Later it was able to achieve charity status, and is led by the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). . Liaison continues with the relevant authorities. The Inspector will submit a report to the Secretary of State, with recommendations. In September 2013, a Gala weekend at Robertsbridge marked the progress to date and the start of the next phase - the re-instatement of the section between Northbridge Street and Junction Road, for which statutory permissions are being sought. The Kent & East Sussex Railway was one of the light railways operated by Colonel H.F. Stephens, the railway engineer. The K&ESR acquired a horse-drawn van and two drays in 1916. Purchased secondhand in 1901. Hired or loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway. Karen Collier-Keywood, the landlord of the Salehurst Halt Pub in Salehurst. 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Used at the opening of the East Kent Light Railway in 1912 and inaugurated passenger services on that line in 1916. 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. Using a CPO to take someone's land for a heritage railway is immoral. Southern Railway No. Ten open wagons were purchased new from Hurst Nelson. Southern Railway No. One batch of stock disposed of was valued at 855, but realised only 6 10s 0d. This has now been installed (Spring 2023). [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. Three compartments plus brake. 31048, 31064, 31065, 31370, 31390 and 31434, On 9 January 1929, the Ford railmotor was derailed at. The K&ESR was not included in the grouping of the railways into the Big Four in 1923, and continued its independent existence. 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. 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. He entered into negotiations with the Southern Railway aimed at disposing of worn out stock and obtaining serviceable replacements. Acquired in 1947. Kent & East Sussex Railway - Tenterden - Northiam - Bodiam A 14-year-old autistic boy's naive prank. Sold for scrap on 25 May 1944. 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]. 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. Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! The Rother Valley Railway's awaiting trains from Tenterden. 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. They say it could put Robertsbridge, which dates to 1176 when a Cistercian abbey was founded, back on the map. Rother District Council granted planning permission last year. THE KENT & EAST SUSSEX RAILWAY - transportsofdelight Top March : 021 625 77 80 | Au Petit March : 021 601 12 96 | info@tpmshop.ch A small collection of rolling stock is stored at Robertsbridge, with several items undergoing active restoration. Rother Valley Railway - Wikipedia The second-hand replacement stock obtained was at the time superior to virtually everything available on most rural branch lines. Two compartment brake third. 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. A short section has re opened from Robertsbridge Station to roughly half a mile round the corner near the A21 main road. Kent & East Sussex Railway This was the quintessential Stephens' light railway and was always the heart of his empire. Crucially, however, the two families whose farms would be crossed by the line do not want to sell their land to RVR. This was a line from Northiam to Rye. The Kent & East Sussex Railway is twinned with the Chemin de Fer de la Baie de Somme, a preserved railway in France. Fitted with flanged wheels and tested on the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The extension was built and opened in 1905. The end was in sight and traffic decline was now steep. 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. This awaits a public inquiry.[22]. 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'. Since 1991, the Rother Valley Railway has been acquiring parts of the trackbed as and when possible. With some additional help from the mainline railways in the form of deferred debts, it continued. 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. This is the reconstructed Robertsbridge Junction station, adjacent to the Network Rail station. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge. Ex Southern Railway No. Purchased secondhand in 1906. 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. Southern Railway No. (Pic: Colin Tyson) The initial plan was to work towards operating brake van rides on the site, but progress was slow due mainly to lack of funds. There is no surviving railway track on either farm. kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge. 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. Kent and East Sussex Railway: 12-ton flat Built in 1926 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at Newtonheath as a Banana Van. 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. Southern Railway No 3440 was loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway in 1940. The East Sussex Light Railway was authorised in 1901. Bad floods probably delayed the opening of the line, which finally opened to goods traffic on 26th March and to passengers on 2nd April. Not so shipshape! 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! kent and east sussex railway extension to robertsbridge Work is currently underway to widen the embankment adjacent to the turntable to provide a site for the planned loco shed. The original route, between Robertsbridge and Headcorn in Kent, opened in 1900 and was shut in 1961. It would wreck part of our farm, chopping fields into narrow pieces that we can't farm properly. A: Woolwich Arsenal Railway: 3-plank dropside open Obtained from the Woolwich Arsenal Railway in 1964. The line continued to be run as two sections. On 16 March 2017, Rother District Council granted planning permission for the reinstatement of the line between Northbridge Street and Junction Road. The renamed Kent &. About Robertsbridge This is the reconstructed Robertsbridge Junction station, adjacent to the Network Rail station. Three compartment brake third. The final working was the 7.55 am working from Robertsbridge on Saturday 10th June 1961 followed the next day by a rail tour. Four cattle wagons were purchased in 1904, and another was purchased in 1928. The Tenterden to Robertsbridge section survived until 1961 for freight. 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. 