Kent & East Sussex Railway
Members e-newsletter No.68
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Welcome to the January 2023 edition of the K&ESR's e-newsletter |
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 Working hard up Tenterden Bank in early January, Austerity "Sapper" demonstrates why we ceased steam services during drought conditions!
Photo: Robin Coombes
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Deep sigh, hoover up the remaining mince pies, and reflect on a very successful Santa season. We did well with ticket sales, but, more to the point, we entertained thousands of people, young and old. It is easy to forget that amongst all of the timetables, rosters and money, there are people.
Customers, and staff. Both need to get "something" out of the season. It is clear from feedback that our Customers are pleased with us (they keep coming back), and for most of our staff, seeing Customers, especially young ones, smiling, laughing and enjoying magical moments is more than enough.
There are some who like to see a smooth running operation or - like me - watch the income grow, cushioning us from the harsh economic environment to come.
We should all congratulate ourselves. Bringing happiness into peoples' lives is a gift.
Now, looking forward we must steel ourselves for forthcoming financial challenges which are not of our making. We must spend as little money as possible to keep the railway working, until we get income flowing again. This could be through any number of actions for which we can all make a difference; switching off lights, turning down heating a couple of degrees (doesn't apply to anyone in the C&W or Loco sheds!), order materials when needed and not too far in advance and much much more.
We are applying for grants for capital heritage works, and if you know of any Grant makers, please let me know.
We have seen one established Heritage Railway head towards receivership.
We will not join them.
Geoff Crouch
Vice Chairman
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General Manager's New Year Message |
First - if it is not too late in January - let me wish everyone a very Happy New Year. Perhaps a year like no other? A year of going forward with peace and prosperity, a year muddling through, or one going backwards too awful to even contemplate? In truth nobody knows.
This time last year there were few predictions of a war in Ukraine, extreme summer heat, not one but two new Prime Ministers and a new Monarch. Closer to home, the war meant the 1940s event was cancelled, energy prices spiralled, ‘Trussonomics’ hit business confidence and climate change meant no steam, and fewer passengers. These effects show us that what happens in the upper atmosphere or Westminster and as far away as Moscow can have a direct effect on our own rural Light Railway.
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We thought we would have a summer with two Terriers, 1638 and 65 would reappear together with the RMB buffet carriage, this sadly did not happen.
An eye would be kept on the crossing at Northiam but that quickly changed to being the Railway’s biggest potential risk.
However, on the plus side, we ran almost every advertised service, the Pullman continued to be superb and Santa Trains sold out.
The point I am making is that there will be inevitably ups and downs, but as the Santa season proved, the heart and spirit of the K&ESR to rise to the challenge is undimmed.
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 Photo: Robin Coombes
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 Despite the weather Austerity Locomotive "Swiftsure" brings passengers back to Tenterden.
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There is no doubt the Santa Season tested us, but we ran every train. On one day, the snow and ice tried to beat us into submission, but we still won, with only the last train very late back. On another occasion we did screw up, and a train ran very late, but again heroic efforts by a few and we got everyone back and even compliments as to how we handled the problem.
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So, what of the new year? The new timetable is being built in our operating system for our active members. This will be then be populated in our public website for the benefit of our other members and the general public. There are changes to the format you have seen previously, which have been made based on detailed data anyalysed from previous years of train operations. There are more ‘held days’ which can be released to the public if passenger traffic merits.
We are building up our events, the team is burning the midnight oil and have had some very early morning starts in order to build the best offer we can for the year ahead.
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Photo: Robin Coombes
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There will be a Railway Open Weekend, a ‘Forties’ and a Steampunk event, and lots of small events, from hop picking to a bus rally.
What does the research tell us? Unique, unmissable experiences are more important than ever. Covid has left a legacy of broken habits with more considered decision making.
The wellness trend is gaining momentum. Premium experiences could balance the books. ‘Empty nesters’ have the most time and money. We are using this research to try to refine our offer and better target our audience.
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The budget has been signed off and has had an independent sense-check. We are doing everything physically possible to plan for all different eventualities, and to do the very best we can with the resources we have available; if we had more, we could do more. We know ‘failing to plan is planning to fail’.
