Kent & East Sussex Railway
General History
The origins of this line lay with one Lieutenant Colonel Stephens, the man who oversaw its construction throughout 1900. It was the resultant of a final plan in a long line of previously failed ones to provide the town of Tenterden with a railway connection. The undertaking would have the aforementioned town linked with the South Eastern Railway's trunk line from Tonbridge to Hastings (via Tunbridge Wells Central), a connection being made at Robertsbridge. Originally opened on 26th March 1900 to Rolvenden, then further extended in 1903 to provide the town of Tenterden with a more conveniently-sited station, the branch was run as an independent venture from the outset, unusually not being absorbed by the South Eastern Railway as per usual with most small concerns (although it had not been instigated by this railway company in the first place). A further extension occurred in 1905 between Tenterden and Headcorn, making the branch a through line, services commencing over this section on 15th May of that year. Unlike the SER's trunk line it was connected with, the branch to Tenterden differed in the sense that it had been passed by Parliament as a ''Light Railway''. This had both its advantages and disadvantages: whilst there was much lenience on the regulations as far as station facilities, track laying arrangement and protective fencing were concerned, there was a contrary restriction imposed on the motive power used (weight restrictions coming into play), with maximum speeds lowered and service frequency reduced. Thus, the railway's staple diet consisted of short-formed trains fronted by small tank engines, some of which were purchased second-hand from the larger railway companies, although ex-SECR small tender types began creeping in during later years.
Known as the ''Rother Valley Railway'' from day one, latterly having its name changed to the ''Kent & East Sussex Railway'' in 1904, the railway was typical of a Colonel Stephens operation: it was not a lucrative business venture, the ''East Kent Light Railway'' being another suitable Colonel Stephens example. Profits returned in the railway's early existence were low and from the mid-1920s onwards, these began a steady decline with larger losses being incurred year after year. Having escaped the Grouping of 1923 and remaining a totally independent railway since its inception, excepting its brief time in military control during the years of the First World War, the K&ESR ploughed on through the years, despite making losses, until it was finally absorbed into the then newly formed ''British Railways'' on 1st January 1948. Colonel Stephens had previously died in 1931 and the railway operation had subsequently been declared bankrupt. Despite this, it remained in operation until Nationalisation, this time under the leadership of the receiver, W. Austen, formerly Colonel Stephens' assistant. The line continued to be a loss making area of the nationalised organisation and as part of British Railways' endeavour to close unprofitable branch lines, the K&ESR finally succumbed in 1961, the last regular passenger service running on 12th July of that year.
The pictorial begins at Tenterden on 19th January 1992 with ex-SECR ''P'' Class No. 1556,
about to haul an ex-GER and a Metropolitan District carriage. The timber building seen
rising above the carriages is the rolling stock shed. Mike Glasspool
The train has now departed and a glimpse of the signal box is afforded, which has a ring
of Sturry's box gate about it; indeed, it is a Saxby and Farmer design. Beyond the 'box is
a level crossing which separates the entrance road from the railway car park. Heavy trains
leaving the station can do so with ease - it is the return up the steep gradient which can cause
problems, sometimes requiring assistance from the rear. Mike Glasspool
The motive power is kept at Rolvenden, but carriages are berthed in numerous sidings at
Tenterden, which require a reversal manoeuvre to enter and exit. In this view from 27th
October 2001, Bo-Bo diesel-electric No. 40 - formerly of the Ford Motor Company - is in
view, with a BR Mk 1 in Pullman livery beyond. David Glasspool
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