‍  Read this online 

‍Kent & East Sussex Railway

Members e-newsletter No.63

‍Hello   

‍Welcome to the August 2022 issue of the e-newsletter.

‍‍From the Chair...

‍A shorter piece from me this time.  Last month I dwelt on the theme of “challenging”. The challenges have indeed continued.

We have had the well-publicised failure of Poplar whilst on hire to the Bluebell. We are still getting to the bottom of this and when we have done so, we shall be formulating a plan for its eventual return to service.

More fundamentally, we have had the continuing hot weather, now officially a drought. In order to manage the fire risk, we took the decision to change from steam to diesel operation. This of course has not been without its problems given the very limited size of our diesel fleet, and we are all appreciative of the efforts of those who have striven to keep the Class 14 and the DMMU in service with the minimum of outages.

Staying with the weather for a moment, we must not forget our staff and volunteers who have kept the show on the road through the extreme heat. I know it hasn’t been easy, and some people have given large amounts of their time.

Just about weather-related, the camping coach at Bodiam is now open for business on a trial basis under the auspices of our friends at K&ESR Adventures. I am told that it has been busy, and that feedback has been generally good.  More details about this venture are included later within this newsletter.

But the big news of the month has been the arrival of our new General Manager, Robin Coombes. He is making it his business to meet as many individuals as possible, and we will be seeing a lot of him up and down the line. He has already shown himself to be an adept communicator and in the coming weeks he will be formulating his ideas about the future. The Trustees are looking forward to working together with him as we confront all the challenges ahead and realise the full potential of the Kent & East Sussex Railway.

Simon Marsh

Chairman

‍A first week on the K&ESR

‍Locomotive Department

‍Strange how time flies (and fruit flies like bananas), I’ve been involved with the railway for nearly six years now (yes I know I am just a baby) and it seems things are ever-changing!

The year started well with a plethora of locomotives in service but as I sit here in the heat we have one K&ESR steam locomotive ready for steam and two guest engines.

‍No. 15 Hastings came and went, we expect it back later in the year.

The coal we are using at the moment seems to be "eating" firebars, so we have ordered some special ones to see if they last longer than a week.

65 is moving on with a lot of help from volunteers; we hope that the boiler will be ready for steam testing at Christmas.  When you start ordering piston rings you know the end is in sight.

‍

Another group of volunteers are progressing Charwelton, electronically measuring the cylinder block angle of dangle, before fixing it in position.

We have TREATS Class 14 in the yard currently, as the new rod bearings need machining and white metaling providing a valuable learning curve for some of the younger members of the diesel group.

I have been looking for some Christmas locomotives but the available pool appears to be shrinking, so if anyone has something secret and useful in their "back pocket" please let me know!

‍

The heat wave is causing the whole railway problems but I am most concerned that the Rolvenden paddling pool has sprung a leak…

The diesel team have been working their socks off to try and maintain a service for our customers. As I write, a Class 33 is making its way down from Mid Norfolk to try and take some of the load off. We are very grateful to the owner Stewart Robinson for this.

David Brenchley

Locomotive Delivery Manager

‍Commercial Update

Outdoor cinema

We now have the green light from the film production company for two cinema evenings at Tenterden Town Station this September. For the first two tester events we will be showing the new Elvis movie on Thursday 22nd September and then Rocketman on Friday 23rd September. If anyone is available to help with meeting and greeting, do please let me know.

Equally, I am sure Kim and Sean would be happy to receive extra pairs of hands to help with the catering & bar.

Thank you to all those who came forward with suggestions for films to show. If this goes well, I plan to run more of these next year when we might be able to offer some more "niche" movies like the Titfield Thunderbolt - which will be celebrating its 70th anniversary!

‍

Jazz afternoon

Our very own Matt Jenkins will be playing jazz with his band at Tenterden Town Station on Sunday 25th September at various times during the day. This will be free for anyone purchasing a train ticket that day, or with a £3 platform ticket. As with the new cinema evenings, we hope that this will entice the local community, who often don't think of visiting us, to come and see us and learn what we have to offer right on their doorstep.

Santa and Yuletide Specials

Our Santa Specials, which have been on sale for a while now, continue to sell well and a Yuletide Special, which we successfully trialled last year and aimed at our adult audience, is soon to be released. The format of this has changed slightly with galloper rides being included, a trolley service on the trains and a catering add on. The first of these events takes place on Friday 9th December with trains leaving at 2pm, 4pm and 6pm with a second date of Friday 16th December if the first sells well.

Heather Packham

Visitor Experience Manager 

‍Bank Holiday Monday and there were Teddy Bears everywhere at Tenterden for their picnic, including of course the Class 14 "Teddy Bear" Locomotive. Lots of happy visitors and full trains, can't ask for more!

‍Tuesday Group

‍The focus over the last month has been on continuing to smarten Northiam Station in preparation for our Summer customers. This has involved a lot of painting and gardening related exercises.

Painting will continue to be a focus given the weather we are currently getting. More projects coming soon. Enjoy the rest of the Summer!

Steve the Younger.

Tuesday Group - Northiam

News from Bodiam

The usual maintenance work has been carrying on as normal, adapted to the exceedingly dry conditions which have limited some activities. Weeds continue to grow, even if the grass doesn’t, and paint peels off in the strong sunshine so jobs have tended to be concentrated in shade where possible. Notwithstanding the heat, the vegetable and flower gardens have thrived and have attracted many compliments from the public and also from the environmental impact team.

Thankfully the treadle connection between Northiam and Bodiam has been reinstated so that we again receive advance warning of approaching trains instead of having to strain our eyes to spot a moving vehicle partially hidden in the distant countryside.

The camping coach has seen its first occupants and feedback to the group has been positive so far.

