Preservation Kent and East Sussex Railway

1 preservation

1.1 preservation history
1.2 line today
1.3 colonel stephens railway museum
1.4 rother valley railway

preservation

preservation history

tenterden town station



tenterden town signal box

preservation activities began immediately. due difficulties in obtaining necessary light railway (transfer) order, 1974 before line partially reopened heritage steam railway between tenterden , rolvenden. extensions followed, notably wittersham road in 1977 , northiam in 1990; bodiam in 2000, , 1 mile (1.6 km) extension site of junction road halt in 2011.

the preserved railway has had tempestuous history, 2 financial crises , major disputes between volunteer group , elected board of directors/trustees. in late 1990s, company bankrupted avoided administration due error in bank s loan agreement. financial position has since improved.

recently railway has increasingly had rely on paid employees secure continued operation, , heritage railways, has relied on special events days boost income.

the railway has suffered legacy of colonel stephens cheap , poor construction of permanent way; preserved railway has sought update permanent way features, e.g. renewal of culverts , embankments.

in 1990, railway had remove 200 metres of embankment damaged badgers. there problems of subsidence outside rolvenden, requires speed restrictions avoid further damage line s foundations. of permanent way between northiam , bodiam has been rebuilt modern standards.

the line today

british railways class a1x no. 32678 , train @ tenterden town



volunteer staffers on kent , east sussex railway, @ rolvenden station near tenterden, october 2005

the line today tourist attraction in south east of england. offers 11 ⁄2 miles (18.5 km)) ride through rother valley in vintage , british railways coaches hauled steam locomotive, although off peak services operated diesel multiple unit.

the preserved line runs (a total distance of 11 ⁄2 miles (18.5 km)) tenterden town station bodiam (within sight of national trust s bodiam castle), 1 mile (1.6 km) of track junction road station site (though there no plans re-open alighting).

tenterden town station main headquarters heritage railway, book , gift shop can found – selling thomas tank engine gifts, carriage , wagon department , cafe once maidstone & district motor services bus station building maidstone, kent. railway emphasises colonel stephens connection major factor of utilitarian heritage. locomotive works located @ rolvenden station , has viewing platform overlooking works yard , selection of former inter-modal shipping containers used equipment storage. themed events run through year. connected local history , railway whilst, on other heritage lines, thomas tank engine , santa specials provide commercial underpinning company s activities. railway experience days offered.

colonel stephens railway museum

situated @ tenterden colonel stephens railway museum. houses number of exhibits including wax dummy of colonel, telling story of man himself , of railways. popular exhibit amongst children visiting museum, many of whom delight in collection of old railway magazines , timetables.

rother valley railway

at robertsbridge, separate railway preservation effort has been set rother valley railway. has aim restore track , services east main line railway station bodiam.

by 2013, of site had been cleared , undergoing major redevelopment including new track , new station. future developments include carriage shed , signalbox.

plans exist extension, has been hampered a21 trunk road crossing trackbed, need expensive bridge works , necessity purchase route landowners. landowners have been naturally resistant selling agricultural land railway development , plans reinstate level crossing has caused local controversy.

at beginning of 2009 750 yards (690 m) of former trackbed purchased west of bodiam station within 150 yards (140 m) yards of site of junction road halt. work began on restoration , april of year track laid. in 2010 further 150yds of trackbed obtained , track laid site of junction road halt adjacent b2244 (formerly a229). first advertised passenger service on section ran on weekend of 19/20 march 2011, although services restricted occasional gala days only.

by end of 2013, track had been laid newly built platform @ robersbridge way northbridge street on 5 newly rebuilt bridges & during 2013 first steam trains ran along line since closed. carriage siding points , points original bay platform in process of being installed.

on 16 march 2017, rother district council granted planning permission reinstatement of line between northbridge street , junction road. next step apply transport , works act order give statutory powers rebuild line.