"Passengers No More" - Folkestone Harbour Station 03/07/10 Report

[Tankman]

A nice easy explore to start off some serious UE around Kent saw myself and Kingrat, High-Balling it over the pass over the weekend!
First stop Folkestone Harbour:thumb

A bit of history:

A branch line was built in 1844 leaving the main line at Folkestone Junction and was double tracked ending with a viaduct across the harbour itself. In 1847 a swing bridge allowed the line to reach the southern pier and in 1848 the line was passed by the Board of Trade for passenger use.
The line was electrified at the same time as the main line during the "Kent Coast Electrification - Stage 2" in June 1961, and passenger trains were formed of EMU's.
In 1994, the opening of the Channel Tunnel led to the majority of ferry operators moving to other ports in the South East, with the result that only two services per day were arriving at Folkestone Harbour, to connect with the Hoverspeed SeaCat services. When these were moved to Ramsgate, Folkestone Harbour station closed to ordinary rail traffic in 2001.
The Orient Express used the station twice a week until 2009, but since 2001, the station has decayed alarmingly not helped by the salty sea air attacking the metalwork of ther station:(

On with the pics:

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/Folkestone_Harbour_1995.jpg

The station circa 1991, looking from the level crossing:thumb

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/DSCF2663.jpg

The same location 2010

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/DSCF2475.jpg

The glass roof has been removed for safety reasons.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/Folkestoneharbour2001.jpg

End of the Line, 1991. Passenger ferry awaits for passengers alongside the harbour wall.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/DSCF2476.jpg

End of the Line, 2010:thumb Platform 2 use to extend out onto the dockside, so that freight wagons could be loaded from the ships.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/DSCF2482.jpg

Original fixtures and fittings still abound, Electrification insulator, circa 1960:thumb

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/DSCF2449.jpg

Rusty old signals still abound along the platforms, the sea air slowly eroding them away:(

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/DSCF2513.jpg

Original Southern Railway, scales slowly rusts away on Platform 2

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/DSCF2572.jpg

Out on the pier, a fading Folkestone sign:(

Most of the ferry terminal and docking facilities are still in place, rusting away and abandoned.
Thanks for looking:thumb

[Tankman]

Thanks everyone, glad you enjoyed it:thumb

A few more!

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/FOLKESTONE%20HARBOUR%20STATION/DSCF2530.jpg

The local topography meant that the line to the harbour had to be built on a steep downward gradient, dropping 111 feet for a distance of 1,328 yards. The railway then arrived at right angles to the harbour, with the pier across the sheltered waters splitting the harbour into two, the inner and Outer harbours.

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/FOLKESTONE%20HARBOUR%20STATION/SwingbridgeFolkestoneharbour1930.jpg

Found this pic of the swingbridge being fitted circa 1930:thumb
Initially there was no swing bridge provided on the pier, which prevented trains gaining access to steamer berths on the harbours south side this was eventually rectified, allowing passenger boat trains to operate for the first time:thumb

http://i260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/FOLKESTONE%20HARBOUR%20STATION/DSCF2665.jpg

The same swingbridge 2010, albeit non operational. Not sure when it stopped opening but it could have been after the electrification of the line:thumb

Further pics of the station and area here:

http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii38/tankman_2008/FOLKESTONE%20HARBOUR%20STATION/?start=all