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K&ESR Members e-newsletter No 57

K&ESR Members e-newsletter No 57

Kent & East Sussex Railway

Members e-newsletter No.57

Hello   

 

Welcome to the February issue of the e-newsletter.

 

Repainted Station Refreshment Rooms - the building celebrates its 100th birthday this year
Photo: Peter Blythe

 

From the Chair...

2022 is now here in earnest, and in more ways than one. Our February half term trains started well. I had the pleasure of sampling them with my grandchildren on the Wednesday, and it was a very positive experience. Both the trains I travelled on were nearly full, and the birdwatching guidance courtesy of our friends in the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds was very well received, as were the activity packs and tabletop maps of the line.

Photo courtesy of Jamie Douglas

And then Storm Eunice hit. A combination of power outages, trees and damage to equipment meant that we had to cancel the final two days of operation. But as ever there was a silver lining to the (very dark and heavy) clouds in the way in which so many people gathered round to make a start in clearing up the mess. 

 

Returning to the theme of good news, it was marvellous to learn that we have three shortlisted entries for the Heritage Railway Association 2022 awards. For the record, they are the restoration of the Woolwich Coach, the use of bio-fuel in our diesel fleet, and Sarah Tagart for young volunteer of the year.

 

It’s a long time since anything like this has happened to us, and even if we don’t actually come top in any of the categories to have got this far is quite an achievement. The results will be announced at a dinner in Birmingham on 19th March. Fingers crossed.


I am also pleased to say that after careful deliberation the Board has decided on a costed plan for supporting the final stages of the restoration of our historic Great Western diesel railcar. Given everything else that’s going on this won’t happen quickly, but we believe a target of 2024 or 2025 to be realistic. It’s better to set targets that are achievable than over-ambitious ones that end up being missed.


We remain busy right across the Railway as we prepare for the start of the 2022 season proper. The engineering and infrastructure departments have full programmes of work, while the operating department will shortly be rolling out the traditional annual briefings for staff in all grades. If you are involved in any of these meetings, please make every effort to attend. They are important.


And finally, a date for the diary. The annual meeting for all staff, paid and volunteer, will be on Saturday 26th March, time and venue to be advised. It would be good to see as many as possible of you there. It’s our Railway and we need to work together.

 

Simon Marsh

Chairman


From the Board

The board of trustees had its monthly meeting on Saturday 29th January. We met in the function room of the White Lion in Tenterden High Street. Apologies were received from Richard Styles, the assistant company secretary.

 

The e-Newsletter provides an opportunity to give a brief flavour of some of the most important points. It should not in any sense be regarded as a comprehensive formal record.


We welcomed two newcomers to the meeting. The first was John Cobbett, whom the Board has unanimously agreed to appoint as its new Company Secretary. John lives in Tenterden, is already a volunteer ticket inspector on the Railway, and has a wealth of relevant experience. The second was Andy Papworth, the chair of the Project Assessment Committee; he attended as an observer.


We noted with sadness the deaths of Mark Yonge, a volunteer from the early days and a former chairman, Doug Barrow, known to many in a range of roles, and Glyn Murray, a Wealden Pullman volunteer Conductor.


We had a comprehensive report from the General Manager covering recent business. We agreed to dispose of two redundant carriage underframes, we noted with concern the continuing rise in the cost of coal, and we agreed that the time had come to begin discussions with 4253 Ltd about the use of their locomotive when its overhaul had been completed.


We noted that our financial situation remained healthy, and we recorded our thanks to those who had made this possible. Having discussed the main financial and operational risks we agreed the adoption of a challenging Budget for the year which had begun in November 2021. We noted that the biggest risk on the income side was around our catering operation; we noted the measures the General Manager was taking to manage this risk, and we agreed to set up a small group to monitor delivery of the new offering.


We noted a report from the Safety Director. He had written to the Office of Rail and Road to update them on our approach to safety issues, and he was rolling out semi-formal risk management workshops and safety/risk briefings for managers. The revision of the Safety Management System was on track for April.


We received a progress report from the Environmental Sustainability Working Group, and we agreed on measures to raise awareness of the subject among the Railway’s managers.


We noted a report from the Project Assessment Committee which detailed project approvals that had been signed off and those currently in the pipeline. We also noted a number of initiatives being developed by the Fundraising Working Party.


We agreed in principle to seek Heritage Lottery funding for the restoration of locomotive 6619. We were pleased to agree a detailed proposal for completing the restoration of the GWR Railcar which involved the commitment of K&ESR resources and the seeking of external funding.


