25q3 Phoenix 105

Issue 105 Autumn 2023

The journal of the Rother Valley Railway Supporters’ Association

£1.50–allproceedstotheRVRSAandtherailway

RVR’s Robertsbridge Junction site is open to visitors every Sunday from 10am to 4pm, including our shop and visitor centre.

Who’s who at the Rother Valley Railway

RVRSACommitteefor2023/2024:

BobEvans -chairman

DavidFelton -treasurer

JackEvans -lottery

PaulHayes -engineeringlead

JohnGardner -eventsandshoplead

SteveGriffiths-secretary& Phoenix editor: griffithss@rvr.org.uk

OtherRVRSAmanagers: MarjorieSharp-shop

TheRotherValleyRailway

RobertsbridgeJunctionStation StationRoad

Robertsbridge EastSussex TN325DG

telephone:01580881833

RVRe-mail: reception@rvr.org.uk

RVRwebsite: www.rvr.org.uk

RVRFacebook:www.facebook.com/RVRailway RVRSAmembership:membership@rvr.org.uk

Rother Valley Railway Ltd

Directors:

GardnerCrawley-chairman

MikeHartOBE-deputychairman

RichardBroydOBE

BobEvans-RVRSAliaison

DavidFelton-managingdirector,finance director&companysecretary

DavidKeay

DrStephenMurfitt

DavidSlackBEM-operationsdirector

Co.managers:

RegisteredOffice: asabove e-mail:reception@rvr.org.uk

PeterBarber-permanentway/engineeringmgr

FayeCarney -gardeninggroupmgr

TrevorStreeter-media&electronicservicesmgr

Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust

Trustees:GardnerCrawley(chairman),MikeHartOBE(deputychairman), RichardBroydOBE,DavidFelton,DavidKeay,DrStephenMurfitt,DavidSlack. Addressetcasabove

Phoenix copyright:TheRotherValleyRailwaySupporters’Association.

Material for the winter issue - to the editor by 1 December.

Your comments, letters, articles and photos are always welcome - simply post /deliver items to the station or e-mail them to editor@rvr.org.uk

Any uncredited material has been produced by the editor

PrintedbyHodgePrintersLimited,95-97Broadway,Cardiff,CF241QF

Photographers: AW – Andrew Wood; BE - Bob Evans; DH - Dave Hazeldine; DF - David Felton; DS – Doug Sinden; DW – Dana Wiffen; HA - Humphrey Atkinson; JE - Jack Evans; MH - Mike Hart; Paul B - Paul Baker; PBa – Peter Barber; SG - Steven Griffiths; TEDS - Trevor Streeter.

Welcome

We’redelightedtoconfirmthatRVR’slong-awaitedTWAO1 cameintoforceon2August. Thisabsolutelycriticalmilestoneprovidesallthenecessarylegalpowersandauthorities needed to complete and operate the railway, with only various technical details now needingtobeagreedwithrelevantorganisations. Asyou’llseefrompages5and6,things havealreadystartedtohappen. Pleasenotethat(apartfrompublicfootpaths)thereis nopublicaccesstorailwaylandsortoourvariousneighbours’properties.

It’s ten years since our Return to Robertsbridge gala, held in September 2013. This memorable event marked the completion of the reinstatement of the line between Robertsbridge and Northbridge Street, and the start of moves to get the necessary planningpermissionandTWAO.Thesetwoprocesseshavetakenanextraordinaryten years and a huge amount of time, effort and money – such is the minefield faced by projectsofanysizeinthemodernworld.It’ssomethingthatsurelynoneofusenvisaged beingsocomplicatedorarduousasitprovedtobe,andallthemoreworthcelebrating whenopeningdaycomes!

Weextendawarmwelcometoournewmembers,signedupsinceApril,who’veprovided a very welcome boost to our numbers and funds. We now have some 260 paid-up members.Soforournewbiesandotherrecentjoiners,thisissueincludessomehintson how best tocatch upwiththestorysofar,whereweareatinthejoin-upproject,and how the RVR family is organised. Please come and visit us one Sunday if you haven’t alreadyhadachancetolookaround.

