The RVR began by reinstating the first few hundred yards of line eastwards from Robertsbridge, and also a short stretch westwards from Bodiam. The K&ESR owned a number of non-rail vehicles, one of which survives today. classicsworld.co.uk, TILT Digital Agency WordPress Designers and Developers in Kent. Great Western Railway 0-6-0 Dean Goods War Department Nos WD195, WD196 and WD197 were used on the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway between 1941 and 1943 when rail mounted rocket guns were stationed at Rolvenden and Wittersham. Still in regular use in the 1930s. Later it was able to achieve charity status, and is led by the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust. Ten open wagons were purchased new from Hurst Nelson. The train was hauled by the ex LSWR Saddletank No 4. Brent Cross West [3] is a railway station under construction on the Thameslink route on the Midland Main Line. Renumbered 3550 in 1912 and again renumbered to 6413 in 1923. Still in regular use in the 1930s. By the 1930s it had lost much of the traffic it had been built to carry. Renumbered 1934 in 1912 and again renumbered 2640 in 1923. The Kent & East Sussex Railway was one of the light railways operated by Colonel H.F. Stephens, the railway engineer. 78 schoolchildren, along with Sir Myles Fenton, Holman F Stephens, and other dignitaries. In 1910 the decision was undertaken to upgrade the rolling stock to more comfortable steam-heated stock and obtain more locomotives. A month passed before 32678 was recovered. In 1957, Drewry diesel locomotive 11220 was successfully trialled on the line, and it and 11223 were the regular locomotives for the final years of operation. Acquired during the Second World War. Indeed in the provision of steam heating it was in advance of many main lines. After many trials and tribulations, the Tenterden Railway Company Limited was incorporated in 1971 as a Company limited by guarantee and in 1973 was successful in purchasing that part of the line between Tenterden and Bodiam. As early as April 1948 it was considered for closure but 'it was generally considered that [closure] would not be a good policy to adopt so soon after the nationalisation of the railways and would bring forth an outcry from the public. But opponents fear it will leave an 'ugly scar' on the landscape, harm wildlife habitats and destroy the area's tranquillity. [2], The third part of the triangle was the line between Tonbridge and Hastings which had opened as far as Tunbridge Wells on 24 November 1846, Robertsbridge on 1 September 1851, Battle on 1 January 1852 and to St Leonards on 1 February 1852, running powers over the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway's line to Hastings having been negotiated. A wind pump was provided at the Headcorn end of the station. Plans for the missing central part of the route are well advanced, despite being hampered by the A21 trunk road crossing the track bed, the need for some very expensive bridge works and the necessity to purchase the route from landowners. Three compartment brake third. In summer 2011 work began at Robertsbridge to extend further eastwards to Northbridge Street, which entailed the rebuilding of five bridges. 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. In a statement this week RVR chairman Gardner Crawley said: Their fears will be addressed as the scheme progresses and it is to be hoped that the economic benefits of the scheme will become apparent. 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. 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. Several bridges need to be rebuilt between Northbridge Street and Junction Road, and three road crossings made, including the A21 Robertsbridge by-pass. Work began on restoration and by April of that year the track was laid. She has put up a poster protesting about proposed railway track extensions through her area, A train on the Kent and East Sussex Railway at Bodiam Station - part of the East Sussex Heritage Line, 'They are just big bullies who want their train set and don't seem to care what they have to do to get it. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. Published: 22:00, 11 May 2018 | Updated: 22:36, 11 May 2018. [11] The whole line was relaid with 60 pounds per yard (29.8kg/m) rails in 1939. are honey nut cheerios high in oxalates. This has now been installed (Spring 2023). The second-hand replacement stock obtained was at the time superior to virtually everything available on most rural branch lines. [9], By 1924, the section from Tenterden to Headcorn was operating at a loss. Speed was to be limited to 15 miles per hour (24km/h), but under the terms of the Act was soon raised to 25 miles per hour (40km/h). Most of the permanent way between Northiam and Bodiam has now been rebuilt to modern standards. Future developments are to include a carriage shed, loco shed and completion of the station building. Hire purchased in 1924 from Edmonds of Thetford. The railway runs between Tenterden Town and Bodiam. The Government must now agree to make an order under the Transport and Works Act for the purchase to go ahead, but that could require a public inquiry. The proposed Order is applied for by Rother Valley Railway Limited (RVR), working in partnership with the Kent and East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) which operates an existing heritage railway between Tenterden and Bodiam. It would wreck part of our farm, chopping fields into narrow pieces that we can't farm properly. With the increase in price for scrap metal during the war, most of the line's surplus stock was scrapped. Extensions followed, notably to Wittersham Road in 1977 and Northiam in 1990; then to Bodiam in 2000, and an extra one mile (1.6km) extension to the site of Junction Road halt in 2011. The comments below have not been moderated. Rother District Council granted planning permission last year. The use of compulsory purchase orders on farmland needed for the new track has even been branded The Great Robertsbridge Train Robbery by campaigners. