Kent & East Sussex Railway

I have taken your comments into consideration, I now realise that maybe a Bulleid isn't such a bad choice after all, especially with all the necessary trackwork and run-round loops in place.

Perhaps it would be better that I ask rather than mouth off and cause such a ruckus, although, I will say, I stand by my decision to wish they had booked something smaller because jumping from 4 0-6-0ST's to a 4-6-2 does seem a bit.... extreme.

But I fully hope that when 257 Squadron does visit, that it brings lots of money, people and different attitudes towards the K&ESR.

Nope, I will try and make the effort to visit the railway when 257 Squadron is visiting, hopefully so all my fears will be for absolute nothing.
[Pending on rail strikes, as always. ]

 

People used to say the same about Gothland bank until the firsts visits to the NYMR of "Taw Valley" and "257 Squadron" in the 90's.

 

The only issue with running an light pacific is going to be how well, or otherwise it can cope with Tenterden bank, tractive effort isnt the problem, its going to be if it picks its wheels up, and theres not really enough distance for a run at it, plus theres a sharp curve, and crossing, which will keep the speed down,

 

And a USA tank will also batter the crew into the bargain. Good workhorses, but of course not really built for sustained 25mph running.

 

Running round is not a problem. Passing loops present different challenges, but the Rules Regulations and Instructions of the KESR include procedures to deal with that (basically short train in first, long train passes through, then short train proceeds, simples)

 

Indeed they are but a tad bigger than a Terrier nonetheless.

 

So the KESR is getting a visit from a Flat Top at last. They enquired about a visit from 34081 many years ago but for the life of me I can't remember why we didn't go.
Looking forward to seeing and hearing 34072 tackle Tenterden Bank.

 

The KESR in 2023 is a different beast to the KESR of 1900. AFAIK over the years new trackwork and bridges have been engineered to take bigger locos.
Plus you need to give the railway's management and the loco's owners some credit for knowing what they're doing.

 

The thing about a Bulleid pacific on the K&ESR is it’s completely wrong for the Light Railway heritage of the line and will look hugely out of place next to the station canopy, waiting to depart from Tenterden Town. Nothing like it has ever been seen there before and the sheer enormity will, no doubt, blow the heads off all paid-up members of the Col. Stephens society.

On the other hand Col. Stephens didn’t exactly engineer the original line to last* and many of the resulting shortcomings have had to be rectified during the preservation era in order for it to survive. So what better way to celebrate the high standard of today’s K&ESR civil engineering? And I’ve always liked mind blowing experiences , so looking forward to this one immensely.

*That doesn’t mean he was a bad engineer but he had to work within the budget-constraints of the light railway era. In the early K&ESR days, various infrastructure improvements were funded, or planned, whilst the railway remained profitable but this didn’t last due to the prevailing economic conditions of the day.

 

If only 1618 had come a bit later. Shame that one got away...

 

As does the 66xx class

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If everything had gone to plan I believe it would have ended up in Shropshire

 

Please all come and continue the discussion about '257 AT Tenterden

 

I would be there with bells on Robin, but for the airfare…

 

If I can make it fit with work commitments when I'm down in the south I'm hoping to pop in.

 

https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/weird-news/man-who-posted-himself-home-27065923

 

Tom

 

According to the enewsletter, Sapper and Swiftsure are the locos for February half term trains.

 

Does anyone know what train each loco is doing and what coaches are in use? I have checked the loco and stock roster on the K&ESR website, but it hasn't been updated since the Santas. Thanks in advance.

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I've had a look on the internal system. Nothing on there as yet, but I suspect it will be two sets of Mk1's/Maunsells, as the Operating Notice confirms that there will not be an ECS movement from Rolvenden in the mornings (which would usually be the Victorian set coming up from the shed).