With the passing of the Light Railways Act 1896, a group of citizens of Tenterden, led by Sir Myles Fenton proposed a railway from Robertsbridge to Tenterdenthe Rother Valley 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. A wind pump was provided at Robertsbridge to supply water for locomotives. 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. Ten open wagons were purchased new from Hurst Nelson. The RVR also owns a steam locomotive, Charwelton, which works on the K&ESR but is currently under overhaul at Rolvenden. Scrapped in 1941. [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. It takes its name from the original name for what later became the Kent and East Sussex Railway, running from Robertsbridge through to Headcorn in Kent, via Tenterden. The Rother Valley Railway's awaiting trains from Tenterden. / 51.5687; -0.2269. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). It's full steam ahead for rail line extension - Kent Online Still in regular use in the 1930s. 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. Ex LSWR No 0127. A wind pump was provided at the Headcorn end of the station. THE KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY - transportsofdelight Later it was able to achieve charity status, and is led by the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust. The plan is that K&ESR will operate this extended railway once completed, as its constitution provides. Bodies used to create bogie carriages in 1906. . Then operated by the K&ESR until withdrawn in 1924 and stored. The passenger railway finally came to an end on Saturday 2nd January 1954. The K&ESR was not included in the grouping of the railways into the Big Four in 1923, and continued its independent existence. In the late 1990s, the company was almost bankrupted but avoided administration due to an error in the bank's loan agreement. The railway track has been laid on nearly a third of the 3.5-mile route between Robertsbridge and Bodiam and a new Robertsbridge Junction station is being created, which has a five-coach capacity platform and sits adjacent to Network Rails mainline station. Families accuse steam railway of trying to grab their farm land 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. 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. This has now been installed (Spring 2023). 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. On Saturday 26 March 1949, A1 32678 was derailed between Northiam and the Rother Bridge working the 5:50 pm from Bexhill West. 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. Locals are in revolt over the proposed expansion of the historic train route. The final passenger train ran on 2 January 1954. Supplied new in 1901 for the opening of the line. 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. Acquired during the Second World War. The extension was built and opened in 1905. May have carried No. In summer 2011 work began at Robertsbridge to extend further eastwards to Northbridge Street, which entailed the rebuilding of five bridges. 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. June 30, 2022 . 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. May have carried No. 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. Plans for a heritage railway extension that would see Tenterden connected to the mainline have come to a temporary halt. In Spring 2019 work began to prepare the former trackbed between Austen's Bridge and Junction Road for tracklaying, this work being substantially completed by the end of 2020. 2684. The line from Headcorn Junction was opened on 15th May1905 but the expansion programme had come to an end. A pair of railcars, purchased in 1930. Murdaugh is heckled as he leaves court, Missing hiker buried under snow forces arm out to wave to helicopter, Incredible footage of Ukrainian soldiers fighting Russians in Bakhmut, Fleet-footed cop chases an offender riding a scooter, Two Russian tanks annihilated with bombs by Ukrainian armed forces, Isabel Oakeshott clashes with Nick Robinson over Hancock texts, Dozens stuck in car park as staff refuses to open gate for woman, Insane moment river of rocks falls onto Malibu Canyon in CA. The Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) refers to both an historical private railway company in Kent and East Sussex in England, as well as a heritage railway currently running on part of the route of the historical company. That was not accompanied by an increase in passengers, and regular passenger services ceased. 1555 was loaned in 1947. Railroad Company. 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. 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. [9], By 1924, the section from Tenterden to Headcorn was operating at a loss. "These are to better understand what effect a level crossing, which would only operate during off-peak hours, would have on the A21.". All ticket stock was withdrawn and new tickets were printed, and the staffing of stations was increased. The railway line from Rolvenden to Robertsbridge was opened in 1900. 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! 