Celebration Lacks Fizz; Bucks Trend

The 50th anniversary of the last train to be run over the K&ESR by British Railways on 11th June 1961, and the start of the preservation society that summer, may well have proved to have been an event too far in the “Spring Classics” series on the line.

Coming off the back of the season-opener to Junction Road, weather most condusive to days out at Bodiam throughout April, a late Easter, a magnificent Gala at the beginning of May, and then the mesmerising sight of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight during 40s weekend, it was inevitable that the run would come to an end.

To be fair it was hardly a bust but one was left with the impression it could have been oh so much better.

And if it was expected people would book online at the last minute or turn up and go in their droves, then it simply didn’t happen.

Yet perversely it was more like an incarnation of “Last of the Summer Wine” on a busy Saturday in earlier preservation days of yore, with greying middle age or older men exchanging greetings and memories in sharp contrast to some distinctly youthful crew members on the footplate.

It was a shame because a lot of effort had been invested bringing “Martello” and “Bodiam” back together again in British Railways livery, half a century after they struggled to force seven packed coaches, including Pullman car “Theodora”, up the slippery notorious Bank that included a stall at Cranbrook Road crossing.

Five coaches loading around 80% in near perfect conditions proved much less taxing.

Unlike “All Terriers Great and Small” in 2006 there were no long queues out the door to witness the first three Terriers together in BR black for the first time in preservation, possibly indicative of the passing of Old Father Time and more than a bit of day-out fatigue after the weeks of dry and predominantly sunny weather.

Nevertheless there were a number of people on the 10.40am departure, the main celebratory train, who had travelled on the LCGB working in 1961, most notably 32662’s fireman Dennis Roberts.