Number 96 – Spring 2005

20-21

Christmas in colour
Bill Oates
Photographs of the Santa Specials and other entertainment at Christmas 2004

22-23

Competing for the leisure pound
Graham Baldwin
The General Manager compares what has to be done to improve the position of the K&ESR with his experience of maximizing the profitability of pubs and hotels

24-25

How we organize the finances
Norman Brice
The Chairman of the company explains how the budgeting process keeps the K&ESR finances in order

26

Tickets please!
Ken Dow and Duncan Buchanan
Review of passenger numbers in 2004.  The total number was 86,375, 5% fewer than in 2003, and the average passengers per train fell from 89 to 80

27-29

The Hastings East Hill Lift
Tom Burnham
History of this funicular railway, opened in 1902 and one of two cliff lifts still running in Hastings

30-33

Our Railway’s war
Brian Janes
An expanded version of two reports written in 1945 by W.H. Austen on the achievements of the K&ESR during the Second World War

36

Return two decades on
Phil Champion
Contrasts two visits to the K&ESR, in 1980 and 2004.  “There have been changes in response to being a modern, commercial attraction.  Yet there remains enough of the light railway ambience”

37-38

Placing a call to Bodiam
Chris Lowry
The story of the extension of the K&ESR telegraph pole route to Bodiam, completed in 2004.  See also a letter referring to numbering the poles, Tenterden Terrier No. 97, 21, Summer 2005

39-41

A Terrier in Yorkshire
A.G.S. Davies
Visit of ‘Terrier’ locomotive ‘Knowle’ (32678) to the North Yorkshire Moors Railway in October 2003

Number 97 – Summer 2005

19-20

Branded and licensed
Graham Baldwin
The General Manager discusses branding the K&ESR (including “Terry the Tenterden Terrier”) and the acquisition of a licence to sell beers, wines and spirits at Tenterden Town

25

How we did in 2004
Philip Shaw
Accounts for 2004 show that the railway’s total net debt fell for the fourth year running, despite a 5% fall in passenger numbers

26

A young man’s view of hopping
Norman Johnson
Personal recollections of hop-pickers’ trains passing Chelsfield in the 1940s

27-33

The Newport & Four Ashes Light Railway
Tom Burnham
Colonel Stephens was one of the promoters of a light railway from Newport (Shropshire) to Four Ashes (on the Wolverhampton-Stafford line) which was authorised in 1925 but never built

34-41

Keeping an independent voice
Brian Janes
How Colonel Stephens was behind the formation of the Association of Minor Railways, and a campaign to keep his railways independent of the Grouping of 1923

Number 98 – Winter 2005

17-18

Timetabling – an art or a science?
Graham Baldwin
The general manager outlines the K&ESR timetable and events plans for 2006

20-21

32678 in profile
Geoff Silcock
Photographs of the “Terrier” locomotive in BR lined black livery on 5 July 2005

22-26

Thirty five years at Salford Terrace
Philip Shaw
James Arthur Iggulden was Colonel Stephens’ chief clerk and principal “indoor assistant” for most of the 35 years he worked at 23 Salford Terrace, Tonbridge.  Before he died in February 1979, he compiled some notes on what life was like at the famous light railway offices.  Arthur Iggulden’s reminiscences are edited and published for the first time

29-32

Junction Road, 1930
Brian Janes
Reproduces and discusses four previously unpublished photographs taken at the halt.  Two show a Foden steam lorry of East Sussex County Council, driven by Edgar Harding, one K&ESR locomotive No. 8 “Hesperus”, and the fourth the second Ford railmotor set

33-37

The Trench Warfare Light Railway
Tom Burnham
History of the light railway built during the First World War from Slades Green station to a trench mortar bomb filling factory on Crayford Marshes

38-41

Stephens’ oldest locomotive
Brian Janes
Discusses the origins of Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway No. 2 “Hecate” (later “Severn”) and concludes that it was most likely constructed in 1853 as a 0-4-2 tender engine at the works of the St Helens Railway

4-5

Thomas – more than just a revenue stream
Graham Baldwin
The general manager makes some interesting observations on what have become the most important events in the Railway’s calendar.  He believes “that ‘Days Out With Thomas’ events are our time to take the responsibility to introduce steam engines, and to educate as well as entertain”

6-7

A tale of two visits
David Brailsford
Describes working weekends, when members of the Chemin de fer de la Baie de Somme visited Tenterden in November 2005 and K&ESR staff made a return visit to the CFBS in February 2006, under the auspices of the Interreg scheme

