Dog Days

As previously reported, passenger loadings and locomotive issues have instigated changes to the planned August operation.

Graham Tubb has been undertaking some TTI duties on the railway and reports that both Terriers had been working well early in the month with the Vintage set on the 11.45am and 2.20pm departures from Tenterden.

With the remaining steaming dates available for No.3 cascaded forward due to lubrication problems with P-class 753, “Bodiam” has now been withdrawn for washout and the annual boiler inspection.

Recent use of 32678 was scaled back to the long weekend of 13th to 16th August, being personally witnessed in action on three of the four days.  Although the weather refused to cooperate some interesting digipics were obtained and in time will be included in a gallery update.

Variation of an unwelcome kind occurred on the 16th.  The first train of the day, worked by No.23 “Holman F Stephens” was trapped by a fallen tree between Rolvenden and Wittersham Road and had to be rescued by D6570 “Ashford”.  Meanwhile 32678 worked a rare Tenterden Town to Rolvenden shuttle and back.  Normal service was resumed with effect from the 1.15pm service.

The heavy loaded Vintage train workings in recent weeks recall not only the busy late C19th services worked by the Terriers on the South and East London lines, but also the packed summer services on the Hayling Island branch.  It is strange how history has a habit of repeating itself and that rather than pandering to a very small enthusiasts market, the Terriers main function on the K&ESR in C21st is the mass transit of holidaymakers to a tourist honey pot.

HN-20/08/2010