K&ESR - Made in Swindon 29th May 2017

Following the failure of Foxcote manor, there's an unusual opportunity to ride behind our Class 14 loco (D9504 ) which is hauling the 108 DMMU

http://kesr.org.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2017/05/29/1358/-/made-in-swindon

 

This "hoarding" as you call it is, in many cases, railways keeping sufficient locos at home base to cover their own needs and don't forget, many locos are privately owned and not all owners like to see their pride and joy galavanting around the country.

 

Sad to have missed the Manor but the Norwegian is my favourite of the KESR's resident steam engines and as booked passenger turns for the Cl.14 were a very close second to Foxcote Manor as my reason for going to Tenterden on Monday, I'll still be there and am very much looking forward to it.

 

Oh dear. As a long standing member I have been uneasy for some time about the direction the motive power policy has been going. It is not a GWR line and ex SR locos could be found by long term hire or negotiation with owners to move location and/or meantime double head with appropriate steam. There has been long enough to think about this but the wrong decision has been made.

I lived for 10 years overlooking the old trackbed near Salehurst and want to see a true K&ESRly restored.

Unfortunately this doesn't seem likely so my (our) continued membership is also unliklely

 

As I read the announcement by the Foxcote Manor group (And talking to a chap at Rolvenden about 10 days ago), nothing seems to prevent further steamings being arranged at the K&ESR once the engine is fixed. I think it's a case of watching the K&ESR loco roster. This week it's 1638 working the steam diagram , so 7822 is clearly not sorted yet.

 

7822 is due to go to the WSR early summer. I cannot find a definite date, but i thought it was due to replace a 5199 which is heading back to Llangollen shortly.