Owned by the Rother Valley Railway and/or the Kent and East Sussex Light Railway. 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. [14] This final section of the line closed on 1 January 1970. A previous attempt by rail preservationists to take over the missing Bodiam to Robertsbridge section was quashed in 1973. May have carried No. Became British Railways property on nationalisation. Railway experience days are also offered. ', At the local pub, the Salehurst Halt, landlady Karen Collier-Keywood, 59, said: 'Our village has always been about community. In addition are a number of other wagons and carriages undergoing or awaiting restoration. The impetus seems to have come from landowners and businesses in Northiam and Bodiam in late 1894. 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.". Bodies used to create bogie carriages in 1906. Around 15 light railways were built, the Kent & East Sussex Railway being one of the most famous. But the project has found support among Tenterden residents because of its potential to bring in visitors from London and boost tourism. Kent and East Sussex Railway. Acquired during the Second World War. [7], On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the K&ESR came under government control, as did most railways at the time. 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. Acquired in 1947. (Pic: Colin Tyson). Two first-class four-wheel carriages were purchased new in 1901 for the opening of the line. The railway runs between Tenterden Town and Bodiam. Conceived as the Rother Valley Railway, it opened from Robertsbridge to Rolvenden station (then named Tenterden) in 1900 and subsequently on to Tenterden Town in 1903. Credit: Richard Crease/Alamy Live News. Tickets for other lines under Colonel Stephens's control were also printed here.[13]. The preserved railway has had a tempestuous history, with two financial crises and disputes between the volunteer group and their elected board of trustees. They claim the project is to allow 'rich men to play with their toys' and the threat of compulsory purchase orders, or CPOs, amounts to 'a land grab reminiscent of the Dark Ages'. Sold in 1909 to the Woolmer Instructional Military Railway, where it lasted until 1940. 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. 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. 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. [7] The original Tenterden station was renamed Rolvenden on this date. Spring Arrivals - Easter Holidays - Kent & East Sussex Railway The Kent & East Sussex Railway Preservation Society was formed in 1961 following closure of the line by British Railways. The route from Tenterden to Bodiam is 10.5 miles. 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. . Next Trains Mothering Sunday - 19-Mar-23 Treat mum to something special this Mothers Day 20 for 20 Appeal The decision was taken to shut down the passenger service and retain the goods service on the old Rother Valley section only. Some of the original ten wagons were hired to the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway between 1927 and 1929. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? The initial plan was to work towards operating brake van rides on the site, but progress was slow due mainly to lack of funds. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge. With the help of a grant from the Railway Heritage Trust RVR acquired and removed the railway turntable from Hither Green depot in 2020, and following refurbishment this has recently been installed at Robertsbridge. Southern Railway No 3334 loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway in 1938 when No 4 was sent to. The line was opened for freight between Robertsbridge and Rolvenden on 26 March 1900, and to passenger traffic on 2 April 1900. 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 - Wikipedia Brighton works between 1872 and 1880. May have carried No. This is a popular exhibit amongst children visiting the museum, many of whom delight in the collection of old railway magazines and timetables. 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. One batch of stock disposed of was valued at 855, but realised only 6 10s 0d. At Robertsbridge, a separate railway preservation effort was set up by the Rother Valley Railway in 1990. The line closed the following day, apart from a short stretch at Robertsbridge serving Hodson's Flour Mill, which became a private siding. 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. The first railbus was introduced in 1923. Delivered to Rolvenden and used on the line before delivery to the East Kent Light Railway. To compete for passengers Stephens then brought in some railmoters to supplement the existing somewhat minimalist steam services established during the Great War. Nos. The line from Tenterden to Headcorn Junction opened to traffic on 15 May 1905. Rail mounted guns were stationed at Rolvenden and Wittersham. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. In the late 1990s, the company was almost bankrupted but avoided administration due to an error in the bank's loan agreement. 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'. Scrapped in 1948. Top March : 021 625 77 80 | Au Petit March : 021 601 12 96 | info@tpmshop.ch 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. The controversial 7million scheme, led by rail enthusiasts backed by wealthy and anonymous benefactors, would restore what supporters call the 'missing link' in the Kent and East Sussex Railway, connecting it with the national network on the London to Hastings line. 32655 was replaced by O1 31065 and 32678 banked the train to St Michael's. The comments below have not been moderated. 