Converted c1909 to a five compartment brake third. Still in regular use in the 1930s. On 16 March 2017, Rother District Council granted planning permission for the reinstatement of the line between Northbridge Street and Junction Road. Two compartments plus brake. The RVR began by reinstating the first few hundred yards of line eastwards from Robertsbridge, and also a short stretch westwards from Bodiam. When this extension fever was over, the K&ESR was established as a growing and mostly profitable concern. Purchased secondhand in 1901. 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. 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. 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. Powers were obtained in 1882 to extend the line to Hawkhurst. 'Few preserved railways would seem to offer better prospects for an increase in These locomotives worked on the line between 1948 and 1961. The tickets were printed at Rolvenden. The preserved line currently runs from Tenterden Town station to Bodiam (within sight of the National Trust's Bodiam Castle), with an extra one mile (1.6km) of track to the Junction Road station site (though there are currently no plans to re-open for alighting). A month passed before 32678 was recovered. There was occasional passenger traffic in the form of railtours. A proposal was promoted in 1900 to build a line from Robertsbridge to Pevensey, which was to be worked by the Rother Valley Railway. The lukewarm reception was partly because of the distance of the station from the town, and partly due to fears that the opening of the light railway from Robertsbridge would prevent a more heavily engineered line being built from Headcorn. 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'. 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. 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. Body scrapped in 1976. Built by the London and South Western Railway. Number 107 in the K&ESR stocklist. 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. shop.kelsey.co.uk . On 16th March, 1903 the existing Tenterden station was renamed Rolvenden and the line extended 1 miles to a new terminus at Tenterden Town. From 2009 to 2010 the RVR with help from K&ESR and volunteers were able to complete the 1 mile (1.6km) extension westwards from near Bodiam station, through Quarry Farm, to the B2244 (Junction Road). Top March : 021 625 77 80 | Au Petit March : 021 601 12 96 | info@tpmshop.ch In 1990, the railway had to remove 200 metres of embankment damaged by badgers. 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. Contents 1 Historical company 1.1 Background 1.2 Opening and growth 1.3 Grouping and decline 1.4 British Railways . The extension to Tenterden Town opened on 15 April 1903. However preservation as a Heritage Railway beckoned. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. The application will then be decided by the Secretary of State. Not so shipshape! A small collection of rolling stock is stored at Robertsbridge, with several items undergoing active restoration. Plans for a heritage railway extension that would see Tenterden connected to the mainline have come to a temporary halt. Indeed in the provision of steam heating it was in advance of many main lines. 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 diminutive tank locomotives were designed to haul commuter trains on the already heavily congested lines in South and South-East London. RM 2FMJAE2 - Tenterden, UK. Double-heading was prohibited between Rolvenden and Robertsbridge.[13]. Purchased secondhand in 1909. Brent Cross West railway station - Wikipedia The habitats that survive there are incredible. 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. Mr Hoad, 67, who runs it with wife Lynn and sons Tom, 38, and Will, 34, said: 'We feel angry at having our land taken from us against our will for what can only be termed a vanity project. At the Robertsbridge end of the line, RVR has purchased further land since 2006 and the reconnection between Rother Valley Railway and the Network Rail main line was formally opened by Sir Peter Hendy, chairman of Network Rail in December 2016. With some additional help from the mainline railways in the form of deferred debts, it continued. Formerly a model of its kind the K&ESR was now perceived as a run-down decrepit railway of the greatest charm. Rother Valley Railway - Kent & East Sussex Railway 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. Scrapped in 1948. The Kent and East Sussex Railway is a winding rural steam and diesel light railway that runs for 10 miles on a preserved rail route through the Kent countryside. In that year, the first of the locomotives hired from the Southern Railway arrived on the line, this was P Class No. A proposed roadside tramway from Headcorn to Tenterden suffered the same fate in 1882. Trying to find the right nursery, school, college, university or training provider in Kent or Medway? Built in 1906 using the bodies of two of the Hurst Nelson carriages on a new underframe. "These are to better understand what effect a level crossing, which would only operate during off-peak hours, would have on the A21.". Only the section from the original Tenterden terminus to Tenterden Town was actually built of all these schemes.[6]. In summer 2011 work began at Robertsbridge to extend further eastwards to Northbridge Street, which entailed the rebuilding of five bridges. Scrapped in the 1930s. 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. 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]. In 1898, the proposal was abandoned in favour of extending the Cranbrook and Paddock Wood railway to Tenterden and Appledore. In 1877, the Cranbrook and Paddock Wood Railway was incorporated, and powers obtained to build the northern section of the Weald of Kent Railway to transport agricultural produce and livestock from low-lying land adjacent to Wittersham Road to a better mainline connection. May have been a brake vehicle. Most of the permanent way between Northiam and Bodiam has now been rebuilt to modern standards. Renumbered 1934 in 1912 and again renumbered 2640 in 1923. [4] Stephens attained the rank of lieutenant colonel in the Territorial Army (TA) in 1916 and was subsequently known as Colonel Stephens. 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. [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. The line from Tenterden to Headcorn Junction opened to traffic on 15 May 1905. Serving a deeply rural area it was initially profitable but suffered severe road competition from the early 1920s. Purchased new in 1904, seated 48. 