I'm not sure the timings for the inward run into London Victoria, but I'm told that even with diesel haulage, the passing of the night ferry across the commuter network was an *event* in people's lives and for some, a bit of a memory-jog for recollections of the 'Golden Arrow' (ditto).
From 1961 to 1976, I commuted in multiple directions - to Sydenham Hill, then to Sevenoaks, then into Central London (Holborn Viaduct and Charing Cross mostly) from Petts Wood. Looking at dates, though I didn't realise it at the time, that was just after the demise of steam, and every passenger train with the exception of the Golden Arrow and Night Ferry were units - electic on most services and narrow bodied
DEMUs▸ on Hastings services. Local trains all EPBs, semifsats HAPs and expresses CEPs with the continental trains all 12 carriages long plus an MLV and with a BEP in there. So the Arrow and the Ferry
were special - what becase known as "Class 71" 3rd rail electrics with a pantograph to pick up power in Hither Green yard when on freight duty.
Pictured in the 1980 runs are a class 33 (pure diesel) and a class 73 (electric and diesel). You will find a number of members of both of these classes still around, including class 73 on day to day operations but the class 71 had a short life and had all gone before the demise of the night ferry which could be seen on the up fast at Petts Wood on mornings it was delayed as it slowed down to turn left onto the line towards Victoria.
I understood the Night Ferry to use platform 1 at Victoria as it was out of the way - quiet for passengers and otherwise scarcely used that it was available all evening for people to join it early, and in the morning rush hour too for people arriving to be able to stay on board until a civil time.
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