8

Tickets please!  An analysis of passengers carried in 2005
A total of 92227 passengers were carried, almost the same as in 2004 but with 43 fewer trains

9-15

Colonel Stephens’ Terriers
Brian Janes
With the coming Terrier event in May 2006, this article recounts the long association of this class with the railways built or managed by Colonel Stephens, including the K&ESR, Edge Hill Light Railway, Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Light Railway, Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway and the Sheppey Light Railway (SE&CR).  Also mentions a ‘Terrier’ boiler acquired for the East Kent Railway, and the locomotives hired to the K&ESR by the Southern Railway and used in the British Railways era

34-38

Enthusiasts visit the Kent & East Sussex line in 1949
Ralph Gillam
Recollections of an excursion by the Norbury & South London Transport Club on 9 April 1949

39-42

The curious affair of the Colonel’s will
Philip Shaw
Describes Colonel Stephens’ will made in January 1931.  The main beneficiaries were four of Stephens’ staff.  Also outlines the Colonel’s estate, including his shareholdings in the various railways with which he was associated.  Those in the Selsey Tramway had mostly been acquired from the estate of Henry Montague Bates, a fellow member of the Eccentric Club, who died in 1929

43-45

The return of the Cavell van – Part One
Tom Burnham
The prototype South Eastern & Chatham Railway luggage van No. 132, now on the K&ESR, was used to convey the body of Edith Cavell from Dover to Victoria on 15 May 1919

16-18

A terrierific weekend
Graham Baldwin
Report on the All Terriers Great and Small event on 6-7 May 2006.  Five ‘Terrier’ locomotives were in steam – No. 3 ‘Bodiam’, No. 32678 ‘Knowle’ from the K&ESR, ‘Fenchurch’ and ‘Stepney’ from the Bluebell Railway and ‘Martello’ from Bressingham.

19-21

One cold night in February
Nick Pallant
Report on the annual volunteers and staff gathering in February 2006.  This included presentations by Safety Director Derek Dunlavey and General Manager Graham Baldwin, as well as an open forum.

22-23

Sentimental journey
Geoff Silcock
Pictures taken during a photographic charter on 8-9 May 2006, featuring ‘Terriers’ No.3 ‘Bodiam’ and ‘Stepney’ (in ‘Brighton Works’ shunter livery).

24-28

Return of a true pioneer
Brian Janes
History of the ex Great Western Railway diesel railcar No. 20, its preservation on the K&ESR in 1966 (delivered as an ‘out-of-gauge’ load) and current progress towards its restoration.

29-33

The Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Railway in 1958
Ralph Gillam
The author visited this line on the occasion of a Stephenson Locomotive Society tour in September 1958, when it was being run by the War Department.  The train comprised ex-London Tilbury & Southend Railway saloon carriages hauled by ‘Austerity’ 060ST No. 181.  Wickham railcars provided a shuttle service on the Criggion branch.

34-37

Fête de la Vapeur – 2006
David Brailsford
Report on the fourth visit of the K&ESR (including the ‘P’ class 060T pulling the ‘Woolwich’ coach on a shuttle service between Noyelles and St-Valery Ville) to this important event of our twin railway, the Chemin de Fer Baie de la Somme (CFBS) in France.

38-43

The return of the Cavell van – Part Two
Tom Burnham
Describes how SE&CR prototype luggage van No. 132 (now preserved on the K&ESR) was used to transport the remains of Captain Charles Fryatt in July 1919 and the Unknown Warrior in November 1920

21

A foreign work experience
Anne-Sophie Gaudry
A Belgian language student describes her work experience on the K&ESR in the summer of 2006

22-25

The Lambton tank
Ian Scarlett
History and preservation of former Lambton Collieries 0-6-2T No. 29 (built by Kitson & Co. of Leeds, Works No. 4263 of 1904) which visited the K&ESR in summer 2006.  After withdrawal from service by the National Coal Board in February 1969, No. 29 was bought for preservation on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway.  It is now owned by the Lambton Locomotives Trust

26-27

TRAMM’s a TREAT for K&ESR
Jamie Douglas
Track Renewal and Maintenance Machine (TRAMM) No. DR98211 arrived on the K&ESR in July 2006 from Balfour Beatty Rail Plant.  It is a Plasser & Theurer Mark 3 and has been purchased by the Tenterden Railway Equipment and Traction Co. (TREAT)

28-29

Tenterden car park improvements
Matthew Stubbs
The remainder of the car parking field at Tenterden was laid out with hard standing separated by raised beds in September 2006

