Brain Stephenson "This is a typical up boat train diverted via Maidstone East – not uncommon but a pain for passengers who were hoping to get to Victoria quickly! It is approaching the station road bridge. Very good as it shows the home signal and cross over under the bridge. The first carriage is one of the SR Maunsell 'nondescripts', I think they were called, which could be first or second class (not 3rd back in the day though). K&ESR has one in the Pullman dining train – lovely carriage."

Robert Waterman provides some additional detail "The date is the penultimate day of steam haulage on the boat trains - the EMUs took over on Monday 12/06/1961. It may be noted that the third rail has not yet been laid (although there is a conductor rail in the 'four foot' under the loco ready for installation). Maidstone East to Ashford and on to Minster via Canterbury West was not electrified until 1962. The June 1961 - June 1962 period was the steam timetable worked by electrics and some diesels (as here). I presume that the Boat Trains could not/did not use this relief route during this year.
The coach set was one of what was described in the carriage working notices at this period as 'Relief Continental Boat Trains (Restriction 4) numbers 1 - 8 inclusive'. These were all 10 car and of identical formation and seating plan. Despite being SR restriction 4 (BR C1) the BUOs at either end were 'restriction 1' and the FK, coach 8, was an ex Hastings line 'restriction 0' vehicle."