The Clash of The Titans

Light Railway fans are set to be spoilt-rotten at this weekend’s upcoming May Gala organised with the theme of “Last Train’s Gone”.

Much material has already been published on the main Kent & East Sussex Railway website at www.kesr.org.uk but naturally on this site we want to concentrate on specific planned workings involving the two resident Terriers or 662 – formerly No.62 “Martello”, making only its second visit to the line in the preservation era.

As ever all the information published herein is subject to the usual caveats of availability and circumstances and of course the major challenge, subject to the weather, of deciding which trains to ride and experience, and which ones to video or photograph.

Saturday

In many ways this is the most complex day of the whole weekend with 32678 getting the show on the road from 7.40am to head and start forming in the platform the Spectacular Seven light-engine movement from Rolvenden (RN) to Tenterden Town (TNT) at around 9.20am for the only Cavalcade of this year’s Gala.  Assuming the P is safely back in time from France, it will consist in addition, but in no particular order, three Terriers, the Pannier, the 01 and the USA; the last two both numbered 65…

So how do you use seven steam engines effectively plus an afternoon appearance by Class 33 D6570 “Ashford” effectively?  The answer is to change engine or engines at Bodiam (BM) Station thanks to the new facility of being able to lock away the spare(s) in the siding.  The core service for the day is ten full round trips from 10.30am plus the evening Fish & Chip special behind the 01.

Starting with 32678.  Unsubstantiated information at the time of writing is that it will run as 32678 all day and not be decorated as any other BR Terrier.  Following the first passenger train out of TNT, it will run to the Sewage Works Siding (SWS) to form a freight train that will work Loop to Loop RN to TNT at 11.00am, therefore between the first and second public trains off TNT.  At 12.20pm, after the third passenger, it then takes alternative freight stock back down to RN – actually including the “birdcage” brake – that is then shunted to the yard.  32678 then returns to SWS.  One hour later she is attached to the 1.30pm from TNT and pilots 753 to BM for her only passenger outworking of the day.  There, both locos are locked away; she resides for about an hour and a half before double-heading with No.3 on the 4.05pm departure back to TNT.  Here she reforms with the freight stock from first-thing to work to Northiam (NM) after the tenth and final round trip departs TNT.  At NM the sun should just be round far enough to experience and the shunt from Platform One (Dn) to Platform Two (Up) before following the last passenger trip again, this time on the Up as far as RN; there to berth stock in SWS and thence to depot.

For 662 and 3 the day is bland by comparison.  The schedule is for 662 to double-head No.3, hopefully bunker-to-bunker, on the 11.15am ex-TNT with the Vintage train then lie-over for one train at BM.  The two Terriers work back with the Maunsell set arriving just before 2pm; “Bodiam” has immediate employment working the same stock out on the 2.15pm as far as Wittersham Road (WR) where the 01 links up as pilot engine.  On arrival at BM around 3.10pm, the 01 is employed on the return at 3.20pm whilst 3 joins 32678 in the siding to duly work the previously stated 4.05pm.  662 meanwhile has a long sojourn at TNT, eventually working the third and final Vintage train at 3.45pm but thereby presenting an opportunity to see all three Terriers at NM – provided the timetable is still holding together.

On the backworking, 662 is joined by 753 ex-sidings for the 4.50pm BD-TNT with the Terrier scheduled to be pilot engine; on arrival at TNT they promptly return light engine (LE) to RN.  Meanwhile from one train earlier, No.3 is returned to RN from TNT by way of the final passenger train worked by D6570 at 5.15pm, thereby being the first steam engine of the day to be disposed.

Sunday

Expected to be the quietest day of the weekend but most complex in many respects, with a focus on Tenterden Bank and RN culminating in an evening photo-shoot in the yard.  In addition to the early-birds from TNT and NM at 9.30am there are nine full round for six steam engines and D6570 to work backed up by the Ford and D2023 diesels, freights and four TNT-RN shuttles with the birdcage although only three Up!

All three Terriers have a comparatively late start; the day’s focus being on the first to depart – No.3 at 9.50am.  This runs LE to WR, arriving at 10.00am to pick up freight from the yard.  At 10.30 this train runs on to NM where the engine waters, shunts and reforms stock – all of which should prove quite interesting.  “Bodiam” then pilots 32678 coupled smokebox-to-smokebox on the 11.35 ex-BM onwards from NM back to TNT.  Here smart work will be required for a prompt departure with the “birdcage” on the second shuttle to RN at 12.35pm thence to SWS.  This stock does not work back to TNT; instead the “birdcage” is returned by way of attachment to the 12.20pm ex-BM from RN.  After watering, 3 then picks the “birdcage” up from SWS from the next shuttle, attaining TNT at 2pm.  “Bodiam” has a break for an hour before taking the 3pm ex-TNT and 4.05pm from BM as far as RN where the USA joins as pilot engine.