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 owned by the Ainslies, who have set up a Facebook page The Great Robertsbridge Train Robbery to oppose the expansion. What's for dinner? 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. Built in 1906 using the bodies of two of the Hurst Nelson carriages on a new underframe. Ex South Eastern and Chatham Railway birdcage carriages were put into service on the line, supplementing the ex London and South Western Railway carriages. With the increase in price for scrap metal during the war, most of the line's surplus stock was scrapped. Nos. 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. The Kent and East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) refers to both a 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. 1555 was loaned in 1947. Simultaneously the South Eastern & Chatham (SE&CR), decided to rid itself of an obligation to build its long envisaged line to Tenterden. 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. This awaits a public inquiry.[22]. An extension of the Rother Valley Railway, as it was then called, to Tenterden opened in 1903. 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. [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. Not so shipshape! 10th May 2021. Renumbered 1934 in 1912 and again renumbered 2640 in 1923. Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. 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? Purchased secondhand in 1909. 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. Plans for a heritage railway extension that would see Tenterden connected to the mainline have come to a temporary halt. [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. London transport portal. Southern Railway No. 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. [4] Stephens attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army (TA) in 1916 and was subsequently known as Colonel Stephens. That was not accompanied by an increase in passengers, and regular passenger services ceased. Acquired in 1936. Subscribe to Old Glory magazine today and receive your first 3 issues for just 5! Trains will run into the Rother Valley Railway's own new station at Robertsbridge, the platform for which is now completed, together with a toilet block forming part of the planned new station building. These were withdrawn in the mid-1930s. 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. [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. [11] The whole line was relaid with 60 pounds per yard (29.8kg/m) rails in 1939. Kent and East Sussex Railway: 12-ton flat Built in 1926 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at Newtonheath as a Banana Van. 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. 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. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). 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. Only track relaying and imported motive power during World War II and at nationalisation in 1948 saved it. (Pic: Colin Tyson) kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge 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. Ex LSWR No 0127. 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. 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. 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). Several bridges need to be rebuilt between Northbridge Street and Junction Road, and three road crossings made, including the A21 Robertsbridge by-pass. 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). Double-heading was prohibited between Rolvenden and Robertsbridge.[13]. It aims to restore track and services east from the main line railway station to Bodiam. In 1904, the Headcorn and Maidstone Junction Light Railway was authorised. 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. On 16 March 2017, Rother District Council granted planning permission for the reinstatement of the line between Northbridge Street and Junction Road. 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. Scrapped in 1948. The East Sussex Light Railway was authorised in 1901. 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? Indeed in the provision of steam heating it was in advance of many main lines. Railroad Company. The K&ESR acquired a horse-drawn van and two drays in 1916. Acquired from Hodson's Mill, Robertsbridge in 1972. The plan is that K&ESR will operate this extended railway once completed, as its constitution provides. Southern Railway No. The railway runs between Tenterden Town and Bodiam. 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. Afternoon Tea, Lunch and Evening Dining trains, Treat mum to something special this Mothers Day. Four cattle wagons were purchased in 1904, and another was purchased in 1928. 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. In large part by pressure exerted by Stephens and his associates, it was decided to permit Light Railways and the K&ESR did so. 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. There is no surviving railway track on either farm. 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. The K&ESR's own stock was generally confined to that system. Fitted with a body similar to those used on buses and sent to the, A pair of railcars. Two compartments plus brake. [17], Tickets were usually issued on the trains, although the K&ESR did not acquire any corridor carriages until 1944. For some, there is no finer sight than a locomotive in full steam chugging majestically through the glorious English countryside. Rolling stock of the Kent & East Sussex Railway (heritage) 2714. Could be used on either passenger or freight trains. In 1855, a proposed railway from Headcorn via Cranbrook to Tenterden failed to obtain its Act of Parliament. Body scrapped in 1976. Motive power was Terriers 32655 leading and 32678 at the rear. In the hop-picking season, special trains were run to bring the hop-pickers down from London. Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! A: Woolwich Arsenal Railway: 3-plank dropside open Obtained from the Woolwich Arsenal Railway in 1964. In 2012 a plan to reconnect the RVR to the national railway network once more was announced, and this connection opened in 2016. Purchased by the East Kent Light Railway in 1926. Formerly a classic rural branch line, it has an interesting history and runs through stunning scenery. Powers were obtained in 1882 to extend the line to Hawkhurst. 2684. Two freight trains a day continued to run, with hop-pickers' specials operating until 1958. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge The section from Headcorn to Appledore was authorised in 1892, and agreement was reached in 1896 with the South Eastern Railway over the operation of the line. Originally numbered. Purchased secondhand in 1901. The final passenger train ran on 2 January 1954. The main reasons for a separate organisation were to allow K&ESR to remain focussed on its existing activities, to avoid placing that activity at any financial risk, and to enable the new project to proceed with its own dedicated management team. These changes reduced the line's profitability dramatically. The first train departed at 7:30 am, carrying some 60.2 passengers. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? 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. Formerly a model of its kind the K&ESR was now perceived as a run-down decrepit railway of the greatest charm. 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. 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 first train from Rolvenden to Tenterden carried 312. Acquired in 1936. In 1904, the Rother Valley Railway changed its name to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway. [12], Upon nationalisation, one of the surviving two locomotives and all but the newest rolling stock were scrapped. With some additional help from the mainline railways in the form of deferred debts, it continued. 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 . 1556 was loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway from 1938 to 1938, No. A proposed roadside tramway from Headcorn to Tenterden suffered the same fate in 1882. June 14, 2022; indigo child symbol [2], The Ashford - Hastings line had originally been promoted to run via Headcorn and Tenterden, but the government preferred the more southerly route. Stationmaster Geoff is Tourism Superstar Award 2023 finalist! 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. Kent and East Sussex Railway | The Parody Wiki | Fandom Built in 1906 using the bodies of two of the Hurst Nelson carriages on a new underframe. The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline. [1], By the mid 19th century, Tenterden was in the middle of a triangle of railway lines. The final passenger train over the line before closure was a Locomotive Club of Great Britain railtour on 11 June 1961. In that year, the first of the locomotives hired from the Southern Railway arrived on the line, this was P Class No. . The Rother Valley Railway (RVR) is a heritage railway project based at Robertsbridge in East Sussex, England. Of wandelen of fietsen je ding is, Salehurst and Robertsbridge is een regio waar 20 verborgen pareltjes op je staan te wachten. Purchased secondhand in 1932. The habitats that survive there are incredible. Work began on restoration and by April of that year the track was laid. Supporters include Network Rail and the National Trust, which will gain a rail link to the 14th century moated Bodiam Castle. These locomotives worked on the line between 1948 and 1961. 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. Hire purchased in 1924 from Edmonds of Thetford. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The railway also appears in the 1940 book Ember Lane by Sheila Kaye-Smith, where it is titled the Sussex Border Railway. K&ESR locomotives have made visits to the CFBS. Sold in 1909 to the. 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. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge The financial position has since improved. This was a line from Northiam to Rye. 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). 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. He entered into negotiations with the Southern Railway aimed at disposing of worn out stock and obtaining serviceable replacements. Originally numbered, Built as a Wolseley Siddeley motor car. May have been a brake vehicle. [15], The Kent & East Sussex Light Railway was operated as two separate sections, Robertsbridge - Tenterden Town and Tenterden Town - Headcorn. 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. In 1900, the Kent & East Sussex railway was built from Tenterden to Robertsbridge giving access to the main line for the rural villages. The K&ESR was not included in the grouping of the railways into the Big Four in 1923, and continued its independent existence. A charity, supported by a society of volunteers, is attempting to re-establish the railway link. [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. 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. Karen Collier-Keywood, the landlord of the Salehurst Halt Pub in Salehurst. Mrs Ainslie's grandfather Robert de Quincey bought it in 1946 after returning from three years as a prisoner of war in Burma. Southern Railway No 3440 was loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway in 1940. 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.