Kent & East Sussex Railway

This weekend looks like it's 76017 on the A set, with the Class 20 on the B service Saturday, and the DMU Sunday. At least, that's the plan!

 

Sapper, or 68032 as it is now known, has arrived back with us, and was out today on test runs between the service trains.

 

It looks superb

 

The Class 205 unit, 1118, will now be staying at the KESR permanently.

New deal sees Thumper remain at Kent heritage railway

 

Excellent news. With the Thumper & Class 108 DMUs and (soon) the GWR railcar the KESR will have a great off-peak (or fire-risk backup) lineup. All we need now is a Pacer to complete the picture.

 

Er... no. No-one wants to suffer that ride for 10+ miles!

 

But it'd be authentic to the line's former nickname of the "Tenterden Bumper" - believed to be a reference to the riding qualities of Col. Stephens' back-to-back petrol railmotors (adapted from road-vehicle chassis) of the 1920s & '30s.

 

'Wheel deep in the wheat...'

 

Just because it's authentic doesn't make it a good idea!

 

There is of course Colin Shutt's replica Ford railmotor on display at Tenterden!

 

Has that ever run on the railway?

 

From memory, I think it was run once in the Pullman dock at Tenterden. There is a problem with it (to do with the wheels, but I forget exactly what) that prohibited it's further use.

 

It's run up the bank from Rolvenden as well.

https://colonelstephenssociety.co.uk/collin-shutt-s-replica-ford-railcar.html

The photo of Colin standing by the front shows the wheels. They look simply like a disc with a ring attached, no tyre, no profile whatsoever. Definitely not suited for any real use!

 

Colin fabricated the wheels from sheet steel so as stated not a proper railway profile. It was OK on Colin's short private line and as stated it was once run up and down the Pullman dock at Tenterden Town. I believe tentative enquiries were made about the cost of a proper set of wheels, but it was quite a lot of money and not within anyone's budget. Also, it's only one car, so turning would be a problem. Otherwise it should be workable - the engine has been started in its present location (and you can listen to it on an audio pillar next to the railmotor).

 

We like the replica, can we have another one?

Some vehicles like that used to have a little on board turntable with them, maybe that's an option.

 

Not wishing to start a punch up, but when LSL organised a tour in September 2023 starring a 142 they own, the train was a sell out!
The excursion was a seaside jaunt from Manchester to Llandudno.

 

Were they all members of the Manchester Masochists Society?

 

I must confess that I wasn’t actually present, but I do appreciate the charms of more recent heritage including the MHR’Ss recent Sprinter acquisition.
I do think that each generation of train fans has its own definition of heritage.
While I just about remember the last days of BR steam in the sixties, my glory days were the 80s and I really do love the dmus and indeed emus of that era.
In another 40 years the 701s will be fondly remembered and who knows, one might be preserved?

 

In my entire life I have spent a total of 8 minutes travelling on a Pacer, and that was three hours too long.....

 

Right, back to the good stuff.... just got the loco "plan" for the next few days. Hastings and the Class 14 are out tomorrow, paired. The Thumper will also be out. Saturday is slated to be 76017 and Hastings, with 20087 out doing something or other.... Sunday is 76017 and the 108, and Monday is 20087 and the Thumper! Don't say we don't vary things!