Kent & East Sussex Railway Gala 5-6-7-May

Between Rolvenden and Tenterden stations. Park in Tenderden carpark, take public footpath north - starts at bottom of carpark.See &searchp=ids.srf&mapp=map.srf]Map of Tenterden, Kent [City/Town/Village] then follow it round and back south.Cross the line and head to the area just above where the words " Cemy" are on the map. Yes it is a good spot.

 

Your best bet is to park at Tenterden station and ask member of staff about footpaths, there are several that get you to good locations. There is a level crossing at Cranbrook Rd but I wouldn't recommend parking there due to space restrictions. Orpins curve near Rolvenden station is popular for photters but again parking is limited so best to catch a train to Rolvenden. The speed restriction near the top of the bank has now been lifted following a PW relay so trains will be able to work harder on the top half of the climb this year.

 

4247 and 1744 on shed at Rolvenden ready for this weekend's K&ESR Gala. Don't miss it!

 

Working timetable can be found to download on this page Gala 2012

 

2 DAYS TO GO!!!

Both the visiting engines are here & have had a run out!

All the freight stock is in the right place ready, just a bit of coach shunting to do tomorrow!

 

Shame the forecast is poor

 

Never mind, just bring an umbrella!

 

Not been today???? This is some of what you missed...

KESR Gala 2012 - a set on Flickr

 

The only torrential rain I had was on the M25/M26/M20 on the way to Tenterden.
You did need to wrap up warm though - around noon-ish I was beginning to wish I'd bought a scarf and some extra layers. Fortunately it got warmer after that.
I hope the problems with 4247's lubrication stay fixed for the rest of the weekend.

 

My first visit to the KESR for their gala weekend and i shall definitely return!! A fantastic day was had by my Brother and myself, the trains started to run a little late around Noon but i have to applaude the volunteers, crew, station staff and some of the quickest signalling i have ever seen to help limit the late running. The visiting engines put in sterling performances on Tenterden bank as did the home fleet, particularly impressed by USA tank 65. Great to see an event with a freight train running throughout the day and the Vintage Train (which unfortunatly i didn't get a chance to ride) looks beautifully restored. A HUGE thank you goes to all involved in planning and then running this Gala. It's just a shame i have to work over the rest of the weekend otherwise i'd be back...If you're considering coming on either of the two remaining days i highly reccomend it from my experience today. One VERY happy customer.

 

I visited yesterday, last time i visited i was about 1 year old!

It's a nice railway and there was a mix of locomotives however to me it didn't feel like a gala. Something seemed missing. It was very quiet on the trains compared to other galas i've done, i know the weather would have played a factor in this but i've not known many galas where compartments are free continually. I was also a bit surprised there wasn't really anything to see and do at the stations, bar Tenterden with the beer tent, bbq, brakevan rides, museum, miniature train rides etc there was only (from memory) a beer tent at the other end of the line and a pump trolley at another station which i didn't see anyone take part in.

Any ideas on what happened to the steam rollers & crane/on track machine displays? I don't recall seeing them.

 

I will be there tomorrow, can anyone tell me does everything face towards Tenterden or does anything face towards Bodiam? Thanks in advance!

 

From memory, facing Tenterden:

1744
4247
Charwelton
1638
65
Marcia
23

Bodiam:

32670

 

From my pictures from yesterday, 1744 and 4247 both face Tenterden as does Charwelton. 32670 faces Bodiam. I didn't photograph the others.

 

Thank you both!

 

Morning everyone, visited the gala on Saturday and thoroughly enjoyed it. The KESR has a charm all other lines just lack.

Anyway, photos and video follow.

K&ESR Steam Gala - May 2012 - Railway Galleries

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VB6chlMdxe0

 

Here's a selection of photos I took of the GWR 2-8-0 early yesterday morning at Wittersham Road in awful weather conditions and the service trains this morning along Orpins Curve in much better weather. Sad to hear the 2-8-0 was failed with a broken spring as it would've looked great with the wagons but have to say the N2 looked superb matched-up with the vintage carriage set.

https://picasaweb.google.com/105454...pringGalaMay672012?authuser=0&feat=directlink

Cheers

 

The Coal Tank, which should hopefully be visiting next year, should look even better. I think I spotted myself in one of your photos in the second window of the vintage coach behind the N2.

 

I had an enjoyable day. Had a great run up the bank behind number 23. A small selection of my photos can be found at Zenfolio | Paul Simpson | Kent and East Sussex Gala Weekend 2012

 

I too had an enjoyable day yesterday, spent most of the day at Tenterden but got a couple of trips in behind 32670 and the N2. The N2 sounded absolutely magnificent up the bank and even had to restart on the grade, with 4 mk 1s on a curve and as the rain began to intensify. Great effort by the driver. The shunters at Tenterden deserve a mention for their extremely slick work juggling the two goods trains and other movements. The timetable slipped a little mid-afternoon, but nothing drastic (only 8-10 minutes).

Some shots here: K&ESR Gala - 07/05/12 - a set on Flickr

And some video clips: Kent & East Sussex Railway Gala - 07/05/2012 - YouTube