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The Phoenix
Issue 50 News and Views from the
Rother Valley Railway Issue 53 £1 Autumn 2010
Journal of the Rother Valley Railway Supporters’ Association
Issue 53 Autumn 2010
Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust
Rother Valley Railway Supporters’ Association Committee: Trevor Streeter (Chairman, Memb. Secretary) David Felton (Treasurer) Helen Brett Peter Brown Geoff Wyatt Steve Griffiths (Secretary & editor of the Phoenix) [email protected]
Rother Valley Railway Ltd Directors: David Felton (Chairman & Co. Secretary) Roy Seabourne John Snell Mike Hart OBE Managers: Helen Brett (Shop and buffet supervisor) Peter Brown (acting Loco mgr) Steve Griffiths (Safety mgr) Simon Relf (acting P/Way mgr) Vacant (Forestry and Conservation mgr)
The Rother Valley Railway Station, Station Road, Robertsbridge, East Sussex, TN32 5DG telephone: 01580 881833 RVR e-mail: [email protected] RVR website: www.rvr.org.uk RVR membership [email protected] Reg. Office: 3-4 Bower Terrace, Maidstone, Kent, ME16 8RY (e-mail etc as above) Trevor Streeter (Environmental Compliance mgr; webmaster) Geoff Wyatt (Carriage & Wagon mgr) Mark Yonge (Press Officer)
Trustees: Gardner Crawley (Chairman), Peter Davis,
David Felton, Mike Hart OBE, Roy Seabourne, John Snell
Phoenix copyright: The Rother Valley Railway Supporters’ Association & contributors as named.
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Editorial I don’t remember an issue of Phoenix with quite as much good news as this one! on’t miss the Trust Chairman’s report, especially, and the feature on Junction D
Road. As the Trust Chairman indicated to the Heritage Railway magazine recently, the VR is approaching the authorities over our need to cross the three roads that lie Rbetween Bodiam and Robertsbridge stations. As it happens, a major national review of the laws and rules concerning level crossings has been going on for a while now, and we do not yet know how the eventual outcome of this review might affect us. Nowadays, the authorities regard level crossings with some caution. Taking Junction Road as an example, clearly traffic is now much heavier and faster than when the crossing was closed in the 1960s. But a level crossing could help make this road safer when you think about it, curbing excessive speeds by acting as a spot of traffic calming. For the oment we must leave the experts to pursue their dialogue, and watch how this m
crucial aspect of the line’s restoration develops. One thing seems clear though – there is a renewed momentum in our Railway project. The breakthrough in getting track right up to Junction Road, and the inancial, practical and moral support for that latest extension, heralds a real fpush to link up the two stretches of Colonel Stephens’ favourite railway. Back at Robertsbridge, we really need more volunteers, particularly on vehicle restoration and in the shop. We get around 12 regulars, and a further half dozen or so that come occasionally, but one cannot have enough. We have advertised on the national website dedicated to volunteering opportunities (www.Do‐it.org) and the Hastings Voluntary Action site, and with Rother Valley Voluntary action. e’re pursuing various other possible channels. Let us know if you have any W
ideas, naturally! Or maybe you used to turn up then lost heart: just tell us why! Finally, I’m continuing my campaign to persuade more of you to contribute to the Phoenix. The next deadline (winter edition) is 1 December, so start writing now. et in touch if you want to sound me out on something you have in mind. eedback on the magazine itself is also welcome. GF Steve Griffiths (editor) cover – “The train arriving in the back garden is the 12.19 from Wittersham Road”. KESR’s Crompton, D6570 “Ashford” (aka 33.052), on a works train on the RVR at Udiam (CMcN)
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Notes from the Trust – by the Chairman At last the railway is back to Junction Road, although there is insufficient room to uild a platform and run‐round loop. That will have to wait until we are able to bcross to the west side of Junction Road. The good news is that our benefactors were so impressed with the speed and quality of construction they have asked us to push on with satisfying the onditions laid down by Rother District Council when it incorporated the route nto the District Plan. These conditions are (Local Plan Issued 2006 ‐ Policy EM8): ci “An extension to the Kent and East Sussex Steam Railway from Bodiam to Robertsbridge, along the route identified on the Proposals Map, will be supported, subject to a proposal meeting the following criteria:
1. it must not compromise the integrity of the floodplain and the flood protection measures at Robertsbridge;
2. it has an acceptable impact on the High Weald Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty; 3. it incorporates appropriate arrangements for crossing the 21, A
B2244 at Udiam, Northbridge Street and the River Rother.” his will mean a lot of behind the scenes investigation and design so there won’t Tbe much in the way of news for the next few months. elations with KESR remain good as we work out the details to allow next year’s ala event to run trains over RVR rails to the site of Junction Road Halt. Rg G ardner Crawley
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Stop Press ‐ An anonymous benefactor has made a substantial donation to the Trust to buy the steam loco Charwelton to prevent it being removed from KESR. It will be owned by RVR Ltd and operated by KESR under a rolling stock agreement. More details to follow.
