SR V 4-4-0 No 30929 Malvern with a down train nearing Tonbridge on 23 March 1960.
Robert Waterman says "Judging by the 3 car BR set plus a number of parcels vans tail load I suspect this is the 11.46am Charing Cross - Ashford. In the very last days of steam on this line in the non-heating season I travelled out of Charing Cross on this train, complete with BR 3 set in Blood and Custard, headed by a BRCW Crompton Type 3 (class 33). In the period after electrification, June 12th 1961, when the steam timetable was operated by electric stock (CEPs and HAPs) to the the start of the summer timetable in June 1962, when the full electric timetable was introduced this service was operated by the E5000 (class 71) electric locos. It then disappeared from the timetable.
As an aside, during this first year of steam timetabled electrics, there was an odd non-EMU up business service from Ramsgate/Dover to Cannon Street headed by a class 71 electric loco with a class 24 diesel loco coupled inside to provide steam heat for the train (the old 'Man of Kent' set) because the stock was not elecric heated. I doubt whether the class 24 did any work as the class 71 had more than enough power to handle the load and schedule. Presumably the class 24 needed a fireman/secondman to look after the loco heating boiler. There was probably a return evening service but I never saw that."

Photo: D.M.C. Hepburne-Scott / Rail Archive Stephenson