30-31

If it’s all down to figures…
Philip Shaw
The Chairman of the Finance Committee compares the financial results of the K&ESR and Bluebell Railway PLC for 2005, and draws conclusions for the K&ESR

32-35

“Absent friends” to “You’re not going down there again?”
Neil Rose
A review of the first hundred issues of the Tenterden Terrier magazine (1973-2006), with notes on the contributors over the years.  A subject index has been prepared and is available on the website

36-39

Tenterden Junction?
John Weller and Nick Pallant
History of two unfulfilled railway projects for the Tenterden area: the Tenterden Railway (authorised in 1899) from Headcorn to Appledore via Tenterden, and the Cranbrook & Tenterden Light Railway (also authorised in 1899), which would have had a junction with it.  An extension from Tenterden to Ashford via High Halden, Bethersden and Great Chart was not authorised

40-43

The end of the empire
Brian Janes
A brief look at the way Colonel Stephens’ railway empire faded after his death in October 1931 to its final end with its loss of independence on nationalisation in 1948

44

Stephens’ engineering innovations – Signal posts built from old rail
Brian Janes
The first in an occasional series.  Colonel Stephens may well have originated the use of old rails to fabricate signal posts, which became standard practice on the Southern Railway from 1929.  An example at Portishead on the Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Light Railway is illustrated

22-24

Tickets please!
Ken Dow and Duncan Buchanan
Analysis of the passengers carried in 2006. There were 87,933 passengers (2.3% more than in 2005) carried on 999 trains – an average of 88 per train compared with 83 in 2005. Pullmans, charters, privileges, etc brought the overall total to 94,437, 2.4% up on 2005.

25.27

Our heritage policy
In February 2007, the K&ESR Board completed a review of the railway’s heritage policy and issued a revised guidance document for use of managers, staff and volunteers. This provides guidelines for the style of buildings and structures, lineside and permanent way, signals, operating requirements, and rolling stock. An appendix lists vehicles of greatest historic importance and rarity which should be treated with particular care

28-31

Boiler water treatment on the K&ESR
Chris Greatley
Describes the development of boiler water treatment, including a reverse osmosis treatment plant at Rolvenden, commissioned in August 2004. These improvements have eliminated priming, maximized locomotive availability and reduced boiler scale deposits

32-34

Stephens 75
Philip Shaw
Commemorative events organised by the Colonel Stephens Society on 28 October 2006, the 75th anniversary of the death of Holman F. Stephens, included a luncheon at the Charing Cross Hotel and a visit to the Brompton Cemetery where wreaths were laid at the grave by Ross Shimmon on behalf of the Society and Philip Shaw and John Miller on behalf of the K&ESR. Some details of the Colonel’s death, funeral and will are included

35-37

Hunting down the past
John Scott Morgan
The author of several books on the K&ESR and other Colonel Stephens railways describes his fascination with the K&ESR which began in1968, and how he began collecting photographs of light railways

38-39

A Norwegian breather
Neil Rose
Report on progress with the overhaul of Norwegian State Railways (NSB) mogul No. 376. Notes that the locomotive axles (still in good condition) are stamped “Bofors 1919”

40-41

Bus connections
John Miller
A handbill of 1929 recently acquired by the Museum advertises a connecting motor bus service run by John Dengate & Son of Beckley from Northiam station to Northiam village and Beckley. The leaflet was “printed at the company’s works Rolvenden”, where Jimmy Norton was the printer

42-44

History of the Maidstone Area Group
David Tibbatts
The Maidstone Area Group of the K&ESR closed at the end of 2006. Since its formation in 1974, it had been responsible for a number of projects, including the salvage and eventual re-erection at Tenterden of the Maidstone & District Bus Station, organizing model railway exhibitions, displays at the Kent County Show at Detling, floats at the Maidstone Carnival, a pump trolley, 289 open meetings, and outings

18-21

Company Secretary’s notes
Mentions the appointment of Christopher Awdry as Patron in place of the late Sir Lindsay Bryson, and of Robin Doust as Vice President. Summarises decisions at Board meetings in February, March, April and May, and gives a report on the pre-season volunteers’ meeting

24-25

J15 visit
Four photographs of the J15 0-6-0 No. 65462 from the North Norfolk Railway which visited the K&ESR for the Colonel Stephens Celebration weekend on 5th – 7th May

26-27

Colonel Stephens’ weekend
Four photographs of the Colonel Stephens weekend on 5th – 6th May, including J15 0-6-0 No. 65462, ‘Terrier’ No. W8 “Freshwater”, and Colin Shutt’s replica Ford railmotor

