Southern Steam - The Kenny Belle

London's last steam hauled suburban passenger service. Absent from the timetables, this was a peak hours service from Clapham Junction to Kensington Olympia, cheifly for the benefit of employees of the Post Office Savings Bank. Known locally as "The Kenny Belle", the motive power could be anything from a Bulleid Pacific to a Q1, but towards the end of steam operation the service was monopolised by BR Standard Class 2 2-6-2T tanks shedded at Nine Elms.

At 01:33 we see the train crossing the Thames between Battersea and Chelsea via the Battersea Railway Bridge of 1863 - properly called the Cremorne Bridge, after the pleasure grounds in Chelsea. In the background can be seen the chimneys of the London Underground power station at Lots Road which shut down on 21st October 2002, by which time two of the chimneys had been demolished, and is now to be the site of a residential development incorporating some of the original structure.

At 02:25, having passed under the main line, Standard Tank No.82029 arrives with the service at the former Brighton side of the station, before running round the four coach train consisting of Bulleid main-line and BR Suburban stock for the return working. The unique fibreglass bodied BR Mk1 suburban coach No.S1000S is known to have been used on this service and may be one of the two MK1s seen here.

After steam operation the service continued, operated by a BRCW Type 3 Bo-Bo (later TOPS Class 33) diesel, for a time, the prototype push pull fitted loco (No.D6580) with unique the 6TC set in tow, then a 33 with one of the 4TC sets which could be operated in push-pull mode. Southern Region 'Hampshire' DEMUs were used into the 1990s.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• southern
• steam
• kensington
• olympia
• clapham
• junction
• rail
• railway
• tank
• engine
• cremorne
• cremorne bridge
• chelsea
• loco
• locomotive
• south
• london

[ismaelkhan]

Do you mind if i ask if the train passed the battersea power station? i see 4 chimneys across from the bridge but that's obviously somthing eles on a much smaller scale- non the less you have some nice footage there :) i wish i could go back in time to those old days, screw the future - i was born at the wrong time!

[SouthernRailwayFilms]

@ismaelkhan It's all in the notes, but anyhow... At 01:33 we see the train crossing the Thames between Battersea and Chelsea via the Battersea Railway Bridge of 1863 - properly called the Cremorne Bridge, after the pleasure grounds in Chelsea. In the background can be seen the chimneys of the London Underground power station at Lots Road which shut down on 21st October 2002, by which time two of the chimneys had been demolished...

[tarron66]

thanks for this.The power station at 01.30 is definitely FULHAM. When I lived in that area in the 60's I often wished the Thames bridge was open for foot traffic as it would have saved me about 2 miles walking to school, I believe pedestrians are allowed now?

[A60stock]

@SouthernRailwayFilms I used to travel on the Kenny Belle when 80015 was the regular engine. I think you will find the power station in the shot at 01:30 is Fulham not Lots Road.

[crompton33001]

That's a good one :)

[JimTLonW6]

Very interesting; I used to work at Cadby Hall by the Olympia station and often saw this train in diesel days.

There was another late steam working around Kensington Olympia, after the official end of all steam on BR there continued to be a working from the London Transport Depot into Kensington Olympia hauled by one of the LT Pannier tanks. I remember seeing this in 1970.

[balmesh]

Great stuff - keep up the good work! . . . Alan

[pizotjeannoel]

famous super 8 single 8 16 mm ,,?????

[stuartthegrant]

What a nice surprise, great to see the Belle again.

[penninefilms]

Very nice film you have got hear.