Rother Valley Railway

I've dug out a couple of pictures of the Bodiam relay. That was November 1998, it may be slightly different this time.



This is the '7' jig that was used, so you dropped down the 4, then reverse a bit, and then drop the other 3.



Because the 360 couldn't lift the whole rail at its mid point, the rail was dropped in in two halves, after half the sleepers were laid out. When all the sleepers were down, the second half of the rail was lifted in.

It may be different this time ! And it was 1998. (The GWSR was mostly laid with a JCB, which had even less reach...)

 

Happy days, Tom! I recall a PMV kitted out as a catering facility, with friendly ladies inside

 

The mind boggles

(What happens in Wittersham stays in Wittersham …)

Tom

 

What more could any red-blooded P/way gang want for?

 

As Ivy in Last of the Summer Wine used to say, firmly, ' This is a catering establishment ' !

 

The mid section from Bodiam to Udiam was done in blocks of four at a time. I know, because I was hooking and unhooking them!

 

One my favourite videos, taken from Udiam farmhouse, next to the current end of the line.
The relaid track went right through the bottom of the garden

 

Love it! She sounds like one of the best neighbours a railway could ever have.

 

She was. Even had her house guests shoved in our direction to help lay the track! Sadly, I believe she's moved on now.

 

Recent post on the blog showing bridge 24. https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2026/06/bridge-24-29-finished-product-ready-for.html

 

And Charwelton having its steam test.

 

New boiler & cylinders, SuperMan (ning)!
https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2026/06/charwelton-june-update-steaming-up.html?m=1

 

GWR style valves and handles. What's wrong with Mr. Mannings style?

 

We're really looking forward to getting Charwelton back, just to see how well she performs now. She has limped on with a pretty much life expired cylinder block for a long time.

 

Hi Steve. The old Manning Wardle valves were sadly cream crackered. The wonderful John Dunn performed his usual machining magic on some GWR valve casting SVR had in stock and made available to us. We were told GWR steam valves are the bees knees, we will see, guess there must be something they got right?!

 

Hi Mike, my comment was tongue in cheek, hence the smilies. It’s just that the valves stood out like a sore thumb in the picture, especially those wooden handles.

 

Really excited that Charlwelton is close. How powerful is she on paper, and what are her expected duties?

And of course the inevitable question... what colour will she be? Presumably brown again, if the undercoat is anything to go by?

 

Theoretically, Charwelton (one "L") will be able to pull 4 mk1's on our line. Livery, as I understand it, will be red.

 

From what I can see on t'internet, fellow Manning Wardles Rhyl and Dolobran are at the GCR(N) under long-term restoration. I remember them sat in the linear scrapyard that was the siding alongside Rolvenden platform decades ago. A personal WIBN(WSEM) would be to see them reunited with Charwelton on the KESR/RVR

 

Rhyl, Dolobran, USA tank "Wainwright", Hunslet Austerity "Linda" (now 'known as' "Dave", and on the Mid Hants), Manning Wardle "Arthur" (now "Matthew Murray", and at the Middleton), and RSH "Ugly" Tank 7667 were all part of that line, together with "Bodiam" in the early 1980's. Things moved on or got sold, and from that lot we only have the USA and Bodiam left. I believe the perception of Rhyl and Dolobran was that they were very tired, and needed a lot of work to put right.