Kent and East Sussex Railway

The Kent & East Sussex Railway refers to both an historical private railway company in Kent and Sussex in England, as well as a heritage railway currently running on part of the route of the historical company.

Historical Company

Opening And Growth

The Kent & East Sussex Railway was one of the light railways operated by Colonel H.F. Stephens, the railway engineer. It was originally opened, in 1900, as the Rother Valley Railway, with its first stretch of line running from Robertsbridge to Tenterden (the station later being renamed Rolvenden). The line extended into nearer to the centre of Tenterden to the Town station in 1903, and the railway's name was changed to the Kent and East Sussex Railway in 1904 in anticipation of extensions to Rye, Cranbrook and Maidstone via Headcorn. The line extended to Headcorn in 1905, but no further extensions were ever built.

The railway was built under the 1896 Light Railways Act, which allowed for cheaper construction methods in return for a speed restriction. The area was fairly sparsely populated with stations serving villages often several miles away. There was some farm traffic inwards and outwards with hops, artichokes, cured herring, crayfish, grain and livestock being transported. Goods sidings served Robertsbridge Mills and the Guinness oast house at Junction Road Halt. Two Hawthorne Leslie 2-4-0 tank locomotives were bought new for the service, No.1 'Tenterden' and No.2 'Northiam' (which achieved fame 40 years later as the locomotive 'Gladstone' in the film Oh, Mr Porter!). A 'Terrier' A1 class 0-5-0 tank engine was later purchased second hand and named No 3 'Bodiam'. This engine is still working on the line at the age of 135! Some new carriages were bought at the line's opening. In later years services were maintained using elderly coach stock, including an 1842 Royal coach; an unreliable steam railmotor, noisy but economical Ford and Shefflex petrol railmotors (basically two buses with railway wheels coupled back to back) and locomotives nearing the end of their service lives. One oddity purchased by Colonel Stephens was a powerful 0-8-0T locomotive,'Hecate' (possibly intended for use on the proposed Headcorn & Maidstone Junction Light Railway). It was too heavy for the much of the line and was little used, being swapped years later for something more useful.

At its fullest extent, it ran nearly 22 miles (35 km), connecting Robertsbridge (on the Tonbridge to Hastings line) to Headcorn (on the Tonbridge to Ashford line). Between 1905 and closure, the stations on the line, running south to north, were:Robertsbridge Salehurst Halt, Junction Road Halt, Bodiam for Staplecross, Northiam, Wittersham Road, Rolvenden, Tenterden Town, Tenterden St. Michael's, High Halden Road, Biddenden, Frittenden Road and Headcorn.

Grouping And Decline

The company stayed independent after the 1923 Railway Groupings, run from an office by Stephens and after his death by his assistant, William Austin, at Salford Terrace, Tonbridge, Kent. Many other light railways in the UK were also run from there. The desk and other items from this office are preserved at the Colonel Stephens museum at Tenterden station..

Due to road competition, the line was unprofitable after the mid-1920s and went into receivership in 1932, and after nationalisation of the railways in 1948, the closure of the line became more likely. It was closed to passenger traffic and completely from Tenterden Town to Headcorn on 2 January 1954, and finally on 12 July 1961, the entire line was closed to all traffic.

Accidents

On 29 March 1949 Terrier 32678 was derailed near Wittersham Road due to subsidence and ended up broadside across the track.cite book | first = Tom| last = Middlemass| authorlink = | coauthors = | year =1995 | month = | title = Stroudley and his Terriers| chapter = | editor = | others = | edition = | pages = p71, 103| publisher = Pendragon| location = York| id = ISBN 1 899816 00 3| url = ]

Preservation

Preservation History

Preservation activities began immediately. Owing, however,to difficulties in obtaining the necessary Light Railway (Transfer) Order it was 1974 before the line partially reopened as a heritage steam railway between Tenterden and Rolvenden. Extensions followed, notably to Wittersham Road in 1977 and Northiam in 1990. The most recent extension was to Bodiam, opened in 2000.

The railway has had a tempestuous history during its preservation years. A couple of serious financial crises hit the company along with major disputes between the volunteer cohort and their elected board of directors/trustees. On the last occasion during the late 1990s, the company was almost bankrupted. The financial position has improved though as with most heritage railways money is tight.

Within recent years the railway has had to increasingly rely on paid employees to secure its continued operation. Increasingly, as with most heritage railways continued operation has had to rely on special events days to boost income.

The railway has had to wrestle with the legacy of Colonel Stephen's method of cheap and poor construction of the permanent way. As a result, the K&ESR in preservation has sought to update permanent way features such as renewal of culverts and embankments. The line suffers some problems of subsidence outside of Rolvenden. This often necessitates the use of speed restrictions to avoid further damage to the line's foundations. However, the reinstatement of the line between Northiam and Bodiam saw most of the permanent way rebuilt to modern standards.

