The summer Phoenix announced that our railway had now reached Junction Road. Rother Valley Railway, set up to complete the missing link between Robertsbridge and Bodiam, thereby connecting the Kent & East Sussex Railway to the 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 yards of track now brings the line up to the B2244 road and was completed on the 9th July.
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 1923-1937, alongside resident steam locomotives.
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 yards of track now brings the line up to the B2244 road and was completed on the 9th July.
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 1923-1937, alongside resident steam locomotives.
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 mostly on a low embankment. Local people in passing cars could not believe the reincarnation when the railway emerged in a matter of days in front of their eyes.
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 that a working railway vehicle would be of particular interest because this was a celebration 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 Gardner Crawley, Chairman of the Trustees. His pledge of support was gratefully received.
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 the restored railway could only operate between Tenterden and Bodiam, thoughts of rebuilding the whole route to the junction were the stuff of dreams.
The new Rother Valley Railway, born from the ashes of its former past, has been actively acquiring land whenever it becomes available and this has enabled the company to complete this new extension as one of several projects.
It is likely, subject to necessary approvals, that Kent & East Sussex Railway will run 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.
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 that a working railway vehicle would be of particular interest because this was a celebration 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 Gardner Crawley, Chairman of the Trustees. His pledge of support was gratefully received.
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 the restored railway could only operate between Tenterden and Bodiam, thoughts of rebuilding the whole route to the junction were the stuff of dreams.
The new Rother Valley Railway, born from the ashes of its former past, has been actively acquiring land whenever it becomes available and this has enabled the company to complete this new extension as one of several projects.
It is likely, subject to necessary approvals, that Kent & East Sussex Railway will run 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.
Mark Yonge
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