Crompton’s on the “Kenny Belle” 1968-1989
The 3.45 mile section of the West London line between Clapham Jn and Kensington Olympia was famous for its “Kenny Belle” passenger service. For many years until the early 70s the peak hour service of 2 trains from Clapham Jn (in the morning) and 2 trains from Kensington Olympia (in the evening) were unadvertised being run for workers at Olympia’s Post Office Savings Bank HQ and Lyon’s large factory.
Steam power working the “Kenny Belle” included BR 2-6-4T, Q1’s and Bullied Pacifics. The service remained steam hauled until July 5th 1967. After that class 33 Cromptons took over with early instances of the 6TC set 601 (old 4 -COR stock) featuring although the 6TC was regularly hauled both ways due to unreliability of the 6TC stock.
This article is from the spotting logs of MB who recorded the train and stock on a regular basis from 1975-1981 with hundreds of individual records of the morning service. By 1970 4TC stock was regularly used with push pull fitted 33’1s working most evening “Kenny Belle” turns using Waterloo men. Load 2 rakes were not unknown on the “Kenny Belle” such as 33065 working 2M02 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O on March 14th 1980 with BCK S21267 and TSO S3923.
The morning turns, we believe were covered by Norwood Jn men and more than often a 33’0 or 33’2. The “rare” 33206 for example, has worked at least 20 morning Kenny Belle turns between May 12th 1977 to August 24th 1982. The morning “Kenny Belle” also produced the occasional 73 along with classes 08, 09 and even 47.
Class 33’s that have worked the “Kenny Belle” 1968-1989
33001 n load 2 2M02 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 290580
33002 n 423 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 240677
33008 n 423 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 101078
33009 n 405 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 030778
33016 n 402 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 120778
33017 n 414 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 180676
33021 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 161075
33025 n 430 0845 Clapham – Kensington O 180178
33026 n 4xx 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 050679
33027 n 415 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 110978
33028 n 413 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 250978
33029 n 427 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 211076
33030 n 417 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 141077
33031 n 429 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 271077
33033 0845 Clapham Jn -Kensington O 151076
33034 n 428 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 051077
33035 n 406 0845 Clapham – Kensington O 170278
33036 n 401 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 230877
33037 n 402 0805? Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 261077
33038 n TC 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 290977
33039 n 433 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 061077
33040 0845 Clapham Jn -Kensington O (load 2) 131276
6560(later 33042 and set 601) Kensington O-CJ pm shuttle 200668
33043 n 4xxx 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 121176
33044 n 422 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 281077
33045 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 141076
33046 0845 Clapham Jn -Kensington O 190776
33047 n 426 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 111176
33048 n 418 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 201277
33049 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 311075
33050 n 415 0845 Clapham Jn -Kensington O 130776
33051 n 407 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 241176
33052 n 401 0845 Clapham Jn -Kensington O 230776
33053 n 413 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 300776
33054 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 230975
33055 n 4xx 0845 Clapham – Kensington O 090178
33056 n 410 0845 Clapham Jn -Kensington O 090776
33057 n 426 0845 Clapham Jn -Kensington O 210776
33058 n 403 0845 Clapham – Kensington O 120178
33059 n 420 0845 Clapham – Kensington O 160178
33060 n 410 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 280776
33061 n 421 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 230678
33062 n 413 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 090577
33063 n 407 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 140879
33064 n 414 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 020877
33065 n 434 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 131077
33101 1645 Kensington O – Clapham J 310378
33102 n 417 2M02 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 200380
33103 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 061078
33104 n 413 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 191076
33105 2O81 1636 Kensington O – Clapham J 061082
33106 n 4xx 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 220579
33107 2O81 1636 Kensington O – Clapham J 070982
33108 2Y86 1740 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 241088
33109 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 200778
33110 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 140677
33111 1636 Kensington – Clapham Jn 190478
33112 n 4xx 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 110978
33113 1636 Kensington Olympia – Clapham Jn 310877
33114 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 280489
33115 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 080776
33116 2Y89 1727 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 230988
33117 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 040778
33118 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 040281
33119 n 4xx 1636 Kensington O – Clapham Jn 300579
33201 n 419 0845 Clapham – Kensington O 030278
33202 n 407 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 081177
33203 (hauled stock) 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 071278
33204 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 131075
33205 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 161176
33206 n 405 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 120577
33207 n TC 422 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 060876
33208 n 408 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 291177
33209 n TC 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 021277
33210 n TC 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington Olympia 011277
33211 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 021075
33212 n 433 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O 240178
Kenny Belle 33 Diagrams May 80 – May 81
Class 33’0 (HG) and 4TC
2M00 0812 Clapham Jn – Kensington O
emcars KO-CJ
2M02 0845 Clapham Jn – Kensington O
emcars KO-CJ
am turns believe went DMU from Oct 82 timetable
Kenny Belle Class 33’1 and 4TC
emcars CJ-KO
2O81 1636 Kensington – Clapham Jn
emcars CJ-KO
2O82 1707 Kensington – Clapham Jn
Kenny Belle 33’1 Diagram 3 Oct 88-May 14 1989
1V01 0140 Waterloo – Salisbury
1L06 0935 Salisbury – Waterloo
1600 Clapham Jn – Kensington O
1612 Kensington – Clapham Jn
1625 Clapham Jn – Kensington O
1637 Kensington – Clapham Jn
1650 Clapham Jn – Kensington O
1703 Kensington – Clapham Jn
1715 Clapham Jn – Kensington O
1727 Kensington – Clapham Jn
1740 Clapham Jn – Kensington O
1752 Kensington O – Clapham Jn
1L15 1842 Waterloo – Salisbury
1L16 2220 Salisbury – Waterloo
The end
pm turns believe went DEMU from late Oct 89. The Rail Gen Archive has 33108 making 4 return evening trips on the “Kenny Belle” on October 2nd 1989. The last recorded loco hauled “Kenny Belle” were 73107 and 73134 top and tail with 4TC 8010 on October 27th 1989..In 2023 TfL and Southern provide an all day 10 train per hour service between Clapham Jn and Kensington Olympia although with units not class 33s!
The “Kenny Belle” long gone but not forgotten…..
Thanks to “TC” for this classic Kenny Belle phot with 33116 and 4TC in Feb 89
end
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