For more years than willingly register, or at least I care to remember, it has been an ambition to do something on the K&ESR with a Terrier on January 2nd, and particularly when this date fell on a Saturday – the exact anniversary of the closure of the original railway to all passenger traffic and the final demise of the Northern Extension to Headcorn.

The quirks of the calendar meant that the last time January 2nd fell on a Saturday was 1999.  At that time 2678 was still in private ownership and some weeks away from its return to traffic, having last steamed on the line in 1958, whilst No.3, which had come out of service at the end of the 1985 season, was still in the early stages of a complete rebuild.  That said, its future, at least, was now secure, being jointly owned by The Terrier Trust (TTT) and The Tenterden Railway Co. Ltd.

The obvious choice was of course “Knowle” that had recently returned to traffic at the phenomenally successful Gala in May, to be teamed up with the ‘birdcage’ in its early BR-red livery, because she had played such an important role in 1954.  This formation would also recall the famous steaming of K&ESR No.10 “Sutton” back on New Year’s Day 1993 with a single Maunsell coach and mimic an equally famous photograph of “Fenchurch” with a ‘birdcage’ taken decades ago on Bluebell.

Work outstanding from the overhaul required prior to the annual boiler examination and steam test eliminated the black Terrier so we fell back on No. 3 – the excuse for the Charter, after all, was to make very occasional use of our annual free steaming as a fundraising venture to part offset the cost of a pattern and casting of a new chimney for “Bodiam” that TTT had agreed to pay for.

In the wake of the picture-perfect Sentimental Journeys Charter of 32678 and the BR-mixed of November 9th, and with authenticity abandoned by necessity, we had to come up with something that would at least look good.  So the ‘Tilmanstone’ liveried wagon and the SECR brake were to be added to the ‘birdcage’ to produce a minimalistic mixed train.

Whilst the pathway was obviously still available, initial plans had to be rejigged as 3 faces the opposite way to 32678.  Fortunately our timings were reasonably accurate; it was left to James Palk to provide the spit-and-polish, organise the formal planning and put forward a suggestion that was pure genius.

Everything was set fair…or rather wasn’t.  Mother Nature decided to do her worse from mid-December and just when it looked like the weather might be easing over Christmas itself, yet more of the white stuff was dumped on New Year’s Day.

The forecast had been okay-to-good, so imagine the disappointment around 0700hrs on the big day with 10-10ths-cloud cover, some ice, the remains of the snow and just a bright strip on the horizon away to the south-east. 

By the time I’d parked at Rolvenden at 0815hrs, dawn had officially broken and there were encouraging signs the cloud was beginning to break up.  Geoff Silcock was already there and Ralph Tilley would be down soon from Tenterden, but who else?  Holidays, illness and other commitments had already eliminated some potential supporters and the icy conditions would doubtless take out many more.

The sun came out just as Driver Mike Harman and Fireman Terry Hannocks were completing their final preparations.  The original idea had been to take the ‘birdcage’ out to Wittersham Road to attach the wagon and brake; James Palk’s plan was to have the stock prepared in Orpin’s siding presenting an opportunity to record the whole train at that location.  It didn’t quite work out; No.3 had to thaw the ground-frame points leading to a slight delay and then right up until guard Graham Hukins – like Terry a TTT member – gave the right-away, the Terrier was almost totally obscured in steam.

With no-one else about, Geoff and Ralph went off to Wittersham Road for photographs whilst I drove straight up to Tenterden Town; my initial thought of driving down to Wittersham Road and back cancelled due to the potential of ice off the main road and the anticipation Rebecca might be delayed by the conditions.  There I found No. 24 “Rolvenden” with the service train in the loop and a large area of ice towards the back of the platform in the process of being cordoned off.

After returning to Rolvenden, the train had to run ecs up the bank as it was routed into the loop at Tenterden Town.  With few passengers about, I had time to walk partway down Rogersmead to photograph “Bodiam” just below the station.  At the time of writing it is known that the ascent was photographed in at least three other locations as well.

Station pictures proved disappointing due to the long shadows; departure was at 1110hrs and due to the paucity of participants a few ordinary passengers took advantage of the opportunity to ride as far as Northiam and pick up the DMMU from there.

Surely was this not one of the most amazing trains of the preservation/heritage era?  On the actual closure day 56 years ago, No.3 was essentially spare engine at Rolvenden and played a minor role, so here, in the brilliant mid-winter sunshine was her opportunity to…shine.  It mattered not that the train was almost empty as it steamed serenely like a swan across the waterlogged and snowy marshes; the white exhaust arching elegantly over its back –  or, for that matter, particularly authentic.  Here was the iconic K&ESR locomotive plying her trade as she has done so often – admittedly there being more off years than on – for more than a century with a miniscule mixed train so typical of those last days of normal operation.