We noted progress with the Terrier 150 initiative and welcomed the co-operation with Hornby which had led to the production of a limited edition set of models of the two Terriers resident on the Kent and East Sussex.


We noted with approval the priority being given to the completion of the Kitchen Car. We had not yet had a substantive reply from Arlingtons following their inspection visit on 1 December 2021; this was being followed up.


We noted the planning being led by trustee Matt Hyner to ensure that physical work on Field 51 at Rolvenden could begin in the early summer when the ground had dried out.


We looked forward to the early filling of the new volunteer posts of Volunteer Recruitment Manager and Volunteering Recruitment Manager. The annual volunteers’ meeting would be on Saturday 26th March. We commended the continuing work of Sarah Tagart and agreed that she should be invited to address a future Board meeting.


We discussed a letter from an individual who wished to take over the Tenterden Station shop on a profit-sharing basis. We agreed to thank him for his interest but did not wish to take the matter any further.


The next meeting would be held on Saturday 26 February.


‍Carriage and Wagon

Winter is proving incredibly busy in Carriage and Wagon, balancing the needs of the running fleet with the new Kitchen Car. We have finished the repairs to the passenger saloon window’s on Our Brake Coach (BSO 73) and the ten new windows are fitted. Alan Brice had fitted so much new steelwork that touching up the paintwork wasn’t really an option, so the passenger end of the coach has had a quick repaint. All the upholstery was looking tired with some threadbare seats, so it has all been sent away to Browns of Maidstone to be re-upholstered. Considering it came in to seal a few leaking windows its done quite well for itself really – and I mustn’t forget the Pullman Chef who came in to help with the aforementioned painting.

Not quite the roller disco Meg thought she had been invited to.
Photo: Peter Blythe.

The new Kitchen Car (RU 1987) remains a priority. Work has focused on insulating the inside of the framework and fitting new woodwork to all the floor bearers to provide a solid floor, and the first trial pieces of the hygenic plastic ceiling have been fitted. Thoughts have turned to how we are going to fit the battery and inverter unit along with the kitchen ducting. The Team are all getting their teeth into this challenge and working to a standard that will provide us with a lovely coach.

You were only meant to take the doors off! Photo: Peter Blythe

The Family Saloon hasn’t been forgotten, with the last of its resin coat applied and the corresponding coat of etch primer. We are approaching the nice coloured paint! Along with many other areas of the railway we find ourselves in a bit of a perfect storm, with Covid causing backlogs and many other things arising we simply cannot put off. The “ To Do” list can become a bit overwhelming at times so I must say a big thank You to our Railway Family for some wonderful boosts recently.

Family Saloon entering sporting a nice coat of primer grey. Photo: Peter Blythe

4253 have taken on the unfinished Ballast Hopper that has been languishing at Rolvenden for a while, that was moved into place by our wonderful Permanent Way team and further parts moved down by the Infastructure Department and the Wednesday Gang. Along with the efforts of our wonderful volunteers, we must never forget  just how lucky we are at the  K&ESR. 

 

Peter Blythe

Carriage and Wagon Delivery Manager


W20W Railcar Restoration Status Update

How W20W looks today. Photo: Neil Edwards

Whilst W20W has been slumbering in the dark recesses of the CSS, its future was being discussed and decided elsewhere. To that end, the Railcar team have recently received the project development news they have been long waiting for. We were informed by the Chairman that the Board has unanimously voted to formally adopt the GWR Railcar W20W as a priority project for completion by 2024/2025.


This is the first time, for at least 25 years, that the project to restore this Company-owned vehicle back into full operational service condition has been afforded this level of support.


Obviously with this level of Company support comes the obligation for the project team to deliver. Therefore although this development is fantastic news, it is also received with an element of trepidation. We will be working with the Board and the Fundraising group to develop grant funding opportunities. However, possibly more importantly, we will be firming up both the project and financial plans to better understand the level of effort, funding and engineering support that is required to bring the vehicle back into service within the timescales set by the Board.


Although there has been good, albeit slow, progress over the last few years; which has seen both engines fully rebuilt and recently tested, the two gearboxes refurbished and a large amount of the external panelling replaced, there remains a large number of outstanding areas of work that still need to be addressed.


Due to the extended period of time that has elapsed whilst undertaking this drawn-out restoration thus far, in addition to the outstanding “to do” list, some of the already refurbished items will need to be reassessed. This is to confirm that they are still in good order and haven’t deteriorated over time and also to ensure they meet the current safety standards obligations. It is therefore very reassuring that the Board has determined a timescale to complete the restoration, as this will reduce the chance of any further nugatory work or expense being undertaken.


