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K&ESR Members e-newsletter No 58

K&ESR Members e-newsletter No 58

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‍Kent & East Sussex Railway

Members e-newsletter No.58

‍Hello   

 

‍Welcome to the March issue of the e-newsletter.

‍From the Chair...

A piece of really good news to start with. A small group of us went to the Heritage Railway Association annual awards ceremony in Birmingham on 20 March – the first time the Railway had done so for some years – and we came away with a first prize and two joint runner-up certificates!


‍The first prize was in the Lord Faulkner Young Volunteer Award category, and in a strong field of eleven nominations it went to our very own Sarah Tagart, who is not only a highly qualified volunteer in her own right but also, as many of you will know, chairs our Volunteer Committee. In this latter role she has been phenomenally successful recently in leading our recruitment campaign which is currently delivering more potential recruits than ever before. Well done Sarah!

Young Volunteer of the Year winner Sarah Tagart receiving her award from Lord Faulkner.

‍The joint runners-up were in the Morgan Award for Preservation, for the overhaul of the Woolwich coach (the eventual winner being the Great Central Railway’s 17-vehicle box van train), and in the HRA Award for Environmental Innovation category for our introduction of green diesel fuels. This latter was won by the Bure Valley Railway for its ground-breaking and vitally important work on sustainable steam.

 

All of which shows that we can be up there with the leaders when we put our minds to it. What we do well, we do very well indeed.

Runner up awards for Environmental Innovation and Preservation are collected from Tim Dunn by Jake Lewis and Matt Hyner.

‍But we, and the rest of the heritage railway movement, are going to need to do even better and continue to evolve if we are to survive and thrive. We are operating in a very difficult and unpredictable environment – who could have forecast that once Covid was (sort of, at least for the time being) out of the way, we would be hit by the economic and other consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine? We could be facing a perfect storm, with costs potentially rising uncontrollably, essential materials and services virtually impossible to source, and our customers having less money to spend.

 

Agility, responsiveness, and the ability to get ahead of events are all going to be at a premium. We on the Kent and East Sussex have made a number of changes in the past couple of years but it is now clear that we will need to go still further if our currently strong position isn’t going to be eroded. Taken overall, we still aren’t as effective and efficient as we need to be.

 

That is not to detract in any way from the hard work that many of us are putting in to ready the Railway for the new season which is about to start in earnest. The staff meetings are being held, the bookings are coming in, equipment is being prepared and all our sites are being spruced up. There is springtime activity everywhere. Thanks are due to all who are involved.

 

Talking of thanks, I wish to record here our appreciation of all that Helen Douglas has done for us while on the paid staff, which she is about to leave. Her can-do attitude will be missed, and I’m glad that she will still be associated with us as a volunteer. Thank you, Helen.

 

The sun is shining, and the 2022 season is nearly upon us. I am confident that despite the challenges that are out there we can make it a good one and provide memories that matter for all our customers.

 

Simon Marsh

Chairman


From the Board

The board of trustees had its monthly meeting on Saturday 26th February. We met in the function room of the White Lion in Tenterden High Street. Andy Papworth, chair of the Project Assessment Committee, was also present.


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 had a comprehensive report from the General Manager covering recent business. We were concerned that progress in a number of areas across the Railway still wasn’t as embedded or as swift as we had wished or been led to believe. We asked the General Manager to address them and to ask if further assistance was needed . We agreed to trial a system whereby departmental managers produced a short monthly report of what they had achieved.


We noted a proposal to hire in an additional locomotive for revenue protection, subject to a detailed inspection and a watertight hire agreement. We accepted with thanks an offer to bring one of our earliest locomotives back onto the Railway. We noted the possibility of acquiring a Mark 1 coach at an advantageous rate and subject to an inspection.


We noted that our financial situation remained healthy but with the national outlook not so bright we would have to take care that it remained so.


We reviewed the Safety Director’s report which included his overview of 2021. We noted that the 2022 targets would be agreed at out next meeting.


On strategy, we noted that we would shortly be publishing on HOPS a report of progress so far and, having discussed it with the management, what it was intended to achieve in 2022.


