KESR 50th Anniversary Gala: 1st - 2nd June 2024

Visitors:
31806 from Swanage.

Home Fleet:
12 'Marcia'.
15 'Hastings'.
25 'Northiam'.
75008 'Swiftsure'.

https://kesr.org.uk/50th-anniversary-gala/

 

Sapper is under overhaul

 

31806 is a good guest! May have to attend

 

Excited for this. Haven't kept as up to date as I intended on progress with the GWR railcar - was it mooted originally that an anniversary event like this would be the target for its return to service? Given the theme, it would definitely feel appropriate for the railcar and the Ford diesel (if that's operational?) to feature.

31806 is a great guest and one I'll definitely look forward to up Tenterden bank, but when a line's celebrating a preservation anniversary I always like seeing engines or types relevant to the line's preservation origins starring. I remember a WSR event in the 2010s that was an anniversary of some kind and Tornado was the star attraction, and while I really enjoyed its presence and had a great run behind it, I'd have loved to see the likes of 3205, 6412 or Victor or Vulcan involved had they been available.

So for this KESR gala I'll definitely make sure I have some Austerity mileage and would love to see a Terrier feature as well, given that's what I've got so many memories of from visiting the line when I was growing up in the 1980s and 90s. The GWR railcar and Ford diesel are more like holy grails - parts of KESR preservation history I find fascinating and typical of the oddities that you'd imagine a Col Stephens line becoming home to, but I've never actually seen either of them working and would love to.

 

There is a tenuous link. Sister loco 1618 was based at Tenterden during the 1970s when under restoration. It eventually moved to the Bluebell, where it still resides as it was too heavy to operate on the K&ESR in those days. (3)1618 is currently awaiting its turn in the overhaul queue at Sheffield Park and 31806 is the only working member of the class at the moment, so it is the obvious substitute to offer a taste of what might have been

 

It was hoped to have the Railcar done, but time has proved to be too short. The Ford diesel is out of service, but there are plans afoot for that, too.

I'm not saying that a Terrier will appear at the gala. All I can say is that something that looks suspiciously like Knowle has gone up on blocks in Rolvenden shed, and there are pleas for help to get it ready for a certain event.... There are photos on social media.

 

That's a really good point, I'd forgotten about 1618's link.

 

Thanks Fireline. We'll certainly be along for the railcar at some point when it's ready - and one day for the Ford diesel too. Fingers crossed for Knowle! Will be at the gala regardless.

 

Clearly parked overnight in Liverpool....

 

Rail Advent are reporting that Britannia will be at the Rother Valley Railway operating shuttles.

There will also be a heritage bus service between the K&ESR and RVR.


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The event page on the K&ESR website has been updated. Three visitors TBA on the K&ESR and Britannia on the RVR.

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76017 and 65 join the line up https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/0...-a00ZcrDobSztHiyykQJZD45f9I5q9wvDitvDlLUq1AjM

 

The events page now confirms 31806, sponsored by Rapido Trains.

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I wonder when or should I say if timetables will be published. When I asked about a timetable for this coming Saturday I was told 1030 and every 45 minutes

 

Of course they will be, as there was for their recent diesel gala. As it states on the website they will come in due course...

 

Confirmed locos:

K&ESR

• 31806
• Swiftsure
• Northiam
• Knowle
• Hastings
• Rowntrees' no. 1

RVR

• Britannia
• GBRF class 73

 

Will be great to see Knowle back, fingers crossed!

 

Do we know if 76017 is planned to make an appearance too?

 

I believe that is best described as "not guaranteed" at present.

 

Strange, I wonder why it's not guaranteed now since it was announced with 65 via RailAdvent