What echoes remain of a railway that once connected Westerham to the world? The Westerham Valley Branch Line was a short but significant railway line in Kent. It linked Westerham, Brasted, and Chevening to Dunton Green and the South Eastern Main Line. This covered a distance of just 4.5 miles.
The story of the Westerham Valley Branch Line is one of local ambition and eventual decline. Authorisation for the line’s construction came in 1864. Further authorisations followed in 1867 and 1870. These were granted to the South Eastern Railway. By 1876, locals grew impatient. They sponsored a bill similar to the original 1864 bill.
The line was planned in two phases. Phase one would run from Dunton Green through Brasted to Westerham. Phase two would extend 4 miles from Westerham to Oxted. Here, it would connect to the Oxted Line. The second phase was never realised due to opposition from the South Eastern Railway.
The Westerham Valley Railway Company was formed on 24 July 1876. It oversaw the line’s construction and formal ownership. In 1879, an agreement was made with the South Eastern Railway. The latter would undertake construction and operate the line. Construction cost around £70,000. The Westerham Valley Branch Line opened on 7 July 1881. Initially, trains ran only from Westerham to Dunton Green. Passengers traveling to London Charing Cross had to change trains. Formal ownership transferred to the South Eastern Railway in August 1881. The Westerham Valley Railway Company was then dissolved.
In 1899, the South Eastern Railway merged with its rival. This was the London, Chatham and Dover Railway. They formed the South Eastern and Chatham Railway. In 1923, the Westerham Valley branch became part of the Southern Railway. This happened at the grouping.
After nationalisation in 1948, the Southern Railway became the Southern Region of British Railways. The Westerham Valley Branch Line faced increasing competition from buses. The 403 route from Croydon to Sevenoaks impacted passenger numbers. Train fares rose sharply from 1938. By 1960, the line was losing £26,000 per year. A proposal to close it was made in April 1960. The Central Transport Users’ Consultative Committee opposed the closure. They claimed 200 passengers used the line daily.
Minister of Transport Ernest Marples rejected this advice. The Westerham Valley Branch Line’s last day of operation was 28 October 1961. He dismissed a petition signed by nearly 2,500 locals. The Minister stated the service was losing £26,000 per year. This equated to £150 per passenger. One of the last trains was the “Westerham Flyer”. It bore the notice “Flyer 1881-1961”.
In 1962, the Westerham Valley Railway Association was formed. It aimed to reopen the Westerham Valley Branch Line. British Railways offered ownership for £30,000. This was conditional on providing a commuter service. In July 1962, the Association leased Westerham Station. A lease of Brasted Station followed.
British Railways later changed their policy. They required an outright sale of the Westerham Valley Branch Line for £53,000. The Association offered £30,000 for the track and buildings. British Railways accepted this offer.
Kent County Council intervened. They intended to build the A21 Sevenoaks bypass. This required demolishing a bridge on the line. The Council offered to lease the Westerham Valley Branch Line to the Association. The Association had to finance a bridge over the railway cutting. The cost was estimated at £14,000.
The Association purchased rolling stock. This included Metropolitan Railway coaches. They also bought a Class H 0-4-4T locomotive. Funds to construct the bridge were not found. The Chevening cutting was infilled. The Association’s plans to reopen the Westerham Valley Branch Line failed.
Today, much of the line remains walkable from Dunton Green. This extends as far as junction 5 of the M25. The site of Westerham station is now covered by a road. It is known as “The Flyers Way”. This is named after the train. The site of Brasted station lies under the M25’s hard shoulder. The site of Chevening Halt is now a field. Though gone, the Westerham Valley Branch Line remains a testament to local railway history. It evokes both ambition and the relentless march of progress.