Rother Valley Railway

Mein gott, how the time it flies!

 

What a wonderful neighbour to have! She sounds like a real star. Shame people have to move on...

 

The roof trusses are on the new station building - see Station Building -18 Mid Apr '25 | RVRailway News

 

Meant to add this when it got published but forgot.

The latest issue of The Bluebell Times has an interesting KESR photo in the "on this day" section. It shows O1 class 31064 hauling a break down train over the line, in April 1954 - three months after closure! The circumstances are in the caption, but in brief, there was a need to move the Ashford crane to Robertsbridge for p/way works, and due to the restriction son the Hastings line tunnels, it went via the KESR, by then closed. The northern section, as far as Rolvenden, was behind the O1, but beyond that the weight limits precluded that loco, so it was taken forward by a Terrier - 32655 (ex-"Stepney") being used on the return working at least.

https://www.bluebell-railway.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/issue-68.pdf, page 20

Tom

 

This is the best known "Ghost" train as it was reported in the Railway Observer at the time, there were alledgedly others.
I believe 32655 worked the train in both dirrections, on the up train on saturday the Ashford to Rolvenden 01 was 31065. 32678 was working the regular k&esr goods so for a short time there were 3 engines in steam at Rolvenden that day.

 

I’ve only ever heard of this ‘ghost’ train. Do we know the details of any others?

 

More updates, coming thick and fast right now:
More info on the Udiam riverbank slip, preceeded by one from Playfoot's yard:
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/?m=1
And one more due on Sunday, regarding the remedial works required for bridge 25's abutments before the refurbished decks can be placed...

 

I believe that as a consequence of the decision to retain the Robertsbridge to Tenterden Town section for goods traffic a lot of the Rolvenden to Robertsbridge section was re-ballasted in this period. The ballast trains ran on a Sunday and it is rumoured that some may have come from the Headcorn direction possibly as a result of engineering works on the Hastings Line. Ive never seen any photographs or documentary evidence to support it but as the demolition trains came from Headcorn and retreated back from Tenterden it does seem possible it was still possible for a train to run through until Jan 1955.

 

I remember on the first part of that relay the RVR chairman had a sad on because Id gone 12 ft past the boundary with Udiam Farm as I didnt have a short rail and didnt want to cut a 60 ft length. Next Day the purchaser of Udiam Farm turned up to inspect progress and was over the moon because we'd reached his property no mention of the incursion at all!

 

Interesting new post on the log about Bridges 25-21 but am unable to open MU Image 1 on my pad, or on my Linux computer - it just shows a grey no entry sign! Can anyone sort this out please.
Thanks H

 

It must be someting to do with it now being a MU [Marked Up] image. It was OK yesterday - I just get the No-Entry sign on Windows. I had wondered what the box was on the centre pier - turns out it is a 24/7 security camera. Clearly something that is necessary in view of the remote location.

 

Interesting. I might contact the Museum and Archive at Tenterden Town Station to see if more information is available.

 

Quite. It is also known as a Perimeter Intrusion Detection System. If they detect trespassers, the units sounds an audible warning announcement telling the trespasser that they have been detected, whilst relaying images to a security company's Cloud.

 

Sorry. Our webmaster Trevor will be on it to fix the connection to that picture as soon as he can. Mike Hart

 

Good afternoon. I have adjusted the photo link(s). Originally a MU photograph would link through to the Marked up photo, however as not all systems are the same I've taken it back to basics aka two photos.

 

Thank you for the prompt adjustment. I am able to see now.

 

Yep. Thanks to Trevor for fixing it. All at the click on link here: https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/

 

If this has been answered elsewhere, please forgive, but I don't recall reading anywhere about passing facilities on the rebuilt line, and there would seem to be a great imbalance, with 3 loops at the eastern end, but (apparently) nothing west of Northiam.
I know that there has been some online speculation in the past about Junction Road being a possible candidate, but AFAIK, no clear statement from any official sources.
Anyone know better?

 

Latest issue of Steam Railway has turned up today and there's a nice feature on the extension. It says a passing loop is planned on or near the site of Salehurst Halt, but they need to do clearance to conduct a survey of where best to put it.

It's worth checking out with an 8 page write up and a 2 page intro with a photo of 70000 at Robertsbridge Junction last year.

 

I think there was something near Junction Road on the documents submitted with the planning application - but things have probably changed since then.