On major projects:

  • We noted the General Manager’s assurance that the Kitchen Car remained on track, thanks to the superb work and commitment of the C&W department.
  • We discussed issues relating to Terrier 150 and the return to service of No 3.
  • We noted that a start-up meeting for the Field 51 project had been arranged for 14th March and that a project manager would be required.
  • We noted progress towards resolving IT connectivity issues at Rolvenden; a formal dispute had now been raised with BT Openreach.
  • We noted with pleasure the excellent response to the appeal for a volunteer recognition manager and assistants(s), and that recruitment continued to be healthy.

The next scheduled meeting of the Board would be held on Saturday 26th March, and Sarah Tagart would be invited to give a presentation on the work of the Volunteering Committee.


‍Carriage and Wagon

Carriage and Wagon continue progress through the various projects, as well as continued maintenance of the running fleet. We have had visits from both Diana and Maunsell 54 (the Pullman NBO) this month, for 18 monthly exams. Diana has settled on her springs somewhat and proved a bit of a headache to get both level and at the correct ride height – it is of course vital for buffers and gangways to match. 54 has needed repairs to its roof canvas and has had a dehumidifier in to dry out the Bodiam end.


The team continue work on the new Kitchen Car, John Wheller is seen working on the windows alongside some of the revarnished panelling refitted – she is starting to look quite nice!

Work continues on RU 87. Photo: Peter Blythe

The Family Saloon refresh continues, as I write this it is in undercoat and the gloss paint is being stirred. There is a great sense of relief from the team that paint is starting to go on rather than being scraped off! It has received 2 coats of boat builders resin to waterproof the wood before any paint was applied, that has worked really well on other coaches so hopefully She will look well for a long time. 

More paint being applied to the Family Saloon. Photo: Peter Blythe

‍‍We have managed to work the “new” Dance Hall in. This one is under the wing of Southern Locomotives Ltd and has been under restoration at the Bluebell Railway since 1994. 

The Dance Hall Brake Van receiving attention. Photo: Peter Blythe.

The van has come here to be finished and will join our fleet – a lovely vehicle and a much needed addition. We have a few localised woodwork repairs to do and we need to fit a vacuum through pipe and handle, but the work already done on the van has given us a wonderful base. Being a little nerdy, it’s a nice thought that we have a fair bit of local history in the shed, with both the Family Saloon and Dance hall being Ashford built of course, but also the underframes for the Kitchen Cars.

 

Peter Blythe

Carriage and Wagon Delivery Manager


‍W20W Railcar Restoration Status Update

‍The team continue to keep themselves busy supporting other C&W projects whilst we wait for the Railcar’s return to the shed in the spring. Vehicles benefitting from our attention include the kitchen car, the Family saloon and the Dance-hall brake van.


The bid / application for some grant funding (A.I.A) has been drafted and submitted in good time for the closing deadline so we keep our fingers crossed. We should hear the result by the end of June. Many thanks to all who have worked so hard to get this prepared.


The final metal sheets for the Headcorn-end cab surrounds have been delivered and we look forward to fitting these soon.

 

Chris Mileman/Neil Edwards

GWR Railcar Group


‍News from Bodiam

‍It has been very heartening to see the formation of the Wednesday Working Group, tackling jobs at Tenterden and Rolvenden – more power to their elbows! However, now is perhaps an opportunity to remind members that another group has been working at “the other end of the line” for many years and continues to do so but perhaps with a lower profile than it deserves. The Bodiam Team (currently numbering about a dozen regulars) is responsible for maintaining the buildings and gardens at Bodiam Station to ensure that the (at present) furthest outpost of our railway is kept in a condition that enhances the services and image that we all seek to project. As the main destination for visitors starting at Tenterden and, in normal times, perhaps planning a whole day out, it is important that the station offers an attractive venue with good facilities. To this end, as well as undertaking the usual routine tasks of cleaning, repairing, painting, and gardening the team now has to cope with the aftermath of the installation of the new sewage system and the introduction of the “glamping” coach. We are gearing ourselves up to spread several tons of topsoil over the excavated and backfilled areas ready for seeding so that the site will look attractive again for both train passengers and residents of the coach.


