50025 Invincible is well away from home territory on 15 March 1986, as it passes through Stonegate station with the Southern Electric Group's 1Z25 07:55 Paddington to Folkestone Harbour 'Vulcan Van Train' railtour. This was the first standard loading gauge train to traverse the Tonbridge to Hastings line. The former restricted loading gauge had been eased by singling the line through the tunnels, and consequently the slimline 'Hastings' DEMUs that had used the route since the 1950s were about to be replaced by conventional EMUs (note the newly laid but still unused and rusty conductor rails). Also note the abrupt change of gradient under the bridge. |