Lynton and Barnstaple - Operations and Development

True, but a Schools Class would be vaguely more acceptable and it would be nice to see it being turned at Robertsbridge.
Once the link is restored another turntable at Tenterden would be a nice idea...
(I hope I'm not running off piste here.)

 

Indeed. Join up the dots...

 

Headcorn, surely?
(Hopefully far enough off piste that nobody in Kent will notice...!)

 

The idea of the turntable at Robertsbridge is for main line excursions.

 

Wasn't a new housing estate built over the trackbed at St Michaels (Tenterden) that stops the railway going back to Headcorn?

 

Quite a while, I think, before the K&ESR reaches back to Headcorn! Nice though it would be...

 

Nothing a tunnel can't get over (or under, rather)

 

Isn’t there a TBM stood doing nothing down Folkestone way?

(TBM - tunnel boring machine)​

 

The tunnel (not the longest in the world) remains in good order (and private ownership) in St Michael’s.

There have been many developments along the northern trackbed since 1954, not least a hotel complex north of St Michael’s.

Those with ‘expansive’ enthusiasm should find much to interest them between Bodiam and Robertsbridge over the next few years.

The remains of the K&ESR platform at Headcorn is easily accessible from the public footpath that joins the southern end of the station footbridge there.

 

Would that then be a contender for the heaviest light railway?

John

 

Sadly, I believe it was - er - 'recycled' some years ago. A shame, as a TBM will be required to construct the Wistlandpound Tunnel, although delivering it by road will be a challenge!

 

You are obviously unaware of the proposed diversionary spiral that included a halt at Exmoor Zoo drawn up in 2004, Martyn.

 

It's a good number of years since I was down Folkestone way so I can believe it is no longer there. A shame it's gone.

 

I think most of us are, at least that detailed work was actually carried out. Any idea where these drawings might currently be residing?

 

What a pity. It could have tunnelled all the way to North Devon in readiness for a new HS3 to bring high-speed continental tourists all the way to a new terminal at - say - Churchtown

 

It was drawn up by David Moore at the time he was CME at the L&B. I have copies but as far as I can recall they were not circulated to the wider membership.

 

Was Paul Plowman also involved in that? I seem to recall him mentioning a similar scheme many years ago, which is probably still as relevant now as it was then.

 

Can you say in general terms how it is proposed to get over the dam and around the reservoir?

 

No, not at all. It was a private initiative between David and myself following a confidential discussion I had with the owners of Exmoor Zoo who were very enthusiastic over the potential benefits that could accrue to all parties.

 

Concerning AGM Voting I have just come across the following for the forthcoming Bluebell Railway AGM on their website.
See: https://www.bluebell-railway.com/brps/whats_new/

Text follows:
Society AGM: Horsted Keynes Station, Saturday 3rd June 2023 commencing at 2pm

[The BRPS AGM documents are in the post but are published here as a backup and for the benefit of members, especially those overseas. Please note the Accounts booklet only contains the Society accounts as the Plc and abridged Trust accounts for 2022 were not finalised at the date we went to press. This version of the Society accounts includes, for comparative purposes only, the 2021 numbers for the former unincorporated Society.] (I have included this for the sake of completeness.)

The important part follows:

Any member wishing to vote by proxy must do so by NOON on 31st May 2023. Scanned and signed proxy voting forms may be emailed to the address shown on the form and must include your membership number for validation purposes.

Gavin Bennett
Secretary

In the immortal words of Punch: 'That's the way you do it! That's the way you do it!' Well. it's one way and far superior to the mid-twentieth century ways of the L&BR.