Rother Valley Railway

A hobby?

 

No it isn't, but still a key section.

 

One of these:

 

Ah, and I thought it was a predictive text misprint
I particularly enjoy walking along the dyke from Northiam to Bodiam, 3 1/2 miles of uninterupted nature, no roads, no houses, silence....
No pubs either

 

Not is not, negotiations still continue on those. The section is however important in that its the site for the junction road loop and its purchase allows the environmental studies for the missing section to go ahead.

 

These two pictures were taken in 2012 and show the beginning of the new section just bought, with Junction Road crossing the pictures.
The first is taken looking towards Robertsbridge. The overgrown section had a siding on the left, and then led to Austen's bridge, a relatively new bridge over the river Rother. It was one of the last improvements made to the line.
The second is taken from the new section, looking back over the road towards the end of the currently laid track.
It's all heavily overgrown, but then it's been 50 years since the track was lifted.

Hope that gives you a better idea of what we are talking about.

 

I really excited about the Rother Valley project, not only because the K&ESR is probably my most loved standard gauge preserved/heritage railway, but because I'm fascinated to see how these 3ish extra miles transform the railway and the communities that it goes through

 

I'm going to do a PH, here, whilst i fully support the reopening of these 3 miles, i'm not sure if the K&ESR will be ready to operate it, its going to stretch the railway, my concern is that its going to need a change of mindset, and from what i have seen over the years, change happens very slowly .

 

Duplicating.

 

But always gets there in the end.

 

I had another rummage in my pictures, and found this one of the site of Salehurst halt, taken in 1996. It probably doesn't look any different today; the rails were lifted in the early 1970s.
The line ran from left to right, Robertsbridge-Tenterden.
The halt was just a wooden platform and a bench, so unsurprisingly there is nothing left today.
This bit is pretty much in the middle of the two stretches currently under negotiation.
Ironically for the objectors, a stop here would secure good business for the pub in the village, a few yards up the path. This is probably the nearest the railway passed to the village church of the community it said to serve. It strikes me as potentially very attractive to get off one train here, walk up for a beer or a lunch, and carry on with the next.


This shot shows the trackbed towards Robertsbridge. The halt platform was on the right.
The building in the bushes is a brick built pillbox, quite common in this part of the country, where the Germans were expected to invade. The line even housed a railway mounted gun, which, I'm told, fired a single practice shot, which landed in Rye bay. Take that ! Unfortunately the wagon with the gun on it was unstable and had to be propped up with sleepers for each shot. Waaaait - we're not ready yet....
All this is on the shores of the former sea inlet, which Bodiam castle was built to defend - against the French. What, them too? Unfortunately, once it was finished, the inlet silted up and the French stopped coming.
Lovely bits of history there.

 

Update time. Sounds like progress, though the actual wording looks like just the tip of the iceberg:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

 

I have a vague recolection that this was said about the Northiam extension and again for Bodiam

 

Changes have already started.
For example some of each years trainee signalmen are now learning Northiam as their first box as well as those who are learning Tenterden Town or Wittersham Rd. Some of the existing Wittersham Rd signalmen have been learning Northiam ready for when most passing moves take place there on the extended schedules.

 

Yes, one does get the impression that the whole operation is in Duck Mode at present. Visible, and reported progress is currently glacial. However, I'll bet there's some VERY busy bunnies behind the scenes right now...

 

At least no-one mentioned "Project Headcorn" ...... Whoops!

 

The pub in the village is actually called The Salehurst Halt, so it would be odd if the railway ran through without stopping...
Tom

 

Be nice to think that there might be a halt included, but there will be a lot of limits placed on the operation to pacify the nimby element , there will be those in Salehurst who will fight to keep what they see as their village unspoilt by train loads of tourists .

 

Update time. They've roped in a sympathetic MP (which never hurts!) and the new loos are coming online. Enjoy:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.co.uk/?m=1

 

Good news about Merriman. Amber Rudd might be more of a sticking point, given that she has a tiny minority and hopes of high office.