Rother Valley Railway

Update today on progress with the Station building - Click here - this relates to the installation of the ramp - the weather has been against much brickwork.

 

It's so good to see all that is happening at Robertsbridge. For anyone in the area and unfamiliar, I called in there on a Sunday on spec a few weeks ago and was made exceptionally welcome by a volunteer who very kindly took me down to see the turntable. There is also a decent bookshop in an old coach. I also took a walk out to Salehurst, the site of Salehurst Halt is just off the public footpath running south from the church.

 

You didnt pop into the Salehurst Arms did you, and every head turned as you walked in, and some old bloke asked, you're not from round these parts' boy ? whilst in the distance banjos could be heard

 

No I didnt! It looked like more of a restaurant than a pub actually.

 

If you go in there - don't mention the railway.

 

I've never been into The Halt, but I was planning on meeting up there with an associate of mine next week, just out of interest. Perhaps my body will be found floating in the Rother a few days later!
Incidentally, i drove through Salehurst yesterday, and although it was hard to see in the low sun, it looks like preliminary fencing and topsoil removal has already taken place at Church Farm.

 

Just say nothing, get a feel for the atmosphere first.
I went there (many) years ago, and got the distinct impression that praising the RVR was the wrong thing to do.
It may well have changed since then. Just bide your time.

And yes, It's a nice little exploratory walk down the hill to the site of the old halt.

 

It's maybe 35 years since I went to the Salehurst Halt, but as I recall the food was very nice. Around that time I walked down the footpath to the site of the old halt and found it very muddy indeed.

 

No, your fate will be worse than that, a shot gun, in your back, and made to utter I DO,
I'm sure the locals will be very welcoming as long as you put money in the till, as you say, don't mention the war, opps sorry railway, but what will be interesting is the response of diners to seeing a train go past, I wonder if after a few years the owners of the restaurant become more in favour, especially if re opening the Halt, helps bring in trade?

 

I wonder how helpful it is to the cause of the RVR to be implying the local populace are a bunch of shotgun-wielding yokels only interested in money and harking back to the war?

Maybe the post was made in jest, but if I lived in the area and wanted evidence that the railway was primarily supported by a bunch of outsiders with absolutely no knowledge of or sympathy for the area, this thread would give rich pickings. I suspect that those on the ground trying to get the railway perceived as an important addition to a vibrant local economy and community aren’t really being helped in that endeavour by the last page or two here.

Tom

 

It's fairly obvious who one of the benefactors is.

 

And supporting the last post #2870 by Tom, it has been mentioned, more than once on NP, that objectors to certain railway schemes often read this place. Always know what the 'enemy' is doing.

 

http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1
Update from Playfoot's on bridge 25 progress.

 

Hopefully its well past that stage and above board by now. It would be good if we could at least be humorous about the situation, even if it is good old-fashioned British "gallows humour".

 

Clearly you did not see the joke in it, and local economies do require income, from people using their amenities, I actually have a friend who lives in Robertsbridge, and local banter is far more incisive, but if i have upset people , with my posts, then, clearly i will refrain, after all I would not wish to upset anyone,

 

For the record, Martin, I am not upset by your post but it is worth mentioning that many smaller heritage lines have expansion in mind and they often encounter stiff opposition to their plans. I would welcome a railway at the bottom of my garden, as would most NP posters I guess, but many folk do not - and they make that very clear.

 

Another update today - Station Building -6 The brickies are back | RVRailway News - some pictures of the brickwork going up - won't take long provided the frost stays away.

 

Well now we lived at the bottom of Salehurst Lane for 10 years and gun slinging locals isn’t far from the truth in some cases. Robertsbridge was run by the local mafia in true Sussex Bonfire Boyes fashion . I remember at least one death by gunshot though this may have been Travellers. We tried to integrate including my wife helping to run the local cub pack but it had to be run the way it always had been. We were never accepted and moved to friendly Hampshire 15 years ago. We couldn’t wait to leave this feudal outpost

 

Ramp work and a hefty-looking concrete pour at Robertsbridge. The ramp looks like its being built to withstand an artillery barrage!
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1

 

Couple of posts on the RVR blog today. There is an historical picture of Bridge 25 here this is the double span bridge just before Austen's bridge comming from Salehurst Halt.