28-29

Starting
Ann Quarterman
The recently appointed Events Coordinator of the K&ESR describes her first few months, including Santa Specials, Thomas events, and the Evacuation Week

30-31

A visit to K&ESR in June 2024
Graham Baldwin
The General Manager looks forward to the K&ESR 50 years after its re-opening

33-36

A pioneering carriage – 25 years of “Petros”
Dave Sinclair
Describes the conversion of a coach (Mark 1 BSO E 9254, built at Doncaster in 1956) to provide accommodation for disabled people. Refurbishment and upgrading is now planned

37-37

What’s in a name?
Brian Janes
Looks at the original names of the stations of the K&ESR, from Robertsbridge Junction to Headcorn Junction. Some (like Frittenden Road) were nowhere near the villages they purported to serve, while the original full title of Northiam station, “Northiam for Beckley and Sandhurst”, seems to have been a ploy to attract traffic

40

Music and the Selsey Tram
Laurie Cooksey
Describes a play about the Hundred of Manhood & Selsey Tramways, produced by the East Manhood Group of Women’s Institutes in 1979, which included a song “The Sidlesham Snail” first written about the Tramway in the 1920s, and a musical arrangement of the Tramways’ conditions of carriage

41-43

The Colonel’s circle: (1) Henry Montague Bates (1849-1928)
Tom Burnham
The first in an occasional series on Colonel Stephens’ social and business acquaintances. Montague Bates had been principal clerk of the Public Health Department of the Corporation of London, and was afterwards active in the Eccentric Club, particularly in its charitable work with disabled soldiers in World War I. He later served as a director of several railways including the K&ESR, the Selsey Tramway, the Snailbeach District Railways and the North Devon & Cornwall Junction Light Railway

19

Lord Deedes
Nick Pallant
Brief obituary of Lord Deedes of Aldington – Bill Deedes – who was President of the K&ESR and died on 17 August 2007

20-21

Tour de France
Chris Wood
On Sunday 8 July 2007, the Tour de France crossed the K&ESR at Cranbrook Road level crossing. The railway carried 887 passengers, including 325 from Rolvenden, where a park and ride operation was set up

22-24

Times past, times present
John Miller
The Hon Museum Curator outlines how the Colonel Stephens museum at Tenterden has developed over the thirty years since part of the K&ESR museum collection first went on display in the Town Museum

25-27

Gilbert Savil Szlumper (1884-1969)
Tom Burnham
Looks at the life and career of Gilbert Szlumper, Assistant General Manager of the Southern Railway from 1925 to 1937 and General Manager from then until 1939, who was one of Colonel Stephens’ few close friends

28-29

2007 AGM speech
Norman Brice
The Chairman’s ‘State of the Railway’ address to the Annual General Meeting on 13 October 2007

30-32

Company Secretary’s notes
Nick Pallant
Summary of the Board meetings in June, July and September 2007

36-38

Sentinel locomotive trials on the S&MR
Brian Janes
The Sentinel Company of Shrewsbury tested some of their locomotives (with a high-speed engine and vertical boiler) on the Shropshire & Montgomeryshire Railway. Two tried out in 1927 were Works No. 6515, originally built for the Great Western Railway, and No. 6776. No. 6515 survives in working order on the Lavender Line at Isfield, Sussex

39-41

Jeremiah MacVeagh MP
Tom Burnham
Jeremiah MacVeagh (1870-1932) was an Irish Nationalist MP who after the establishment of the Irish Free State became a barrister in England and a company director on both sides of the Irish Sea. He was associated with Colonel Stephens in the proposed Southern Heights Light Railway and other projects in the 1920s, and was a director of several Colonel Stephens railways, including the K&ESR

42-43

Early days
Robin Doust
The secretary of the original Kent & East Sussex Railway Preservation Society describes some incidents in the pioneering days of the 1960s, particularly in connection with the purchase of the Pullman cars ‘Barbara’ and ‘Theodora’

44-45

William Rigby’s contracts
Jim Greaves
Gives details of two contracts completed by William Rigby for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway – improvements at Margate West station from 1912 to 1914, and restoration of the line between Folkestone and Dover, closed by a landslide in 1915, which was completed in 1919

46

It was 40 years ago today…
Wilf Watters
Memories of a first visit to the K&ESR in 1967, returning the following week to film a run by No. 3 ‘Bodiam’ and two carriages from Rolvenden to Robertsbridge