K&ESR 50th Anniversary 1/2 June

[TRP]

This is shaping up to be quite an event - it will certainly be my "must do" event of the year!
The 50th Anniversary gala on 1/2 June marks 50 years from the official re-opening of the K&ESR (Saturday 1st June 1974) and will feature 3 as-yet unidentified visiting locos on the Tenterden-Bodiam line, although there was a teaser on the gala page for some time in the shape of a pixellated photo of a loco which I would willing to put money on is Swanage Railway-based ex-SR U class 2-6-0 No.31806.
A fourth locomotive will be at Robertsbridge Junction, which has been announced as BR 7MT pacific No.70000 'Britannia'. The 'Brit' will operate shuttles along the Rother Valley Railway between Robertsbridge & Northbridge Street and will also be the first steam loco to use the ex-Hither Green turntable which has recently been installed at Robertsbridge.
The K&ESR's home fleet likely to be in action during the weekend should include Hunslet 0-6-0ST No.15 'Hastings' and Hunslet 'Austerities' Nos.25 'Northiam' & WD75008 'Swiftsure'. There is a chance that ex-LBSCR 'Terrier' No.2678 will be able to take part in the event as work is underway to try to get the 1880-built loco operational following a period out of action.

https://kesr.org.uk/50th-anniversary-gala/
https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/03...ebrations.html

Tony

[TRP]

Rumour has it that BR 4MT 2-6-0 No.76017 has arrived at the K&ESR...I'm just looking for confirmation!
But if this is the case, then the BR 'mogul' will be on the list of locos for the June gala.

Tony

[TRP]

Originally Posted by TRP

Rumour has it that BR 4MT 2-6-0 No.76017 has arrived at the K&ESR...I'm just looking for confirmation!
But if this is the case, then the BR 'mogul' will be on the list of locos for the June gala.

Tony

Here's the confirmation: https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/04...-for-2024.html

No.76017 has been confirmed as being on hire to the K&ESR (from John Bunch) for the remainder of 2024, which will include an appearance at the line's 50th anniversary gala (1/2 June).
Also visiting the gala will be SE&CR O1 class 0-6-0 No.65 from the Bluebell Railway. This will be the second visit to the K&ESR in preservation, having previously visited in May 2009, but the former BR No.31065 was a frequent sight on the Headcorn-Robertsbridge line in BR days.

Tony

[TRP]

The fourth (and probably final) guest engine for the K&ESR's 50th Anniversary gala has been officially announced as ex-SR U class 2-6-0 No.31806 from the Swanage Railway.
https://kesr.org.uk/50th-anniversary-gala/
The completed line up (subject to availability) should therefore be:

Visiting locos
BR 7MT 4-6-2 No.70000 'Britannia' (at Robertsbridge)
BR 4MT 2-6-0 No.76017
SR U class 2-6-0 No.31806
SE&CR O1 class 0-6-0 No.65

Home fleet
Peckett 0-4-0T No.12 'Marcia'
Hunslet 0-6-0ST No.15 'Hastings'
Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No.25 'Northiam'
Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No.75008 'Swiftsure'

(Plus diesels possibly in action which could include BR class 03 D2023, class 14 D9504, class 20 No.20087 & Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0DE 'Rowntree Mackintosh No.1')

Tony

[TRP]

Originally Posted by TRP

The fourth (and probably final) guest engine for the K&ESR's 50th Anniversary gala has been officially announced as ex-SR U class 2-6-0 No.31806 from the Swanage Railway.
https://kesr.org.uk/50th-anniversary-gala/
The completed line up (subject to availability) should therefore be:

Visiting locos
BR 7MT 4-6-2 No.70000 'Britannia' (at Robertsbridge)
BR 4MT 2-6-0 No.76017
SR U class 2-6-0 No.31806
SE&CR O1 class 0-6-0 No.65

Home fleet
Peckett 0-4-0T No.12 'Marcia'
Hunslet 0-6-0ST No.15 'Hastings'
Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No.25 'Northiam'
Hunslet Austerity 0-6-0ST No.75008 'Swiftsure'

(Plus diesels possibly in action which could include BR class 03 D2023, class 14 D9504, class 20 No.20087 & Ruston Hornsby 0-4-0DE 'Rowntree Mackintosh No.1')

Tony

It has now been reported by RailAdvent that the SECR O1 No.65 won't be attending the K&ESR 50th Anniversary gala as it is needed for the Bluebell's services and they are unable to release the loco.
However, it has also been confirmed that a GBRf class 73 diesel will be attending at Robertsbridge, where it is planned to operate the shuttle trains over the Robertsbridge-Northbridge Street section with No.70000 'Britannia', presumably top & tailed. I also wonder if the class 73 will be there for a naming ceremony, given the naming of GBRf No.73141 as 'Spa Valley Railway 25th Anniversary' at the Spa Valley's gala in 2022.
Slightly worrying is that reports have emerged of 'Britannia' possibly suffering another motion failure on a recent railtour - only online speculation thus far, hopefully there's nothing in it & 'Britannia' will be available for the K&ESR's gala.

https://www.railadvent.co.uk/2024/05...ent-visit.html

Tony

[TRP]

Timetables released...
https://kesr.org.uk/50th-anniversary-gala/

The timetables confirm that (subject to availability) the locos in use are expected to be:
BR 4MT 2-6-0 No.76017
SR U class 2-6-0 No.31806
LB&SCR A1X (Terrier) 0-6-0T No.2678
Hunslet 0-6-0ST No.15 'Hastings'
Hunslet 'Austerity' 0-6-0ST No.25 'Northiam' and/or WD75008 'Swiftsure'
Ruston Hornsby 0-6-0DE 'Rowntree No.1' on 'driver for a tenner' duties at Tenterden
BR 7MT 4-6-2 No.70000 'Britannia' at Robertsbridge
GBRf class 73/1 (not specified) at Robertsbridge

Also from Railway Hub & the Rother Valley Railway website, another GBRf loco will be on display at Robertsbridge - class 66 No.66718 'Sir Peter Hendy CBE'.
http://rvrailway.blogspot.com/

Tony

[TRP]

Originally Posted by TRP

However, it has also been confirmed that a GBRf class 73 diesel will be attending at Robertsbridge, where it is planned to operate the shuttle trains over the Robertsbridge-Northbridge Street section with No.70000 'Britannia', presumably top & tailed. I also wonder if the class 73 will be there for a naming ceremony, given the naming of GBRf No.73141 as 'Spa Valley Railway 25th Anniversary' at the Spa Valley's gala in 2022.

Tony

So, confirmation that No.73128 is the GBRf class 73/1 attending the K&ESR 50th Anniversary at Robertsbridge, newly repainted in Network South East livery by Arlington Fleet Services at Eastleigh. The Facebook post from the company teases that the loco (previously named O.V.S. Bulleid) is off to Tonbridge, then on to another location where it's new name will be revealed.

https://www.facebook.com/KentandEastSussexRailway/
Tony

[TRP]

GBRf class 73/1 No.73128 has been officially named 'Kent & East Sussex Railway 50 years of Heritage 1974-2024' at Robertsbridge, RVR today.
The ex-Hither Green turntable was also officially rededicated in a ceremony which involved BR 7MT 4-6-2 No.70000 'Britannia'.

https://www.facebook.com/KentandEastSussexRailway/

Tony