The Mini Tour of Kent, Saturday June 7th 2025
Folkestone West (a required shack) was the starting point for the “Mini Tour of Kent” Tour. This offered 100 plus Crompton miles on an interesting route through Dover, Margate, Whitstable and Faversham for just £35. The main “Kent Coaster” tour had originated at East Midlands Parkway running via Bedford and Bletchley to reach Kent.
3 coaches arrived at Folkestone West to pick up tour participants doing the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch railway option, with around 50 or so cranks doing the Mini Tour option. 33207 and 33029 arrived right time for a 1246 departure. 47812 was supplying eh on the rear of this 11 coach coffin consist.
33029 and 33207 arriving at Folkestone West with the tour in June gloom. The RHDR visitors left the tour for us to fill their seats on the jaunt to Faversham
The thrash was drowned out by the irritatingly lengthy predictable safety and other wibble announced over the PA, a real pain in the arse! By Dover with the wibble over we enjoyed more Crompton thrash on the long climb out of Dover towards Deal. Our coach had opening hopper windows, this enhancing the thrash that bit more.
I mused on when i last had Cromptons in parts of this area and it may have been the unique “Overnight Bag” tour with 33030 and 051 with its hour photo stop at Dover Priory at 0330 am! in April 97.
Deal’s surviving semaphores got a cheer as did the impressive size of Ramsgate EMU depot. still vast! Stops at Margate and Whitstable where i bailed, then onwards to Faversham. MIB advised of a farce here as the ECS was delayed 15 minutes before it left on its turning move via Rochester and Swale.
The tour at Margate
The Cromptons thrashing out of Whitstable
33029 and 33207 arrive at Faversham with the return delayed by operational difficulties
Even Mini Tours get farces and the ECS finally arrived back at Faversham 28 down although we quickly regained most of the lateness and was only 8 down on arrival at a wet Folkestone West.
An excellent few hours sampling Cromptons on their home region, good fun and good value too.
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