If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

Rother Valley Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by nine elms fan, Nov 4, 2012.

  1. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,430
    Likes Received:
    3,562
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    it would make sense. However, there was no provision for a signal box in the planning application.
     
  2. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,510
    Likes Received:
    7,753
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I am not entirely certain that planning permission is needed for a signal box (though it would probably wind-up the county planners a fair bit if you didnt include it in the plans)
     
  3. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    how would it work in practice though, would the section be Northiam to Junction rd., then another token needed Junction Rd to Robertsbridge ? and what when the box is switched out?
    I'm assuming the same token will be needed to unlock the frame at Robertsbridge in order to operate the run round points. The only way I can see anything working is that the section is Northiam To Robertsbridge, and that the loop at Junction rd is operated by a flagman if its found that the level of demand means more than two trains running , then later a box can be added and the section split, it means that the level crossing could then possibly be operated from that box,
     
  4. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2008
    Messages:
    1,179
    Likes Received:
    1,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    You couldn't do that. One block Northiam to Robertsbridge. If you need to use a loop at all, that would mean two trains in one section. Not happening, flagman or not. If you are going to put a loop in, it will have to be properly signalled and protected.
     
  5. H Cloutt

    H Cloutt Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2018
    Messages:
    884
    Likes Received:
    1,329
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Battle
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Quite right. There is a response on the RVR blog from RVR which states that the siding is not intended to form part of a passing loop. Currently KESR pass trains at Rolvenden, Wittersham Road and Northiam depending on the timetable. Longer term I suspect that trains will need to pass somewhere between Northiam and Robertsbridge but we will have to wait and see exactly where this is. My understanding is that the 'cabin' proposed for near the A21 is intended to monitor the new level crossings [including, I assume Junction Road].
     
  6. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    There’s a passing loop at Glaisdale that is not signalled, other than with fixed distants and stop boards. The points aren’t even locked, only provided with switch detection and a points indicator. Drivers operate the token instruments. It works. There’s even a junction at Battersby which doesn’t have an associated signal box to control things. Things can be done in a minimalist way.
     
    2392 likes this.
  7. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    May be easier to signal Bodiam and build a second platform there and have the ability to pass trains there, plus if Bodiam becomes the most popular destination from Robertsbridge and some services may terminate there, or have the potential to be turned round to operate a shuttle, then that makes more sence than a loop at junction Rd.
     
    domeyhead likes this.
  8. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Feb 11, 2008
    Messages:
    1,179
    Likes Received:
    1,075
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Physically easier, yes, but planning permission is a no-no. Also, the KESR does not want to "spoil" Bodiam station, so a loop further west was always the intention.
     
  9. RLinkinS

    RLinkinS Member

    Joined:
    Nov 8, 2008
    Messages:
    912
    Likes Received:
    928
    Gender:
    Male
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    The Festioiog Railway operates with only one signal box at Porthmadog most of the time and the train crew usually operate the crossing places.
     
  10. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    In such instances practicality will win , and how much would it change the station , and I would imagine that operationally it makes better sence and be safer if you could pass trains with in a station,
     
  11. howard

    howard Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2006
    Messages:
    306
    Likes Received:
    270
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired Ship's Engineer
    Location:
    Sandwich Kent
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    As far as I am aware there is no intention to alter Bodiam. A passing loop between Bodiam and Robertsbridge is one of the proposals that I have heard about. Loop long enough to allow two trains in with the locos opposite each other and train staff to handle token exchange.
     
    Wenlock likes this.
  12. Steve

    Steve Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Oct 7, 2006
    Messages:
    11,930
    Likes Received:
    10,088
    Occupation:
    Gentleman of leisure, nowadays
    Location:
    Near Leeds
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Can't see how planning would be a no-no as you wouldn't need it for a platform. That's not to say that Bodiam should be altered in such a way.
     
  13. Davo

    Davo Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Oct 12, 2018
    Messages:
    1,523
    Likes Received:
    634
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    W yorkshire 56f
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Is there a station platform planned to be built at the junction road site?
     
  14. Ploughman

    Ploughman Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Apr 1, 2008
    Messages:
    5,806
    Likes Received:
    2,649
    Occupation:
    Ex a lot of things.
    Location:
    Near where the 3 Ridings meet
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Do I recall rightly that there is a limit imposed of the amount of trains that can be run daily?
     
  15. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2008
    Messages:
    2,857
    Likes Received:
    2,793
    No
     
  16. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,430
    Likes Received:
    3,562
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    removed
     
    Last edited: Nov 6, 2019
  17. H Cloutt

    H Cloutt Member

    Joined:
    Dec 22, 2018
    Messages:
    884
    Likes Received:
    1,329
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    Battle
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    There are two updates on the blog at the www.rvr.org.uk website. There are lots of pictures of the work at Junction Road. The scrub has been cleared all the way to Austen's bridge.
     
    domeyhead likes this.
  18. Mark Thompson

    Mark Thompson Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Sep 10, 2017
    Messages:
    1,430
    Likes Received:
    3,562
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    E sussex
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    Another update on the http://www.rvr.org.uk/ blog.
    As I'm finding it almost impossible to actually post a comment on the blogsite, I'll ask the question here:
    Does anyone know who actually owns Austens Bridge- is it the Highways England Historical Railways Estate, or the Ainslie family?
     
    H Cloutt likes this.
  19. martin1656

    martin1656 Nat Pres stalwart Friend

    Joined:
    Dec 8, 2014
    Messages:
    17,609
    Likes Received:
    11,223
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    St Leonards
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    As it crosses the river Rother, who is responsible to ensure the abutments etc are kept in good order as some time I would expect the bridge structure will need maintaince. unless its been used as a means to access other fields I don't expect its had much work done to it, I saw avideo someone posted some time back, of Austin's Bridge, it was heavily overgrown, with mature trees growing round it.
     
  20. Miff

    Miff Part of the furniture Friend

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2008
    Messages:
    2,857
    Likes Received:
    2,793
    The 31st Oct blog says:
    Austens bridge is not in RVR ownership and we are at great pains to respect the owners privacy and restrict access from RVR to theirs, by trespassers, albeit often well meant.
     
    jnc likes this.

Share This Page