Steam locomotives - Kent & East Sussex Railway There will be an end-on link with the Kent and East Sussex at Bodiam enabling through running. It's GRAYGATE! One such train in 1936 is recorded as having consisted of four Southern Railway bogie carriages, two K&ESR six-wheeled carriages and a van. The latter section was lifted and became abandoned in the mid 1970s. Kent & East Sussex Railway (Tenterden) - All You Need to - Tripadvisor Only the section from Tovil to Tovil Goods was ever built. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge Scrapped in 1948. Rother Valley Railway's extension news | Heritage Machines Converted c1909 to a five compartment brake third. In 1990, the railway had to remove 200 metres of embankment damaged by badgers. Body later used as a shed on a farm, where it survived until 1964. At Robertsbridge, a separate railway preservation effort was set up by the Rother Valley Railway in 1990. The Great Robertsbridge Train Robbery: Families accuse railway line stealing their farm land for a 7million extension project using a compulsory purchase order allowing companies to buy. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. The diminutive tank locomotives were designed to haul commuter trains on the already heavily congested lines in South and South-East London. It supplied a water tower located at the Robertsbridge end of the station. Preservationists fought hard to secure this unique line . Controversially the railway extension requires the compulsory purchase of land at two East Sussex farms - Parsonage Farm at Robertsbridge owned by the Hoads and Moat Farm near Salehurst. Only the section from the original Tenterden terminus to Tenterden Town was actually built of all these schemes.[6]. Future developments are to include a carriage shed, loco shed and completion of the station building. Their extension by West_Stanley Fri Nov 23, 2012 4:20 am They're extending to their original terminus at Robertsbridge, about 4 miles away from their current one at Bodium. A proposal was promoted in 1900 to build a line from Robertsbridge to Pevensey, which was to be worked by the Rother Valley Railway. There is also a small collection of historic railway vehicles in various stages of preservation. Purchased secondhand in 1932. 2021530 . The original Tenterden station, later renamed Rolvenden was some 2 miles (3.2km) from the town. The Rother Valley section would always show a favourable margin, however small, but losses on the Headcorn extension climbed to catastrophic levels which, even with the mainline subsidy, could not be sustained. Afternoon Tea, Lunch and Evening Dining trains, Treat mum to something special this Mothers Day. Heady ideas of commanding enough finance to build lines to Rye, Cranbrook and Pevensey, all authorised over 1898-1900, together with Maidstone in 1905-06, faded. In 1904, the Rother Valley Railway changed its name to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway. Delivered to Rolvenden and used on the line before delivery to the East Kent Light Railway. In May 1983, Manning Wardle 'Charwelton' was derailed between Wittersham Road and Rolvenden causing damage to approximately 100 yards of track and to the locomotive's axle boxes. The Tenterden Railway Company is now known as The Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR), as of January 2004. 1555 was loaned in 1947. The extension to Headcorn had been built with heavier rails than the Robertsbridge - Rolvenden section, and thus had a higher axle loading allowing the use of heavier locomotives. [2] A public inquiry took place in the summer of 2021, and the Secretary of State's decision on the order is expected to be given when the inquiry report has been submitted. Southern Railway No 3334 loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway in 1938 when No 4 was sent to. In 2010, the latter section was further extended to reach Junction Road. The Inquiry has now closed and the Inspector is writing up his . kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge There is no surviving railway track on either farm. The line today is a tourist attraction in the South East of England. 