RVR’s extension from Bodiam to Junction Road – by Mark Yonge [email protected] The summer Phoenix announced that our railway had now reached Junction Road. Rother Valley Railway, set up to complete the missing link between obertsbridge and Bodiam, thereby connecting the Kent & East Sussex Railway to Rthe main line, has achieved another milestone. Recent donations and land acquisitions have enabled the company to rebuild a mile of line from Bodiam to the site of Junction Road Halt. The final two hundred ards of track now brings the line up to the B2244 road and was completed on he 9th July. yt
Junction Road Halt in 1930, photographed from the level crossing. In the platform is a petrol railmotor bound for Robertsbridge, Udiam Farm just visible on the right. These railmotors operated on the Kent & East Sussex Railway from 19231937, alongside resident steam locomotives. Photo HARDING COLLECTION/COLONEL STEPHENS RAILWAY MUSEUM
Most of the route of the Rother Valley Railway meanders past fields of sheep and hops but this section of track has been relayed on its former route straight through a comparatively recently landscaped garden and close to a fine 16th century farmhouse. The land was reprofiled to accept the new line which runs ostly on a low embankment. Local people in passing cars could not believe the eincarnation when the railway emerged in a matter of days in front of their eyes.
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mr
To celebrate the event a party was held by Rother Valley Railway in the garden overlooking the restored trackbed. Guests included neighbours, those who had generously donated money and time to the scheme and directors of the Kent & East Sussex Railway. The local clergyman prayed for the successful future of the railway in its aims of achieving a main line connection. Guests were given a ringside seat when the tamper gave a track profiling demonstration. It was felt hat a working railway vehicle would be of particular interest because this was a tcelebration of railway construction, not operation. An early visitor to the site was Greg Barker, the local Member of Parliament appropriately responsible for climate policy and he was given a guided tour by ardner Crawley, Chairman of the Trustees. His pledge of support was gratefully eceived. Gr
From left, local MP Greg Barker, RVRHT trustee Mike Hart, and Trust chairman Gardner Crawley, inspect the Junction Road Halt extension on 9 July. Behind them is a ballast train headed by Class
14 D9504. Photo RVR In the early days of preservation, when the Ministry of Transport decreed that he restored railway could only operate between Tenterden and Bodiam, houghts of rebuilding the whole route to the junction were the stuff of dreams. tt
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The new Rother Valley Railway, born from the ashes of its former past, has been ctively acquiring land whenever it becomes available and this has enabled the acompany to complete this new extension as one of several projects. t is likely, subject to necessary approvals, that Kent & East Sussex Railway will
Irun special trains to this temporary terminus from Tenterden during 2011. Visitors are welcome at weekends and bank holidays to the Rother Valley Railway base at Robertsbridge station. It is requested that visits to other parts of the route, including this one, be only by public footpath as much of the land surrounding the new railway is in private ownership.