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.". A pair of railcars. (HD) Kent & East Sussex Railway opens to Robertsbridge In that year, the first of the locomotives hired from the Southern Railway arrived on the line, this was P Class No. A wind pump was provided just outside Headcorn Junction to supply water for the locomotives. The vote is open until 20 March so please give him your support: Welcome to the Kent & East Sussex Railway. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? 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. The comments below have not been moderated. Not so shipshape! The railway was further extended to a junction with the SECR at Headcorn, opening on the 15 May 1905. KENT AND EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY - 30 Photos - Yelp Sold in 1909 to the Woolmer Instructional Military Railway, where it lasted until 1940. Four cattle wagons were purchased in 1904, and another was purchased in 1928. Nos. One batch of stock disposed of was valued at 855, but realised only 6 10s 0d. The RVR agreed to build and operate a line to Headcorn, in return for a financial guarantee to make up any losses. Sadly there have since been no other. 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). 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. A small collection of rolling stock is stored at Robertsbridge, with several items undergoing active restoration. Rother Valley Railway - Kent & East Sussex Railway Originally numbered. This is a popular exhibit amongst children visiting the museum, many of whom delight in the collection of old railway magazines and timetables. From the train you can look out for deer, sheep, cows, buzzards, swans, pheasants and so much more. Purchased new in 1904, seated 46. 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. are honey nut cheerios high in oxalates. (Pic: Colin Tyson). 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. 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. The Rother Valley Railway proposes to restore the missing rail link between Bodiam and Robertsbridge. Ministers in clash as farmers fear Britain will be flooded with cheap Mexican and Canadian meat Britain's Special Forces are banned from TikTok and other apps amid fears their accounts could be Mamma Mia! The railway also appears in the 1940 book Ember Lane by Sheila Kaye-Smith, where it is titled the Sussex Border Railway. It offers an 11+12 miles (18.5km) ride through the Rother Valley in vintage and British Railways coaches usually hauled by a steam locomotive, although some off-peak services are operated by a diesel multiple unit. The latter section was lifted and became abandoned in the mid 1970s. The Rother Valley Railway's public enquiry result about the planned route extension to Bodiam, in East Sussex, has been delayed yet again! But the project has found support among Tenterden residents because of its potential to bring in visitors from London and boost tourism. The financial position has since improved. The final working was the 7.55 am working from Robertsbridge on Saturday 10th June 1961 followed the next day by a rail tour. The line was opened for freight between Robertsbridge and Rolvenden on 26 March 1900, and to passenger traffic on 2 April 1900. Three of the five were scrapped in 1935, and a fourth, No. Purchased secondhand in 1909. Bodywork by Eaton Coachworks, Cringleford. Alexander and Emma Ainslie, both 45, run 220-acre Moat Farm. 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. Andrew Hoad, 67, with his two sons Tom 38 (left) and Will 34 (right) who own Parsonage Farm in Robertsbridge, East Sussex where multi millionaire Richard Broyd is trying to extend a heritage steam railway across their land as a 'Vanity Project'. For some, there is no finer sight than a locomotive in full steam chugging majestically through the glorious English countryside. Scrapped in 1948. Rother Valley Railway (Bodiam to Robertsbridge Junction) Order. The line opened to Goudhurst in 1892 and Hawkhurst in 1893. Still in regular use in the 1930s. Double-heading was prohibited between Rolvenden and Robertsbridge.[13]. The first official train ran on the weekend of 19/20 March 2011. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge Body later used as a shed on a farm, where it survived until 1964. Scrapped in 1948. The first train from Rolvenden to Tenterden carried 312. Four compartments. Around 15 light railways were built, the Kent & East Sussex Railway being one of the most famous. The extension to Tenterden Town opened on 15 April 1903. 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. 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'. 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. 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. 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. 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. [5], The South Eastern Railway abandoned its plans to build the Cranbrook to Appledore line; the scheme was adopted by the Rother Valley Railway. There will be an end-on link with the Kent and East Sussex at Bodiam enabling through running. Wagons. On12th March 1903 a contract to build the Headcorn and upgrade the Rother Valley line was signed, a wise upgrade to meet a successful increase in traffic. Purchased secondhand by 1906. The Rother Valley Railway (RVR) is a heritage railway project based at Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England.