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. Kent & East Sussex Railway extension public inquiry delay The South Eastern Railway opened its line from Ashford to Hastings on 13 February 1851. Originally numbered. [7], On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the K&ESR came under government control, as did most railways at the time. 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". Purchased secondhand in 1905. The line closed the following day, apart from a short stretch at Robertsbridge serving Hodson's Flour Mill, which became a private siding. 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. Ex South Eastern and Chatham Railway birdcage carriages were put into service on the line, supplementing the ex London and South Western Railway carriages. The railway line from Rolvenden to Robertsbridge was opened in 1900. 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. Brighton works between 1872 and 1880. The extension to Tenterden Town opened on 15 April 1903. 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. 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 first advertised passenger service over this section ran on the weekend of 19/20 March 2011, although services are currently restricted to occasional gala days only. In that year, the first of the locomotives hired from the Southern Railway arrived on the line, this was P Class No. Scrapped in 1948. Mixed trains continued to run, but were now provided with a brake van. But opponents fear it will leave an 'ugly scar' on the landscape, harm wildlife habitats and destroy the area's tranquillity. One embankment is still visible but is covered by mature oak and other trees. Kent and East Sussex Railway | Railway Trips in Kent - Visit Kent 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!' We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Most of these will be from the Kent & East Sussex Railway as this is one of my personal specialties, but other lines will be included where possible. It aims to restore track and services east from the main line railway station to Bodiam. The diminutive tank locomotives were designed to haul commuter trains on the already heavily congested lines in South and South-East London. The line from Headcorn Junction was opened on 15th May1905 but the expansion programme had come to an end. Locals are in revolt over the proposed expansion of the historic train route. [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. Body later used as a shed on a farm, where it survived until 1964. The preserved railway has had a tempestuous history, with two financial crises and disputes between the volunteer group and their elected board of trustees. Designed to serve rural villages, the railway opened in 1900 and originally ran between Robertsbridge and Tenterden. WordPress Designers and Developers in Kent. 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. Planning permission was secured for its scheme at Robertsbridge, and the whole route is safeguarded in the Council's local plan. Kent & East Sussex Railway (Tenterden) - All You Need to - Tripadvisor What's for dinner? Only the section from the original Tenterden terminus to Tenterden Town was actually built of all these schemes.[6]. In 2010, the latter section was further extended to reach Junction Road. Built in 1906 using the bodies of two of the Hurst Nelson carriages on a new underframe. Became British Railways property on nationalisation. 1555 was loaned in 1947. A mile of new track has already been laid to the west of Bodiam station, to the site of the former Junction Road Halt. A charity, supported by a society of volunteers, is attempting to re-establish the railway link. 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 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. It sat for 19 days and concluded on 3 September 2021. DS377, 32636, 32640, 32641, 32644, 32655, 32659, 32662, 32670 and 32678. 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! Purchased secondhand in 1932. In summer 2011 work began at Robertsbridge to extend further eastwards to Northbridge Street, which entailed the rebuilding of five bridges. 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. May have carried No. In 1910 the decision was undertaken to upgrade the rolling stock to more comfortable steam-heated stock and obtain more locomotives. 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 railway was further extended to a junction with the SECR at Headcorn, opening on the 15 May 1905. Families accuse steam railway of trying to grab their farm land We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. The remaining passenger traffic continued to drop and, most importantly, the profitable general merchandise traffic followed. A separate railway preservation effort, the Rother Valley Railway, is restoring track at the western end between Robertsbridge Junction and Bodiam. (Pic: Colin Tyson). The use of compulsory purchase orders on farmland needed for the new track has even been branded The Great Robertsbridge Train Robbery by campaigners. We are no longer accepting comments on this article. RVR spokesman Mark Yonge said: This is a real red letter day and we are extremely pleased permission has now been granted. In 1855, a proposed railway from Headcorn via Cranbrook to Tenterden failed to obtain its Act of Parliament. [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. Some remaining farmland on the original trackbed has yet to be purchased. A separate Company, the Rother Valley Railway (East Sussex) Ltd, was formed on 22 May 1991 with the approval of the Tenterden Railway Company to reconstruct the railway between Bodiam and Robertsbridge and has since simplified its name to Rother Valley Railway Ltd. For the opening . Negotiations continue with two remaining landowners to secure the remainder of the route. The work was overseen by Holman F Stephens, who was appointed general manager in 1899 and managing director in 1900. The Light Railways Act 1896 allowed for cheaper construction methods in return for a speed restriction. Supporters include Network Rail and the National Trust, which will gain a rail link to the 14th century moated Bodiam Castle. 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). / 51.5687; -0.2269. Next Trains Mothering Sunday - 19-Mar-23 Treat mum to something special this Mothers Day 20 for 20 Appeal Kent and East Sussex Railway - Wikipedia Our Education Directory has everything you could possibly need! The line from Tenterden to Headcorn Junction opened to traffic on 15 May 1905. A wind pump was provided just outside Headcorn Junction to supply water for the locomotives.