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge. He entered into negotiations with the Southern Railway aimed at disposing of worn out stock and obtaining serviceable replacements. The plan is that K&ESR will operate this extended railway once completed, as its constitution provides. 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. Purchased secondhand in 1906. Powers were obtained in 1882 to extend the line to Hawkhurst. Purchased new in 1904, seated 32. Traffic began a further decrease in the wake of the disastrous ASLEF strike of June 1955, and, after 17th October, only the morning service continued. Only the section from the original Tenterden terminus to Tenterden Town was actually built of all these schemes.[6]. The railway was reconnected to the Network Rail (NR) mainline in December 2016 to permit stock transfers, and use of the RVR by NR plant for training and other purposes; and the newly installed turntable can also be accessed. The renamed Kent &. Double-heading was prohibited between Rolvenden and Robertsbridge.[13]. RECONSTRUCTING THE KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY FROM ROBERTSBRIDGE TO BODIAM The RVR Robertsbridge Junction Station site is OPEN Sundays from 10.00 to 16.00 You can get to us at Robertsbridge by main line railway. There was occasional passenger traffic in the form of railtours. The final working was the 7.55 am working from Robertsbridge on Saturday 10th June 1961 followed the next day by a rail tour. In 1958, Hastings Diesel Electric Multiple Unit number 1002 underwent load tests between Bodiam and Northiam the only time one of these units visited the line prior to the preservation era. Sold for scrap on 25 May 1944. Although the Rother Valley Railway and the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway originally ran separate passenger and freight trains, by the 1920s mixed trains were the norm. When complete the line will be operated by KESR using its staff, rolling stock, and procedures. Railway experience days are also offered. These changes reduced the line's profitability dramatically. 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. Tenterden Town station is the main headquarters for the heritage railway, where a book and gift shop can be found, selling Thomas the Tank Engine gifts, the carriage and wagon department and a cafe that was once the Maidstone & District Motor Services bus station building from Maidstone, Kent. Could be used on either passenger or freight trains. In the late 1990s, the company was almost bankrupted but avoided administration due to an error in the bank's loan agreement. Delivered to Rolvenden and used on the line before delivery to the East Kent Light Railway. On 16 March 2017, Rother District Council granted planning permission for the reinstatement of the line between Northbridge Street and Junction Road. [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. As the Great War came to an end the Government decreed that the railways be re-organised into large private companies generally known as 'The Grouping'. To British Railways on nationalisation and remained in service on the line. There are some problems of subsidence outside Rolvenden, which often requires speed restrictions to avoid further damage to the line's foundations. All ticket stock was withdrawn and new tickets were printed, and the staffing of stations was increased. The passenger railway finally came to an end on Saturday 2nd January 1954. The Rother Valley Railway (RVR) is a heritage railway project based at Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. While the RVR does not yet feature regular passenger trains, the base at Robertsbridge houses a small shop and visitor centre open to the public each Sunday, utilising a building formerly used as the London terminus of the Orient Express. Scrapped in 1948. 1426 was loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway in 1943. 32655 was replaced by O1 31065 and 32678 banked the train to St Michael's. An 1877-built six-wheel hand-operated crane and match truck were purchased c1919. December 2016 saw the reconnection of the RVR to the Network Rail system some 50 years after closure. A pair of railcars, purchased in 1930. Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! A familiar and friendly face on our platforms, volunteer Geoff has reached the finals of this prestigious Visit England award but only your votes can help him win. Mixed trains continued to run, but were now provided with a brake van. Mr Crawley added: "We are happy to carry out these additional studies and look forward to reassuring these consultees that it will be possible to reinstate the full length of the railway between Tenterden and Robertsbridge, with all the benefits that would bring, without any unduly adverse effects.". Scrapped in 1948. 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 . Stationmaster Geoff is Tourism Superstar Award 2023 finalist! It aims to restore track and services east from the main line railway station to Bodiam. Kent & East Sussex Railway, Tenterden: See 1,192 reviews, articles, and 784 photos of Kent & East Sussex Railway, ranked No.3 on Tripadvisor among 21 attractions in Tenterden. Fitted with flanged wheels and tested on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The RVR also owns a steam locomotive, Charwelton, which works on the K&ESR but is currently under overhaul at Rolvenden. They are trying to prevent a heritage railway line being extended by two miles from Bodiam to Robertsbridge amid accusations of bullying and environmental vandalism. Supplied new in 1901 for the opening of the line. Southern Railway No. The remaining landowners have additionally expressed concern and RVR fully appreciates that a railway crossing their farms represents some disruption. A small collection of rolling stock is stored at Robertsbridge, with several items undergoing active restoration. The Kent & East Sussex Railway was one of the light railways operated by Colonel H.F. Stephens, the railway engineer. [5], The South Eastern Railway abandoned its plans to build the Cranbrook to Appledore line; the scheme was adopted by the Rother Valley Railway. Since 1991, the Rother Valley Railway has been acquiring parts of the trackbed as and when possible. The RVR agreed to build and operate a line to Headcorn, in return for a financial guarantee to make up any losses. In the hop-picking season, special trains were run to bring the hop-pickers down from London. 