Kent & East Sussex Railway

More KESR/Col. Stephens prototypical would be using anything but a GWR coach and having the Railcar haul that, I hope it will happen soon

 

Some time in the distant past I was told by one of the K&ESR railcar group that there was an issue with loading the Didcot one on to a low loader. I seem to recall it was to do with frame rigidty but it might well have been specific to the facilities at Didcot. Has it ever left Didcot in preservation?

 

W22 started its preservation 'life' in 1967 at the SVR. before going to Didcot in 1978. Perhaps it was towed over B.R. rather than low-loaded.
Ray.

 

Only by rail I believe. It went to the SVR via Bescot in 1990 (or the other way round), so assume that was by rail. Isn't it to do with the driveshaft between the gearbox and the wheelset that restricts movement unless completely disconnected?

 

Such restrictions might no longer be applicable for a GWR railcar movement via Robertsbridge since the Hastings Line tunnels were singled, in the 1980s, in order to ease the loading gauge for new stock and electrification. Wouldn't it be nice?

 

The GWSR would love to see it (they came down our line) but that does mean at least one road transfer.

 

I was advised fragility was why Didcot have politely refused multiple requests for 22 to be hired elsewhere, rather than driveshaft issues. That could be heresay though.

Of course, the internet held a solid stance that it was 1000% impossible to move a Western by road...until it was done! I'd love to see 20 visit somewhere in a few years time, once it's been bedded in and enjoyed at KESR of course. I saw it at the Diesel Gala this year and the restoration is top notch.

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I remember being told it couldnt go on a low loader for fear of cracking the body filler. It is a shame it wont leave Didcot again. To be able to see both 22 and 20 together at say, Bewdley would be a wonderful sight.

 

New build anyone?
Merry Christmas!

 

Can anyone tell me which services will be 76017 on Wednesday (31st), please?

 

Dr Robin Coombes stepped down as General Manager this week, with his duties to be divided between an executive board I believe.

I have read the official explanation for this, but I also get the impression that it's a bit controversial amongst supporters/members... can anyone shed a bit of light on what's actually happening?

 

His planned departure on January 2, 2026 was announced back in November; discussion about the reason can be seen up-thread.

Noel

 

I don't know where you get that impression from, but that's not what is going on. The facts are exactly as stated.

 

I think that in any volunteer led, but commercially run, business, there will always be a variety of views.

We operate democratically, and some will always have views which differ from others. But overall we get along, and do stuff.

Individuals may say that they would do things differently, but we all have to compromise to get anything done.

Certainly since Covid, all heritage railways have been under far greater financial pressures. The altered status of fossil fuels in this country, due to national legislation, has especially affected steam run lines.
Hopefully there will be no more collapsed projects, or line closures.
But I think KESR has weathered this revised commercial scene better than some others. Largely due to some excellent members of the Board of Trustees, and the good financial practices.

I think it possible that a few of the newer/younger schemes within the hobby may yet fail, but I doubt the KESR will fall.

Robin (in my opinion) has done an excellent job. Circumstances change, people move on, systems and even management structures change.

Take the press releases as true, as I'm sure they are.

 

Im a guard on the K&ESR, my last turn was on new years eve. Robin was riding on my last train of the day. I saw him on the platform at Tenterden as I put the tail lamp away and thanked him for his efforts over the last three years, wished him all the best for the future and shook his hand. He thanked me and said he would still be around the place in future.
Not controversial amongst this volunteer.

 

I was aware the departure was planned. It was the plan to remove the post and share his duties amongst an executive that I'd got the impression wasn't universally popular.

A couple of things I've seen/heard. I've seen enough of the preservation world to know that the facts are very rarely exactly as stated, but if that is the case here then fair enough - that's good.

 

Id suggest that change is rarely universally popular especially on heritage railways.
However the combination of circumstance currently on the K &ESR is fairly unique:
a) like most other heritage railways there has been a cost squeeze post pandemic which has reduced the margin of profitability to close to zero
b) the K&ESR has always had to rely on "experience" type activities because it didnt have the basic turn up and go custom at the level of many other railways. The enthusiast has always been a very niche market.
c) like most other railways visitor numbers have yet to return to pre-pandemic levels
d) in just over 2 years the line is to be extended by around a third and operations will simultaneously need to swap to being bi directional from originating at one end of the line.
I think pretty fundamental change is unavoidable tbh, this is only part of it.

 

Seems to be visiting East Somerset Railway Spring gala so obviously possible to go out and about

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Thanks for this information! Suddenly I’m busy on 14th & 15th March!

 

Seems like I'm the only one here to have travelled on No. 20 on the KESR under its own power (and I'm still several years away from a bus pass ).

Driven by the redoubtable Boris Perkins, as I recall. My Dad was guard. There's a photo buried somewhere in the archives of a very youthful me putting the tail lamp on it at Tenterden. If I recall correctly it had a bit of a tendency to roll on sections where the track was less than pristine, such as in the wet cutting.

I also remember it being used as hauled stock at one of the Steam & Country Fairs, possibly 1976?