The Kent & East Sussex Railway before preservation

The Kent & East Sussex Light Railway. known in it's first few years as the Rother Valley Railway, was opened between 1903 and 1905 and ran from Robertsbridge on the Tonbridge-Hastings line to Headcorn Junction on the South Eastern main line. The line became part of British Railways upon nationalisation in 1948 and, in common with many similarly unprofitable rural branch lines was steadily run down, closing to passenger traffic on 2nd January 1954 (at which point the section from Tenterden Town to Headcorn Junction was closed altogether) and to all traffic on 12th July 1961. The K&ESR survived as one of the first preserved railway lines in the UK and is now a very successful tourist attraction. These scenes however date from the period whilst the line was still part of the national network. The first few scenes depict ex-South Eastern Railway Class O1 0-6-0 No.31070 on a single coach train, filmed in 1952 at Frittenden Road, Biddenden, High Halden Road, St Michaels Halt, Rolvenden Shed (where former K&ESR Terrier No.3 Bodiam in her BR guise as No.32670 can be seen), and Rolvenden Station. We switch to a different film showing No.31070 again ascending the bank from Robertsbridge, with an ex-LSWR bogie brake and ex-SR brake van in tow, past St.Mildreds Church and arriving at Tenterden Town. Also from the same reel, at Tenterden we see Terrier No.32670 coupling up to a Birdcage brake, and then at Robertsbrige Junction. We now jump ahead to 1961 at which point the only passenger trains to traverse the line were hop-pickers specials or enthusiasts excursions. We witness just such an excursion, the "South Eastern Limited" with a pair of Terriers handling a comparitively heavy train (one at each end because of weight restrictions) and being mobbed by fans at Rolvenden. The next scene is from 1933 and depicts No.8 Hesperus (a former GWR 0-6-0 engine running with rods removed as an 0-4-2) arriving at Biddenden with a trio of ex-LSWR six-wheel coaches and making a sharp exit over the ungated road crossing. Finally, more scenes depicting a special train in the 1950s, this time the Rother Valley Limited with Terriers 32678 and DS377, the 'celebrity' Brighton Works shunter, in charge.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• southern
• railway
• colonel
• stephens
• sussex
• kent
• south
• east
• eastern
• rail
• railways
• british
• steam
• stroudley
• stirling
• terrier
• A1X

[NewController01]

Why did they have to scrap the Brighton Works Shunter? even when it was in it's Stroudley livery

[NJPurling]

The little saddletank: Who was she?

I wondered if it was "Minnie", the product of Fox-Walker of Bristol.

[Eyebeemania]

I've been there a number of times, and in the mid 1970's I helped out there for a few weekends. My mother wasn't too impressed with it, as I would always come home totally black!

[JimTLonW6]

very interesting video, and most enjoyable to watch. The period shots of the enthusiasts of that time are very entertaining!

[60103Henry]

Great video, Nice to see archive films like this!

[onetwoeight2]

wow i didnt think any video footage existed of the line that far back

[MrTrainset]

Great stuff . See the Rother Valley Railway (RVR) website for the latest on the plans to link Robertsbridge to Bodiam once more

[jamesdorey]

this is amazing,there is very few videos of this line in its heyday,thank you for putting it on here.

[WilliamShelford]

Superb material, the older the better!

However I query your statement that the clip of No.8 Herperus is taken at Biddenden. The station building is not right, I think that it was taken at Bodiam. Would anyone else like to comment?

[jeanniedee]

Great new Material ,I havent seen before !!