Rother Valley Railway

Look out for a longer article on that very photo in the February issue of The Bluebell Times, out a week on Friday.

Tom

 

Thanks.

 

Latest update, showing considerable progress in the past week, on the formation of the ramp and forecourt retaining wall:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

And evidentally there are further posts in the queue for release shortly. The better weather should see progess.

 

Further update on Austen's Bridge out now:

Austens Bridge -11 Scaffolding & painting | RVRailway News

 

Two updates on the blog today.
1. Some images of Salehurst Halt Salehurst Halt -1 | RVRailway News
2. An update on Bridge 25 Bridge 25 -13 Starting on the walkways | RVRailway News

Things are certainly happening.

 

And plenty more interesting pics here : https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2025/02/25-route-survey-extr-2-northbridge-to_20.html

 

Thanks. Thats very interesting, and shows that preliminary work has already begun between the A21 and Salehurst.

 

Theres a lot of bridges on that bit of route, I didn't, realise that many, has the surveys so far established the state the supporting structures are in, most must by now be becoming close to being life expired, if the state of bridge 5 is anything to go by

 

I think you mean Bridge 6.

 

There certainly are a lot, though a number of these are culverts. Bridge 12 exists only as abutments, whilst 13 is missing altogether.
Bridge 15 still carries its waybeams, but looks to be in a similarly woebegone condition to Bridge 6. Bridge 17, a larger structure, appears to be in a generally better condition, although what of that could be reused is, of course, a matter for the engineers. It looks like it could possibly be one of the bridges reinforced during WW2.
Daresay that the reconstructions of bridges 25 & 26 will provide a wealth of knowledge to be put to use on the remainder in due course.

 

Anyone else wondering where bridges 7-11 went?

 

Likewise! Guess they must have been culverts, or cattle creeps.

 

Heres one of these nice historical features which appear on the blog page now and then:
A forensic deep-dive into a photograph of Austen's bridge, taken sometime around the early 60s, judging by the condition of the railhead alone:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1

Also a brief update from Playfoot's.

 

That is interesting. The blog mentions the "old route/formation on which BR built a classic P Way hut"

In the 1940s Austen's bridge was built to replace a worn out Col. Stephens bridge which must've been even worse than many of the others. To minimise closures the new bridge was built next to the old one and the track diverted over. You can see evidence of this via the current Google Maps or Google Earth satellite view, dated 29/11/2024. This was during the current bridge repair works therefore, compared to the older images still viewable using Google Earth, the site is more exposed with much of the overgrowth cleared.

After reading the RVR blog have a look at my link below - zoom in a bit and you'll see the slightly wider formation on both approaches and the gap on the south side where the old bridge would've been.
https://maps.app.goo.gl/WnR1gh8x4pRURfRd7

 

That must have been a tight squeeze, shoehorning Austen's in alongside the old bridge 26, before the latter was taken out.

 

Here is the drawing showing the new 1940's Austens bridge on RVR alongside its predecessor that ran hard along its southern side. All done to keep the railway going while the new Austens bridge was being built. I suggest the attached drawing probably only readable on a large screen.

 

Many thanks for this, Mike. It's a fascinating document. So 5 piers on the original bridge!? It must have been quite a spindly structure. Are any photos known to exist of it?

 

There's a great deal of detail there. Piled about 30' if I read it correctly.

 

Interesting interview with Playfoots posted on the RVR blog see - Playfoots an interview - Spring 2024 | RVRailway News