Kent & East Sussex Railway

I wholly agree that the K&ESR does need larger locos and appreciate that the GWR tanks are probably ideal... at the same time, as I have commented before, I'd be sorry to see the motive power on this route become almost entirely Swindon-built... there are so many other places you can enjoy rural GWR steam.

The name John Bunch jumps to mind... I don't know much about him except that he appears to have fallen out with a few people, but the relevance here is that I understand he has a handful of Southern 2-6-0s that are in an unrestored state... is there potential for a deal there?

 

Since the effect of Covid, engineering staff have been reduced drastically.
4253 group are making steady progress, not just with 4253, but also preparing to work on 5668 and 6619. They also do contract work for others.

Since heavy repairs are effectively in the hands of volunteers, I don't think they currently would be able to take on other unrestored locos.

I think for the foreseeable future KESR will be likely to run as the Kent & East Swindon Railway.

I think also that Austerities/18"Hunslets, despite being not ideal, will remain necessary. Even having a "USA" tank keeps the service running, despite the effect on the track.


I do wish I could win the Lottery (some hopes) and pay for the Terriers and P class to be quickly brought back into service, either as attractions for special occasions, or for light traffic days.

In the meantime, having access to a loaned cl20 diesel has been a great help during the drought/fire risk.

 

In the "wouldn't it be nice" category would be a small/medium tender engine. I always liked the Norwegian 2-6-0.
Incidentally, the late John Miller (one time K&ESR chairman) had back of envelope sketches for Austerity conversions to a 0-6-0 tender engine ( as has been done elsewhere since) or a 0-6-2 side tank. The thought was they'd look more interesting and be kinder to the track.

 

I seem to recall that JB is in the midst of a 25 year agreement with the Swanage for those, so probably not.

 

You could have stopped typing at that point.

 

.....but wrong!

 

I have been lucky enough to ride on the Norwegian (only as 3rd man), most enjoyable. However I believe she is only able to work trains of up to four MK 1 coaches (or equivalent).

 

Yup, any useable loco needs to be able to haul 5 coaches up Tenterden bank.

 

I recall, probably 15 yrs ago, an occasion when the A set was hauled by two Terriers.
Can't remember why.
What I do remember was that after the first trip UP the bank, the driver came in to a classroom where a signalling course was in progress. He asked if there was a possibility of one of the trainees were qualified to work Cranbrook Rd gates, and might be spare for that duty.
Basically he was saying that 2 Terriers could get 5 MK 1 up the bank OK, but restarting train twice (once for guard to alight, once to rejoin) on the bank was a struggle and was not doing the locos much good.

The course was only booked for the morning, so it was resolved.

Similarly pannier 1638 was allowed to work the full set, but I recalled it struggling sometimes on the Pullman when Cranbrook Rd was unmanned.

 

So we can agree that the K&ESR needs larger locos for today's services, and both the USA and J94 tanks give the track gang too much grief, so in an ideal world, would something like a schools or an L1 class be more suitable? Or even a BR standard 3MT or 4MT Tank? just saying