Kent & East Sussex Railway
Members e-newsletter No.56
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Welcome to the January issue of the e-newsletter. |
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 Photo: Jake Lewis
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Here we are at last in 2022, and a belated Happy New Year to everyone.
What will the year bring?
In the wider world, the Covid outlook seems better than it has done for some time and there is a real hope that most of the remaining restrictions can be lifted soon. Some people are predicting another spike in the summer, but we have no way of knowing whether it will materialise.
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Set against that are uncertainties about the economy. It may be that people will have less money to spend in 2022, including on visits to our Railway. Supply chain difficulties show no sign of going away, and we are already seeing costs rise. A case in point is the price of coal, which seems set to increase very significantly in the coming year.
So as ever the crystal ball isn’t giving a clear picture of the future. Nothing new there. The challenge is the same one as usual – maximising our income while keeping tight control of expenditure. We have set what we believe to be a realistic budget, but we shall have to work hard to achieve it, especially if inflation gets any higher.
We may not be running passenger trains at the moment but in addition to the programme of closed season infrastructure works, the planning and preparation for the new season is already well under way.
First up will be the half-term trains in February, which this year will have a springtime nature theme, with particular emphasis on the birdlife that is so abundant along the line. Spring, summer and autumn will be marked with similar seasonal themes, all with the intention of encouraging repeat business by providing something different throughout the year. We will be doing this in partnership with organisations such as the RSPB, and we will be developing further partnerships in 2022.
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In the summer we intend to launch a new on-train catering offer, which among other things will for the first time in many years, allow at-seat dining on ordinary trains. There are significant risks, which the management collectively are seeking to manage and mitigate, but once it gets under way we shall have a new income stream. We shall be learning as we go along, and it will be the 2023 season before the full benefits are realised.
All the infrastructure and engineering departments have a busy year ahead, and among the many Carriage and Wagon projects, not least those involving our all-essential catering vehicles, we hope soon to see the return of the popular South Eastern & Chatham Railway Family Saloon.
The return to service of the second Terrier, in its original LB&SCR guise of No 70 “Poplar” is also eagerly awaited. Indeed 2022 will be to some extent the year of the Terriers – a number of events are planned jointly with other heritage railways, and last week Hornby announced their limited edition presentation set consisting of 4mm scale models of our two Terriers in specially designed packaging.
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 Brendan Connell attends to the fire of 4144 prior to departure with the Members Special (Last Train) from Bodiam. Photo: Philip Noakes
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Last month, it was mentioned that the Board has initiated a station site strategy review which will be led jointly by David Nibloe and Andy Papworth. Their objective is to gather together the thoughts and ideas from across the railway about how we can improve our station sites to make them better from both a visitor and a functional perspective, and from that create a long term development plan. This is something we have needed for some time.
With the Santas now firmly behind us, David and Andy will reaching out to a broad range of people across the Railway to begin this process. Later in the year we shall begin to be able to take fully informed decisions about how to make the best use of the limited real estate available to us.
So 2022 is going to be busy. On top of everything else we are likely to get the long-awaited result of the Rother Valley Railway public inquiry!
We will keep everyone updated as we go along. In the meantime, if you haven’t yet volunteered your services on the Railway, please do consider joining the increasing number of people who have done so. We are a growing family and we want to keep it that way.
Simon Marsh
Chairman
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Carriage and Wagon |
 Carriage and Wagon staff practice their levitation skills on the new kitchen car. Photo: Peter Blythe
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Since the Outshopping of compartment coach CK86 for the Santa trains,the Carriage & Wagon department focus has moved to RU1987, the new Kitchen Car. The last remains of the old British Rail ceiling have been removed, and remedial work to the inside framework has been carried out. During December the coach was lifted and placed on the bogies from the RMB carraige number 59 - as this is now withdrawn for overhaul. The Team are tearing into the RU already, having set the bar rather high with the quality of craftsmanship in CK86. Our Kitchen contractors have visited and we have finalised the design for the new Kitchen. |
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 Photo: Peter Blythe
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Work continues on the Family Saloon. The woodwork repairs are done and it is now mostly covered in its Resin coat to preserve the wood and we hope to be applying primer shortly. |
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We have also gained another Brake Van. Members of Southern Locomotives Ltd have been restoring one at Horsted Keynes on the Bluebell Railway since 1994. The Bluebell have quite a queue themselves so a deal was struck to bring it here to be finished and to join our fleet. This is a much needed vehicle for us and we are working on ways to get it in the shed and finished as soon as we can.
Peter Blythe
Carriage and Wagon Manager
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 "New" mess coach for the P/Way department. Photo: Paul Jessett
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 The PWay gang gather for the next service! Image: Paul Jessett
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Permanent Way |
The project for the team following February services is to renew the loop at Tenterden. The decay of the time-expired sleepers means that pre-loved concrete sleepers will be installed; providing the opportunity to bury many of the surface cables, with the assistance of our infrastructure colleagues, tidy up the site and make the area safer for carriage washing and other works.