The project team are now looking forward to fully engaging with the various managers and technical advisers to ensure everything is in place with an agreed viable plan having been signed off by the Board. The team will also be reaching out to the wider membership and the public for support to help fill the funding gap as well as looking for additional volunteers to assist with the actual restoration effort itself.

How W20W might look in 2024/5. Photo: Neil Edwards

All this will enable the long held aspiration to see the Great Western Railcar, W20W, operating on the Kent and East Sussex Railway once more to be finally fulfilled.

 

Neil Edwards

GWR Railcar Group


‍HRA Awards

We're hoping for a hat trick at this years HRA Awards!

 

‍‍Sarah Tagart has been nominated for the Lord Faulkner Young Volunteer Award, leading a recruitment campaign during the pandemic.  The initiative has recruited an astonishing 175 new volunteers in just 12 months.


Sarah joined the K&ESR in 2013 and has worked as an operations controller, guard and fireman and since the start of the pandemic has been chair for the newly-formed Volunteering Committee. 

Steam is in Sarah's blood. Her grandfather was a railwayman and she followed her parents into volunteering on the Isle of Wight Railway.

DMMU preparing depart Bodiam 27th August 2021.

We have high hopes of also picking up the environmental award, after becoming the first heritage railway in the UK to switch to biodiesel.

 

The diesel fleet and track machines have been running on the biodiesel since August and favourable reports have been given of the DMMU neverhaving run so well. 

Woolwich coach at Tenterden. Photo: Pete Salmon

 

‍The third K&ESR nomination recognizes the amazing restoration of the first passenger coach to be obtained by the railway.  It was built in 1911 for the North London Railway and bought from Woolwich Arsenal, where it was used on workmen’s trains.


Our dedicated volunteers didn’t let covid restrictions stop them completing the restoration. Bits of the coach were squirreled away and taken home, to come back looking like new when work could restart in the carriage shed.


Efforts were rewarded when the now immaculate ‘Woolwich Coach’ formed part of the first train to run when we reopened after first lockdown in 2020 when passenger services were able to resume.

 

The awards are organized by the Heritage Railway Association. They will be presented by television personality Tim Dunn at a ceremony in Birmingham on 19 March.


Second Thursday "Zoom" Presentation

‍The first ‘Second Thursday’ Zoom meeting of 2022 will be held at 7pm on 11th March and will be hosted by Keith Barron, Kevin Bulled, Philip Noakes and Paul Vidler who make up the Environmental Sustainability Working Group.

 

The presentation will examine the environmental challenges of operating a heritage railway powered by coal and diesel, explain the role of the Working Group, highlight examples of current good environmental practice across the K&ESR and identify ideas for further sustainable and environmental initiatives in 2022 and beyond. 

 

Paul Vidler, Chair of Environmental Sustainability Working Group. Image: Helen Douglas

Links to join this presentation will be issued to staff via HOPs w/c 7th March 2022.


Commercial

February Half Term - in review

 

Although we were disappointed to have to cancel what had been well loaded pre-booked trains, as a result of Storms Dudley and Eunice, we were delighted that our customers were happy to keep their booking with us and transfer this to a date later in 2022!  This is not to be underestimated and shows the trust in our organisation by those who choose to visit us.

 

We offered a limited service across the 5 days that we operated during half term, bringing in on board talks from the RSPB (Maidstone branch) and a new activity sheet, designed by our own volunteers Pat and Colin King.  This was very well received and of very high quality.  Costs to operate services on these days were well managed (important in light of the rising costs of coal!) and the services were profitable on this basis.

 

As always, it is important to reflect on what we have done well and what we might do differently next time.  Heather and Helen visited our friends at the Bluebell Railway on 24th February and based on what we learned there, plus feedback from our friends at the Spa Valley, we are certainly reflecting on how we can improve our appeal going forwards.

 

Mothers Day

This had originally been planned as a two day service, however the Saturday 26th coincides with the annual staff meeting (as referred to in Simon's 'From the Chair') . As the previous two annual staff meetings were unable to proceed as a result of the pandemic, thus educing the opportunities to engage with our Railway family in person, it was agreed to ammend to one day of operation, as we have done in the past.

On Mothering Sunday 27th March, the lunchtime train departs Tenterden Town at 12:30 offering Ploughmans on board, whilst the afternoon train at 3:30pm offers the chance to travel by train and enjoy a cream tea on board. Details are available on the website.

 

More news regarding our restructured Hospitality team can be found elsewhere in this edition.

 

What to see from the train

Continuing to build on our nature theme and aligning with the spring marketing campaign, we are planning a "Spring arrivals" activity sheet for the whole of April and May . This will actively encourage customers to look out of the windows and spot the signs of Spring including flora and fauna and baby animals which will also allow us to share our Farmers line story.