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. 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? The South Eastern Railway opened its line from Ashford to Hastings on 13 February 1851. The remaining passenger traffic continued to drop and, most importantly, the profitable general merchandise traffic followed. Posted by Chris Graham on 20th November 2021, The Rother Valley Railways awaiting trains from Tenterden. 1556 was loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway from 1938 to 1938, No. Passenger traffic and the operation of the Headcorn extension ceased in 1953 and the railway closed completely in 1961. The Rother Valley Railway's awaiting trains from Tenterden. 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. We will be applying for final permission now from the Department of Transport which will require an Act of Parliament. Headcorn was remodelled by the Southern Railway in 1930 to provide two through roads and the junction was then moved to the Tonbridge side of the station. Serving a deeply rural area it was initially profitable but suffered severe road competition from the early 1920s. shop.kelsey.co.uk . On 1 January 1948, the line became part of Southern Region of British Railways on nationalisation. Horse-drawn van and two drays. Supporters include Network Rail and the National Trust, which will gain a rail link to the 14th century moated Bodiam Castle. "These are to better understand what effect a level crossing, which would only operate during off-peak hours, would have on the A21.". Tickets for other lines under Colonel Stephens's control were also printed here.[13]. Many representations for and against the scheme were submitted, and in June the Secretary of State for Transport announced that a public local inquiry would be held. A proposal to double the line wasn't carried out, but the track was again relaid to a higher standard, using rails salvaged from the Elham Valley Railway. 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. 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. K&ESR locomotives have made visits to the CFBS. Rother Valley Railway chairman Gardner Crawley said the railway had requested that the hearing be delayed so it could gather more information on its impact on traffic. A previous attempt by rail preservationists to take over the missing Bodiam to Robertsbridge section was quashed in 1973. Sold in 1909 to the Woolmer Instructional Military Railway, where it lasted until 1940. 962, a 42 feet (12.80m) long seven compartment third. BBC's 1million star Zoe Ball, 52, lands big new payday for Abba show on ITV. 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 Light Railways Act 1896 allowed for cheaper construction methods in return for a speed restriction. The railway has suffered from the legacy of Colonel Stephens's cheap and poor construction of the permanent way; thus the preserved railway has sought to update permanent way features, for instance by renewing culverts and embankments. However preservation as a Heritage Railway beckoned. The final passenger train over the line before closure was a Locomotive Club of Great Britain railtour on 11 June 1961. [7], On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the K&ESR came under government control, as did most railways at the time. By the 1950s passengers were no longer carried on the line and . A wind pump was provided just outside Headcorn Junction to supply water for the locomotives. Purchased new in 1904, seated 46. The line today is a tourist attraction in the South East of England. One probably carried a number between 11 and 14. [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. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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. Southern Railway No. Tenterden had yearned for a railway connection for many years but finally received a connection in 1900.The origins of the line seem, in fact, to lie elsewhere than Tenterden. The order of scrapping of the locomotives was 7, 5, 6 (steam railcar), 1, 9, 2 and 8.[7]. Rother Valley Railway (RVR) says it is delighted that its application for restoration of the Northbridge Street to Junction Road section of the Robertsbridge to Bodiam Reconnection Project has been approved by Rother District Council (RDC). Planning permission to reinstate the final section eastwards from Northbridge Street to Junction Road was granted in 2017. London transport portal. The railway runs between Tenterden Town and Bodiam . Only the section from Tovil to Tovil Goods was ever built. 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. Bad floods probably delayed the opening of the line, which finally opened to goods traffic on 26th March and to passengers on 2nd April. In 1906, the K&ESR purchased a Great Western Railway. Supporters include Tom Lewis, the owner of Morghew Park Estate in Smallhythe Road, who described the heritage K&ESR line that already crosses his land as "a responsible and co-operative neighbour". The project is to replace the missing link between Robertsbridge, a station on the Tonbridge to Hastings mainline, and Bodiam on the Kent and East Sussex Railway, a heritage railway which operates from Bodiam to Tenterden. By June 2012, this further extension was also completed. Not so shipshape! 