As the winter weather arrives at Otford, here is just a very quick update of what has been going on over the past few months with the Friends of Otford Station….
More flowers
The big news is that James and his wonderful group of volunteers spent two weekends back in November doing even more planting.
The first weekend, in very wet weather, saw the planting of bulbs all the way alongside Platform 2.
We are all now waiting in anticipation to see what an array of colour the arrival of spring will bring.
Meanwhile, on the second weekend, the window boxes at the front of the station were refreshed with winter plants.
More pop-up shops
The second Thursdays of October and November saw two more pop-up shops in the main waiting room. The one planned for December was unavoidably cancelled, but hopefully there will be more in 2023. Watch this space.
Steam
On Remembrance Day, Otford witnessed a brief return of steam power.
To mark the 40th anniversary of the Falklands War, locomotive 45596 “Bahamas” underwent a temporary change in identity to become scrapped classmate 45606 “Falkland Islands.”
The engine steamed through the station in the late afternoon of Friday 11th November heading for Victoria on its way back from Margate on a special rail tour.
New Timetable
December 12th saw the launch of the new weekday timetable. First class on Southeastern trains has now been abolished and there is a new service direct to Charing Cross calling at Swanley, London Bridge and Waterloo East.
Sadly, the bad weather got the better of the railway on the first day and the inaugural service had to be cancelled. Hopefully things will get a bit better soon !
Friends of Otford Station 