Rother Valley Railway

As I understand it, there was a limited amount of upgrading done during the early part of WW2 with a view to enabling the K&ESR to be used as a diversionary route. I've not seen details of any such use (not so say it didn't take place under the stress of war). Steam operations on the original Rother Valley section relied on Terriers and the equivalent until closure in 1961, so there was no general increase in permitted axle load. The Army had rail mounted guns and Dean Goods 060s based at Rolvenden and Wittersham Road in the early part of the war and may have wanted track improvements to support that operation
In later years, some of the line had steel sleepered track (salvaged from the Elham Valley) but I don't know whether that was laid during WW2 or later.

 

Tony's trattatoria in tenterden high street

 

I believe that if you look hard enough, you can find the occasional spaghetti tree and with global warming some of them are now fruiting.

 

At least they didn't leave a surprise for the next occupiers of their camp, like one German POW in one camp, did, he made a lovely flower bed, took great care over it, and the commandant was very impressed with him, until next summer when it bloomed, and reveled his handywork, a very neatly done Swastika.

 

Similar tale down on the RHDR when Italian POW's tended the flower beds at New Romney and when the Crocuses (Crocii?) bloomed they spelt out 'Il Duce'

 

Haha! Its perfectly understandable, the bloody-mindedness on both sides. Although it seems like the Italians were just glad to be out of it, and doing something constructive.

 

The Elham valley line didn't start closing until late 1947 & was still partly intact in 1953 as the rails were still being recovered. While the track was sent to the KESR it would have been after the war.

 

The bridge works were done after the end of the war, in ‘46. There were so many POWs it was not until ‘48 that all were repatriated.

 

Tom,
As I understand it the track that came from the Elham Valley was the ex SECR 91 1/4lb bullhead rail which was laid in the early 1950s. This had wooden sleepers and keys. All the fixtures were non standard, fishplates, bolts etc as it had been designed for the head to be rotated. Chair wear on the bottom of the rail meant that this was never carried out. This rail upon preservation extended from about 1/2 mile south of Rolvenden to just past Mill Ditch Bridge about a mile east of Bodiam. The last stretch of 91 1/4lb lasted until the 21st Century when Lamings slip near Rolvenden was relaid. When a large amount of it was removed during the Northiam to Bodiam rebuilding a lot of the fishplates and bolts were actually rescued by one of the mainline engineering companies for use in Ashford yard.
The steel sleepers were on the standard 95lb BR bullhead they extended about a mile from Mill Ditch Bridge around Padghams curve. They used standard BR steel keys. On the approach to Bodiam it changed back to wooden sleepers. The section just beyond Bodiam to Robertsbridge was before my time. I think the steel sleepers were actually new and experimental. I think a few of them still survive in Wittersham Yard.

 

Thanks Paul

The BR drawings show just over 1/2 mile of the pressed steel 95lb BH sleeper were installed from east of Salehurst Halt as far as Junction Road siding - see attached photo dated 1954 showing them at the J Road end. In fact when the line was lifted for scrap in the 1970's a good number were purchased by the K&ESR preservation society and are those you mention that were installed a few years later on the Mill Ditch Bridge around Padghams curve section (between Rolvenden - Wittersham station). Mike

 

Thanks for clarifying things, both.

 

2 brief updates, one on Playfoot's snagging work at Austen's Bridge, the second about logistics at Robertsbridge, regarding the welding up of rail into 60' lengths:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

Austen's Bridge looking really great following the repair and loads of piant.

 

Still those cruelly excoriated upstands to be dealt with, although compared to what else has had to be done, that's almost cosmetic.

 

Another new post today Gully -7 Aug '25 | RVRailway News detailing work by Network Rail on the embankment for the headshunt.

 

Real concrete signs of progress, , perhaps once bridge 25 is in, an comparison photo of how the formation was when purchased, and how it is now to show the amount of progress so far thats been achieved will be possible?

 

That would be interesting.

 

An excellent press release from British Steel, regarding their recent supply of new-rolled rail to the project:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

The statement "This supply is an excellent example of how we can work with smaller UK customers to provide a flexible and scalable solution to meet their needs" leaves unclear whether the rails have been supplied free of charge, at a discount, or at normal price.

 

I wouldn't have thought that "free of charge" would exactly be promoting a good business model