Standard Five No. 73802 running round at Kingscote.
Photo: A R Hook 09-Jun-01
Photo: A R Hook 09-Jun-01
The 2001 Bristol Group Annual Mini Roadmotor Group Outing - The Sou'Easter - took us to the Bluebell Railway, The Spa Valley Railway, The Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and the Kent and East Sussex Railway
by Robert Heron
From the Great Western Echo - Number 155 (Autumn 2001)
This year's outing, aptly titled the Sou'easter, headed for the counties of Sussex and Kent. Our first visit was to the Bluebell Railway, where the initial impression of Sheffield Park station was that the construction of the restaurant building has completed the cluttered appearance begun by the locomotive shed and works, and the quantity of derelict stock, to finally provide the ambience that country railway stations don't have.
This view was somewhat countered by the excellent ploughman's lunch provided in the said restaurant. A round trip to Kingscote behind a Standard Five offered the opportunity to sample the delights of Southern railway carriages and the 'can't see your hand in front of your face' darkness in the middle of Sharpthorne Tunnel due to the non-functioning lighting in our chosen vehicle. I suppose we should have sat in the BR Mk1 Buffet, with fully working lighting, which had been reserved for us - but when has Bristol Group ever done what it has been told?
Horsted Keynes has now become a hive of activity with two service trains crossing and a driver-experience train of tank engine and brake van working along the head shunt. Much construction work is taking place with a formerly bare island platform now acquiring a canopy and buildings. The station is starting to look very good indeed and is certainly one of the more generously proportioned examples on a preserved line. On returning to Sheffield Park we were taken on a tour of the workshops, where we were pleased to see the Dukedog Earl of Berkeley under reconstruction - though there is obviously some way to go before we can ask to borrow it for Didcot again. The Bluebell's engineering and repair facilities, whilst not as large or as well provided with heavy lifting equipment as those at Didcot are nevertheless very well laid out and kept very tidy.
Our next visit was to the Spa Valley Railway, based in the Sainsburys car park at Tunbridge Wells West. Sadly, whilst the old station survives it is no longer connected to the railway which starts from a new and rather soulless concrete platform. We were pleased however to renew an acquaintance with the locomotive hauling our train, Peckett, Fonmon, which had formerly been based at our local preserved railway at Bitton. A brief journey brought us to Groombridge where we again found that, sadly whilst the old station survives it is no longer connected to the railway which starts from a new and rather soulless concrete platform. Nevertheless considering that the railway has only been operating for a few years, their achievements are remarkable, all the staff were very friendly, and provided with name-badges, though they do all seem to come from the same family! Return to Tunbridge Wells occurred after the refreshment facilities has closed and so afternoon tea was taken courtesy of Sainsburys.
Overnight accommodation was booked at an hotel on The Leas in Folkestone, and on arrival it was generally deemed to be a good value-for-money sort of place, once we had managed to park the road motor. All the rooms seemed in rather better repair than we had experienced last year. All, that is apart from the tour organiser's room from which an annoying buzzing emanated. A search was conducted for the source of the clamour, but all to no avail, the noise was clearly in the room, but it's exact point of origination just could not be found. 'Right', thought the organiser, 'there's no way I can sleep with that racket going on, I'll go and complain to the proprietor'. Our host was sympathetic, perhaps a light might be buzzing, did it sound like an electrical buzz? Or maybe some trapped insect, or a peculiarity of the plumbing? He would be up to deal with it in just a moment. On returning to his room, it was with mixed emotions that the organiser discovered that his roommate had pinpointed the source of the mysterious buzzing ...
A stroll from the hotel revealed that much of this part of the town, including the cliff lift and many paths, was 'closed for repair until further notice'. Subsidence seems to be a problem. However the views from the top of the cliff were magnificent - you can see all the way from Dungeness power station to Dover breakwater and also get a good view of the French coast. Interestingly one of our number argued that it couldn't be France as it was 'too close'. It was generally agreed that it was France and yes, it was too close, but there was nothing we could do about it. An evening trip across the Romney Marshes inevitably ended in a pub where an enormous evening repast was ultimately provided. The following morning, the weather had worsened and France was no longer visible. It was generally agreed that this was a 'good thing'.
Our first visit was to the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway, where after some discussion we asked whether the train might carry our GWS Group headboard. The friendly answer was along the lines of 'if you can fit it securely, no problem'. It wouldn't fit on the centre bracket on the buffer beam as it fouled the brake pipe connection, and it wouldn't fit on the side brackets, as it would put the train out of gauge! However we finally managed to secure it to the top bracket where it didn't stick out too far on either side. This is surely the smallest gauge locomotive ever to be designated a Great Western Society Special in this way. We did travel on a 10 1/4” gauge railway a few years ago, but no attempt was made to carry the headboard. During the ride to Dungeness the weather deteriorated to occasional bursts of hail with thunder and lightning out to sea. Still, from our fully enclosed carriages it served to enliven the view of back gardens which is the norm from this otherwise delightful railway. After a photo, and morning coffee, stop at Dungeness we returned to New Romney where we were welcomed into the extensive museum and model display by people obviously expecting us, which is odd as we had not originally planned this aspect of the visit, still it's always nice to receive the welcome, which seems to be a general feature of this line. After lunch we paid a quick visit to the signalbox and then to the loco shed. It is interesting to note that they cover their locomotives with blankets when not in use. Such concern for a locomotive's comfort whilst at rest would require more than a king size duvet if scaled up for a Castle. There followed a virtuoso shunting performance using a Simplex diesel as the locos were arranged for the next day's steamings.
Our final visit was to the Kent and East Sussex Railway, which started promisingly with a pre-arranged visit to Rolvenden shed and signalbox. Arriving at Tenterden by road motor we admired the well laid out station, where the toilet block, beautifully restored tea-rooms and car park have all been kept well clear of the station itself.
Arrangements having been made in advance with their commercial department for footplate rides and to carry our headboard we approached the driver. Unfortunately he hadn't been informed of our visit, and was unable to offer footplate rides, as permits have to be issued by the commercial department, who don't work weekends. However being a friendly sort he helpfully, agreed to carry our headboard. Sadly we had to ride in a BR Mk 1 on this occasion as we had been told that the splendid Victorian train was not running on that day. Actually the train was running, but as both the locomotive and station staff seemed unsure of the timings, or even as to whether it would actually run that day, perhaps we were better off in our Mk 1's with the advertised trolley service, especially as it was now approaching tea time. However an enquiry of a passing steward elicited an abrupt response that he was too busy serving pre-booked cream teas. A stop was made at Wittersham Road, which interestingly does not appear in the timetable leaflet, to pass a DMU, then on through Northiam to the current terminus of Bodiam. Another delightfully restored station with the new toilet block cunningly disguised as a coal merchant's office, but sadly no tea-rooms, disguised or otherwise. The return journey passed largely without incident, save for passing the superbly restored, Victorian train at Northiam and several encounters with the increasingly belligerent steward, who was still in a hurry, and found that passengers just get in the way. On return to Tenterden, it was learnt that the, beautifully restored, tea-rooms had now closed, it being 5:15 and there being only three more trains to return to Tenterden that afternoon. So it's off to the motorway services for us, and off to a customer care course for the K&ESR.
Overall an excellent weekend, though not without incident. And the mysterious buzzing? Somehow the organiser's electric shaver in the organiser's bag had switched itself on and was shaving relentlessly in the absence of stubble. We're planning a similar weekend next year, so what's the 'buzz' about that Mr Organiser?