We’reverypleasedtowelcomeourfirstpayingadvertisersformanyyears.Getintouch ifyou’dliketoadvertiseinthemagazine:ourratesareshownonpage26. Andifyouare respondingtoanad,pleaselettheadvertiserknowyousawitinthe Phoenix!

Frontcover

NorthbridgeStreetin1954seenfromBridgeNo.6,lookingtowardsthewesternendof the branch line. The level crossing on the (old) A21 had only one gate. The crossingkeeper’shouseontheleftfloodedregularlyandwasdemolishedinthe1960s.Theroad herewasalsoknownlocallyasTheClappers.Inthedistanceisatowerwhichcarrieda wind-poweredpump,andtheremainsoftheformerwatertowerwhichitcouldfillfrom the adjoining river. It’s not clear if these were ever brought into use, as the railway obtained agreement with SR to use the mainline water tower at Robertsbridge. The signal post is unusually tall to aid visibility. Nothing in this image remains, except the road,thefourlegsoftheoldwatertower,andtworustinggirdersofBridge6. Thephoto iscopyrightofTheTransportLibrarycollection.

1 Transport and Works Act Order, a statutory instrument (ours is SI 2023/815) made under the provisions of the Transport and Works Act 1992. A TWAO is broadly equivalent to the light railway orders first introduced in 1896.

People

TheRVRSACommitteefor2023/24haveelectedBobEvansasChairman,andconfirmed all other posts (see inside cover), with John Gardner taking over from Bob as lead on shopmatters.

TheCompanyhasappointedTrevorStreeterasitsMedia&ElectronicServicesManager. WeweredelightedtobevisitedbyhistorianandauthorDavidPennandhiswife,allthe wayfromNorthumbria. Hisbook Change at Robertsbridge aboutthepeoplebehindthe originalRVRprojectover120yearsagoisafascinatingread,andheenjoyedhisfirstvisit to the modern-day RVR to catch up with developments. See the latest shop news for detailsofhisbook.

The COLONEL STEPHENS SOCIETY

For enthusiasts of the railways of Colonel Holman F Stephens

● Quarterly Magazine

● Annual visits

● Donations Programme

● Low subscriptions

● Drawings service

For details: write with A5 SAE to:Sheena Baylis, 10 Cedar Court, Farrand Road, Hedon, East Riding of Yorkshire, HU12 8XL. Email: css@thetrackside.karoo.co.uk www.colonelstephenssociety.co.uk

Corrections

ThePrizeDrawresultstableshownonpage12ofthesummer Phoenix containedsome errors. InApril,MrButcherswonwithball26notball33. InMay,MrJusticewonthe third prize (with ball 28), and not Mr Pinto (with ball 24). These were transcription errorsbytheeditor.

Christmascards

AsusualatthistimewehaveagreatofferonRVR-themed Christmascards.Pleaseseetheenclosedshopnewsleaflet fordetails

Message from Mike Hart OBE, Vice-Chairman & Trustee of the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust

It’sbeenalongandexpensivejourneytogettowherewearewiththeSecretaryofState having made the all-important Transport & Works Act Order. Having now come into forcetheOrdergivesusthenecessarypowerstocompletetherailway.

Preparationsarewellunderwayforanearlystarttotheextensiveenvironmentalsurvey oftheyettobebuilttwomilelong‘missinglink’centralsectionoftheline.Environmental investigation is an ongoing process over a period of time that, along with the arising mitigations,mustbeinplacebeforephysicalconstructionworkcangetunderway.

Meanwhileourengineersarebusilyworkingawaybehindthesceneswiththeirdetailed designsofbridges,structures,etc,aswellasloadsofotheressentialpreparatorytasks. Believe me with all the processes that must be followed and executed nowadays the actualbuildingofarailwayistherelativelystraightforwardbit!

With all that resolved we anticipate being able to make a real start on building the ‘missing link’ around late spring next year with an intense two year contractor and volunteerresourcedconstructionprogramme.Pleasedoletusknowifyouwouldliketo bepartofthatexcitingconstructionchallengeandjointheteambyprovidingpractical orsponsorshipsupport.

Thank you for all your help and support for the project to reconnect the Kent & East SussexRailwaytothenewmainlinerailinterchangestationatRobertsbridge.