The budget is based on achieving 69,000 passengers, there are few further cost savings we can make, without degrading our ability to earn the income we need. We will of course be very closely monitoring all spending decisions to manage the cash flow during the period we are closed to the public before we reopen and ticket revenues return, although we will be forward selling as many of products as possible such as the Pullman and a special early bird offer on Santa.
All heritage railways are watching what happens with the Severn Valley Railway who have announced the prospect of a ‘deep cost-cutting exercise’. When a major railway such as the SVR sneezes, other railways catch a cold.
The sector, like all heritage businesses, is going to be facing unprecedented challenges this year. I have faith we can still prosper, and it is important that the legacy that has so carefully been built, is never lost.
It is an opportunity to reappraise what we do, why we do it; we need to innovate for the twenty first centure, be relevant to a new generation and build ourselves to be stronger and more resilient.
To do so we are also going to have to be honest with ourselves, communicate transparently the brutal realities of where we are, in order to build consensus in our communities, inside and outside the railway, so we together all pull in the same direction and grasp the opportunities that I believe are out there.
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 Photo: Robin Coombes
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If you are wondering “could I do more?”, this is the year we need everyone to step up to the plate. Increasingly, the railway is reliant on key individuals who are already at their maximum, going beyond what could ever be asked. We need more volunteers to share the load and help. If you can do an extra turn please do, if you can persuade a friend, relation, neighbour or colleague to become a Volunteer, please do, if you can donate more in the way of cash, we need it.
If every member gave the price of two pints of beer every week, we would raise a million pounds in a year. Now just image the effect of investing one million into the railway to improve our offer. Is it too much to ask?
It also seems so easy in a mess room conversation, or for a keyboard warrior to ‘blame’ someone/anyone - “The Railway”, “The Board”, “The Managers” – “They” don’t understand", “They don’t do enough". “They” are invisible, “Someone” should have, “Someone” needs to, and so on.
I understand that it gives comfort to blame someone else rather than look to oneself and ask, “what more can "I" do to help?”
The below image illustrates the reality of many ocassion at our railway; a Director and a Manager, working together to strip back the crumbling brickwork, helped by a willing volunteer clearing the debris away in temperatures hovering around zero. The work has to be urgently completed before we can run trains again. This is what working together in the real world looks like and how we build resilience and, critically, save money. The alternative would be to simply ring up a building contractor and pay their bill. This is what happens unseen and uncelebrated by sadly so many.
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 Another brick in the (platform) wall. Photo: Robin Coombes
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What will see us through is the K&ESR spirit, where we all work so effectively together, everyone playing their part, supporting each other and the railway, and our railway family.
Thanks to you we go into the new year with a strong heart and will be raising steam soon.
Robin Coombes
General Manager
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Commercial News |
In a first for us, Santa Specials are on sale in January!
We've initially opened sales to previous Santa Special visitors until the end of February, providing priority booking and a small fare incentive. Tickets will go on general release at the end of February.
Bookings are already very encouraging and our thanks go to those who have made this achievement possible.
Andre Freeman
Commercial Manager
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 Santa working his magic! Photo: Robin Coombes
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To mark the Coronation of King Charles III we will have a "Best of British" type event over the Coronation weekend. Details to follow in a future edition.
Our annual 1940's event will take place this year on 13th and 14th May, followed by two educational Evacuation days for schools.
1970s/1980s Weekend - 24th and 25th June
Does anyone have any games from that era that they would be happy to donate for "games trains" during the course of this event weekend? Alternatively any classic cars owned by members or associates of the railway, built during that era, we'd love to have these on display!
Can anyone put us in touch with a good Disc Jockey who plays music of the time?
Art Weekend - 1st & 2nd July
Local en plein aire artists will be plainting around Tenterden station; with our visitors encouraged to chat to them about the creative work they are doing.
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Steam Punk - 19th & 20th August
Having had a desire to host an event of this kind for several years, we're delighted to be working in partnership with Great Kentspectations.
The next wedition of this newsletter will contain details of a launch on St. Georges Day of a family fun day, providing entertainment and an underlying educational theme about our environment and focus on reducing single-use plastic.
Heather Packham
Visitor Experience Manager
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 Our very own Keith Edwards in Steam Punk regalia at a Charles Dickens event. Photo: K Edwards
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Notable Dates for your diary
6619 Limited Shareholders Meeting
6619 Limited Meeting in Tenterden Town Hall will commence at 1.30pm on Saturday 25th March 2023. Shareholders in 6619 Limited will be sent more information at the beginning of March
Annual Volunteers Meeting
Annual Volunteers Meeting in Tenterden Town Hall will commence at 2.45pm on Saturday 25th March 2023.
