Kent and East Sussex Railway facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kent and East Sussex Railway |
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| K&ESR, KESR | |
The grand cavalcade at Tenterden Town Station during a Steam Gala on the Kent and East Sussex Railway
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| Locale | Kent East Sussex South East England |
| Terminus | Tenterden Town Bodiam |
| Commercial operations | |
| Built by | H. F. Stephens |
| Original gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Preserved operations | |
| Owned by | Kent and East Sussex Railway |
| Operated by | Kent and East Sussex Railway |
| Stations | 5 |
| Length | 11.5 miles (18.5 km) |
| Preserved gauge | 4 ft 8 1⁄2 in (1,435 mm) standard gauge |
| Commercial history | |
| Opened | Freight: 26 March 1900 Passenger: 2 April 1900 |
| Closed to passengers | 4 January 1954 |
| Closed | 12 June 1961 |
| Preservation history | |
| 1974 | Partial re-opening |
| 1977 | Line extends and re-opened to Wittersham Road |
| 1990 | Line extends and re-opened to Northiam |
| 2000 | Line extends and re-opened to Bodiam |
| 2011 | Line extends to Junction Road Halt (no station built or planned, special events only) |
| Headquarters | Tenterden Town (main facility) Rolvenden (loco depot) |
The Kent and East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) is a special railway in Kent and East Sussex, England. It was once a private company that ran trains, and now it's a heritage railway where old trains run again! The railway travels between Tenterden Town and Bodiam.
There's also a separate group, the Rother Valley Railway, working to bring back more of the old track. They are restoring the line between Robertsbridge Junction and Bodiam.
Contents
The Original Railway Company
How the Railway Started
Back in the mid-1800s, the town of Tenterden was surrounded by railway lines, but it didn't have its own station. Many plans were made to build a railway to Tenterden, but they all failed. People wanted a way to move farm products and animals easily.
Then, in 1896, a new law called the Light Railways Act 1896 was passed. This law made it cheaper to build railways, as long as trains didn't go too fast. A group of people from Tenterden, led by Myles Fenton, decided to build a railway from Robertsbridge to Tenterden. They called it the Rother Valley Railway.
The construction was managed by H. F. Stephens, who later became known as Colonel Stephens. He was very important to many light railways in England.
Opening and Early Days
The railway was built with lighter tracks than usual, which meant trains had to go slower, around 15 miles per hour (24 km/h). Soon, the speed limit was raised to 25 miles per hour (40 km/h).
The line first opened for freight (goods) trains on 26 March 1900, between Robertsbridge and Rolvenden. Passenger trains started running on 2 April 1900. The first Tenterden station was actually about 2 miles (3.2 km) from the town, which wasn't very convenient for people.
In 1903, the railway was extended right into Tenterden Town. The original Tenterden station was then renamed Rolvenden. In 1904, the Rother Valley Railway changed its name to the Kent & East Sussex Light Railway.
The line was extended again to Headcorn in 1905, connecting it to a bigger railway network.
World Wars and Changes
During World War I (1914-1918) and World War II (1939-1945), the K&ESR came under government control, like most railways. It was used to move supplies and even rail-mounted guns during the wars.
After World War I, the K&ESR remained an independent railway. However, by 1924, the section from Tenterden to Headcorn was losing money. In 1931, Colonel Stephens passed away, and the railway faced financial difficulties.
In 1948, the railway became part of Southern Region of British Railways when railways in Britain were nationalized (taken over by the government).
The End of Passenger Services
Under British Railways, the line continued to run, but passenger numbers kept falling. The last regular passenger train ran on 2 January 1954. It was a special train with many carriages, pulled by two "Terrier" locomotives.
Freight trains continued to run, especially for moving hops (used in brewing) until 1958. Occasionally, special enthusiast trains would run on the line.
Closure of the Line
The very last passenger train on the line was a special tour on 11 June 1961. The railway officially closed the next day, on 12 June 1961. A small part of the line at Robertsbridge stayed open for a flour mill until 1970, but then it closed too.
How Trains Ran
The Kent & East Sussex Light Railway was run as two separate parts: Robertsbridge to Tenterden Town, and Tenterden Town to Headcorn. The Headcorn section had stronger tracks, so heavier locomotives could be used there.