1556. Completion of the railway line between Bodiam and Robertsbridge Junction Station adjacent to the mainline railway will enable visitors to use the country's public transport system to access the Kent & East Sussex Railway and the attractions it serves. Attention then focussed on extending from Robertsbridge to Northbridge Street, and this was followed by work to recast the Robertsbridge section in readiness for the planned eventual join-up with K&ESR's track, once the necessary permissions have been obtained and construction completed. . This was the quintessential Stephens' light railway and was always the heart of his empire. In 1904 (officially on 1st June), the new title Kent and East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) was adopted, The railway had been an operational and commercial success, but it was probably fortunate that much of the wider network was not built. In 1910 the decision was undertaken to upgrade the rolling stock to more comfortable steam-heated stock and obtain more locomotives. In 2010 a further 150yds of track bed was obtained and track was laid to the site of Junction Road Halt adjacent to the B2244 (formerly the A229). The railway was authorised by its own Act of Parliament in 1896, but with the passing later that year of the Light Railways Act, the directors obtained permission to bring the RVR under that Act for construction and operating purposes. A wind pump was provided at the Headcorn end of the station. Two freight trains a day continued to run, with hop-pickers' specials operating until 1958. Some of the original ten wagons were hired to the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway between 1927 and 1929. This houses a number of exhibits including as a wax dummy of the colonel, telling the story of the man himself and of his railways. This has now been installed (Spring 2023). However, in 2011 this plan was dropped in favour of moving directly to a final layout suitable to handle the eventual traffic to and from Tenterden, with no interim railway operations. 32655 was replaced by O1 31065 and 32678 banked the train to St Michael's. In 1904, the Headcorn and Maidstone Junction Light Railway was authorised. RVR has met with the three landowners and will continue to engage with them with a view to acquiring the original track bed by agreement.. The carriages were required for use in the filming of The Loves of Joanna Godden. Despite legally authorised extensions over much of the Kent Weald to Maidstone, Rye and Cranbrook, lack of capital meant that only an extension to Headcorn was to be built and opened in 1905. At the beginning of 2009 about 750 yards (690m) of former track bed was purchased from just west of Bodiam station to within 150 yards (140m) yards of the site of Junction Road Halt. By June 2012, this further extension was also completed. The Southern Railway were liable to make up any operating losses, as the successor to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway under the terms of the Act of Parliament for the construction of that section of line. Cruise-goers reveal their most terrifying incidents at sea - from watching a ferocious 'You'll be missed forever': Elizabeth Hurley and son Damian share heartfelt tribute to her late ex Shane 'I was a bit of a mess': Amanda Abbington reveals she considered suicide after split from ex Martin Freeman Matt Hancock discussed 'deploying' new virus variant to 'frighten the pants off everyone' as former Health 'So many dead. Brighton works between 1872 and 1880. Built by the London and South Western Railway Ex Southern Railway No. Top March : 021 625 77 80 | Au Petit March : 021 601 12 96 | info@tpmshop.ch The preserved railway has had a tempestuous history, with two financial crises and disputes between the volunteer group and their elected board of trustees. Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5DG telephone: 01580 881833 RVR e-mail: . The locomotive works is located at Rolvenden station and has a viewing platform overlooking the works yard and a selection of former inter-modal shipping containers used for equipment storage. Ten years later it might be a very different story but before the Great War the K&ESR was seen as a progressive, and indeed model, light railway that served its community with distinction. Acquired in 1936. The Southern Railway refused permission for some of the K&ESR carriages to be taken to Lydd in 1947 citing safety reasons. DS377, 32636, 32640, 32641, 32644, 32655, 32659, 32662, 32670 and 32678. The first official train ran on the weekend of 19/20 March 2011. A gala weekend in 2013 saw a steam passenger train operating at Robertsbridge for the first time since the early 1960s, running up to Northbridge Street. The Kent & East Sussex Railway are proud to be the home for two of these historic locomotives; Bodiam, was . Correspondence with the Southern Railway in 1930 led to Sir Herbert Walker stating that there was no chance of the line making a profit, and that even if passenger services were withdrawn, it was doubtful whether the receipts from freight traffic would cover operating expenses. The railway was further extended to a junction with the SECR at Headcorn, opening on the 15 May 1905. The Tenterden to Robertsbridge section survived until 1961 for freight. Bodies used to create bogie carriages in 1906. The plan is that K&ESR will operate this extended railway once completed, as its constitution provides. 