Rother Valley Railway

How about 15 Hastings (main line certified, just for the day) with an reopening day special working from Victoria. for invited guests and certain VIP'S only ?

 

Yep. But due to limited platform availability in London we plan to run starting from Didcot on via Redhill and Tonbridge though I understand N Rail are struggling with the number of water stops that 'Hastings' would require! One day perhaps!

 

Not like back in 1962, when it was perfectly reasonable for the tiny Great Northern 0-6-0ST 1247 to run a special down the Brighton mainline to Sheffield Park via Ardingly, including a reversal at busy Haywards Heath!
Seems incredible now, doesn't it?

 

I heard the plan now is to have a water carrier next to the loco, so the train going to be, 15 Hastings GUV water carrier, Toad brake van with portable pump and an FO mk1.

 

Ah,but......with Dr Beeching on board anything was possible.

Peter

 

It seems almost comical really. That excursion probably encompassed just about everything he wanted to get rid of on British Railways.

 

That's 'cos you're not an invited guest or VIP. (Nor am I.) And anyway the date isn't yet quite certain.

 

I'm guessing that you don't know who mikehartuk is?
...or has an in-joke just gone whooosh! over my head?

 

Isn't the present discussion of an inaugural through train entirely tongue-in-cheek?

It will be great when it happens, and of course many who have contributed in various ways to the RVR and/or the K&ESR will deserve to be aboard, but who can tell when that will be or what will be on the front?

 

Only if the through train is from Headcorn via High Halden.

 

Now for a serious question ....
How long is the headshunt where trains have to reverse to reach the RVR?
Could a Marshlink DMU fit?
Could the preserved Hastings unit fit?
How long is the RVR platform & could either of the above fit?

 

Its enough for one of Jeremy Hoskin's locomotives.

 

And there was me thinking we'd be having a good old barney over reguaging the Bredgar & Wormshill in time for the grand opening.

 

So no through trains off the Network?

 

Unlikely. The headshunt movements are limited. I would four carriage lengths at most.

 

Right but a Marshlink DMU might fit?

 

It’s Hosking

 

I believe it might be possible to stable a train, in the NR siding beyond the head shunt, if from the Tunbridge wells direction, then for the loco to access the RVR turn and be serviced, but not for a charter to run direct onto RVR if it's more an 4 or 5 coaches in length, So any charter, would have to have an additional set of coaches on the RVR/ KESR. if its booked as a through trip .either that or have to have an very difficult shunting move involving splitting and reforming the rake,

 

Interesting blog update with several things happening. The turntable now has its lower pit rails permanently fixed, whilst on the bridge deck itself, the running rails are in place. Attention has now turned to the outriggers, which are shown here laid out, being made ready for installation:


Meantime, the KESR p/way team are present, and fully occupied with the exacting job of readjusting the pointwork geometry for the revised yard layout.
More here:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/

 

Here's something that no-one seems to have noticed. A blog entry dated 23rd March, showing the KESR p/way gang laying the first panels of track between Austen's Bridge and Junction Road:

Photo: Trevor Streeter

So presumably, this operation will be completed by now. Did anyone else know about this?
More here:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2022/04/section-4b-tracklaying-update-11.html