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. The railway emphasises the Colonel Stephens connection as a major factor of its utilitarian heritage. A separate railway preservation effort, the Rother Valley Railway, is restoring track at the western end between Robertsbridge Junction and Bodiam. This was the quintessential Stephens' light railway and was always the heart of his empire. Planning permission was secured for its scheme at Robertsbridge, and the whole route is safeguarded in the Council's local plan. [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. The route from Tenterden to Bodiam is 10.5 miles. The South Eastern and Chatham Railway agreed to make up any operating losses in exchange for an option to purchase the line at any time within the next 21 years from the date of opening. The original Tenterden station, later renamed Rolvenden was some 2 miles (3.2km) from the town. Scrapped in 1948. 1555 was loaned in 1947. The battle was however lost; in 1913 105,000 passengers were carried; by 1919 the figure had dropped to 85,000; and to 68,000 in 1922. The Tenterden Railway Company is now known as The Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR), as of January 2004. The ultimate guide to watching the Royal Wedding in Windsor: Ukraine soldiers shoot down enemy drones with drones of their own, Mark Gordon arrives at Crawley Police Station after remains found, Pavement where disabled woman gestured at cyclist before fatal crash, Pro-Ukrainian drone lands on Russian spy planes exposing location, 'Buster is next!' [12], Upon nationalisation, one of the surviving two locomotives and all but the newest rolling stock were scrapped. Horse Bus - built in 1902 by W J Mercer, Tenterden Carriage Works. 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. . The railway also appears in the 1940 book Ember Lane by Sheila Kaye-Smith, where it is titled the Sussex Border Railway. 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. Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5DG telephone: 01580 881833 RVR e-mail: . June 30, 2022 . The results of the delayed public inquiry (due to Covid-19) to extend the Rother Valley Railways route from between the national railway system at Robertsbridge, East Sussex, to the Kent & East Sussex Railways station at Bodiam on the original trackbed, is not now expected until 2022. RVR, which would pay 10 per cent above the market value of the land, is already building a heritage railway station opposite Robertsbridge mainline station and track has been laid for about half a mile towards the two farms. By Victorian standards construction progress was slow. 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 preserved railway has had a tempestuous history, with two financial crises and disputes between the volunteer group and their elected board of trustees. Rail mounted guns were stationed at Rolvenden and Wittersham. Purchased secondhand in 1909. Formerly a model of its kind the K&ESR was now perceived as a run-down decrepit railway of the greatest charm. 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. Purchased secondhand in 1909. [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. There has been some resistance from two landowners with regard to the proposed reinstatement, while the third missing section of route adjoining Junction Road has now been acquired by RVR Ltd and made ready for tracklaying. / 51.5687; -0.2269. The Kent & East Sussex Railway are proud to be the home for two of these historic locomotives; Bodiam, was . Two freight trains a day continued to run, with hop-pickers' specials operating until 1958. The K&ESR acquired a horse-drawn van and two drays in 1916. The K&ESR settled into a period of greater quietude, useful primarily to the farmers and small tradesmen in the locality, as well as those travellers who were not on a bus route. Built by the London and South Western Railway. The Rother Valley Railway (RVR) is a heritage railway project based at Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. "An extension to the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway from Bodiam to Robertsbridge, along the route identified on the Proposals Map, will be supported, subject to a proposal meeting the following criteria: (i) it must not compromise the integrity of the floodplain and the flood protection measures at Robertsbridge; The K&ESR was the very . 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. They're spending a lot of money at the Robertsbridge end, renewing bridges, building a station and other buildings. The decision was taken to shut down the passenger service and retain the goods service on the old Rother Valley section only. . (then known as the Rother Valley Railway) was opened in 1900 from Robertsbridge on the S.E.R. 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. 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. The decision follows requests from Highways England and the Office of Road and Rail for additional traffic impact studies to be carried out into the effects of installing a crossing on the A21, at Northbridge Street, East Sussex, which would be needed to build the extension. The railway runs between Tenterden Town and Bodiam. June 14, 2022; indigo child symbol Coordinates: 513407N 01337W / . 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. Last edited on 21 February 2023, at 15:49, Learn how and when to remove this template message, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rother_Valley_Railway&oldid=1140748000, From 1988 until the early 1990s, another "Rother Valley Railway" had a brief existence on the site of, This page was last edited on 21 February 2023, at 15:49.
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