Rother Valley Railway

And (insert random number here) Prime Ministers?

 

Has Boris resigned already?
(Sorry- off topic)

 

Updates currently coming in thick and fast. Here, courtesy of Peter Barber, another 2000 tons of fill has been added:
Given that these fills are c. 1m between Terram layers, I'd estimate another 3-4 layers to reach level, although each layer will be tapering inwards, so maybe another 7000 tons tops?
It would be great to have the ground in place before winter sets in, and at this pace, that's easily achievable:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

The 30/09 blog entry included: “The works at RVR Robertsbridge will be in two stages to fit in with the environmental mitigation plan and the availability of materials, the second stage being due in April 2023.”

 

Hopefully leaving the structural works to be progressed next spring, once the groundwork has settled, although I'm sure that piling work will still be required.

 

Since the reason for the turntable and the larger engine shed it to allow main line steam engines to be stabled and serviced I wonder whether we might see it in use sometime next year.

 

The new Transport Secretary is Mark Harper MP who has the Dean Forest Railway and the Flour Mill in his constituency, and is known to have said nice things about them.

 

A pro-transport transport secretary? He's doomed!

 

Blogspot update showing spoil arriving by rail for the Robertsbridge groundworks:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1
Currently, the Hastings line is closed between Tunbridge Wells and Battle for engineering and stabilisation works in Wadhurst cutting (to the north) and at Mountfield (south), so Robertsbridge is in an ideal location to take any excavated spoil.
Fortuitous timing all round.

 

Didn't some heavy remedial work happen there quite recently? Now wondering how the infrastructure through the similar geology on the Brighton line, south of Three Bridges is coping with climate related instability.

I suspect we'll be seeing a lot more similar reports in coming years.

 

There was work at Wadhurst a year ago - the line was close for a week during half term last year as well.

 

I don't know how climate related this really is, but the Hastings line, with its distinctive geology, has always been a Civil's nightmare, going right back. The impression given by NR is that this is completion of unfinished business.

 

Is the spoil generated by the NR works, enough to bring the RVR earthworks up to the required level, or will there have to be further spoil brought in from further afield,

 

I fully accept the "interesting" geology has always been and will always be challenging. Topology doesn't help (as it doesn't in umpteen other locations, some even without self-lubricating stratigraphy), but increasingly extreme climactic conditions sure as hell do nowt to help!

Not confined to railways, of course. Highway civil engineering is just as susceptible.

 

RVR are talking about doing the project in 2 stages, the next one in April, which just happens to coincide with the next lot of civil engineering on the Hastings line, though I would have figured that by next spring, RVR would be looking more towards construction of the loco shed, not to mention other considerations...

 

Whether the shed is built straight away might also depend on whether there is an immediate operational need for it; as well as the availability of resources. No doubt the RVR are taking advantage of the main line works in order to get these earthworks done now. The ground works and turnout for the proposed carriage shed, opposite the platform, were completed some years ago but the shed has not yet been built. Foundations are also in place for the whole of the station building but only a small section, the amazing toilets, has been completed so far. The RVR got planning permission for the station more than 10 years ago now. Other than the recent addition of the turntable this plan has proceeded largely unchanged, but I get the impression some of the elements may have been built as and when good opportunities arose rather than a particular pressure to complete it all by a certain date. Whether the engine and/or carriage sheds will be immediately required upon the opening of the railway (or on the opening of the turntable to main line use) I do not know.

 

Sure. I guess I'm just picking up on speculation about the turntable (and possibly tge shed) being used as a servicing depot for steam mainline charters.

 

The planning application for the Turntable and re-siteing the Engine Shed mentioned Servicing Steam Locos from Mainline Charters.

 

I also understand that Kevin Foster is one of the new Transport Secretaries and has responsibility for rail reform amongst other things. I wonder if he might be the one who decides on our TWAO outcome? (Let us just hope that one of these 'worthies' can actually make the (correct!) decision before this so-called government implodes...)

 

Mr Foster is the junior minister, not the Secretary of State.