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Rother Valley Railway

Discussion in 'Heritage Railways & Centres in the UK' started by nine elms fan, Nov 4, 2012.

  1. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    So I was reading the 2014 blog and I saw this interesting post:

    "Rail at Robertsbridge is now being prepared into 60' lengths in preparation for the middle section join up between RVR East (Junction Road to KESR metals) and RVR West (Northbridge Street-RVR Station). This project will continue since approximately 2.2 miles will need to be prepared."

    which makes it sound as if some progress has been made in obtaining trackbed (and perhaps on the level crossing too). Or is this purely hopeful preparatory work? Can anyone provide any updates?

    Noel
     
  2. kesbobby

    kesbobby Member

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    The situation shown in Post 122 is unchanged.
     
  3. martin butler

    martin butler Part of the furniture

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    what i would assume is happening is that the RVR are stockpiling the rails they will need ready for the relaying of the line, so making up 60ft panels that can be stockpiled next to the present headshunt makes sence as once the green light is given to prepare the track bed and make a start, they would want to have enough rails to hand to join up the two sections before bringing in ballast, which of course will be easier if done from the Robertsbridge end via NR of course there is still a long way to go, they dont as yet own any of the land between Northbridge st and Junction Road.
     
  4. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    For those who haven't dipped their noses into the RVR news blog recently, there is a fair amount of news; worth taking a look. One bit I personally was especially taken by (given my particular interests) was that work has started on the connection between the RVR and the national network.

    I can't wait to hear that work has started on some (any!) part of the missing bit between the RVR and the KESR - I don't particularly care whether it's at the Junction Road end or the Northbridge Street end! :)

    Noel
     
  5. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    Noel the track laid between Bodiam towards Junction Rd is I believe RVR owned so technically the task is to join the two ends of the RVR
     
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  6. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    Quite right, I'd forgotten that. But until the bit in the middle is filled in, the KESR won't be joined up to the national network! So whatever the details, it's the filling-in I can't wait for!

    Noel

    PS: It's also the case that the RVR and the KESR aren't exactly arms-length organizations: q.v. the RVR building a new shed for the KESR... I'm not sure why they are two separate organizations: my guess would be that history is a factor (when the RVR was first started, it was more of a separate operation, I gather), and there may be legal reasons too.
     
    Last edited: May 1, 2014
  7. martin butler

    martin butler Part of the furniture

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    its called politics, some of the founding members of the RVR were former members of the Kesr, who fell out with the railway, over plans to include the Robertsbridge section, safeguarding the yard ,so that in the future it may be possible to extend, Kesr want no part of it, prefering to concentrate on just the section they were able to purchase, because in many peoples eyes, it would be a non starter with the A21 bypass cutting through the formation.
     
  8. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    Martin - I was involved in KESR when the RVR was first mooted. Rather than the bust up you suggest it was my understanding that as the RVR section was more risky it made sense to set up a seperate legal entity with separate funds. Barbara Castle, Minister for roads sory of Transport, would only grant a light railway order for the Tenterden - Bodiam section. it was not my understanding that the KESR didnt want the section to Robertsbridge, they were not allowed it. Dont forget when RVR was set up KESR was only just through to Northiam.

    EDIT I have just checked the RVR website and the situation was as I have described it
     
    Last edited: May 2, 2014
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  9. martin butler

    martin butler Part of the furniture

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    needless, there was some personalities who were involved with the RVR who were former Kesr members, it part we are both right, the Kesr did not expect the Junction rd to robertsbridge section to survive,and it didnt, well not intact, so did not want to risk any capital,as it had nearly gone to the wall itself, that in turn made some who wanted to safeguard the whole route set up a separate group, the modern RVR is different to that what was set up originally, the money behind the present set up, enabled them to buy the trackbed to junction Rd, and to do the outstanding work so far, and will in time purchase the remaining 2 miles, had the Kesr been the body behind it, i dought it would have happened, we would have not have re opened the Bodiam to Junction rd section, the money would have gone on reducing the debt and on replacing time expired buildings ,the Kesr would not have built the carriage shed at Rolvendon without the RVR money.
     
  10. Fireline

    Fireline Well-Known Member

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    Thanks Dave. Your post neatly sums up the actual situation.
     
  11. Foxhunter

    Foxhunter Member

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    I have had a guided tour of the Robertsbridge site today (courtesy of the CSS) and I have to say it is nothing short of amazing! The new station building is going to be huge (judging by the footings) and confidence is rising concerning the crossing of the A21 and getting to Juction Rd.

    Foxy
     
  12. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    I was quite surprised that a connection is planned between the RVR and Network Rail. Will through trains be possible (or feasible) given the axle loading restrictions and tight curves on the line?
     
  13. desperado

    desperado Member

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    My understanding is that the connection requires a reversal in the former bay platform so the length of any through train will be severely limited. The connection doesn't give through running from the platforms of Robertsbridge mainline onto the RVR.
     
  14. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    John, - KESR already runs Mk1s so curvature is not a problem. Cant remember off hand what the axle load is but its higher than you might expect. For example a Netwwork Southeast class 73 ED was named at the railway and ran services for a week. I was duty shunter on one of the days.

    The track used on the KESR today is much more robust than in the Colonels day. The relay from Wittersham rd to Northiam is heavy bullhead rail on concrete sleepers.

    I have not seen plans for the proposed NR link so I will defer to desparado's greater knowledge
     
  15. desperado

    desperado Member

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  16. martin butler

    martin butler Part of the furniture

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    I dont think the idea is to provide an way to access RVR metals for charters, its more to bring in plant and the odd visiting engine, one side effect of the link will be to allow the likes of belfor to use the RVR to train its maintainance crews and test equipment away from the dangers of the network, the PW manager at Kesr, i beleave already has very good links with them,and would be earning the RVR money and getting a profesional standard maintained track in the process
     
  17. brendan

    brendan New Member

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    Axle loading is 21 tons - and no i dont want to fire visiting west counties!
     
  18. threelinkdave

    threelinkdave Well-Known Member

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    Another advantage of a main line conection is the redued cost associated with delivering ballast by rail. i believe the bluebell have achieved significant savings
     
  19. jnc

    jnc Well-Known Member

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    That's great news! I understand that nothing can be said until everything is finalized, and a formal announcement can be made, but I can't wait for that to happen!

    Noel
     
  20. John Petley

    John Petley Part of the furniture

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    Thanks for thre clarification, Dave. I remember the visit of 73126 in 1991. I was aware that the axle loading had been raised, but my thoughts were more in the lines of imagining the struggles a through steam-hauled main line charter might have on Tenterden Bank, epsecially with a light-footed Bulleid on the front! but from Martin's post above, this doesn't look a very likely scenario.
     

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