Rother Bridge
During January, works were undertaken to extend the life span of Rother Bridge, in accordance with the specification provided by our Consultant Civil Engineer Graham Bessant.
In partnership with Playfoot Engineering repairs have been effected to the structure of the bridge and the team are now rebuilding the maintenance gantry which, as it sits underneath, is regularly submerged by high winter water levels. Our thanks are due to our friends at Playfoot for their flexibility and expertise!
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 Messrs Rand, Jessett and Halliwell inspecting the loop. Photo: Helen Douglas
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Over recent months, the K&ESR and The Terrier Trust have been working on a project to immortalise in miniature the Terrier locomotives that are preserved at our railway.
As some of you may have seen, Hornby recently announced that they are producing a limited edition boxed-set of our beloved pair of locomotives in 00 scale to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Terrier class.
Fifty of these Stroudley-designed locomotives were built between the years of 1872 and 1880 and it is a testimony to the design that there are still ten examples in existence.
No. 70 ‘Poplar’ was one of those built in 1872 and was purchased by the K&ESR in 1901. With the support of contributors to our Terrier 150 appeal, her overhaul is nearing completion at the North Norfolk Railway. She will return to steam this Spring resplendent in her original livery of Stroudley ‘improved engine green’.
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No. 78 ‘Knowle’ returned to service last year and has been earning rave reviews on her travels to other heritage lines. This engine was hired by K&ESR in 1940 from the Southern Railway and today wears the plain black Southern livery with ‘sunshine’ lettering carried at that time. |
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The K&ESR STROUDLEY TERRIER 150 YEAR ANNIVERSARY LOCOMOTIVE PACK presents the engines in the liveries they will be wearing in 2022. It is a limited edition of 500 and comes in a very smart presentation box , with a numbered certificate signed by Simon Marsh, our chairman, and Tom White, the chairman of The Terrier Trust.
We are delighted to say that the railway will be obtaining a supply of these sets and you can support our charity by purchasing yours direct from us. The Recommended Retail Price of the set is £241.99. We will be offering the set at an attractive price to our members, and you will be able to purchase via a link in our February newsletter on a first-come first-served basis.
Hornby are gifting to us the boxed sets numbered 1/500 and 500/500. Our Fundraising Working Party have put forward some proposals to the Commercial team in order that we might utilise these very special box sets in the best way to raise money for the continuing care of the two locomotives. If you have any suggestions of your own on how best to achieve this, please contact fundraising@kesr.org.uk
We will soon be announcing when you can see ‘Poplar’ back at the K&ESR, and when the pair of engines will be running together. We will be working with Hornby to publicise the Terrier 150 events in 2022; hopefully reaching a new audience who share our love of these wonderful locomotives.
David Nibloe, Trustee
Helen Douglas, Sales & Marketing Manager
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Commercial
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The process of restructuring the Commercial Department and reviewing job descriptions for the team has been ongoing throughout January.
The pandemic has enabled many changes for our organisation. The 2021 policy of improving the experience for the everyday visitor - instead of offering a resource-hungry packed events programme - has demonstrated the benefits of adding value through activities and themes for every visitor.
In line with this development, job descriptions have been reviewed and roles aligned to more closely match the work that is actually required and undertaken currently.
The team now comprises a combination of fulltime and parttime staff:
André Freeman - Commercial Manager
Helen Douglas - Sales & Marketing Manager
Heather Packham - Visitor Experience Manager
Caroline Warne - Sales & Marketing Officer
Lin Batt & Rosemary Geary - Senior Commercial Officers
Tracy Hughes - Commercial Officer
Retail & Catering are to become Hospitality with job descriptions and titles being developed accordingly. Vacancies will be advertised in due course to support the commercial objectives of the business for 2022 and beyond.
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Doug Barrow |
We are sorry to share the sad news of the passing of Doug Barrow on 29th December 2021. Doug started volunteering at the K&ESR in 1985 with Forestry and Conservation, later qualifying as a Guard. |
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 Doug Barrow. Photo: Chris Barrow
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Doug was also involved in helping in many other areas which varied from laying the concrete sleeper roadway at Tenterden to manning the Santa refreshment trolley. Doug’s ability to speak Dutch, Flemish, German and French proved very useful when welcoming visitors from overseas, something that frequently produced a surprised smile. Our thoughts and condolences are with his family at this time. |
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Wednesday Working Group (WWG) |
I'm sure that you have all heard of the WWG and its involvement in supporting our Railway, so that we can be proud of its presentation. Not only for all the people involved but to share it for younger generations. This of course costs money, takes time and has to be discussed with a variety of people to ensure that we can be as cost effective as possible. It goes without saying that there are a number of desirable projects for the future to really make improvements to our infrastructure and presentation and some of the costs are quite high. That is where we as a Volunteer group continually help.
Projects that we are looking at in the future are based on how the customer views us upon their arrival and during their visit with us - we all know that first impressions carry a lot of weight!