At first, the railway ran separate passenger and freight trains. But by the 1920s, they often ran "mixed trains," which carried both passengers and goods. They even tried out small, economical railcars.
During the hop-picking season, special trains were run to bring hop-pickers from London to the fields. These trains could be quite long!
Bringing the Railway Back to Life
Preservation History
Right after the railway closed, people started working to save it. It took a while, but in 1974, the line partly reopened as a heritage steam railway between Tenterden and Rolvenden.
Over the years, the preserved line has been extended:
- To Wittersham Road in 1977.
- To Northiam in 1990.
- To Bodiam in 2000.
- An extra mile to the site of Junction Road halt in 2011.
The railway has faced challenges, including financial difficulties. But it has worked hard to improve its tracks and operations. For example, they had to fix parts of the track damaged by badgers!
The Railway Today
Today, the Kent and East Sussex Railway is a popular tourist attraction. You can enjoy an 11+1⁄2 miles (18.5 km) ride through the beautiful Rother Valley. Trains are usually pulled by a steam locomotive, but sometimes a diesel train is used.
The main station is Tenterden Town. Here you'll find a shop, a cafe, and the carriage and wagon workshop. The locomotive workshop is at Rolvenden station, where you can often see engines being repaired.
The railway often holds special events throughout the year. These include historical events, and popular "Thomas" and Santa specials, which are great for families. You can even try a "railway experience day" to see what it's like to work on the line!
Colonel Stephens Railway Museum
At Tenterden, you can visit the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum. It tells the story of Colonel Stephens and the many light railways he managed. It has interesting exhibits, including a wax figure of the Colonel himself! Kids often enjoy looking at the old railway magazines and timetables.
Rother Valley Railway's Efforts
At Robertsbridge, another group called the Rother Valley Railway is working to restore the line eastwards towards Bodiam. Their goal is to connect with the preserved Kent and East Sussex Railway.
They have made great progress, laying new track and building a new station platform at Robertsbridge. By the end of 2013, steam trains were running on this section for the first time since the line closed! In 2016, they even reconnected to the main national railway network.
There are still some challenges, like crossing a main road and buying land, but plans are moving forward. In 2023, they received important permission to rebuild and operate the rest of the line.
Trains of the Past and Present
Steam Locomotives of the Original Company
The original railway owned several steam locomotives. Some were bought new, like No. 1 Tenterden and No. 2 Northiam. Others were bought secondhand from bigger railways. For example, No. 3 Bodiam was an A1 "Terrier" class engine from the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. This engine is now part of the heritage railway!
Some locomotives were too heavy for parts of the line, like No. 4 Hecate, an 0-8-0T engine. The railway also hired or borrowed locomotives from other companies when needed.
Railcars of the Original Company
The K&ESR also used various railcars, which were like small trains or buses on rails. They had steam-powered and petrol-powered railcars, including some made by Ford. These were often more economical to run than full steam trains.
Passenger and Freight Carriages
The railway had different types of carriages for passengers, including four-wheel and bogie carriages. Some were bought new, and others were secondhand from railways like the Great Eastern Railway and the London and South Western Railway.
For freight, they had open wagons and cattle wagons. They also had a brake van and a hand-operated crane for moving heavy items.
British Railways Locomotives (1948-1961)
After nationalization, British Railways used several types of locomotives on the K&ESR. These included more "Terrier" tank engines, O1 class engines, and even early diesel locomotives like the British Rail Class 04.
Heritage Rolling Stock
Today, the heritage railway has a collection of steam and diesel locomotives, as well as various carriages and wagons. Many of these are historically important and help recreate the feel of the old railway.
Railway Friends
The Kent & East Sussex Railway has a special friendship with another preserved railway in France, called the Chemin de fer de la Baie de Somme. This is called "twinning," and sometimes locomotives from the K&ESR even visit their French friends!
In Books and Media
The Kent & East Sussex Railway has inspired writers and artists. It appears in books like A Parcel of Kent (1924) and Ember Lane (1940), though sometimes with different names. It was also featured in a poem called Farmer's Train in Punch magazine.
See also
- Colonel Stephens's Railways
