Kent & East Sussex Railway - '50th Anniversary Gala' 02/06/2024

The Kent & East Sussex Railway would celebrate their half-century in style, as they held their '50th Anniversary Gala' over the weekend of June 1st-2nd. The K&ESR opened as a fledgling heritage railway in June 1974, with operations limited to a short section of track. 50 years later, thanks to the continued efforts of their volunteers and staff, the public can now enjoy a journey of 10½ miles between Tenterden and Bodiam. Based at Robertsbridge Junction, the Rother Valley Railway is a separate fledging heritage railway at the western end of the former K&ESR. A recent public inquiry approved the rebuilding and reopenning of the missing line between Bodiam and Robertsbridge Junction. The eventual result of this will see the K&ESR partnered with the Rother Valley Railway, operating over a stretch of 13½ miles. Joining the resident fleet on the line between Tenterden and Bodiam would be U Class - 31806, visiting from the Swanage Railway. Currently on hire to the K&ESR, 4MT - 76017 would also star across the weekend. At Robertsbridge Junction, 70000 "Britannia" would top and tail a short shuttle service with recently outshopped GBRf Class 73 - 73128, along the currently operable section of track to Northbridge Street. 73128 would be receive the name "Kent & East Sussex Railway" during the event. The gala would feature an intensive timetable between Tenterden and Bodiam, with frequent trains tackling the steep 1-in-50 gradient of Tenterden Bank. Locomotives: GB Railfreight Class 73 - 73128 "Kent & East Sussex Railway" BR Standard Class 'Britannia' 7MT – 70000 "Britannia" Ex-SR U Class - 31806 BR Standard Class 4MT - 76017 Ex-WD Hunslet Austerity Saddle Tank - 25 "Northiam" Ex-Manchester Shipping Canal Hunslet - 15 "Hastings" Ex-LB&SCR A1X 'Terrier' Class - 2678 00:00 - 73128 The Clappers Recreation Ground 01:14 - 70000 The Clappers Recreation Ground 02:42 - 31806 & 76017 Cranbrook Road foot crossing 03:46 - 25 Cemetary foot crossing 04:47 - 76017 Cemetary foot crossing 05:48 - 15 & 2678 Cranbrook Road 07:04 - 31806 Tenterden foot crossing 08:02 - 2678 & 15 Tenterden foot crossing 08:55 - 76017 Tenterden foot crossing 09:49 - 25 Tenterden foot crossing 10:29 - 15 & 2678 Rolvenden 12:35 - 25, 76017, & 31806 Rolvenden All footage filmed on Sunday the 2nd of June 2024.