2714. Work is currently underway to widen the embankment adjacent to the turntable to provide a site for the planned loco shed. [10], In 1931, Colonel Stephens died, and the management of the K&ESR came under the control of William Henry Austen, who had been assistant and life-partner to Stephens for a number of years. In 2018, the RVR applied for a Transport and Works Act order which, if approved, would give the statutory powers to complete the reinstatement of the line and operate it. The Rother Valley Railway (RVR) is a heritage railway project based at Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! By 2013, much of the new Robertsbridge layout was in place including new track and most of a new full-length station platform. Prince Harry interview RECAP: Duke of Sussex fans say his Q&A with Gabor Mate 'should have been longer' Do not sell or share my personal information. Most of the permanent way between Northiam and Bodiam has now been rebuilt to modern standards. Formerly a model of its kind the K&ESR was now perceived as a run-down decrepit railway of the greatest charm. [7], On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the K&ESR came under government control, as did most railways at the time. Designed to serve rural villages, the railway opened in 1900 and originally ran between Robertsbridge and Tenterden. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge. Stationmaster Geoff is Tourism Superstar Award 2023 finalist! In 2012 a plan to reconnect the RVR to the national railway network once more was announced, and this connection opened in 2016. It partially reopened as a heritage railway where the public can enjoy journeys at 25mph on old steam locos and diesel trains 13 years later, running for ten and a half miles from Bodiam to Tenterden. ', End of the line:Those behind the current bid by the Rother Valley Railway, or RVR, argue it will attract an extra 50,000 visitors annually and add 4.1million a year to the local economy. Subscribe to Old Glory magazine today and receive your first 3 issues for just 5! December 2016 saw the reconnection of the RVR to the Network Rail system some 50 years after closure. Emma Ainslie, 45, and her husband Alexander, 45, who own Moat Farm in Robertsbridge in East Sussex, Rother District Council granted planning permission last year but, crucially, the two families whose farms would be crossed by the line do not want to sell their land to RVR. Built in 1848 by the London and South Western railway for. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. [8] The original junction at Headcorn was on the Ashford side of the station. The total cost of the entire project is expected to be somewhere between 6 and 7m. In April 2021, Rother District Council granted planning permission for the installation of the turntable at the Robertsbridge site, a few hundred yards north of the platform and next to the planned loco shed. Making tourism here more accessible to people who don't have cars is very important. Er zijn genoeg bezienswaardigheden om te bezoeken rond Salehurst and Robertsbridge. Seleziona un'opzione qui sotto per avere indicazioni dettagliate e confrontare i prezzi del biglietto e i tempi di viaggio nel pianificatore di viaggio di Rome2rio. Number 107 in the K&ESR stocklist. The railway went into by receivership in 1932. The work will be financed by private benefactors and RVR says independent studies have shown that the reinstatement of RVR will bring economic benefits in excess of 2m per year to the area. Could be used on either passenger or freight trains. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge The heritage railway runs from Tenterden Town station through the Rother Valley to Bodiam. Credit: Richard Crease/Alamy Live News. The South Eastern and Chatham Railway, seeking to relieve themselves from building the Tenterden Railway, entered into an agreement with the Rother Valley Railway for the latter to build and operate the line from Tenterden to Headcorn. But opponents fear it will leave an 'ugly scar' on the landscape, harm wildlife habitats and destroy the area's tranquillity. Four compartments. REVEALED: Huge sonic boom felt by thousands across the country was caused by RAF Typhoon jets scrambling to DR ELLIE CANNON: My breast has not got lumps but it's itchy, should I be concerned about cancer at age 72? [5], The South Eastern Railway abandoned its plans to build the Cranbrook to Appledore line; the scheme was adopted by the Rother Valley Railway. At both ends of our railway you have so many places to choose from to eat, drink and keep everyone