K&ESR Southern Steam Sunset

Southern Steam Sunset

50 years ago, following publication of the infamous Beeching Report of 1963, branch lines all over the country were closing, steam locomotives were making way for the new-fangled diesels and the motor car and road transport was seen as the way forward. The classic rural branch lines operating old worn out locomotives for a handful of passengers were soon to become a thing of the past, never to return, or were they?

On the Bank Holiday Weekend 23rd, 24th and 25th of May 2015, The Kent & East Sussex Railway will be re-creating the last years of branch line steam with an event featuring visiting locomotive Drummond M7 Class 30053 which is typical of many branch line engines. During the 1960s 30053 worked the East Grinstead to Three Bridges line push pull services before moving to Bournemouth, working the Swanage Branch, now preserved and which is her current home. Locomotives of the same class worked several other branch lines, mainly in West Sussex and Hampshire. In 1967, when steam on British Railways Southern Region finally ended, 30053 was sold by British Railways to the Steamtown Museum in Bellows Falls, Vermont in the USA. 30053 was repatriated to the UK in 1987 for restoration to working order.

A 45 minute interval, 3 train passenger train service will operate, which will include the visiting M7 30053 hauling Southern Region green liveried stock. The other locomotives in use will be three of the lines resident steam locomotives, USA Class tank Locomotive No 65 and two of the famous Terrier locomotives, 1872 built in 32670 and 1878 built in 32678, on a variety of passenger and goods trains.

The “modern” diesel taking over the branch line will be represented by Class 03 D2023 hauling a small freight, typical of the last years of the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

 

We now have agreement from the K&ESR Locomotive Trust to change the identity of the USA tank No 65 for the rest of it's boiler ticket. It will run for the last time in the current Southern wartime livery at 40s weekend and then appear at the Southern steam Sunset event in BR black as No 30065. With the M7 30053 and Terriers 32670 and 32678 already in BR black this will be the first time the K&ESR has operated four BR liveried locomotives on the same date.

 

So the title "Southern Steam Sunset" has nothing to do with the impending Swindon (1638, 4253, 6619) takeover of the K&ESR??

Seriously, thanks for publicising this. Very much hope to get over and travel on the Junction Road section.

 

You never know, maybe 1638, 6619, 4253 and GWR Railcar will get an event one day, in the meantime we'll let the superior Southern locos have the limelight!

 

A picture is worth a thousand words, turning this event into a must! Still, the GWR railcar wouldn't look out of place; the sort of thing Colonel Stephens might have rescued about 1962 if he and his empire were still going then.

John

 

M7 30053 has arrived at the the K&ESR and will be in service this at our 1940s weekend this weekend and the Southern Steam Sunset event at the end of May.

Work is also underway to give USA No 65 a fresh identity, she will be appearing in her new livery of BR black as 30065 this coming weekend. This means that for the Southern Steam Sunset event, we will now be running four Southern Region locomotives, all in late BR black livery.

 

That is good news, can't make the gala at the end of the month as I am away so will be going this Saturday, will there be a timetable released? Many thanks

 

The timetable for the 40s event this weekend is the standard gold, see www.kesr.org.UK for details. Locos this weekend will be 30065, 30053 and one of the Terriers.

As soon as the Southern Steam Sunset timetables are finalised, I'll put a link on here for a free download.

Sent from my KFOT using Tapatalk 2

 

Thank you, sorry one more question which way do the locos face this weekend? Thanks!

 

30053 and 30065 are both facing Tenterden, I'm not sure which Terrier we're using, 32670 faces Bodiam and 32768 faces Tenterden.

Sent from my KFOT using Tapatalk 2

 

Are lineside be available for this event?

All the best,

Dave

 

USA tank 30065 now repainted into late BR black livery. That makes four steam locos in late BR black for Southern Steam Sunset. The others being visiting M7 30053 and Terriers 32670 and 32678.

 

Lineside passes are available on completion of a short safety exam. If you send an email to pete@kesr.org.uk, I'll send you details.

 

The public timetables and details are now available on line here http://www.kesr-operating.org.uk/SouthernSteamSunset.html

 

Hi Pete, looking forward to this, but from your timetables I notice that the Junction road section has been dropped for this weekend. Is there any particular reason?,

Regards George

 

Hi George, there's a few issues with infrastructure and in particular fencing/gates that need addressing and which unfortunately can't be completed before the Southern Steam Sunset event. Hopefully all should be ok to operate to Jct Rd for the 1960s event over August Bank Holiday and for Hoppers Weekend in September.

 

Work is underway behind the scenes to get everything ready for the gala this coming weekend. To give you a tease here is the USA tank in its new identity ready to star alongside the M7 and the Terriers next weekend.

 

Very nice

 

The wagon painting gang have today outshopped a nice BR red CCT just in time for the weekend. On Sunday and Monday it will be added to the Southern Region green set for an unusual photo opportunity.