Kent & East Sussex Railway

I'm not sure what would be worse, trying to get up Tenterden bank on that, or the sheer hell that would be coming down the bank on it, hoping it stays on the rails, and that the gates are open at both level crossings,

 

You may joke but they nearly list 4 paying people by no response, as it was we decided to go to Bodiam castle as we were NT members and if anything suitable was running go for a trip, adit was there was.

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I’m afraid I’m another in the camp of ‘wish they’d put more info out about train running’. I visited last month with a two train service, but no info anywhere about which was steam or diesel. I’ve got no interest in diesels so I had to just take a punt on which service was which - which I didn’t love, especially with 90min drive to get there.

Totally get that sometimes things change last minute etc, but most other lines seem to manage a bit more info - it seems like it would be a popular move to have info out there!


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It's all very well saying "they should have more info out there", but it's entirely down to having someone - a volunteer - willing and able to keep it up to date...

 

I pump trolleyed from Witt Road to Tenterden in the early 80s. There were four of us and it was great fun. Yes, it is hardwork ascending the ascending the bank, especially with the deadstart from Cranbrook Road crossing, but it is quite do'able.

 

Don't battery electrics use whats?

 

I hear your point - working in a volunteer based organisation myself. But I’m also speaking as a passenger who nearly went somewhere else because of the lack of information, and aware there have been other people that have said similar things. I’m not complaining, not pointing the finger at anybody, just saying that it would be really helpful - even just to confirm ‘Service A is steam, Service B is diesel on the timetable…’


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Didn't the timetable used to have this information?

 

Any updats on the ex-GWR Railcar 20? - it was hoped to have this ready for the 50th anniversary Gala.

 

Our problem, in recent times, has been steam availability. There have been times when the A set has had to be diesel hauled, due to a failure or non-availability of steam. Often, that is at short notice. Now, I would hate it if I went somewhere else expecting steam, only to find the train was diesel hauled (not because I hate diesels, but because it wasn't what I was expecting.) We had some situations where Hastings ran the B set, so that we got some steam out on the day. For the most part, the A set is steam, and we do try to advertise in advance on social media when the A set is going to be diesel hauled, as some people like to come for that! We just couldn't guarantee which service would be what in recent times, though things are looking brighter now.

 

It was hoped by one individual. That was never really realistic. There is still a lot of work being done. The Railcar had to leave the shed for a while due to us needing the space for more urgent works to be done, but it has now gone back into the shed, and hopefully this time will be there until it is finished structurally.

 

How many steam locos from the railway's own fleet are in working order at present?

 

Two. Austerity no.25 Northiam, and Knowle.

 

Thanks, I see the problem!

 

To be fair, we have Swiftsure on long term hire, and we have also hired 76017 for this year at least. Add Mike Hart's Hastings to the mix, and we aren't looking so bad. However, before the 50th gala, Knowle had had serious work done to get it fit, Hastings was undergoing work to it's lubrication system, and 76017 was having work done to the regulator. So, in that period, Northiam and Swiftsure were carrying the load. If either needed stopping for a washout or repair, we just had to pray that the other one kept going!

The future does look better for us. 4253's boiler is nearly finished. The USA tank is slowly coming together. We hope to have Sapper back with us before too long. I think that Bodlar will go away soon for repairs to the rods that got mangled, and Charwelton is progressing at JM Steam Engineering. At some point, we might even see if we can find all the bits of the P class, and do something with that!

 

When you get round to restoring the P class please can it be painted like this?

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I would also like to see the 'P' class running again. It would be great, even if was only briefly, to see her as I remember her, from visits to Robertsbridge as a small person.

 

Well, their what-nots use whats.

 

As seen here in 1968.
Ray.