The Line Today

The line today is a tourist attraction in the South East of England. It offers an 11 mile (17km) ride through the rural Rother Valley in vintage and British Railways coaches usually hauled by a steam engine although some off peak services are operated by diesel multiple unit. The preserved line runs from Tenterden Town station to Bodiam, within sight of the National Trust's Bodiam Castle. There is also a Pullman dining service which has proved increasingly popular. At Tenterden Town station can be found the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum, along with a book and gift shop - selling Thomas the Tank Engine gifts, the Carriage and Wagon Department and a cafe that was once the Maidstone & District Motor Services Ltd coach station building from Maidstone, Kent. The Railway emphasises the Colonel Stephen's connection as a major factor in its tradition and rich heritage. The locomotive works is located at Rolvenden station and has a special viewing platform overlooking the works yard and a selection of former inter-modal shipping containers used for equipment storage. Themed events are run through the year. Some are connected with local history and the Railway whilst, as on other heritage lines, Thomas the Tank Engine and Santa Specials provide a commercial underpinning to the Company's activities. Railway Experience Days are also offered.

Colonel Stephens Railway Museum

Situated at Tenterden is the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum. This houses a number of exhibits telling the story of Colonel Stephens and his railways.

Rother Valley Railway

Additionally, at Robertsbridge, a separate railway preservation effort has been set up by the Rother Valley Railway. It has the aim to restore track and services east from the main line railway station to Bodiam. As of 2007, several hundred yards of track have been laid and a platform constructed, as well as an exhibition centre and a tea room and shop. Several diesel shunters are on site. Wagons and coaches awaiting restoration can also be seen. Plans exist for the extension, but this has been hampered by a trunk road crossing, the need for some very expensive bridge works and the necessity to purchase the route from landowners. Some landowners have also been naturally resistant to selling agricultural land for railway development.

Rolling Stock

Passenger stock

The Carriage and Wagon Department has built itself a reputation as Britain's leading rolling stock restoration outfit on a preserved railway. Most notable has been their attention to their restoration of vintage carriages. They possess a fine collection of heritage British Railways Mark 1 vehicles which are maintained to a very high standard showing love, care and attention by the dedicated staff.

The railway has been a significant collector of rolling stock over the years. Numerous items have been restored including a rake of vintage carriages. A number of vehicles are still to be restored, as and when shed space will allow. Many have been stored under tarpaulins on sidings. Over the years, the limited capacity to restore stock, limited resources and labour has meant that a handful of vehicles have been either sold and transferred to other railways or scrapped due to the uneconomic costs of restoration. The images below show pre-grouping carriages carriages that have successfully been restored and are in operating condition on the line:

Images of restored pre-grouping carriages

Freight stock

The railway has a number of freight vehicles on the line.

Diesel locomotives

*Number 40 Ford Diesel Electric Bo-Bo locomotive. Operational.
*Numbers 46 & 47. BR Class 03 Diesel Mechanical 204hp 0-6-0 (BR D2023 & D2024)
*Class 08 Diesel. In process of major overhaul.
*Class 25 Diesel, still to be restored.
*Class 33 Diesel, fully restored to BR Green, kept at Rolvenden Depot.
*Number 20 GWR Railcar W20W (undergoing restoration since 1983)
*1950's Class 108 Diesel Mechanical Multiple Unit. Operational.
*Balfour Beatty (ex) TRAMM. (Track Maintenance Machine}
*Plasser Class 07 Ballast tamper

team locomotives

*Number 3 LB&SCR A1X Class 0-6-0T (Terrier) 'Bodiam'. Operational.
*Number 8 LB&SCR A1X Class 0-6-0T (Terrier) 'Knowle'. - Being assembled and overhauled. The large amounts of work done before the overhaul was due mean that this should be a fast track overhaul.
*Number 11 SECR P Class 0-6-0T. In Service
*Number 12 (small 0-4-0T) 'Marcia'. Nearing the end of a major Overhaul.
*Nunber 14 (Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST) 'Charwelton'. Undergoing overhaul.
*Number 19 Norwegian 2-6-0 . Undergoing major overhaul.
*Number 21 SR USA Class DS238 0-6-0T 'Wainwright'. Awaiting overhaul.
*Number 22 SR USA Class 0-6-0T 'Maunsell'.Operational
*Number 23 Standard War Department Austerity 0-6-0ST 'Holman F Stephens'. Operational.
*Number 24 Standard War Department Austerity 0-6-0ST 'Rolvenden'.Taken out of service for overhaul. A full ten yearly is due.
*Number 25 Standard War Department Austerity 0-6-0ST 'Northiam'. Operational.
*Number 30 GWR 1600 Class 0-6-0PT no. 1638. Operational.

Twinning

The Kent & East Sussex Railway is twinned with the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme, a preserved railway in France. K&ESR locomotives have made visits to the CFBS.

References

ee also

* Colonel Stephens Railways

External links

* [http://www.kesr.org.uk/ Kent and East Sussex Railway Co. Ltd. website]
* [http://www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk/ Kent and East Sussex Railway museum website]
* [http://www.rvr.org.uk/ The Robertsbridge based Rother Valley Railway]