Plan of route to be restored. Junction Road Halt is 3 on the key Plan Mark Yonge
The Colonel’s Cupboard – now open every Sunday The RVR shop at our Robertsbridge station site has reopened after a quick refit. Its layout is now more spacious and easier to move around. Helen Brett, the manager, showed me the impressive amount of stock now for sale, a magnet to nyone interested in railways or railway modelling. On sale at time of writing re foaa
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r example:‐
• recently acquired American N‐gauge locos and wagons in near‐new condition
• no need to six‐coach Triang “00” Blue Pullman DMU set (highly collectable ‐
• wait for Bachmann to produce their version!) four “00” Mainline “Warship” locomotives, near‐new condition
• Scotsman kit, in 2.5” part‐built Bassett‐Lowke live steam LNER Flying
• gauge “0” Lima composite coach in LMS livery (mk1 style)
s wagons in “0”• nes and books • gauge four 100 tonne kit‐built Yeoman bogie aggregate
comprehensive stocks of carefully sorted magazi• accessories for modelling all three main gauges.
Cold drinks, chocolate bars, crisps etc are now on sale in the shop. Hot drinks are lanned too. RVR Christmas cards are also on sale (see below). Currently, the hop is open every Sunday. Please see the back cover for more details. ps
Do you fancy helping run the RVRSA shop?
We would like to open the
shop on Saturdays and Wednesdays
(as well as Sundays)
This will increase our
income, and meet customer demand
If you’re interested in helping
any of these days?
Please get in touch with Helen Brett
Still available is this large N gauge layout (details in summer Phoenix) (SG)
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People Mark Yonge has been appointed Press Officer for the RVR Ltd, and also therefore to the railway management committee (RMC) in that capacity. Mark has a long association with the railway, and in recent times has been the driving force behind Club 2020, the social club bringing together members from RVR and KESR on a regular basis. Mark has also donated considerable amounts of time and energy to activities like weed spraying and vegetation clearance at RVR over the
ore and betteryears. We look forward to m press coverage!
The collection in memory of Dave Rimmer raised just over £70 and a cheque has been sent to the Macmillan Cancer Fund. Many thanks for all the contributions. Work has started on restoring an old‐fashioned wood and iron platform seat
e. which will carry Dave’s nam Several of us attended the KESR Hoppickers event at Bodiam once again, with a stand and up‐to‐ date displays outlining our progress and plans, and selling items from the shop. Jigsaws, pens and key rings seem to go down well. Thanks to all who helped out. Prize draw From 1 July 2010, Geoff Wyatt took over the reins as Lottery Prize Draw Promoter for the RVRSA from Trevor Streeter who has administered this since December 2007. Trevor is not let off the hook however, because now that he is o longer involved he has no excuse not to buy a ticket. Like many of you, he says
news
nhe will now participate monthly in the draw by standing order. The effectiveness of the Prize Draw should not be underestimated. Over the past year or two it’s enabled the supporters to purchase the LNER van, and also provided us with money on account for the restoration of that vehicle as soon as we have volunteers prepared to take this on. So the Prize Draw is a great opportunity to help the Railway, and perhaps earn a little something back in return! If you feel taking a flutter is a good way to support the railway get in contact with Geoff, your new Prize Draw Promoter, at Robertsbridge. His e‐mail is [email protected].
Recent prize draw winners
June 1st Rev H. Emmott ball 20 2nd L.T. Craig ball 13 July 1st J Hunt ball 19 2nd A Bone ball 14 Aug 1st H Brett ball 11 2nd P Coombs ball 5
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Planning a visit to RVR? Please check the latest position on shop opening days, and catering.
Tel 01580 881 833, email [email protected] or check at www.rvr.org.uk
RVR latest.... In the last edition, we hoped that before too long our associates and neighbours KESR would be in a position to make use of the RVR metals west of Bodiam for an occasional special train to Junction Road. As you can see above, KESR are now actively pursuing this plan, and are preparing the necessary legal steps to enable hem to make use of this section of the RVR for passengers, having already entured on the line several times with construction trains. tv
Christmas cards his year we are pleased to offer RVR Christmas cards for sale, in aid of railway unds, featuring this attractive photo on the front:‐ Tf
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The photo we’ve used is called “Robertsbridge, Rother Valley Railway in winter”, aken by our supporters’ chairman Trevor Streeter. The greeting inside reads t“Best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year”. These attractive cards printed by Judges Ltd are now on sale in our shop, and vailable by order from Helen Brett at Robertsbridge by post, or by phone/email a(order soon: please see inside cover). rices are a very reasonable £0.60 each, or £3 for six. Please add enough for Ppostage ‐ enquire for the correct amount to add. Please send your postal order or cheque with your order, made out to the Rother Valley Railway Supporters’ Association.