entertained to create a memorable day out whether you are 3 or 93! At Tenterden visitors can explore the Colonel Stephens Museum, and at the other end of the line admire the castle ruins at Bodiam. Assent was granted to construct the line under the Act. [7], When World War II broke out in 1939, the K&ESR again came under government control, being placed under the Railway Operating Division of the Royal Engineers. Rother valley railway hi-res stock photography and images - Alamy What's for dinner? Authorisation was received in December 1899 to build the Cranbrook and Tenterden Light Railway from Cranbrook via Benenden to the Tenterden terminus of the Rother Valley Railway, and to extend further into the town of Tenterden itself. Ex LSWR No 0127. Mrs Ainslie said: 'It is purely the whim of an organisation of train enthusiasts who feel they have the right to take something for their own gratification. Around 15 light railways were built, the Kent & East Sussex Railway being one of the most famous. What's for dinner? There was occasional passenger traffic in the form of railtours. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling has made the decision to delay the public inquiry into reinstating a two-mile section of line that would join the heritage Kent & East Sussex Railway to the mainline at Robertsbridge junction in East Sussex. Kent & East Sussex Railway - Kent & East Sussex Railway On 16th March, 1903 the existing Tenterden station was renamed Rolvenden and the line extended 1 miles to a new terminus at Tenterden Town. 1426 was loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway in 1943. A mile of new track has already been laid to the west of Bodiam station, to the site of the former Junction Road Halt. The railway runs between Tenterden Town and Bodiam. Limited efforts to improve and integrate the K&ESR into the national system soon come to an end and the writing was on the wall for closure. The remaining passenger traffic continued to drop and, most importantly, the profitable general merchandise traffic followed. Not so shipshape! [36] The Kent & East Sussex Railway is the subject of the poem Farmer's Train[37] by Hugh Bevan,[38] illustrated by Rowland Emett,[36] and published in Punch issue dated 3 June 1946. An extension of the Rother Valley Railway, as it was then called, to Tenterden opened in 1903. He entered into negotiations with the Southern Railway aimed at disposing of worn out stock and obtaining serviceable replacements. We will be applying for final permission now from the Department of Transport which will require an Act of Parliament. The final working was the 7.55 am working from Robertsbridge on Saturday 10th June 1961 followed the next day by a rail tour. Scrapped in the 1930s. In the late 1990s, the company was almost bankrupted but avoided administration due to an error in the bank's loan agreement. The Rother Valley Railway was a standard gauge line from a junction at Robertsbridge in East Sussex, on the SE&CR's Tonbridge-Hastings line, to Tenterden, 12 miles away in Kent. This line would have run from Headcorn via Sutton Valence to Tovil, where running powers over part of the Medway Valley Line would have allowed access to Maidstone. The line was an alternative supply route to the south coast, and relieved some of the pressure on Ashford. Kent and East Sussex Railway | The Parody Wiki | Fandom At the Eastern end RVR has rebuilt this section of the railway from Bodiam to Junction Road so KESR was able to start running passenger trains in 2011. RVR spokesman Mark Yonge said: This is a real red letter day and we are extremely pleased permission has now been granted. However preservation as a Heritage Railway beckoned. We are continuing to try to protect this for future generations. It aims to restore track and services east from the main line railway station to Bodiam. One embankment is still visible but is covered by mature oak and other trees. Sold in 1909 to the. Those behind the current bid by the Rother Valley Railway, or RVR, argue it will attract an extra 50,000 visitors annually and add 4.1million a year to the local economy. May have carried No. Supplied new in 1901 for the opening of the line. Ten open wagons were purchased new from Hurst Nelson. Brent Cross West [3] is a railway station under construction on the Thameslink route on the Midland Main Line. Serving a deeply rural area it was initially profitable but suffered severe road competition from the early 1920s. In 1864, a proposed railway from Paddock Wood via Cranbrook and Tenterden to Hythe (the Weald of Kent Railway) also failed to obtain its Act of Parliament. The name of the railway was changed in 1904 to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway. With