Rother Valley Railway

I think I recall seeing that Rhyl and Dolobran are/were for sale

 

Dolobran is, as I understand it, still at GCRN, has been up for sale for a while, but is still being worked on (although whether seriously worked on, or just being reassembled to make eventual removal easier, is unclear to me).
Rhyl, along with another MW loco, were moved offsite by their owner a couple of years back, and both of those are undergoing restoration at their new (private) site(s).

Charwelton remains the only one of these I've ever had a ride behind... lovely loco, it will be good to see it back.

 

Absolutely. It's totally right for the railway, and personally I'd love to see it one day carrying the old KESR blue livery, standing at the head of a train of 4-wheelers, even if the name isn't one from Greek mythology!

 

I always fancied the Norwegian being named 'ROTHER'

 

"Arthur" is one that I regret moving on, as I worked for 14 years not far from its old stamping ground at Kent Cement Works, at Stone. It would be interesting to try to compile a list of motive power no longer on the K&ESR - fairly straightforward for steam locos but small diesel shunters seemed to come and go with some rapidity at one time.
Incidentally, the two USAs "Wainwright" and "Maunsell" arrived at about the same time. They are both still around, although I don't think they've ever both worked at the same time.

 

Nick Pallant's 'Holding The Line' has the story of 'Maunsell' and 'Wainwright' coming to Rolvendon from Ashford via their purchase by Woodham, probably shouldn't say to much, but a 'Hot Box' near Paddock Wood led to the delivery to South Wales being abandoned.

 

Yes they were. Back in the day as a kid I 'drove' the Ugly (aka No. 56, KESR 26 then 29) when it was in steam and remember messing around on the footplates of Arthur and Peckett Westminster when they were rusting elsewhere on the KESR. ISTR Westminster was in the weeds at Bodiam or Northiam? Also remember clambering on Austerity Errol Lonsdale when it was at the KESR and on what became Northiam straight after delivery, then still in its Army guise as Sapper.

I always thought naming it Norwegian was spectacularly unimaginative. In any case, it was universally referred to as 'the' Norwegian!

Indeed, the story of them running hot at Tonbridge while being towed from Ashford for scrap (thus inadvertently assuring their survival) is the stuff of KESR legend. The photos of them being delivered together are out there online somewhere. I would love to see them both restored in their Ashford works liveries and running together, it seemed a bit of a shame to give Wainwright a Longmoor livery and name that it never carried. My ultimate railway preservation WIBN dream would be to have the Hosking-scale resources to restore all four surviving Yankee tanks and stage a Southampton Docks themed gala

PS Getting back on topic, I'm sure somehere I have a photo taken by my late father of Errol Lonsdale at Rolvenden which includes a somewhat youthful @mikehartuk ...

 

Westminster was on the siding behind the platform at Bodiam for a number of year. Fox Walker Minnie was at Northiam, Hastings was in a siding at Wittersham Road, then later was in bits around the yard.

Maunsell will be returning to service as DS237, in it's departmental green livery. Sadly, the chances of both USA tanks being in service at the same time are low, as no-one wants to be lynched by our P-Way team. Also, while they might be great to see running, I am told that spending a full day on one is a serious test of both your knee joints and dentistry, and they are not overly loved by our crews.

 

One of the most significant posts for us.
https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2026/06/the-first-section-of-track-goes-down-1.html

 

Well done guys, looks like new.
I hear that there may have been some slight precipitation at times?

 

Blimey, that was unexpected! What a fantastic and much-welcomed sight. Any news on when the crossing pads are going in?

 

Slight? That's putting it mildly (10 miles west of Robertsbridge)

 

When I first went to the KESR, 1968/69 'Minnie' was on a siding at Tenterden along with a Pecket? 0-4-0 'Met', which had a Worthington steam pump on the running board, I specifically remember 'Hastings' and 'Charwelton' along with 'Marcia', 'Gervase', 'The King', 'Bodiam' and the sadly now scrapped 'Dom' at Rolvendon, I can't specifically remember 'Maunsell' and 'Wainwright' but I remember the 'P' class as 'Pride of Sussex' disused at Hodgsons Mill. I also remember 'Arthur' (Dad's name) but not where.

 

Yes it was a tad wet there on wednesday morning

 

This was the line-up at Rolvenden in July 1967 with Gervase, Hastings and Dom.
Ray.

 

It should be remembered that the S100 class was only designed as a shunter. I doubt that Colonel Howard G Hill ever thought they would ever see use on a passenger train. I drove and fired one of the Yugoslav versions years ago and don't have any fond memories. Not a good project to waste scarce resources on.

 

Second in a series of four daily posts showing more of the 350m of track laying work last week at Rother Valley Railway is here:

https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2026...S_ISzs64r3WRBuUhWE_aem_joIhFEzRr5UmrjSY7JfG2g

 

All three were out of service by then, although it could be argued that Dom and Hastings were never really in service. Gervase at least did some work in the early years. Gervase's current overhaul is proceeding at Rolvenden, and with Hastings and Marcia already in ticket, and Charwelton due back very soon, it has all the makings of a "1961 And All That" event!

 

I have to be honest, I have no love for the USA tanks. Would love to see one of those MWs back though!

 

And now, the THIRD in a series of four daily posts showing more of the 350m of track laying work last week at Rother Valley Railway is here:


https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2026...S_ISzs64r3WRBuUhWE_aem_joIhFEzRr5UmrjSY7JfG2g

Mike