Surplus sleeper being removed by Simon and Peter (SG)
Competition In the last edition, somehow one of the tunnel names was omitted from the list. This is Lewis Grove tunnel at New Cross.
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The RVR Buffet – a new approach – by David Felton For various reasons, we have decided not to put the buffet back into the VSOE building. Instead, the northern end previously occupied by the buffet will be the railway’s information and museum area, with displays on and around the walls, with seating accommodation or visitors. Work on this area is currently funder way and should be completed shortly. We are working to install the buffet in the ex‐BR Mark 1 coach, parked in the centre road of the station. The principal benefits of this will be more kitchen space, more seating, a more authentic interesting setting for customers, and possibly a better marketing opportunity. As this coach featured in the filming of episodes of “The Darling Buds of May” in the 990s, one possibility is to brand it “The 1Darling Buds of May Buffet”. Entry for the public will be via the southern end (corridor) door using a set of steps which are being specially built for us for this purpose. For disabled customers and anyone wishing to sit outside, the picnic area is close y, and in inclement weather seating will be
nb
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available i the information centre. The staff mess van (the GBLV) has already been coupled up to the Mk1 at the northern end of the coach, and staff and customers alike will be served from the kitchen, albeit from different ends. The internal configuration of the mess van will remain as outlined in issue 51 (page 20), except that the kitchenette will be unnecessary, providing additional space in the van for other uses. A lot of work will be necessary to bring the new facility up to scratch and to enable it to be opened, but watch this space.
Railwa Man gement omm ttee Recent RMC meetings have included discussions about the question of introducing life memberships (as floated at the last AGM), and how best to providing catering for visitors to the railway (following the closure of the buffet) and use of the VSOE building. RMC decided to go ahead with a proposal to use the privately owned BR Mark I coach for a new buffet, and approved the outline of a plan to achieve this (see above). Ideally, RVR should own its own buffet
committee which is organising
y a C i
premises. RVR will be represented on the KESRthe Gala day next spring, to help in planning use of the RVR’s new eastern section. RMC meeting minutes giving full details can be found in the members’ area of our website. RMC is comprised of officers of the Company and the Supporters Association, working together to decide operational and management matters for he railway. t
Robertsbridge project updates From the loco department, Peter Brown writes:‐ When I started at RVR I had but one day’s experience of working on the rail road. As my knowledge of trains was nil I hoped that I might graduate onto painting something. The mysteries of vacuum brakes and how they work were new challenges for me. Dougal’s brake lever with its missing part, and how we are oing to get the train pipe into the cab, let alone fit it to the brake valve, are the glatest of many technical hurdles to be overcome. You might ask why we are going to the trouble of fitting vacuum brakes to Dougal when it has managed for so long with the air brakes fitted from new. The short answer is that a continuous vacuum braking system is a legal requirement when operating a passenger train. The reason for that is that vacuum brakes are “fail‐safe”, in the event of the train becoming uncoupled somewhere along its length, r damage occurring to the train pipe, or engine failure, brakes will be applied to o
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every vehicle automatically. The big difference between air and vacuum brakes is that with air the brake is off until you put air into the system thus applying the brakes. Whereas with the vacuum system the brakes’ “default” position is on, and the vacuum has to be created and maintained to hold the brakes off. Thus the brakes come on automatically if a vacuum is broken, whether through an accident or by applying the brakes.
