KESR: Permanent Way Volunteers needed urgently

Pics now up at: http://jonedwards.photobook.org.uk/c1781892.html

 

This is great stuff. Does the RVR now own the track all the way to the B2244?

Is there any plan to run trains along the new track e.g. at galas?

Will there be a "Junction Road" halt rebuilt?

Does the RVR own any trackbed the otehr side of Junction Road towards Salehurst?

Whil it was always going to be the Robertsbridge end that causes the problems, I am sure that this progress the other end of the trackbed must be a great psychological boost. Sorry for all the questions and well done to all concerned.

 

More pics from today's ballasting runs now up at http://jonedwards.photobook.org.uk/p62263174.html and the following.

As far as the ownership position of everything is concerned, I am afraid that cannot be discussed that at present, due to the usual "niceties".....

There is no current permission to operate any passenger trains beyond Bodiam Station itself. I do know that the thinking caps are on on that one, but no news as yet.

Unfortunately, there will be no Junction Road halt rebuilt. Quite aside of there being no business case for it, the location is now in someone's PRIVATE garden. I think we have imposed quite enough by laying some track there!

Considering the link to Robertsbridge was always thought one of preservation's "no-hopers", I reckon the RVR is doing pretty well so far!

 

More pictures here:-

http://phil-edwards.photobook.org.uk/c1784991.html

 

Thanks for the pictures and the answers to my questions.

I agree - it's good to see the RVR progressing. Even if, like the Northiam-Bodiam section of the KESR before 2000, the rails may well be in situ for a while before a regular service starts, laying the track to Junction Road is a firm statement of intent.

You are quite right about the lack of a business case for extending just to Junction Road. It was originally "Junction Road for Hawkhurst" I seem to remember - a tad optimistic considering Hawkhurst was 4 miles away! Wittersham Road is even more out in the back of beyond, but, of course, extending there made sense as the KESR previously only ran from Rolvenden to Tenterden and that extension more than doubled the line. With the line now 10 miles long, there is little to be gained by regular working further just to Junction Road

However, I'll watch this space for any future developments regarding occasional use of this section of line. The Swanage Railway's trips beyond Norden last September did well by all accunts, and I heard from what I would think was a reliable source that the Bluebell are planning the odd trip from both Kingscote and East Grinstead next year to the respective limits of the tip. There is certainly a sector of the enthusiast market (myself included) that will rise to the opportunity of travellling on a new section of track, even if it ends up in the middle of nowhere (or, as you say, in the case of Junction Road, virtually in someone's back garden.)

When regular services are introduced (and I believe it will be "When" rather than "if") it looks like the section west of Bodiam will be a most scenic bit of line according to your pictures. All power to the RVR and I look forward to the day when they complete the missing link.

 

John,


The idea behind the names of stations, like Wittersham Road, was that the station would serve the town or village near it. Therefore, Witt Rd would serve Witt Rd. The old Tenterden station (now Rolvenden) would serve Tenterden town, besides it being 1 mile up the hill.


Calan
K&ESR Volunteer.

 

(wanders off to find a town or village called Witt Road, as opposed to Wittersham....)

 

From 28th Dec to 3rd Jan, Blue timetable,

link http://www.kesr.org.uk/timetable.html


Not sure about what loco. though.

 

We never have mentioned what Loco is running. Not sure why, don't think we know until the day.


The website is a VAST improvement on the previous one.

 

Not strictly true - before the Newmill Bridge was put in, trains regularly ran from Tenterden to Rolvenden, where the loco would run round and then propel the train to the Newmill Channel.

When I was involved in the KESR in the late 70s and early 80s, it was universally referred to as 'Witt Road'.

 

It still is today, DB. However, the point Calan made was that Witt Road station was serving a place called Witt Road. In fact, having spent a wet day there loading the ballast on this do, it has been called more than Witt Road lately!

 

It looked a lot like the latter soubriquet when No.10 and the Norwegian headed the reopening train all those years ago. All there was was a hand-operated loop, ropes with bits of red rag tied to them across the road for crossing gates (the railway equivalent of jumpers for goalposts) and many, many huge piles of sticky Wealden clay.

Happy days...

 

I remember that day. All as you say but no. 10 failed later on whilst double-heading with no. 19, leaving the Norwegian alone to pull a long and packed-out 'Members Special' train back up Tenterden Bank. No. 19 did a fine job but I believe nowadays, when in ticket, it is restricted to rather lighter loads than it had to pull on that occasion.

 

Theoretically, it should be (J94 lookalikes) No. 23 on 28-30 Dec and No. 24 31st -3rd Jan with the DMU forming the second train. In practice, however..........

 

So it did, I'd forgotten about that. I was on that train, too.

Must admit I was rather amused that, in more recent times, the KESR took the decision to name No.19... wait for it... Norwegian

I wonder how many nanoseconds it took to come up with such a stunningly original name

I look forward to No.21 or 22 being renamed Yankee Tank or one of the Austerities becoming Austerity ;-)

 

If they are ever renamed it is more likely to be along the lines of Bucket 1, etc!

 

A lot of agonising and arguing would you believe! She's always been known as 'The Norwegian' and most of the members of the owning trust wanted her called that, although I don't really understand why she needed a name at all. Anyway, the more clever amongst us pointed out that you can't call something 'The xxxx', although as I'm not very bright I don't understand that either!

 

Being southerners and therefore completely blind to anything north of Blackfriars, they'd obviously never heard of the LNER D49s then!

Although Mum, Dad and the kids do like to see a shiny engine with a nice, easy to remember name on the side I agree that it did seem a bit unneccessary to stick nameplates on it.

If it had to be 'officially' named anything, I think they should have called it Hell, given it's a station the loco famously used to travel through...

Probably sound a bit silly, but I've never really forgiven the KESR for renaming No. 24. I understand the Rolvenden name follows original KESR locos having been names after places the line served, the present-day KESR has Terrier Bodiam and No. 25 (aka Linda ) has been Northiam for donkey's years. But I've always felt that it was somehow a mite disrespectful to lose the William H Austen name, especially as No. 23 still carries HFS nameplates.

 

I'm sure other preserved railways have done worse. If not, then... well, not to worry.