Kent & East Sussex Railway

Do you mean originally, or in preservation?

My understanding (simplification alert ...) is that historically, paint shades tended to darken over time. That was primarily due to absorption of atmospheric sulphur, which reacted with lead in the paint to form lead sulphide, which is black.

In modern times, atmospheric sulphur levels are lower, and paints don't have lead in them. Instead, synthetic pigments tend to go lighter over time, due to decomposition of the pigment molecules caused by UV light. They break down into smaller compounds which tend to be uncoloured, or sometimes yellow, in colour. As you mention, you can see lots of rather pinkish carriages in preservation at the moment, whereas a carriage of similar livery 60+ years ago would probably have gone darker over time if left long enough between repaints. (And then there is the question of chemical reactions in the varnish as well; gradual oxidation tends to make them yellow with age ...)

Tom

 

Thanks for the comments. I'm pondering how historic red finishes would have weathered if they were being simultaneously blackened by sulphur and bleached by UV.

Regarding SECR carriage livery, I meant both in historic and preservation eras. I do not recall any questioning of what colour it was, unlike the case with LSWR carriage livery where there have been arguments over "correct" shades. The upper "salmon" panels were described by Hamilton Ellis as "a sort of brownish-pink that grew browner with age" and as "like tinned salmon when quite new, they weathered into a terracotta brown".

 

The Kentish brown and ivory livery was only used in the very early days of the old company. For most of its existence, four- and six-wheelers were brownish and bogie carriages were some shade of darkish green, either weathered Southern livery or what was described as bottle green.

 

An interesting delivery to the Docklands Light Railway Depot at Poplar today. Magnificent co-operative working by the Kent & East Sussex Railway, The Terrier Trust, DLR operators KAD, Transport for London and a number of others to bring a real steam loco to Tower Hamlets for a series of National Lottery funded school visits to the loco over the coming fortnight and public access on 18/19 June.

Public access booking via K&ESR website:
https://shop.myonlinebooking.co.uk/kesr/buyavail.aspx?tid=62

Photo: Brian Richards

 

Will Poplar be running on the line? If so, one could argue the DLR would finally become a true Light Railway, as opposed to a Light Rail system with a longer name!

 

Poplar in Poplar, I like it!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Just need to fit the Ringfield motor and the altered electrical pick ups...

 

A Victorian masterpiece in 21st century surroundings . . .

Today was the first day of a week-long event made possible with support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund and lottery players during which The Terrier, K&ESR and DLR will engage 800 school children from Tower Hamlets.

There limited places available for public visits at the weekend (18/19 June) but they must be booked in advance - see the events section of www.Terrier150.co.uk for full details.

 

I’m no expert, but I suspect there might be some struggles with both bends and slopes…

 

If you look closely, you can see the electric power contact for the DLR third rail. There's also 25 kettle elements fitted in the boiler. What with the current price of coal, this could be the way forward for preserved railways ...

 

Possibly, but don't tell me you don't fancy seeing her run from the depot and up through the triangle to Canary Wharf, before reversing and heading to Tower Gateway. Especially if a short rake of 4 wheelers could be found.

 

Reject modernity, embrace tradition: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electric-steam_locomotive

 

There are a couple of pretty fierce 90° bends on the DLR. Allegedly, they're the tightest to be found on anything described as a 'railway' , rather than a tramway (certainly in the UK) and from what I've seen, they come with superelevation to match.

Dunno how they compare with the (flat) junctions to be found on US "Ells" such as those in NYC or Chicago.

 

Students from Mayflower Primary School, Tower Hamlets, getting to know ‘Poplar’ at Poplar Depot.

(Picture taken and shared with permission.)

 

Seems to be proving Popular.

 

Groan

 

Kent & East Sussex Railway joins ‘Love Your Railway’ campaign

https://news.railbusinessdaily.com/kent-east-sussex-railway-joins-love-your-railway-campaign/

 

An interesting appointment, and I wish him well in converting his excellent analytical work into delivery on the ground.

 

One of the good guys who will have the interest of the line and its' stakeholders at heart.