Snowdown, 6 April 1976. St Thomas on the left and St Dunstan on the right.
“Steam ceased to work around 1977 and the colliery closed ten years later in 1987”
Snowdown, 28 April 1973. Avonside No 2004 St Dunstan.
After the end of steam on the national rail network steam operation lingered on in a number of industrial locations for some years. One of these was Snowdown Colliery in Kent, which wasn’t far from where we lived at Ashford in the 1970s. With the benefit of an official visitor’s pass we were able to gain full access on 28 April 1973 and were pleased to find all four of the Colliery’s steam locos present, even if none were actually working as activity was at a low level. In addition the two diesel shunters were there, one dumped and one working.
The table shows the engines present on that day. Of the steam engines, three were built by the Avonside Engine Company in Bristol in 1927 and two of these have survived into preservation. Number 2004, 0-6-0 saddle tank St Dunstan which was standing in light steam outside the shed on the day of our visit, is preserved, appropriately, on the East Kent Railway just a short distance away at Shepherds Well.
St Dunstan is now the subject of a lottery appeal by the East Kent Railway to restore it to full working order. The second Avonside, 1971 St Thomas, is preserved at the Dover Transport Museum. This engine was lurking inside the shed during our visit. The third, St Martin, was dumped out in the open and subsequently scrapped. The fourth steam engine was Hunslet 0-6-0 saddle tank 3825 built in 1954 and this was having a boiler washout. It currently resides on the Stainmore Railway at Kirby Stephen East as BR 68009, many miles from home. Of the two diesel shunters, 0-4-0DM, John Fowler 416002 of 1952 was in use and is also preserved at the East Kent Railway. The other, Andrew Barclay 0-6-0 DL Number 382 built in 1950 was dumped out of use next to St Martin. I have been unable to trace its fate. A subsequent visit on 6 April 1976 saw Hunslet 3825 working and two of the Avonsides, St Thomas and St Dunstan dead outside the shed. Neither diesel was to be seen. Steam ceased to work around 1977 and the colliery closed ten years later in 1987.
SNOWDOWN COLLIERY – 28 APRIL 1973
LOCOMOTIVES PRESENT
0-6-0DL Andrew Barclay No 382 of 1950. Out of Use
0-4-0DM John Fowler No 416002 of 1952. In Use
Hunslet 0-6-0ST No 3825 of 1954. Boiler washout
Avonside 0-6-0ST No 2004 of 1927. St Dunstan. In Use
Avonside 0-6-0ST No 1971 of 1927. St Thomas. Workshop
Avonside 0-6-0ST No ? of 1927 St Martin. Dumped
28 April 1973. Avonside No 2004 St Dunstan outside the shed with Hunslet No 3825 just visible inside.
28 April 1973. Hunslet 3825 inside shed for boiler washout.
Snowdown, 6 April 1976. All three operational steam engines in the yard.
28 April 1973. Avonside 0-6-0ST St Dunstan.
28 April 1973. Avonside Works No 2064 St Martin 0-6-0ST dumped in Snowdown Colliery yard.
The worksplate from Avonside No 2004 St Dunstan.
Snowdown, 28 April 1973. Dumped Avonside St Martin with Barclay DM 382.
29 July 2007. St Dunstan on the East Kent Railway. On the left Cep unit 7105 with buffet car from Bep 7014.