Note the wooden barrels are interesting and also note the high security fencing to the left. SR West Country 4-6-2 No 34103 Calstock with the 12.30pm ex Victoria entering Ashford on the ex-LCDR line from Maidstone. The sidings on the right lead into the ex-LCDR terminus station that closed back in 1899 but was still extant in the 1930s, and possibly still at the date of the photo.

Robert Waterman adds "This looks like a Victoria - Folkestone or Dover boat train via Maidstone East to me. There were no scheduled Victoria - Ramsgate/Margate services this way to my knowledge especially with a pullman car (3rd coach) although there was one back in the evening which was the return working of the early morning Holborn Viaduct - London Bridge - Ramsgate via Tonbridge and Dover newspapers and passenger service. This return working was apparently the last steam service to call at Bromley South and lasted until the initial stage of Phase 2 of the Kent Coast electrification was completed in June 1961".


Photo: J. Head/Rail Archive Stephenson