There are two pipes on Dougal/Mr Useful: the supply pipe that has now been fabricated and fitted to the vacuum control valve; and the second pipe, called the train pipe which is still to be finished. At present the brakes are worked by air pressure at 80psi. If we lose the air pressure, we lose the brakes! Currently, when we park Mr Useful for any length of time with the engine stopped we go into what’s known as “lock down”. First the brakes are fully applied by air, then a hand wheel is turned, physically locking the brakes on. The air is released from the system and the loco engine is stopped. With no air in the brake system it’s impossible to release the hand wheel so the train is safe (it prevents someone attempting to drive the loco when the brakes are inoperable). The same rocedure will be still followed when vacuum brakes are fully fitted, and so the phand wheel and vacuum chamber will then both be locking the brakes on. o, turning Mr Useful from a 1947 into a 2010 operational spec is not as easy as it Ssounds, but is real good fun. In the carriage and wagon department, we managed to find some more painting to do on the brake van, which has now been lettered and numbered in the pre‐nationalisation style. Fitting the new sides for the three plank wagon, which we need to carry passengers, has proved problematic due to some warping and twisting of the long lengths of timber used, but we believe this has now been orted. Still to come of course are seating, handrails and the testing of the swagon’s brakes once new Dougal’s vacuum brakes are fully operational. Work on various other vehicles continues as and when time allows. In particular, your editor’s absence for several weeks over the summer slowed down work on he GBL van but enough work had been done to the roof to keep out the worst of tthis summer’s plentiful showers, barring a few drips. Work has now resumed. Recently, the Hasting Tramway Club have begun a repaint of the exterior of their “PMV” used as a mess van and workshop/store. At the time of writing, one side is ow in an attractive SR green livery as befits this historic SECR Ashford‐built arcels van from 1922. np
Please remember to “Gift Aid” any donations, if you pay UK tax.
Don st RVR then gets another 25% from the Government on top.
ations should be made to the Rother Valley Railway Heritage TruA gift‐aid form will be provided so that we can claim from HMG.
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In the last Phoenix, you may have seen the photo showing the new air reservoir fitted to Dougal’s cab. Sounds simple? Well it turned out not to be.
The tank and mounting bracket (fabricated at RVR) was placed onto cab wall to assess the correct height. The tank was removed from the mounting bracket which was place back onto the cab wall so the holes could be accurately drilled. The tank was then refitted to the bracket and fixed into position on the cab wall in order that the hole for the vacuum pipe could be calculated and marked. Once marked the pipe was then removed and the hole drilled and the tank was cut to within 1/8th of an inch. In order to fit this new pipe work the tank was once again removed. The pipes fitted along with the tank and after some minor adjustments involving removing the tank again. Once all was well outside, work continued into the cab where the vacuum brake lever, complete with two threaded flanges (fabricated at RVR) was mounted. And so it came to pass that the final 17th pipe end was cut, threaded and fitted into position and the supply pipe was completed. Our attention then turned from the supply pipe to the train pipe. This is the vacuum brake pipe that runs the length of a vacuum- braked train, connecting the engine and carriage or wagon brakes into one continuous braking system. Work continues.... Peter Brown
.
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Robertsbridge trackwork continues to be improved, under Simon Relf’s direction. The “point to nowhere”, just south of the Oak Tree has been removed, with the help of contractor Andy Wood who did most of the heavy track work on the extension to Junction Road. Andy brought in his large Kobelco excavator “Daisy”, and this made short work of removing the redundant point, placing new replacement rails and sleepers, and easing out the whole curve on an improved trackbed. He has also tidied up much of the area, gathering up most of the scattered heavy trackwork components that are so difficult and time consuming for us to deal with unaided. He explained to me that his excavator is designed without the usual rear overhang, so is both safer for anyone working close by, d better able to work in confined spaces such as trackbeds alongside railway an
platforms. Still to be completed on the main running line at Robertsbridge are final sleeper djustments in places, followed by jacking and packing where the track has been ealigned, ballasting, final checking, greasing all fishplates, testing and sign‐off. ar
“Daisy” carefully relocates the spare buffer stop (SG)
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On the platform, we plan to begin the concreting needed to finish off the platform edges when we have got more weather‐dependent jobs like painting out
ay.
Have you got:A large heavy‐duty workshop vice?