There will not be a specific Hop Festival event this year, but the group will support the proposed theme across the railway with the station decorated appropriately and people on hand to talk about that aspect of our heritage.

Malcolm Burgess

Bodiam Station

‍4253 Locomotive Group Update

‍Volunteer opportunities

Assistant Company Secretary

Richard Styles has decided to stand down as the Railway’s Assistant Company Secretary. We are grateful to him for his contribution and wish him well.

There is therefore an opportunity for a volunteer to take on the Assistant Company Secretary function. This unpaid role is of critical importance in the Railway’s structure. The exact responsibilities will depend on the person(s) appointed, but will include all or some of:

a) Arranging and taking the formal minutes of the monthly Board meetings,            usually on the fourth Saturday of each month at Tenterden.

b) Taking minutes of such Board and management committees as agreed.

c) With the Company Secretary, providing advice to the Board on the Articles        of  Association and other legal matters.

d) With the Company Secretary and the Chairman, and the General Manager        as appropriate, keeping track of Board business and arranging for the                timely and ordered discussion of items.

e) With the Membership Secretaries, arranging the Annual General meeting          each November, including the nominations and election of trustees.

f) Managing the company archive.

g) Maintaining the ownership list of all the vehicles on the Railway.

It would be entirely possible for these functions to be shared between two or more people, and the role is likely to evolve over time.

The postholder(s) will report to John Cobbett, Company Secretary, and work closely with the Chairman, Simon Marsh, and other trustees.

We are looking for people with good administration and drafting skills, discretion, and an interest in playing a part at the centre of the K&ESR and its associated bodies at an important stage of their development.

Attendance at Tenterden will be required.

Support and guidance will be given. If you are interested, please email smarsh@kesr.org.uk by 16 September for a discussion with John and/or Simon. Brief details of yourself would be appreciated.

‍Assistant to the General Manager

We are seeking a volunteer who can help support our general Manager with administrative activities and to generally keep him on track!

This role will put you right at the centre of everything that's happening at the railway and will give you the opportunity to meet lots of interesting people from all walks of life and to make new friends. We're looking for someone who has probably worked as a PA and who is certainly experienced in running a busy office. You will need to be well organised, a logical thinker, unflappable and skilled in the art of multitasking. In fact, if you can herd cats, that would also be useful, but certainly oodles of common sense will be essential.

The key aspects of the role will be about managing the General Manager's diary and attending to 'day to day' admin including some basic HR tasks.

If this appeals and you can spare around 15 hours a week, we'd love to hear from you. If you would like to find out more, please email Robin Coombes rcoombes@kesr.org.uk to arrange phone call, or submit your CV with a covering letter.

‍Bodiam Camping Coach

‍K&ESR member discounted rates for November / December 2022 are:

‍Looking Towards an Uncertain September

The beginning of Autumn is an opportunity for everyone to catch their breath after the high summer peak and before the intensity of the Santa Season. Talking of opportunities, we have a rather different, and hopefully profitable, venture in the form of a Pop-up-Cinema. It is many years since Tenterden lost what I am told was an excellent 'Picture Palace' and I understand it's absence is a local hot topic. Let's test the market and see how we get on. In addition, decisions will soon need to be made about whether or not to run the Halloween ‘Fright Night’ trains, provisionally on 28th or possibly the whole week, as well as our post-Christmas to New Year services. Whatever is decided, I know our visitors will continue to receive the wonderful friendly and welcoming experience for which the K&ESR is so rightly famous.

Behind the scenes I am frankly expecting things to be anything other than serene. Everyone that follows the news will know there is a cost-of-living crisis with the price of energy skyrocketing to terrifying levels. We can’t ignore that we are still recovering from the affects of Covid and there has been a record breaking bone dry summer. We could not run a steam service and only got through by the skin of our teeth thanks to some excellent teamwork which secured the use of a Class 33 diesel.

These issues may have root causes beyond the control of the K&ESR, but they will affect every individual and every business in the UK. They are going to have a massive and largely unknown impact on our own railway. To take but one example, our energy bill will rise, at least three-fold in the short term, and maybe several times more over the coming months. So what is the management team doing to take account of what is happening?

Step 1 is to maximise our revenue now, by whatever means we can to sell or add extra services in what remains of this year.

Step 2 an absolute purge on wasting any energy; no standby modes or lights left on, the message is “SAVE, SAVE, SAVE”.

Step 3 is to be flexible in our planning for next year. We need to think, ‘affordability’ and ‘value for money’. Both new events and traditional services are going to have to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances.

Step 4 is to think hard about how, as a Registered Charity, we become more responsive to our own community of members, volunteers, staff, our visitors and our local residents. We need to address their needs and identify what we can do to help, from bringing a little magic to everyone’s lives through nostalgia and heritage to tackling more deep-rooted problems of financial hardship, loneliness and mental health.

This may not be what everyone wants to hear but sadly we can’t duck this, it is too big and it is going to be tough on everyone. The good news is that the management team at least recognise the problems and will not be burying their heads in the sand, we have a good team and plenty of ideas, but if you have thoughts or can help, please do not be afraid to step forward.

Robin Coombes

General Manager

Breaking News - Steam returns!

‍Thanks to a reduction in the lineside fire risk, from the 31st August steam locomotives will once again haul some of our services - why not visit and enjoy a leisurely trip through the beautiful Kent & East Sussex countryside?

We'll also continue to see use of the very popular heritage diesel locomotives, including visiting 'Crompton' Class 33 33202.

See the locomotive roster for more information on what locomotives are scheduled for operation https://kesr.org.uk/our-heritage/loco-roster/

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/

‍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/

‍Support the K&ESR when you shop!



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.

‍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

‍ Unsubscribe