Photography Forbidden at Samphire Hoe
- 14 September 2010 15:1570566This is Samphire Hoe on 11th March 1990, during the construction of the channel tunnel. At this time, I was with British Rail, and being mobile with a van, I had access to all the channel tunnel site`s to deal with freight train`s bringing in hundred`s of thousand`s of ton`s of material. All these sites were owned by TML, who were building the tunnel. All the sites were strictly no photography, with signs about, and many security personnel around. I could see the historical value of everything,and I wasn`t deterred by all this. I gained permission from a couple of TML rail co-ordinator`s to take a few pics, but anyway, I wasn`t going to let this historic event pass by. As well as getting a few sneaky shots on the ground, I did one day lend my camera to one of the crane (Demag) driver`s to get some unique and rare shot`s from overhead. The above two picture`s out of a dozen or so, show the result, and this is the first time I`ve shown them to the outside world. Hard to believe it`s the same place as that peaceful nature reserve now occupying the area.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered. - 14 September 2010 16:1070571Secret Britain uncovered, thanks Colin.
- Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
14 September 2010 16:1270573SECRET INDEED
Anyone could view it if they realy wanted toALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 14 September 2010 16:1870577I went to the main terminal site during construction to take photographs of a professor of transport policy from Univ of Kent who was studying the effect of the tunnel. When we arrived I was told photography on site was forbidden and could only be undertaken by a company from Hythe. We had a cuppa while we waited for them, then after they had finished we went on to the hills above and got the shot that was used.
- 14 September 2010 16:2370580Anyone who lived close by Keith. 99% of the nation are't as lucky as us living in this beautiful spot.
- Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
14 September 2010 16:2570583Yes SID and having you for company to lol
ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 14 September 2010 16:3770585They couldn`t view it from down on the ground Keith, where I took a number of picture`s, even if they wanted to. At the same time, nobody else on site had much interest, other than one of the TML rail co-ordinator`s, Russ Wills, an ex-BR guard who was tragically killed on his motorbike shortly after the tunnel was finished. As you say, we are lucky Sid, and many local`s don`t realise it.Tell them that I came, and no one answered.
- Keith Sansum1
- Location: london
- Registered: 25 Aug 2010
- Posts: 23,948
14 September 2010 17:0670593Colin
Im just so lucky to have friends like sid/ken/ and barryw
lol ALL POSTS ARE MY OWN PERSONAL VIEWS - 16 September 2010 18:1871193Colin
What an enviable and quite unique opportunity you had, not many of those come along in a lifetime!
- 16 September 2010 18:2471197It's hard to imagine all of that activity down there !!Been nice knowing you :)
- 16 September 2010 20:0471207Thanks Matt, and yes it was nice being in that position, and I realised it and had my camera with me most of the time. The incident above took place on 11 May 1990, when a young lad had been spotted walking along the lower cliff opposite what is now Samphire Hoe. after security personel and railway staff had told him to go back, as there was literally no way he could get out the way he was going, he started climbing up the cliff face. Halfway up he slipped and we had the spectacle of seeing him roll all the way down to the bottom. The helicopter was the only way to get him out now to hospital. The trains had been stopped of course, and the electric turned off, hence TML staff roaming the tracks. I don`t know what became of this young man. One day I`m sure, someone will do books on the channel tunnel project and they`ll be looking round for material. But I can assure you, they won`t find much like I`ve got as nobody was interested, and as above, camera`s were forbidden on site.
Tell them that I came, and no one answered. - 17 September 2010 11:2871307Very interesting photos Colin. I am sure you are right, that someone will be looking for this sort of material in the future.
