Rother Valley Railway

Whats seen in the rail stack photo in a previous post are largely C30ft rails all recovered from panels delivered to Robertsbridge and subsequently dismantled into their component parts rail/sleepers/pandrols/etc. Some of those C30ft panels arrived on timber sleepers that we dont plan to use on the rest of the mainline. There are therefore some shorter rails (some of which are fairly well worn) on site that we are unlikely to use and that were delivered to Robertsbridge primarily just for dismantling to recover their concrete sleepers etc. We now have enough rail and sleepers etc to complete the railway plus a percentage over to cover. The large part of our concrete sleeper stocks were subsequently moved to Northiam Station for storage as we were both getting short of space and where they are now is also more convenient for future track laying as that is expected to largely by working from the eastern (Junction Road) end. Here's photo of just some of those FB concrete sleepers (about 6500 all in) stacked ready for use!

 

That looks to be about 5 tonnes per sleeper space bearing on the ground.

Wonder how much of a dip it will make in the ground.

 

You can see where the Chinese got the idea from to build the Great Wall. I bet if you take the Great Wall apart the archeology will point to type 1 Pandrol clips being from around the third century BC...

 

Maybe enough to install the turntable without having to dig too deep?

 

The wall of sleepers is at Northiam. The turntable is for Robertsbridge.

 

Great piece of detective work there Robin but still no answers to the questions I raised which have also been seen by some of your supporters here on this forum as a spectacular own goal by RVR. Sorry but Mike Hart saying it was cleared at an earlier date simply is not true as can be seen by the link to the RVR blog. It beggars belief that RVR would clear the area during the nesting season and I very much hope the ecologist's report is clear an concise regarding this. Maybe while you have the Sherlock deerstalker on you could look into the Instagram posts of other active RVR supporters on here albeit with their own nom de plumes... makes for very interesting reading!
Bye for now...
Mike

 

I dont know who's right or wrong in this issue, but given that it's taken you 5 months to reply to Robin's posting, you cant be that bothered about the issue that you raised.

 

There has been quite a few other things currently going on which have needed my attention hence the delay. Apologies if that seems that I don't care - I do, as do many others. All I have done is given forum members the evidence that Mike Hart's statement regarding timings were incorrect. This is backed up by evidence from RVR themselves which I gave links to but they will not answer to this which is a constant for those that ever ask anything of them which does not suit. When they post here or publish the ecologist's report and the correct date of clearance then I'l be happy. Until then I do not trust their PR machine.
Best regards

 

Everyone has the right to their own opinions, be that either for, or against reopening of the closed section of line,
But what is Mike Le lacheur hoping to achieve by bringing up something that has already happened ?
The clearance , is stated to have been done within the restrictions of the environmental licence so was legally correctly carried out, the land had been purchased with the intent of restoring the railway, again, this was not challenged when the railway applied for permission to start the clearing of shrub etc, So where is the problem, and clearly if the work carried out was with in the restrictions given , then does not the fault lie with the body who drew up the legal agreement for the works to progress, in the first place the dept. of the environment , forestry commission etc.

 

I agree with everything you say Martin. However, when the area was cleared it wasn't expected as it was during the nesting season which apparently was "unavoidable". All I have done is question why it was unavoidable (why not September when the young have fledged?) and provided links to RVR's own blog and documents which state it was done when the farmer said and definately not "at an earlier date" as claimed by RVR on this forum via a KESR director. Why do people have the faith in whatever RVR say is fact, even when proven otherwise by their own hand? I'm all for heritage steam when it's done in good faith and it's something myself and my family have enjoyed over the years. This project just seems to leave a bad taste in the mouth and there seems to be way too much not being brought to the attention of the wider public by RVR and their backers.
I look forward to a reply but I do not expect one.

 

It should be remembered that cutting back of vegetation is not banned within the dates mentioned.
Provided certain precautions and measures are taken, then cutting can still take place.
For the exact measures you will need to consult various documents that I do not have.

 

Yes I totally agree that to be the case. My question was, why is it unavoidable to cut at that time of year as stated by RVR when September would be a time when any birds would have fledged. Secondly, why did Mike Hart/RMW say it was done at an earlier date when their own blog and documents show otherwise? This was after comments about RVR scoring a spectacular own goal and I would suggest they were trying to deflect any criticism when they could have provided a simple explanation? People seriously need to check facts regarding timings before commenting. What's done is done and that cannot change. As I have said, I look forward to reading the ecologist's report.

 

FYI, I asked the question regarding clearance on March 9th. RMW replied (without answering the question) on August 13th... just saying. I imagine due to lack of responses that forum members have been advised not to answer but that's a guess going on previous. Maybe forum members should take a closer look at RVR rather than holding their spokespeople in such high esteem and believing everything they say to the letter?

 

August - January is 5 months (give or take a few days). Whether or not Robin answered your question is immaterial - you didn't respond to take her up on the matter...just saying.
If you honestly think that members on Nat-Pres have somehow been brainwashed into not saying anything about this project then I'm afraid you have seriously misjudged the posters on here and indeed human nature!
I would also refer you to the point made by @Ploughman in post #1331

 

Or perhaps the forum members chose to ignore the doommonger/NIMBY/muck stirrer (delete as applicable), and went about their days a lot happier as a result....

 

Whilst I do appreciate that eco surveys need doing and that nature needs consideration, I suspect that many preserved railways actually do a better job of preserving natural habitats and diversity than most alternatives. Looking at old pictures of embankments and cuttings devoid of all but grass, old trackbeds that are now ploughed over for monocultural cereal growing. A heritage line provides a green "corridor" across the landscape with tree growth and hedges.

 

As far as I'm aware, forum members have received no advice whatsoever, so please do not think there's a conspiracy here. The reality is somewhat more prosaic. We all either have full time jobs, or lives to attend to, and most likely cannot comment, as we are far to busy to spend our days snooping around Udiam and the environs of Salehurst, in the hope of playing "Gotcha!"
Nice that you are able to, but in the dystopian world we currently find ourselves in, the perspective of this matter seems more and more like looking down the wrong end of a telescope.

 

I would assume then that The gentleman in question, is not in favour of the RVR extending its line from Northbridge Street to join up with the current line limit so far at Junction Rd, if that is so why not at least admit that, and come clean as to why you posted on here, which looks to try to sow doubt and undermine the case for the RVR by sowing concerns that the company is not trustworthy .

 

Just received notification of the revised date for the TWAO hearing-
Set for Tuesday 6th July, with a pre- hearing meeting scheduled for 12th May.
These to be held as originally, at the Woodlands Centre, Flimwell. However, obviously the prevailing Covid situation will ultimately decide what nature this meeting takes, be it virtual, physical, or a mixture.
Also included in the notification is a link to to the RVRs latest submission to the ORR, but be warned- this is not exactly bedtime reading, at 448 pages!
https://gateleyhamer-pi.com/en-gb/rother-valley-railway/

 

Aka 'I'm not racist but

Did you raise the issue at the time with the appropriate people?