Easter holidays

In addition to this, for the two weeks of the Easter school holidays there will be an Easter activity sheet, an Easter egg hunt at Bodiam station and bunny hunt at Tenterden station. On completion of these activities, families will be able to claim their prize, (a chocolate rabbit or non-dairy equivalent) from either the Tenterden or Bodiam gift shop. 


Easter Bank Holiday weekend

For the four bank holiday days we will have our very own resident rabbit (aka Paula or Kian) greeting customers at the gate and handing children an Easter crown to make and decorate on the train. I can imagine there will be a few selfie requests too!


Peter's Railway author Chris Vine provides interactive demonstrations of engineering principles at Rolvenden loco yard, August 2021.
Image: Helen Douglas

Junior Engineering Days

Following the success of last year's events and great feedback from customers, we will be running Junior Engineering experiences again on Thursday 7th and Saturday 9th April with Chris Vine, Peter's Railway author.  These are aimed at 6 - 12-year-olds with behind the scenes tours and opportunity to learn more about how a railway operates thus supporting our educational aims. Please refer to the website for further details of what is included in the session. We also hope to run some further sessions over the summer holidays.


Sparkling Afternoon Tea

In a special partnership with Woodchurch vineyard, the Wealden Pullman will depart on 2nd April for a Sparkling Afternoon Tea. This includes the opportunity to taste three different sparkling wines whilst enjoying a delicious Afternoon Tea. The vineyard proprietor will be onboard to answer questions about the wines and their production and tickets include a souvenir branded champagne flute to take home.


Best of British Weekend: 2nd - 4th June.

As part of this special bank holiday weekend, we would like to have a photographic show to commemorate the Queen Mother’s visit to the railway to launch Petros in 1982. Do any of you have any good photos of the day you would be willing to share with us? Or perhaps even better, do you have any memories of the day you would be prepared to share on camera if we were able to organise a video shoot? If so, please email me at hpackham@kesr.org.uk

 

Heather Packham

Visitor Experience Manager

‍All Change Please!

‍Following what has been, generally speaking, a very challenging couple of years, we have taken the opportunity to review and make changes to the structure of the Commercial team. We are extremely fortunate to have extremely hardworking and dedicated staff, some of whom have given loyal service to the company for over 20 years.

 

Sales & Marketing

Following the return of Helen Douglas as Sales & Marketing Manager from maternity leave, on a part time basis just before the pandemic, the team have been restructured to better reflect the requirements of the business - in the light of the altered behaviours of our fare-paying visitors.

 

Heather Packham becomes our Visitor Experience Manager, focusing on the programme and theming of our commercial offer across the railway. Heather has worked closely with colleagues on the front line since we reopened in 2020 and brings a new perspective and make it happen approach to the team. Heather will continue to work closely with our colleagues across the railway to look at how we present ourselves and what our themes and activities will be in the year ahead and into 2023.

 

Caroline Warne continues the hard work she has been doing alongside Helen, as part time Sales & Marketing Officer, with some of her time spent working directly at the forefront of customer service in a team with Senior Commercial Officers Lin Batt & Rosemary Geary and Commercial Officer, Tracy Hughes.

 

The team comprises of full and part time staff, reporting to Helen, focused on providing our passengers with the best experience from their first contact to the end (and likely return) of their journey with us.

 

‍Spring Arrivals is the new artwork campaign for the Railway's advertising for April and May 2022.

‍Hospitality

Our covid era catering has been provided almost entirely by a small volunteer team, to whom our thanks are due for keeping our visitors sustained and achieving some great results in trying circumstances. With the reopening of the Station Refreshment Rooms at Tenterden, and the resumption of our On-train Catering offer (including the new opportunities afforded by the new Kitchen Car coming online this summer), the team has gained some welcome support following the appointment of Sean Webb to the role of Hospitaility Supervisor.

Sean will be familiar to many, having been an active volunteer for over 20 years. His father Malcolm was active from the dawn of our preservation era, whilst his uncle, the late & much missed Andy Webb, latterly led the team restoring our GWR Railcar.

Sean is looking forward to the challenges that catering "on-line" presents - if you'd like to join the volunteer team you can reach Sean via swebb@kesr.org.uk or give him a call on 01580 765155


Wednesday Working Group (WWG)

It's been deemed that I write the updates for the monthly newsletter which came as a bit of surprise! Since the last news we have welcomed five more volunteers, which is superb and swells our number to fourteen, all of whom wish to participate in ensuring that the K&ESR presents a welcoming state, rather than a tatty heritage railway. It goes without saying that we are very mindful of our volunteers and how they wish to help as some of us our getting on a bit as you know, but we get on with the job.