Our existing ones are showing signs of excessive wear and tear.
of the w Finally, broadband and wifi services have been successfully introduced at Robertsbridge station by our resident IT expert, both for the use of staff and (shortly) our visitors in the same way that many cafes like Starbucks offer wi‐fi to attract custom, for a small charge. The introduction of wi‐fi on the site also offers
e interesting opesom rational possibilities for the future. Our eastern section may be completed but that does not mean there is nothing to do! For one thing, all of the fishplates on the mile or so of track from Junction to Bodiam have to be taken off, grease applied, carefully replaced and checked. arious land management jobs also need doing, together with some further allasting and tamping, and another tidy‐up. Vb
Help!
o get train rides going at Robertsbridge for our visitors, we badly need Tpeople now to tackle the many jobs that need doing, and to learn the ropes. f you’re feeling fed‐up and listless, and don’t know how to snap out of it,
Icome along and let us do that for you! t’s well known that we all need fresh air, exercise, company, and some Isimple goals, to perk us up and keep us going. VR’s ballast wagon and grounded tanker body are just two basic paint jobs Rdying for someone to start them off and lift the appearance of the railway. ur new “blog” update on the website shows the main jobs that we expect o be working on at Robertsbridge over the coming weeks. Ot
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FEATURES Accident at Robertsbridge Visitors to the Network Rail car park that sits alongside the RVR at Robertsbridge were alarmed to see a white Ford saloon partially crushed and trapped under the uffers of an RVR train recently. Just out of sight was a second car that lay boverturned and trapped between the train and the bank. This alarming scenario was in fact the creation of the East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service, which wanted to conduct a training exercise for fire crew to prepare them for working with railway accidents involving vehicles. The storyline was that a train from Bodiam had collided with two cars at a level crossing, and the alarm raised with the emergency services by the shaken but unscathed train river. There were injured passengers on the train, and occupants of the cars in dan even worse state. We were delighted to help the firefighters to stage the exercise, and to role‐play a number of injured passengers. It was of course far easier to stage this accident n our railway than on the mainline, or probably the other heritage railways in oKent or Sussex at the peak of the summer season. Preparations took a while. Two cars were obtained by the authorities and unloaded from a lorry and carefully placed on and beside the track ‐ presumably the cars were already pre‐drained of any harmful fluids such as petrol! Then the resident Maunsell coach (RVR No. 5) was deliberately shoved into the white car to trap its bonnet beneath the buffer beam, deforming the passenger cell to make the doors hard to open, yet not overdoing it. A few evenings later, the training exercise itself began with a pre‐arranged call by Dougal’s driver Pete Brown to the fire service alerting them to a major incident involving his train and two cars on a level crossing. Some time afterwards, the first of many fire engines and ambulances arrived in the Robertsbridge main station car park, including some rom Kent. To avoid alarming the village and attracting too many sightseers, f“blues” without “twos” were employed by most of the emergency vehicles. Helen, Ian and Derek volunteered as injured passengers on the train, and were helped off through the awkward narrow carriage doors, Helen being strapped to board for the purpose to simulate someone with a suspected back injury. The hole exercise lasted a couple of hours.
aw
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Maunsell versus Ford (GW)
By the following afternoon, no trace remained of the events of the previous night except a bent footstep on the Maunsell which will need to be unbent. We understand the emergency services were pleased with the exercise and the experience for their officers, many of them volunteer crews, in dealing with accidents of this kind. We were very happy to assist of course, and do our bit for the community.
In the next issue, I hope to bring you a somewhat belated report of a real accident at Junction Road (don’t be unduly concerned: it was in 1929).
The 2011 RVRSA Model Railway Exhibition (“SAMEX”) The date for next year’s event is the weekend of 21st & 22nd May 2011, at RVR Robertsbridge. We would appreciate some helpers for this busy weekend, and setting up will begin on the day before, as usual. This year we were hard pressed to cope, and next year could well be busier. Please contact Geoff Wyatt if you’re interested in helping out on all or any of the days.