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. Owned by the Rother Valley Railway and/or the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway. 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. Er zijn genoeg bezienswaardigheden om te bezoeken rond Salehurst and Robertsbridge. Southern Railway No 3334 loaned to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway in 1938 when No 4 was sent to. Rother Valley Railway - Wikipedia Could be used on either passenger or freight trains. Kent and East Sussex Railway: 12-ton flat Built in 1926 by the London, Midland and Scottish Railway at Newtonheath as a Banana Van. Purchased secondhand in 1906. Bodies used to create bogie carriages in 1906. [8] The original junction at Headcorn was on the Ashford side of the station. Kent & East Sussex Railway (Tenterden) - All You Need to - Tripadvisor [7], On the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the K&ESR came under government control, as did most railways at the time. A Transport & Works Order is to be sought to enable statuary powers to cross roads, including the busy A21, and to operate the railway. In 1904, the Headcorn and Maidstone Junction Light Railway was authorised. RVR chairman Gardner Crawley, 74, said: 'There's a lot of very wealthy people in East Sussex but parts of it are very deprived and the big employer nowadays is tourism. Scrapped in 1948. December 2016 saw the reconnection of the RVR to the Network Rail system some 50 years after closure. The second-hand replacement stock obtained was at the time superior to virtually everything available on most rural branch lines. 2684. Kent & East Sussex Railway - Tenterden - Northiam - Bodiam Welcome to the Kent & East Sussex Railway Train Services Sunday 19th March 2023 Give Mum the gift of time travel this Mothers' Day! On Saturday 26 March 1949, A1 32678 was derailed between Northiam and the Rother Bridge working the 5:50 pm from Bexhill West. The Southern Railway refused permission for some of the K&ESR carriages to be taken to Lydd in 1947 citing safety reasons. London transport portal. Tenterden railway extension is on the right tracks for the Kent and Kent & East Sussex Railway This was the quintessential Stephens' light railway and was always the heart of his empire. It was released from government control in 1921, and 1,487 in compensation was paid. The route from Tenterden to Bodiam is 10.5 miles. Kent and East Sussex Railway - Wikipedia Body later used as a shed on a farm, where it survived until 1964. June 30, 2022 . 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. Two freight trains a day continued to run, with hop-pickers' specials operating until 1958. The Southern Railway were liable to make up any operating losses, as the successor to the South Eastern and Chatham Railway under the terms of the Act of Parliament for the construction of that section of line. The preserved railway has had a tempestuous history, with two financial crises and disputes between the volunteer group and their elected board of trustees. The carriages were required for use in the filming of The Loves of Joanna Godden. 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 railway also appears in the 1940 book Ember Lane by Sheila Kaye-Smith, where it is titled the Sussex Border Railway. An extension of the Rother Valley Railway, as it was then called, to Tenterden opened in 1903. The Inquiry has now closed and the Inspector is writing up his . The RVR agreed to build and operate a line to Headcorn, in return for a financial guarantee to make up any losses. A: Woolwich Arsenal Railway: 3-plank dropside open Obtained from the Woolwich Arsenal Railway in 1964. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. 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). Plan meals, try new foods and explore cuisines with tested recipes from the country's top chefs. 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. This is the reconstructed Robertsbridge Junction station, adjacent to the Network Rail station. Rail mounted guns were stationed at Rolvenden and Wittersham. The K&ESR's own stock was generally confined to that system. 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. RM E0YC0N - Robertsbridge Junction, the future terminus of the Kent and East Sussex Railway now being constructed at Robertsbridge station. Difficulties in raising capital caused delays. Rother District Council granted planning permission last year. Assent was granted to construct the line under the Act. From the train you can look out for deer, sheep, cows, buzzards, swans, pheasants and so much more. Sold in 1909 to the. Light Railway Modelling - H. F. Stephens The Rother Valley Railway proposes to restore the missing rail link between Bodiam and Robertsbridge. The comments below have not been moderated. 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. 1325 was loaned in 1946 and No. [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. The line today is a tourist attraction in the South East of England. 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. 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. 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! The railway was authorised by its own Act of Parliament in 1896, but with the passing later that year of the Light Railways Act, the directors obtained permission to bring the RVR under that Act for construction and operating purposes. The use of compulsory purchase orders on farmland needed for the new track has even been branded The Great Robertsbridge Train Robbery by campaigners. He said: "Although we have managed to satisfy many of the statutory consultees with regards any concerns they may have had about our proposals, Highways England and the Office of Rail and Road have requested additional studies be carried out. By the 1930s it had lost much of the traffic it had been built to carry. Rother Valley Railway - RVR - Reconstructing steam railway track from Opposition from the South Eastern Railway meant that the Tenterden to Appledore section was dropped. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). The first official train ran on the weekend of 19/20 March 2011. The railway was further extended to a junction with the SECR at Headcorn, opening on the 15 May 1905. WordPress Designers and Developers in Kent. RVR applied to the Secretary of State for a Transport and Works Act Order on 19 April 2018. This website and its associated newspaper are members of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). 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. For some, there is no finer sight than a locomotive in full steam chugging majestically through the glorious English countryside. are honey nut cheerios high in oxalates.