some additional help from the mainline railways in the form of deferred debts, it continued. Operated under contract by William Hook & Son until the firm ceased trading in 1916. Two landowners remain resistant to selling the necessary agricultural land for railway development, and the plans for a level crossing on the A21 in particular has caused local controversy. The proposal to build this road was the major reason preventing the acquisition from British Railways of this section of the railway by the Tenterden Railway Company in the 1960s, and the railway land was subsequently sold off to local farmers. The K&ESR's own stock was generally confined to that system. Situated at Tenterden is the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum. The planning approval is for the central two mile section of the railway to be restored, which has been granted despite concerns from some about level crossings and excessive parking in Robertsbridge. As with most heritage railways, the line has a number of paid employees to secure its continued operation and stages a variety of special events days to boost income. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). [14] This final section of the line closed on 1 January 1970. [16], Between 1928 and 1933, a through coach was added to the 5:15 pm from Cannon Street to Hastings, which was detached at Robertsbridge and worked on to Tenterden. From 2009 to 2010 the RVR with help from K&ESR and volunteers were able to complete the 1 mile (1.6km) extension westwards from near Bodiam station, through Quarry Farm, to the B2244 (Junction Road). The option was not exercised. Horse Bus - built in 1902 by W J Mercer, Tenterden Carriage Works. Tenterden railway extension is on the right tracks for the Kent and Purchased secondhand in 1906. There are some problems of subsidence outside Rolvenden, which often requires speed restrictions to avoid further damage to the line's foundations. [3], The Tenterden Railway was the next to be proposed, running from Maidstone to Hastings via Headcorn, Tenterden, and Appledore. The vote is open until 20 March so please give him your support: Welcome to the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Purchased secondhand in 1909. Only in the brief hop-picking season did the bustle return as the hop-pickers and their friends arrived from London for their annual invasion. Purchased secondhand in 1932. Built as a first class carriage. About Robertsbridge Ex Southern Railway No. 962, a 42 feet (12.80m) long seven compartment third. Three level crossings would be needed, including one on the busy A21 London to Hastings road. Once that is achieved money is in place to start the work and if everything progresses to plan the entire 14-mile route from Tenterden to Robertsbridge could be up and running in two years time. Negotiations continue with two remaining landowners to secure the remainder of the route. The route from Tenterden to Bodiam is 10.5 miles. That was not accompanied by an increase in passengers, and regular passenger services ceased. 2655 was loaned from 1939 to 1945, 2678 was loaned in 1940. [38], The grand cavalcade at Tenterden Town Station during a Steam Gala on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, For details and history of rolling stock on the line since preservation, see, Headcorn and Maidstone Junction Light Railway, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Rolling stock of the Kent & East Sussex Railway (heritage), https://www.sussexexpress.co.uk/news/politics/application-seeks-phased-development-of-rother-valley-railway-3434807, "Miniature Locomotives and Large Exhibits", Kent and East Sussex Railway Co. Ltd. website, Video on Joost: Golden Age of Steam (episode 5) focussing on the heritage railway, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kent_and_East_Sussex_Railway&oldid=1137062740, London, Brighton and South Coast Railway (LBSC), Purchased new in 1905. Kent & East Sussex Railway extension public inquiry delay June 14, 2022; indigo child symbol Sold in 1909 to the Woolmer Instructional Military Railway, where it lasted until 1940. . Purchased secondhand in 1906. These changes reduced the line's profitability dramatically. In March 1903 the old (Tenterden) terminus was renamed Rolvenden and the railway was extended 1.5 miles to the present Tenterden Town station. In that year, the first of the locomotives hired from the Southern Railway arrived on the line, this was P Class No. It opened in 1900 and was extended to TenterdenTown station in 1903 (the original terminus was renamed Rolvenden), and through to a junction at Headcorn on the SE&CR . The railway has cited improved public transport links from passengers on the main-line Charing Cross to Hastings route to access the heritage route to Tenterden, currently the largest town in Kent without a railway connected to the main line. [12], Upon nationalisation, one of the surviving two locomotives and all but the newest rolling stock were scrapped. A pair of railcars, purchased in 1930. The use of compulsory purchase orders on farmland needed for the new track has even been branded The Great Robertsbridge Train Robbery by campaigners. London transport portal. Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group, Charles 'will NEVER build real relationship with Archie and Lili unless Harry and Meghan get new royal home': Sussexes 'to get Andrew's Buckingham Palace apartment' after Frogmore eviction made it 'incredibly complicated for family to visit again', 'Petrified' autistic boy, 14, at centre of 'scuffed Quran' row is forced to flee his home by arson threat - as scandal that speaks volumes about modern British policing continues to cause uproar, When will the Beast from the East be at YOUR door? But in one idyllic corner of East Sussex, that prospect has got the locals, well, rather steamed up. All ticket stock was withdrawn and new tickets were printed, and the staffing of stations was increased. On 16 March 2017, Rother District Council granted planning permission for the reinstatement of the line between Northbridge Street and Junction Road. Purchased secondhand by 1906. For some, there is no finer sight than a locomotive in full steam chugging majestically through the glorious English countryside. 10th May 2021. Themed events are run through the year. The Rother Valley Railway's public enquiry result about the planned route extension to Bodiam, in East Sussex, has been delayed yet again! The final passenger train over the line before closure was a Locomotive Club of Great Britain railtour on 11 June 1961. The second-hand replacement stock obtained was at the time superior to virtually everything available on most rural branch lines. are honey nut cheerios high in oxalates. To compete for passengers Stephens then brought in some railmoters to supplement the existing somewhat minimalist steam services established during the Great War. Bad floods probably delayed the opening of the line, which finally opened to goods traffic on 26th March and to passengers on 2nd April. Body scrapped in 1976. THE KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY - transportsofdelight This is approximately a .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}2+12 miles (4.0km) long section. The Kent & East Sussex Railway was one of the light railways operated by Colonel H.F. Stephens, the railway engineer. A scuffed copy of the Koran. By the 1930s it had lost much of the traffic it had been built to carry. Liaison continues with the relevant authorities. Rail mounted guns were stationed at Rolvenden and Wittersham. The line was opened for freight between Robertsbridge and Rolvenden on 26 March 1900, and to passenger traffic on 2 April 1900. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge Built by the London and South Western Railway. For a money-saving subscription to Old Glory magazine, simply click here, Kelsey Media Ltd, The Granary, Downs Court, Yalding Hil, Yalding, Kent, ME18 6AL www.kelsey.co.uk . Although these were light and economical to run, they did not provide much in the way of passenger comfort. Built by London and South Western Railway. Construction work commenced in 1898 but there were delays with contractors' bankruptcy and it was not until 9th January 1900 that the line was reported complete. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge Planning permission to reinstate the final section eastwards from Northbridge Street to Junction Road was granted in 2017. Built by the London and South Western Railway in 1892 as a 45 feet (13.72m)} tri-composite numbered 486. converted in 1909 to a brake composite. Nos. By the 1950s passengers were no longer carried on the line and . However, due 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. In the 1924 book A Parcel of Kent by F J Harvey Darton, the railway described is clearly based on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. In addition are a number of other wagons and carriages undergoing or awaiting restoration. The Rother Valley Railway's awaiting trains from Tenterden. This was abandoned in 1899 as it was deemed too expensive to construct, and the South Eastern Railway again backed the Tenterden Railway, but no work was done and powers to construct the line lapsed in 1901.[4]. Then operated by the K&ESR until withdrawn in 1924 and stored. Plans for a heritage railway extension that would see Tenterden connected to the mainline have come to a temporary halt.