K&ESR AGM
Annual General Meeting in Saint Mildreds Church, Tenterden on Saturday 4th November 2023. More details will be circulated in July.
John Cobbett
Company Secretary
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Colonel Stephens Museum |
llustrated lists of selected items for sale from the museum are now available.
Copies of the lists may be requested by emailing museum@kesr.org.uk
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View from the Station Master’s Office |
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 One of the delights of working at Northiam is the chance to chat with and learn from colleagues. On a September Sunday Philip Noakes, Crossing Keeper that day, and Martin Christoff, Station Master debate the finer points of signalling or how to make Northiam plastic free! The rather shabby signal in the background has since been restored to former glories by Paul Vidler and his trusty paintbrush. Photo: Geoff Colvin
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January brings the chance to draw breath and reflect. Much has been written about the challenges of 2022, there is no need to reiterate them here. A huge thank you to every member of the platform team for your efforts. Whether you have been able work just a few days, are one of the frequent flyers who rarely seem to leave or part of the invisible crew labouring over keyboards and phones to make things happen, your contribution has been vital. I hope that you all have experienced the moments of satisfaction that come from the positive comments made by so many of our visitors and seeing so many smiling faces.
Then on to 2023, one of my first tasks to sort and “rehome” the mountain of lost property, left on trains, that made their way to the office in the hope that they might be reclaimed by their owner.
I made a start the other week and counted 15 umbrellas, quite remarkable considering the drought, half were broken and went straight to the skip. Next time it's glasses, hats, scarves and cuddly toys!
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Santa Services included half-day shifts for Platform Assistants, the feedback from those undertaking these was very positive, they provided an opportunity for those who might have found a full day too much to take part, as well as much appreciated extra pairs of hands. We will make these a part of our day-to-day operations for the coming season.
The new timetable features regular crossing movements at Northiam for the first time in some years. This will be a new experience for many of our Station Masters so some briefing and training to come. Several people have put their hands up to learn to work at Northiam, if anybody else is interested please let me know and I’ll create a plan for training.
Geoff Colvin
Chief Station Master
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W20 Railcar Update
Excellent progress has been made on the Railcar since it came back into the Carriage & Wagon shed at Tenterden in September. Most of the large and small saloon side windows and top-lights have now been fitted. The roof and the side guttering has been fixed down, primed and undercoated, ventilators fitted and the ceiling fully insulated, with the ventilator drip trays included. The gearboxes have been checked and refreshed by our contractor (having stood for idle, over the 11 years since overhaul). All the old heavy duty wiring and conduits have been removed from under the vehicle, in readiness for the re-wiring to be undertaken. The roof domes and remaining cab end panels are being fettled and fitted, utilising the services of an external sheet metal-working contractor.
The railway has appointed Steve Beck of Cambrian Rail, as their appointed Independent Competent Person (I.C.P.), who is fully involved at all stages of the restoration. His assessment of the work already carried out and the on-going plans has been very positive.
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A new bespoke diesel-fired heating system has been designed specifically for the vehicle. This will emulate the original steam heat system as closely as possible, with hot water pipes following the runs of the redundant steam pipes. In addition, three fan coil units are included; one for the Guards accommodation for heating and two to provide the cabs with heat and to supply the screen de-mist function. The supply and design of the heating system has been approved by both the Board and the I.C.P. and it has now been ordered. The complete heating system will be installed by the contractor in March, as a “Turn Key” project.
So, it is all very positive as our Team headed towards the February 2024 launch date…however as of January 19th, the railcar is being stored in the Carriage Storage Shed at Rolvenden. The reason for this is that essential maintenance must be carried out on the DMMU and other carriages in Carriage and Wagon. This unavoidable temporary relocation will disrupt the restoration plan, but the good news is that it is already booked to return to C&W in early March for the contractor to fit the heating system, as booked.
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 The completed roof, primed and undercoated. December 2022. Photo: Chris Mileman
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In the meantime, the Railcar team will turn their time to assisting with general C&W duties, to hasten the return of our vehicle, plus any Railcar-part restoration that can be continued remotely, so minimising any delay to the completion date.