The garden areas include not only the flower garden at the entrance but also the hop garden, the station master’s vegetable garden, the grass event area and Robin’s Wood, established in memory of the late Robin Dyce. The latter area has been rather ravaged by culvert work and the external work to the camping coach so we will have our work cut out to reinstate it to an attractive area for visitors to relax in.


The recent mention of luggage barrows at Tenterden reminds me that one of our team has been renovating barrows and trollies at Bodiam for several years and we have a surplus of these in good condition for use anywhere on the railway. We are also undertaking the cosmetic repainting of several items of tatty rolling stock which do not enhance the station if left in their unrestored condition.

‍Following several destructive break-ins three years ago we had temporary use of a steel container in which to store valuable equipment and tools. We made it as presentable as possible but the need for it elsewhere on the railway offered us the opportunity to have a grounded van body instead. The accompanying picture shows that, following refurbishment by our team, it provides a much more “railway-like” solution for our secure storage.

The wagon body looks at home in it's new position. Photo: Malcolm Burgess

‍As well as preparing the station for the new season our immediate projects include decorating the interior of the station building once the inside wall of the shop has been moved, ideally repainting the crossing gates again and preparing to receive the Cavell Van of which we are proud custodians when it is out of its winter quarters.


Malcolm Burgess

Bodiam Group


‍An illustration of rising costs

‍As you will all know, energy costs have risen dramatically over the past few months and are likely to rise still further. We are asking everyone to be mindful of costs and take additional care when using expensive fuels.

 

In particular with locomotives, please consider the costs involved in waste: try to avoid over firing, wasting water, blowing off etc. Working engines any harder than strictly necessary to keep to time is wasteful, so please work trains economically and brake light and early to safe fuel.

 

The cost of lubrication oils has risen by around a third, please avoid splillage by taking care when filling sumps, axleboxes, oil reservoirs etc. Eventually all the waste equates to a whole barrel, plus the additional cost of having the yard oil interceptors emptied - at over ÂŁ1000 a time!

 

Where a diesel locomotive is going to be stationary for more than 10 minutes, please shut it down. 

Please also turn off lights and heating where not needed. Could that thermostat be turned down, or even off? The electricity bills are more expensive than ever and rising fast, we need to slow the meter down!

 

Consumption per day

2021 cost

2022 cost

Coal (2 locos in use)

ÂŁ700

ÂŁ890

Lubricating oil

ÂŁ 12

ÂŁ18

Steam oil

ÂŁ 6

ÂŁ7.50

Diesel Fuel

ÂŁ28

ÂŁ70

Electricity

ÂŁ161

ÂŁ247

Total per day

ÂŁ907

ÂŁ1232.50


Over the remaining operating days this year, these increases will add over £51,000 in additional costs and that’s without any further increases yet to come. To cover the known increases, we'll need to carry an additional 14 passengers every day.

 

Please be mindful of the need to keep costs as under control when operating our railway. Your co-operation is not only appreciated but needed to ensure that the railway remains in business for us all to enjoy for many years to come.

 

 

Thank you

 

Pete Salmon

Operating Manager


‍Commercial

RAT Trains

Two Real Ale Trains (RATs) are now available to book, working alongside the Old Dairy and Rother Valley Breweries, on Friday 8th April and Friday 6th May. We are trialling a slightly different format this year, offering beer tastings with Old Dairy on the platform before boarding the train rather than music at Bodiam Station as previously. There will be a selection of pre-bookable hot food options for customers to collect before boarding the train as well as plenty of different beers and cider to buy on board. The souvenir pint glass celebrates the Terrier 150th anniversary. There are still spaces available so do mention this to all of your friends!


