today on the UK part of the
Orient Express. The Night Ferry included Wagon-Lits and ordinary
(non-Pullman) coaching stock, and wasn't quite so palatial.

The OP should note that the *train* didn't actually drive onto the ferry
- only the sleeping cars and luggage van(s) crossed the channel. They
were detached at the port station and then shunted on/off the ferry at
either end.

--
Paul Terry

"Paul Terry" wrote in message
...

The OP should note that the *train* didn't actually drive onto the ferry

Apologies, but for some reason this conjured up visions (bearing in mind
that the train might have come from Victoria behind one of the E5000
electric locomotives) of a third-rail equipped train deck on the ship -
perhaps a good idea too far.

Regards

Jonathan

"Paul Terry" wrote in message
...

This was the "Night Ferry" service beloved of generations of students,

That was a different service, and was indeed the one on which passengers
could stay in their cabins for the channel crossing - and this was the
one that used the Dover-Dunkerque (rather than Calais) route.
Traditionally leaving Victoria at 8.00pm and arriving in two sections
(one to Brussels the other to Paris) at 9.00am the next morning.

It actually left Victoria at 10.00 pm (9.00 pm during GMT). The up train was
booked to leave Dover at 7.20 am and run via Chatham and Catford. More often
than not it ran in its late path, 8.10 am from Dover via Tonbridge and Kent
House, arriving Victoria 9.38 am. Commuters whose train was routed into
platform 1 at Victoria used to curse it, as they had to leave by the side
gate into Hudson Place, making for a long walk round to the Underground.

Peter

Peter Masson wrote to uk.transport.london on Sat, 18 Dec 2004:

It actually left Victoria at 10.00 pm (9.00 pm during GMT). The up train was
booked to leave Dover at 7.20 am and run via Chatham and Catford. More often
than not it ran in its late path, 8.10 am from Dover via Tonbridge and Kent
House, arriving Victoria 9.38 am. Commuters whose train was routed into
platform 1 at Victoria used to curse it, as they had to leave by the side
gate into Hudson Place, making for a long walk round to the Underground.

I thought that back then platform 1 was reserved for Channel trains, as
there were customs facilities?
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 18 December 2004

"Mrs Redboots" wrote in message
...

I thought that back then platform 1 was reserved for Channel trains, as
there were customs facilities?

The Night Ferry used platform 2, because it was long enough and because it
had access to the customs and immigration offices. Platform 2 was also used
for Royal Trains - State Visits often came in to Gatwick, and the visting
Heads of States were conveyed to Victoria by Royal Train, and then taken in
a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. Also used for the Royal Train to
Tattenham Corner on Derby Day.

Platform 1 could be closed off from platform 2 by the folding gates along
the length of the platform. It was certainly used for commuter trains after
the 1967 timetable alterations.

Peter

Peter Masson wrote to uk.transport.london on Sun, 19 Dec 2004:

The Night Ferry used platform 2, because it was long enough and because it
had access to the customs and immigration offices. Platform 2 was also used
for Royal Trains - State Visits often came in to Gatwick, and the visting
Heads of States were conveyed to Victoria by Royal Train, and then taken in
a carriage procession to Buckingham Palace. Also used for the Royal Train to
Tattenham Corner on Derby Day.

I think it still is used for Royal trains - I have certainly seen one at
the platform within recent years, dropping off some international bigwig
who had, presumably, arrived at Gatwick.

Platform 1 could be closed off from platform 2 by the folding gates along
the length of the platform. It was certainly used for commuter trains after
the 1967 timetable alterations.

As, indeed, it often is today!
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 18 December 2004

In article , Mrs Redboots
wrote:
It actually left Victoria at 10.00 pm (9.00 pm during GMT). The up
train was booked to leave Dover at 7.20 am and run via Chatham and
Catford. More often than not it ran in its late path, 8.10 am from
Dover via Tonbridge and Kent House, arriving Victoria 9.38 am.
Commuters whose train was routed into platform 1 at Victoria used to
curse it, as they had to leave by the side gate into Hudson Place,
making for a long walk round to the Underground.

I thought that back then platform 1 was reserved for Channel trains, as
there were customs facilities?

The Night Ferry was the only train using the customs facilities - certainly
when I worked at Victoria in 1963.

--
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___________________________/

On Sun, 19 Dec 2004 21:06:12 +0000 (GMT), David H Wild
wrote:

In article , Mrs Redboots
wrote:
It actually left Victoria at 10.00 pm (9.00 pm during GMT). The up
train was booked to leave Dover at 7.20 am and run via Chatham and
Catford. More often than not it ran in its late path, 8.10 am from
Dover via Tonbridge and Kent House, arriving Victoria 9.38 am.
Commuters whose train was routed into platform 1 at Victoria used to
curse it, as they had to leave by the side gate into Hudson Place,
making for a long walk round to the Underground.

I thought that back then platform 1 was reserved for Channel trains, as
there were customs facilities?

The Night Ferry was the only train using the customs facilities - certainly
when I worked at Victoria in 1963.

I got ticked off by a policeman at Victoria one evening in 1967 for
checking the loco number on the up Golden Arrow after its arrival ( I
had to dodge around the Customs barrier to do it - E50XX), so I don't
think that's correct, sorry.




--

Regards

Mike

mikedotroebuckatgmxdotnet