In the meantime, please don’t forget to seek out the “20 for 20”: The GWR Diesel Railcar Restoration and Conservation Appeal – in Memory of Andrew Webb leaflets or digitally via the K&ESR website to support the project financially.
We hope to exceed the £20k target, to ensure that money is available to complete the restoration and for its on-going conservation, necessary to provide for the long term operational availability of the vehicle on the K&ESR.
Any support will be much appreciated.
Chris Mileman
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Tuesday Working Group
The main project planned for the year ahead is to paint the station buildings front and back and to finish the three remaining Platform 2 lampposts. Next we need to "attack" the lamppost in the garden at the station entrance. Like so much this work is all weather-dependent. There is some minor plumbing work to be repaired in the Disabled Toilet. The remaining jobs will be to keep Northiam looking lovely for our Sunday Pullman customers and visiting public.
Steve Bunn
Tuesday Group
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 Photo: Robin Coombes
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Wednesday Working Group |
With the most important part of our season finished, we have been looking forward to the New Year with confidence that we will achieve another outstanding year of voluntary contribution, for the benefit of KESR and all of its supporters who come to see our Railway.
This year we are going to face another tough year for our ambitions versus what we realistically achieve, in part due to budget restrictions that will affect all departments across the railway.
As a group, we have some projects that we need to finish but have been hampered by running trains. It sounds ironic but some jobs need to be undertaken when there are no train movements and certainly no passengers.
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 Members of the Wednesday Working Group take a brief rest in the warmth of the January sun! Image: Robin Coombes
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The outstanding projects that we must continue with are: finish restoring the appearance of the signals at Northiam and Wittersham, as well as putting the final touches to both signal boxes at those locations - a priority is to refurbish the Wittersham "down home" signal post. Add to these jobs we intend to refit the Rolvenden shed guttering as well as white-lining the platform. We do have the materials for these jobs, and hope that these will be finished in the shutdown down time before the season starts in earnest.
We have come up against a major emergency job which has uncovered all sorts of concerns. The platform coping stones at Tenterden have become loose and have unveiled brickwork underneath which needs replacing. This will be a long job - felt especially so in the very changeable winter weather that we continue to encounter. This project as a safety concern has been costed and approved and we aim to have it completed prior to February half term train operations.
Another immediate job is the cleaning of all our carriage roofs, using the cherry-picker & jetwash. This will enable some roofs to be repainted more easily and safely as they pass through Carriage & Wagon, and will also make the other carriages look better for our passengers.
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 Its often unglamorous work....
Photo: Robin Coombes
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 As ever, many staff across our Railway rise to our needs spectacularly!
Photo: Robin Coombes
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Our long-term projects are as-ever an expanding list; painting all the signal posts along our line, repainting Rolvenden signal box, Cranbrook Rd crossing gates & keepers hut, and continuing to paint the outside of the Carriage & Wagon shed - which requires us to have Number 1 siding clear for a couple of weeks.
We will achieve what we can this year with good heart and spirit & the essential help of the members of the Wednesday Working Group.
If you are interested in joining our group or one of the other station groups, please email me via infrastructure@kesr.org.uk
Brian Richards
Infrastructure Manager
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4253 Annual General Meeting
On Saturday 14th January 2023, Shareholders in 4253 Locomotive Company attended their AGM. This year the AGM was held in St Mildred’s Church.
The Board was able to give a detailed report on the engineering progress of the boiler at HBSS Liverpool, together with a report on the work still to be carried out on 4253 itself before it will be ready to operate.
The Board gave a detailed report on the accounts for the last year and explained the financial challenges still ahead; some of which are due to unexpected remedial work required on the boiler, resulting in a shortfall of £21,000 in completion costs. A general call out was made for donations and anyone can help us in this mission!
Kelvin Williams
4253 Ltd
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Situations Vacant
We are currently seekiing a Carriage & Wagon Fitter, a Locomotive Fitter and a Chief Mechanical Enginner to support our existing team of volunteers and paid staff. If that sounds interesting and you've the necessary skills and experience, we'd love to hear from you. To find out more, visit the website
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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 receive notification when ‘The Tenterden Terrier’ magazine is published online by registering your details at
https://kesr.org.uk/tenterden-terrier-online/
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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/ |
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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
Sadly Amazon is scaling back its support for charities and will close by 20th February 2023.
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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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