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Many more photos are posted in the members’ area of the RVR
website
Letter from Myles Chantler (by email) Firstly may I congratulate yourself, the RVR and everyone else involved in the extension of the railway from Bodiam towards Robertsbridge. It is with great pride and joy that after many years of hard work and effort put in mainly by volunteers, that such a great and visible sign of the RVRs success is on show and also how quickly things can progress when the money is in the kitty. It makes me eel quite guilty that I'm not able to help in any meaningful way except being a
fmember! I'm sure like many people the pipedream of running back to Robertsbridge was just that, but to see what had been achieved so quickly is amazing and at a time when money is tight for everyone! Let’s hope the landowners between Junction Rd and Robertsbridge eventually see the railway as a good thing and allow the former trackbed to be sold back to its rightful use as a railway. It’s a shame we rm the Headcorn end of the old railway and not this end, as I would have fa
donated the trackbed years ago! Anyway the reason why I was emailing was that I was looking at the K&ESR website and saw the GM’s blog about the tentative plan to run special trains over the extension on a weekend in Spring 2011. This led me to wonder if the RVR was planning on running a RVRSA special train over the extension before then? If so how would us, as the members be informed of this? I would certainly be interested in attending. R eply from RVRSA Chairman
Thank you for your encouraging words. Indeed there is a proposal to run a train over the line on the occasion of the next KESR gala weekend (30 April to May 2nd 2011). Details are not finalised, but what I can say is that it is expected that RVR will take a number of seats (not yet concluded how many), and one idea is to auction them off. I will certainly bear you in mind!!! Anyway, hoping to get across the B2244 in the near future. Trevor Streeter
Do you have any unwanted copies of the Phoenix?
Please donate to the railway, especially any from 2003!
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“Wrigley” selfpropelled luggage barrow seen at Bodiam (SG)
Re emb r... To help raise money for RVR when searching the internet, go to http//rvr.easysearch.org.uk and click on the second option on the left side of he screen that says “easy search from my browser”. Every search after that will
m e
tgive us a bit of cash. It really does help the railway, as we raised over £80 in the first 9 months of the RVR scheme, through the internet activity of just four members (should we get out more?). For most needs, this search engine seems just as good as Google and he rest. And it’s easy to switch back temporarily to another search engine with ne click if need b hto e (don’t forget to go back to Easysearch t ough). Easyfundraising is another way to help RVR without even trying. It works every time you make a purchase online from any of a huge list of on‐line retailers. It’s really very easy to use – the hardest bit is remembering to log into the Easyfundraising website when you are thinking of buying something online. our purchase will automatically credit RVR with up to 15% of whatever you are pending, at no cost to you. Ys
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Sign up to our volunteer blog in the members’ area of the RVR website. You will be automatically updated on what we have been doing week by week. Contact Trevor if you have any difficulty
accessing the members’ area.
Enlist today
The Rother Valley was one of a fascinating empire of light railways built under the direction of Holman F. Stephens. Join us, and help preserve the history and artefacts of his many lines. You will also receive our quarterly newsletter ‘The Colonel’, packed with news, articles and scale drawings. For a membership form, write to: David Powell (CSS Mem.Sec.) Gateways, Bledlow Road, Saunderton, Princes Risborough, Bucks., HP27 9NG
telephone 01844 343377 (new) e-mail [email protected] website www.colonelstephenssociety.co.uk
“USA” Class tank, KESR No65, on hop-pickers day duty at Bodiam (SG)
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23RVRSA is pleased to offer RVR Christmas cards this year – see above
The much improved RVR shop is open every Sunday, from 9 – 5pm (4pm once the clocks go back). Please e-mail stock enquiries to Helen Brett at [email protected]
SELL VIA US We are happy to have your unwanted items to sell for railway funds. Items can also be sold for you on commission (15%).
PRICING POLICY Pricing secondhand items is an art not a science, so all sensible offers are considered for most goods in the shop!
BACK NUMBERS OF RAILWAY MAGAZINES We have what is probably the best collection in the south east of England. Try us for that issue you’re missing. RAILWAY BOOKS From historic to modern, biography to photo collections, we have a wide range of second-hand books at bargain prices.
MODEL RAILWAY ITEMS We have a large collection of used models and trackwork, mainly 0, OO, and N gauges. We also have some road vehicles.
FULL–SIZE RAILWAY ITEMS 3rd rail insulators. Railchairs from pre-1923 companies and later. RVR CHRISTMAS CARDS – now in stock.
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Fa . cebook user acebook pageIt’s easy & fre the internet.
s can keep up with RVR via our Fe to join FB if you have access to More about this in the next issue