Trains at: Headcorn, SEML, 03/02/24

A nice enough stay at Headcorn station on the South Eastern Mainline where we see services purely from Southeastern.
Headcorn station was opened in 1842 by the South Eastern Railway when the line was extended from Tonbridge. The first station was built to a uniform standard for most stations of that era where the platforms were staggered and the station building was a simple single deck wooden building.
There was a bridge built between Headcorn and Staplehurst which was the scene of a sadly famous accident, The Staplehurst Rail Crash which was cause by a piece of track being removed by mistake by an engineer, a boat train was crossing the viaduct and subsequently hit the missing track. Resulting in the tragic accident.
in 1905 the Kent & East Sussex Railway turned Headcorn into its terminus with a lengthy single concrete platform. The station was given a redevelopment between 1924 and 1930 by the Southern Railway with the introduction of two fast lines cutting through the station. This work resulted in the demolition of the UP platform and the reconstruction of the DOWN platform, the Kent & East Sussex Railways platform was also demolished and rebuilt with a new connection to the west side of the station, this allowed for a curved platform to be built for them.
In 1954 the KESR tracks and platforms were closed and eventually removed due to a downfall in passenger and freight traffic using their network, the goods facilities were removed in 1962. The goods yard became a car park.
The loop seen in this film is a goods avoiding loop built for the freight traffic using the channel tunnel.
My next station will be Staplehurst just up the line.
Joining me today was East London Transport.
You can find me on Facebook through the group Tornado922, there you will find regular updates, videos and photos from all of my goings on throughout 2024.
You can also find me on Instagram through the name tornado922 where it isn't just rail related content that I produce.
You can now find me on TikTok under the name Tornado_922

[@JoshHodginsTrains]

Just catching up jarried 😅😅 you're the best trainspotter

[@nottinghamtransportenthusi2784]

Looks like we'll see a few short films from this series purely because not much happens at stations like Headcorn! I guess that's another one where one visit is enough!

[@Tornado922]

There are a lot of stations along this route where one visit will be sufficient!

[@chriswhitaker4577]

Hi Tornado922. Great film at Headcorn, even though it was a short one. Looking forward to watching the next film at the Milton Keynes Model Railway Society. Kind regards, Chris.

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much!

[@RainhamRailEnthusiast]

At least the views from the bridge are excellent here, and the avoiding line was last in major use when the channel tunnel was being constructed.

[@Tornado922]

shame the station just doesn't get anymore action this day and age

[@Firefly414]

Superb video one of the best you have ever done keep up the good work!

[@Tornado922]

I'm sensing a strong element of sarcasm there...

[@Trainspotter_1015]

Great video! Keep up the great work

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much

[@eastlondontransport6468]

Great video mate even though it was a short visit but at least we won’t be revisiting there again!

[@Tornado922]

Thanks once again bud, another station to put onto our list of never coming back to!

[@paulhill8224]

Great video

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much!

[@Sophiebryson510]

Nice video like always

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much

[@barrythedieselelectricstea5217]

excellent shots 👍I live in Kent sadly not much freight goes through there only the water train and bit in the early morning and when there's engineering works ive been there two or three times for the snow ploughs etc sadly staplehurst next stop up won't be any better only 375's again a good spot for freight is gravesend where they go to and from hoo junction up yard

[@Tornado922]

I have to say working my way up through the line it is very much apparent how little freight there is using this line

[@TheTrainSpotter2005]

Rather interesting looking station actually. Little bit confused about why there is a brick wall blocking the main part of the platform you're on. But other than that, its an interesting station

[@Tornado922]

So far along my journey on this line I have encountered several stations that are unique in their design. Not overly sure why they have been built that way

[@robertstrainsnsw1596]

Great film at headcorn

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much!

[@nottinghamtransportenthusi2784]

Will the rush hour films be running separately to this current series?

[@Tornado922]

Yes they will be

[@ghighlandchieftain4462]

Great video legend are you going to rush hour on SEML

[@Tornado922]

Thanks very much, no I won't be doing a rush hour film on the SEML

[@ghighlandchieftain4462]

@Tornado922 oh okay keep up great work legend I was enjoying your videos

[@camotech1314]

These trains look like they've been off-road. 😂

[@Tornado922]

I've never seen trains as dirty as Southeastern!

[@Harrynhoughton13]

Nice

[@Tornado922]

Thanks

[@BritishRailGuyYT]

Here before Harry leaves that comment.

[@Tornado922]

Too late for that I'm afraid

[@Harrynhoughton13]

Staplehurst in a week

[@Tornado922]

Yep