Peter Wiseman has always lived at Letchworth in Hertfordshire but has a halcyon association with the Folkestone Harbour Branch. When Peter heard about the efforts of the Remembrance Line to retain the branch he naturally joined us. This boyhood paradise was very much enhanced by Peter's fascination for the veteran class R1 tank engines. These locomotives had been the staple power on the branch for 50 years...70 years if you include their time as the class R predecessors. Peter relates the story...

"...Despite the distance I have always had a keen interest in the Folkestone Harbour Branch, ever since my grandparents moved to Harbour Way in 1955. On fairly frequent visits I spent many happy hours, up until electrification of the line, watching the action on the branch and at Folkestone Junction, where the R1's were shedded, and the main line locomotives awaited to take over the boat trains-passenger and goods. The following photos I took with my grandfather's old 'Box Brownie' camera, which I thought may be of interest to other Remembrance Line members..."

At the time, Peter would not have realised that through his photography he was recording the work of the last 7 R1's circa 1958/9. These were locomotives no's 31010, 31047, 31107, 31128, 31140, 31174, 31337.  31010 (better known as 'ten, ten') and 31107 had been previously transferred from the defunct Whitstable - Canterbury Branch. 31010 had cut down boiler mountings to facilitate the negotiation of the notoriously narrow bore of Tyler Hill Tunnel but 31107 was rebuilt with a regular cab in 1914. Also he managed to capture 57XX Pannier tank no. 9770 on trial from the Western Region. Eventually, in autumn 1958, 6 pannier tanks were drafted in to replace the elderly R1's. The Panniers (which were no spring chickens themselves!) lasted until electrification in 1961.

31174 & 31337 storming the bank with the up 'Golden Arrow'	31174 & 31340 on the front
...same train 31010 & 31107 banking	31340 & 31107 with a boat train for the Junction
31337 & 31010 banking a boat train	31128 standing at Folkestone Harbour
31174 & 31337 backing down to the harbour station	31107 & 31010 approaching Folly Rd
31340 & 31174 returning to the harbour for the next duty	Trio of R1's at rest-Folkestone Junction Shed
Schools Class 'Repton' passing 31337 in 1959	Western Pannier tank no. 9770 on right of picture in 1959