AccessAble

We have recently arranged for a company called AccessAble to create a guide for disabled visitors which includes key information about what they can expect when visiting our railway. They will visit us to undertake an audit, initially of the Tenterden site. Prior to this visit, Geoff Colvin, Peter Stone and myself will conduct our own audit of Tenterden, Northiam and Bodiam to identify quick wins and more medium to longer term areas for improvement. https://www.accessable.co.uk


Operating board update

In time for the new season, you may notice that, following feedback, we have created some new posters which contain a QR code for visitors to view the timetable information on our website. These will be replaced by with the days timetable during operating days.


Helen's departure

On behalf of the Commercial team, we are sad to see Helen leave her Sales and Marketing position but wish her all the best in her new role. Luckily she is staying on as a volunteer and we do have her on speed dial!

 

Heather Packham

Visitor Experience Manager

 

Hospitality

 

Our small team of volunteers have acheived great results in keeping our visitors happy during the challenges of the last couple of years - we owe them a huge debt of gratitude. As we gear up for a resumption of daytime and evening on-train catering offers (in addition to our existing schedule of Wealden Pullman services), the team has received a welcome boost by the appointment of two 'new' staff.

New is something of a misnomer, for both individuals will already be known to many colleagues. Rejoining us as our Hospitality Manager is Kim Wilkins. Kim was our Catering Manager for a number of years until a change in personal circumstances saw her move away five years ago.

Kim Wilkins and Sean Webb
Kim Wilkins and Sean Webb

‍Also joining us as our Hospitality Supervisor is Sean Webb. Sean has been an active volunteer for around twenty years and could often be found in the BBQ or Wealden Pullman kitchen.

Both bring with them a wealth of experience and enthusiasm. 

‍If you'd like to help out, do please get in touch - there are both volunteer and seasonal roles available 

Contact Kim Wilkins via kwilkins@kesr.org.uk in the first instance

 

Andre Freeman

Commercial Manager


‍Loco Department

‍Work at Rolvenden continues despite the rain and wind. We lost a lot of guttering during the storm and one container is now an open air swimming pool.

At the time of writing, Marcia is just about finished, with just a hydraulic and test runs before returning to service. 

Marcia in the shed

65 has had a new style of cab fitted which should keep the crews awake and smooth out the ride.

 

Knowle has returned from its sell-out UK tour, complete with half a bunker of ersatz coal which will burned to test its usefulness.

  

The reverse osmosis plant has had a full service and new membranes, the old ones lasting nearly 10 years which is unusual to say the least.

 

Everyone continues to work hard preparing for the new season. A couple of "new" locos will be with us from next month, along with a new Steam/Diesel fitter, Jack Marlow.

 

David Brenchley

Locomotive Delivery Manager


‍Wednesday Working Group (WWG)

It's been a month of indifferent weather, that has played down our part in achieving what we wanted to. Saturday's, for our young members, have been hit by rain, which resulted in their project slowing down, but they are particularly eager to get the ball rolling again to finish their projects. Thanks to Tom & Kian for their hard work.


The most significant event that we participated in this month was to move twenty tonnes of topsoil, with the help of the Bodiam group, to restore the sitewhere works had taken place last year. The area over the new sewage tanks has been covered, the adjacent embankment reformed and two areas in the field have been attended to. All were seeded with either grass or wildflower mixture. It was a nice change to work at Bodiam with the group nd we all enjoyed the hard work - even our manager Brian managed to use a wheelbarrow!

 

We look forward to how this will look this summer. 

Where did all the topsoil go? Photo: John Holland
Another gate to be painted. Photo: John Holland

‍We are once again trying to ensure the 'front of house' has a better visual impact, demonstrating that the railway cares for its visitors. The weather has again played its part, but we have repaired the the picnic area fence, painted the C & W entrance gates, started painting the level crossing gates and adjacent fences at Tenterden and Rolvenden.

‍At Cranbrook Road, emergency repairs to a fence were made following a battering by the wind. A survey of fencing there has shown that they will all need replacing this year.

We have also started work on our educational project by cleaning up an old wheelset. This will enable our guests to gain knowledge of 'wheel tapping'. 

Preparing the wheelset. Photo: John Holland
Looking resplendent in purple. Photo: John Holland

‍Not to forget the Queens Platinum year, we decided, after much discussion, to paint the telephone kiosk at Tenterden Station. After a huge amount of sanding down, the kiosk is now transformed by painting it Royal Purple. With spring approaching we will be able to continue our visual impact quest by finishing more of the hidden defects.