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 Wednesday Group performing formation sweeping. Photo: John Holland
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 The table submits to Sharon's charms. Photo: John Holland
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Tenterden Station, containing the booking office and shop, requires repairs: the facades and windows are in need of significant attention; we can do do the simple stuff such as repainting for relatively low cost. The Carriage & Wagon workshop exterior has not had a coat of woodstain for years, and the skylights need renewing. The work to restain this building have already begun and will occupy much of our closed season Wednesdays.
Our Signal Boxes are in need lots of replacement wood and a good lick of paint. Level crossings will also benefit from a good clean and some painting work. Nearly all the signal posts require painting which will be underway soon.
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The group believe that doing some of these jobs in the near future will have a positive impact upon how the customer sees us and understand that we are improving. I cannot finish without mentioning our younger volunteers, Kian,Tom and Norton. We have given them 2 projects to work on in the guise of the two cranes at Tenterden and they have already started with enthusiasm!
We know that under guidance of the more experienced team members they will do a good job and will continue to be proud to be part of the WWG.
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 Norton Friend attends to Tenterden yard crane. Photo: John Holland
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Don't just read about it here... |
In light of the enthusiasm and superb efforts of the Wednesday Working Group, Brian Richards is looking to start a similar working group on Saturdays at Tenterden.
Please contact him via infrastructure@kesr.org.uk or leave a message with the enquiry office (01580 765155) if you are interested in getting involved - you'll be made most welcome!
John Holland
Wednesday Working Group
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 Ballast Regulator arriving at the Avon Valley Railway 26th January 2022 to undertake works for their permanent way department. These external hire contracts contribute to maintaining the machines for the benefit of our railway. Photo: Jamie Douglas
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Locomotive Department
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 K&ESR does Alice in Wonderland Photo: Antony Morris
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4144 has received a number of repairs to improve her performance and subsequently she has been prepared for the visit of the boiler inspector. We are delighted to announce that, courtesy of Didcot Railway Centre, 4144 will remain at K&ESR until late Summer 2022!
Austerity 25 - "Northiam" has been washed out, prepared and ready to run for February half term services.
WD300 "Frank S Ross" has been the subject of much investigative repair and the team currently awaits the delivery of a new regulator head.
Overhaul of Terrier "Poplar" continues at the North Norfolk Railway and our own team are fabricating the Stroudley chimney. The forgings for new coupling rods are at Rolvenden awaiting collection for water jet cutting in preparation for final machining. We look forward to providing a further photographic update in a future newsletter edition ahead of the Terrier 150 anniversary celebrations.
Marcia has made her way in the shed for final preparations to lag and clad the boiler in preparation of lifting into the frames, painting, assembly and testing.
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 300 tucked up ready for bed. Photo: Liam Head
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Pannier Tank 1638 has arrived at Leaky Finders for work to the bottom end. At this stage the planned works inclue major axle box and horns overhaul, frame alignment, coupling rod rebushing and various minor repairs to the frames.
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 Not to be outdone, the Pannier attempts vertical take off.
Photo: Jack Woodhams
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4253 works are ongoing in the shed to move the loco towards entering service. Peter Cloake and Graham Adams have been machining coupling rod brasses to prepare them for white-metalling work.
Apprentice George Moffat has spent January working in the machine workshop alongside our incredibly experienced team - providing him with the benefit of 100 years collective knowledge and skills!
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Newsletter Archive
Have you missed a newsletter? Have you recently joined us? Whatever the reason, you can browse recent editions of this newsletter at https://kesr.org.uk/members-e-newsletter-archive/
Tenterden Terrier Online
As a member of the K&ESR, you can access ‘The Tenterden Terrier’ magazine in electronic format by registering your details at https://kesr.org.uk/tenterden-terrier-online/
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Support the K&ESR when you shop!
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Did you know that whenever you buy anything online – from your weekly shop to your holiday – you could be raising free donations for the Kent & East Sussex Railway with easyfundraising?
There are over 4,000 shops and sites on board ready to make a donation – including eBay, Argos, John Lewis, ASOS, Booking.com and M&S – and it won’t cost you a penny extra to help us raise funds.
All you need to do is:
1. Go to https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/kesr/?utm_campaign=raise-more and join for free.
2. Every time you shop online, go to easyfundraising first to find the site you want and start shopping.
3. After you’ve checked out, the retailer will make a donation to Kent & East Sussex Railway at no extra cost to you whatsoever!
There are no catches or hidden charges and we’re really grateful for your donations.
Amazon Smile
If you’re an Amazon customer, you can support the K&ESR at no additional cost by using Amazon Smile – simply click the link below and setup the K&ESR as your selected charity.
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Thank You!
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From all of us here at the K&ESR, our very best wishes |
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Kent & East Sussex Railway
Tenterden Town Station, Station Road,
Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HE
www.kesr.org.uk
Registered charity 262481
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