Heading towards Orpington, an early LMS brave van leads the train.
Is this an engineers'/departmental working? Taken on a Saturday, two brake vans, a ballast wagon, a converted ex-SECR van (with end windows), and an old (by 1959) outside-framed van, ex-LSWR - seem a rather unlikely combination for a revenue train at this date.

Is it part of the four track widening/alterations going on in that area at the time?