If you are interested in what we do and would like to help, do please get in touch with Brian Richards. There are now additional group working days each week.

 

John Holland

Wednesday Working Group


‍View from the Stationmaster’s Office

March brings a sense of optimism with signs of spring and a little warmer weather. Planning is underway for the new season with an increasing range of offerings appearing on the website.


This is exciting but we will all need to bear in mind that many of our visitors will be dealing with costs of living that are rising ahead of their incomes and will be expecting good value for every penny spent with our Railway. With this consideration we must ensure that, as well as a safe day out, we make the whole experience of visiting us memorable for all the right reasons.


Sometimes it is the little things that can make a big difference, 30+ years ago my then 7-year-old son was being somewhat grumpy on a visit to the Great Central Railway, he rather wanted to be somewhere else! The situation was retrieved by a quick-thinking fireman as the picture shows. We both remember the day fondly and it was the small addition of putting the chap’s cap on that makes it stand out from many of the other outings.

 

Instant happiness! Photo: Geoff Colvin

‍This season I hope we will be able to have Platform Assistants in action much more regularly than has been possible recently. The value of their role in providing information about things ranging from facilities, our history, to how engines work and generally being fonts of knowledge and entertainment can sometimes be overlooked. Their help in keeping the station tidy is much appreciated by the Stationmasters too. If you think that this might be for you please do get in touch for a chat.


Geoff Colvin

Chief Station Master


‍‍Volunteering Update

Sarah Tagart, winner of the 2022 Young Volunteer award.
Photo: George Harman

‍It’s been a busy few months in the volunteering committee with the implementation of the new Volunteer Recruitment Process. This provides a linear approach to the way we process our new recruits from the first expression of interest through to successfully being placed into roles or departments. With this process having been piloted over the last year with small tweaks along the way, the next step has been to recruit the new volunteer recruitment team.


As those who have completed the recruitment role before, and after doing it myself for nearly a year, it has become obvious that it is too much work for one person. The new team has been interviewed and selected, giving us a Volunteer Recruitment Manager and four Officers (with potential to add more as time goes on.) The new team will be getting together very soon and I cannot wait to introduce them to the railway.

‍Most of you will be aware that last year we introduced Volunteer Welcoming Days which are an opportunity for new recruits to see the railway and all its role in action to allow people to choose the best place to start their volunteering journey with us. These have been a great success, with 100% of people attending so far signing up and becoming a volunteer. With the dates for these set for the first half of 2022, we find ourselves in a wonderful predicament of the first three dates being at capacity! (Words I never thought we’d be saying)

Other work of the committee is ticking along in the background and will be evident very soon!

 

Sarah Tagart

Volunteering Committe Chairman


‍Museum Book Sale

‍COVID stimulated clear outs have boosted the supply of excellent quality railway and other books, DVDs and OO gauge railway models. These generous donations continue to help boost Museum funds, as we sell them, so we are currently able to offer considerable quantities at very reasonable, indeed bargain, prices. Starting with DVDs at 50p and books at £1,we have many sought after books on the shelves ranging from Colonel Stephens railways to HSTs.

 

We open with the railway on 2nd April so come and browse.


And whilst you visit, there is a rather nice Museum attached. If you haven't been recently, you may be surprised at what will interest you. Come and see what the passengers and passers-by demonstrably enjoy.

 

Brian Janes

‍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 receive notification when ‘The Tenterden Terrier’ magazine is published online by registering your details at

https://kesr.org.uk/tenterden-terrier-online/


Tenterden Terrier No.1

‍All editions of ‘The Tenterden Terrier’ are now available to view or download from our website: to access this fascinating archive, click on the image above or visit

https://kesr.org.uk/terrier/ï»ż


‍Support the K&ESR when you shop!

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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.

 

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.

  

Amazon Smile

 

Thank You! 

‍The total donated by Amozon to the K&ESR  to date is £599.11

‍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

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