High Altar

The two Terriers are enjoying a brief spell in the limelight as the season starts to wind down and the nights draw in more quickly.

On Sunday September 5th, No.3 “Bodiam” and 32678 double-headed the Sunday lunchtime “Wealden Pullman”.  Characteristically for much of 2010 operation featuring the small engines, what sunshine there was largely refused to coincide with locality of the train at any given time.  The situation was further compounded by a block failure towards the end of the day between Rolvenden and Tenterden Town, which necessitated the introduction of pilot working.

Had the train run anywhere near time, it would have worked round Orpin’s Curve in bright sunshine, but such are the frailties and frustrations of railway photography.

The disappointment was further underlined by the fact that this was believed to be the first time since 1985 that two resident Terriers have doubleheaded a “Wealden Pullman” on the K&ESR, not, therefore, an exactly common occurrence.

This weekend sees the annual Hoppers’ event at Bodiam station.  Like last year, the plan is to top and tail with the two Terriers in the style of the old specials, necessitated by the weak bridges and culverts at the time.

However, to avoid coaling and minimise the inevitable delays for watering forced by such a formation, the plan is to run the little engines on the 11.45am and 2.15pm trains.  It remains to be seen whether the Red timetable, plus an extra DMMU at 4.40pm on Saturday, will prove robust enough to cope with customer demand, especially if the weather behaves.

HN-09/09/2010