An Update on the Terrier Trust
by Gerald Siviour

First published in issue 71 of The Tenterden Terrier Spring 1996
Reproduced with permission of then editor Mr P D Shaw

Fourteen months have passed since the formation of the Terrier Trust, whose aim is to do everything possible to ensure that the situation never arises again where the Kent and East Sussex Railway has no working ex-LBSCR Terrier. At this moment there are three of these engines, which played such an important part in the history of our railway, based on our line but none have been in steam for over two years. Excellent progress is being made in putting this right.

The Trust’s main aim is to see the return to service of BR No.32670, the engine which first came to the line in 1901 as Rother Valley Railway No.3 “Bodiam”. Since [the end of] 1985 it has been derelict, the boiler beyond repair and the railway unable to finance a new one. However, at the end of 1995 the Terrier Trust was set sup, initially to help raise the £30 000 cost of a new boiler, which was then ordered from Israel Newton of Bradford. Fund raising has gone extremely well and £12 000 has now been contributed by the Trust’s 56 members with generous support from others.

It was soon realised, however, that the first priority should be to secure beyond any doubt the future of the engine on the K&ESR. Since 1964 it has been the property of Messrs Ron and Vic Wheele of Brighton, who purchased it from BR for use on the K&ESR, the railway agreeing to maintain it in working order – something we obviously failed to do. The brothers were prepared to sell and early in October 1996 an agreement was reached whereby a cheque for £20 000 (£12 000 from the Trust and £8 000 from TRC [Tenterden Railway Company]) would be paid to them in early November, along with an agreement to pay a further £10 000 in March 1997. Ownership of the unrestored engine would pass to the Terrier Trust, opening up the possibility of raising further funds from outside sources such as the Heritage Lottery Fund. Such money is not available for the restoration of privately owned items.

The TRC has meanwhile agreed to finance the whole cost of the new boiler, due for delivery in 1998. The restored locomotive will thus be jointly owned between them and the Trust and an agreement has been signed that it is for use in perpetuity on the K&ESR. No move away, however short, would be possible without the full agreement of both parties.