In the last news we talked of projects for the future and by golly there are some, but once again we have to be mindful of budgets and our limitations. We looked at what immediate impact improvements we could make for our guests and, before the half term services, we managed to undercoat the entrance fence at Tenterden, wash all the woodwork down, take a first cut on the grass, examine why the ladies toilet cisterns were slow to fill, repair, stain and replace the picnic area benches, repair 2 platform trolleys that were rotten (thanks for the help 4253) and finish the horrible task of weeding the C&W entrance! This was of course was just a few of the many things we undertook.

Rolvenden level crossing gates cleaned and painted. Photo: John Holland

One of our major tasks is to repair the C&W exterior cladding, followed by staining. We have made a good start on that and none more so than the Headcorn end of the building. The doors and gables will be painted as well - thank goodness we have a cherry picker to help us now. We have also jet washed Rolvenden crossing gates and started to paint these - what a difference! Unfortunately that cannot be said of the crossing keepers hut, which is in a bad state (financial decision to be made on that)

What news of our younger members?They are continuing on the station crane and it's beginning to look well cared for - they are proud of their performance and so are we!

 

To finish, we are known as the WWG but as we now attend on many more days other than Wednesday, we believe that we might change to The Infrastructure Group or TIGs. We hold a group on Saturdays as well - why not join us? Contact Brian Richards infrastructure@kesr.org.uk


John Holland

Wednesday Working Group

Young and old(er) working together. Photo: Paula Oliver

View from the Stationmaster’s Office

The closed season gives an opportunity to take stock of our surroundings and take any obvious steps that will help present our Railway in the best light when visitors return.


Quickly coming to notice was the condition of the sack trucks at Tenterden which are used to display some of our vintage luggage, as well as to encourage visitors to use the correct exits. Not only showing visible signs of wear, both had a resistance to being pushed in a straight line.


A brief discussion in the Wednesday Working Group led to Kelvin Williams (of 4253 and Pullman fame) agreeing to taking a quick look…. and subsequently project managing what became a rather larger task than anticipated. The initial strip down of the first showed the “tank slapping” characteristics to be the result of a total failure of the lower wooden frame.


Not to be put off and determined to retain as much of the original as possible, Kelvin recruited Dave Stubbs to craft a replacement bottom end to be grafted onto the original handles and members of the 4253 gang to assist with preparation and repaint. Under the paintwork “Dover Priory” was discovered inscribed on the top cross brace, presumably a previous place of work of the truck. This has been left on display with a coat of varnish to protect it. We hope that its original owner doesn’t come looking for it!


Following reassembly it was back on duty for the first train of the season. Many thanks to all involved, a real cross-team effort. The second truck has been dismantled and proved to be in even worse condition, but not easily put off 4253 are working on it.


Now the luggage looks a bit tatty - any offers…….?


Geoff Colvin

Chief Station Master

Geoff Colvin receives restored sack barrow from Kelvin Williams. Photo: 4253

‍Terriers in Miniature

‍The promised opportunity to offer Members the opportunity to order a twinset of Terriers 'Poplar' and 'Knowle', produced by Hornby, will be available exclusively via a special e-mail campaign during the first weekend of March - so keep an eye on your inbox!


In other news...........

Marcia playing with 4144 Photo: Alan Crotty

 

Marcia has returned to steam! We are assured there will be no attempt to find out if she will fit in 4144's bunker.

 

Not to be outdone, the P/Way team have removed the loop at Tenterden! We are assured they will give it back in time for Mothering Sunday.

Either we're getting a new loop or the broad gauge brigade are staging a takeover! Photo: Paul Jessett

In Memoriam

‍We were devasted to learn of the passing of Glyn Murray in January, at the age of just 40 years.

 

Glyn became an active volunteer around 20 years ago, undertaking a variety of duties, but working on the Wealden Pullman was always his greatest love. He particularly enjoyed front of house roles and, just as often as he was able, undertook the role of Pullman Conductor, leading the team of Attendants (including his wife Ally) with great pride.

 

The K&ESR was represented at the service of remembrance by Wealden Pullman staff, in full Pullman uniform.


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/


Support the K&ESR when you shop!



easyfundraising

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.

 

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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! 

‍From all of us here at the K&ESR, our very best wishes


Kent & East Sussex Railway
Tenterden Town Station, Station Road,
Tenterden, Kent TN30 6HE
www.kesr.org.uk
Registered charity 262481