To help illustrate some of the technical challenge ahead, this extract from the 2014 planning application shows the stretch of missing railway between Northbridge Street and just east of the A21. This short section alone will feature two level crossings and six small bridges. Bridge 6 still exists but will need rebuilding.

Major projects, by

Peter Barber

ContractorAndrewWood’sworkonextendingtheembankmenttothenorthandeastof the new turntable has made great strides since the last issue. During the summer it becamepossibleforthe8-wheeltipperlorriesbringinginfillmaterialtounloaddirectly ontothelowerlevelofthebankatthewesternend,simplifyingtheprocessconsiderably (comparewithpage22ofprevious Phoenix). Levelsarenowclosetofinalalongmuch oftheextension,andthenorthernedgehasbeenprofiled. Thematerialisbeingrolled andcompactedasitisplaced,andwillhavetimetosettlebeforeanythinggetsbuilt.

Onethat’sdone,thenextstepswillbetoinstallacappinglayerofgranularmaterialto preventweatherdamageandprotectagainsttrafficdamageaswell.Theditchatthetoe oftheembankmentswillneedtobeclearedandmadedeepertoallowthegroundwater toflowfreelyawayfromtheworks. DiscussionsareprogressingwellwithNetworkRail ontyingintheinterfaceworkstotheirboundary(hiddeninthetrees).

Above:10September-thiswesterncorneroftheextendedembankmentneedsraising byjustacoupleofmetres,andprofiling.Thisworkmaybecompletedbythetimeyou readthis. Theturntableisjustvisibleontheleft.Treesobscurethemainline. Notvisible thatdaywerethetwodeerthathavebeenputtinginappearances. Manymoreimages canbefoundintheRVRBlogpostsathttps://rvrailway.blogspot.com/ (SG)

We’ve been getting on with things as the summer has gone by. We acquired a new mower,todealwiththeexpandedareaofgrasswhichnowincludestheareaaroundthe goodsshed,aswellasthemainlawnandfrontbank. Thismachinehasawidecutandis self-propelled,featureswhichtakemuchoftheeffortoutofthisregulartask. Wealso assembledasecurestoreforit. Themoweriseasytousebutwewillhavetoremember to service it properly before shutting down for the winter. We’ve also replaced our hedge-trimmer,whichhaddevelopedapetrolleak.Wedrewonprizedrawfundsinboth casesonthegroundsthatthesenewtoolswillmakelifeeasierforthevolunteers!

Talkingofvegetation,inmid-Augustwehadagoattheundergrowthwhichdeveloped rapidlythisyearattheNorthbridgeStreetsite.Workisplannedontheplatformsideof themessvan,whichisoverdueastrip-downandrepaint.Unfortunatelywehaven’thad much spare time for progressing the tank wagon – as always we could really do with morehandstothepumponthe‘estatemanagement’sideofthingssothatwecanrelease moreofourtimeandenergyforthemore‘railway’projects.

Engineering, by Paul Hayes

Work has continued on the railway’s 03 shunter. The whole of the cab, engine compartment and running plate have now been prepped and carefully painted. A first greenglossytopcoathasjustbeenapplied,andasecondisplanned,whichwillmakefive in all. The major part of this repaint has been done by Dave Liggett over the past 18 months, assisted by Terry and Simon. Recently John has been tackled the right-side coupling rods, and the footplate. The buffers, locating brackets for the pipework and draw hooks have all been painted too by various people. One of the brass cab-front windowshasbeenpolishedup,andBRcrestshavebeensourced. Thecabinteriorhas alsobeenstarted,andtheexternallightsandwiringarebeingoverhauled.

Earlier,thebracketfortheairhoseontherightoftherearbufferbeamwasfoundtobe badlybent.Itwastakentothe‘Bunkobooth’(hometothe4253group)atRolvendenand verypromptlyrepairedforusatnocharge.Onthesameday,Iwasadvisedtotakeour faultypointlocktoNickWellingtoninK&ESR’sS&TdepartmentatTenterden.Hecutoff thebent threaded part with an anglegrinder andthen didthe samewith a spare part that he had. The two retained components were welded together on the same day by ChrisintheBunkobooth.ThelocknowresidesinoneofthevanbodiesatRobertsbridge.

Bob has been working hardto build a box or chest (opposite) in the 3-plankwagon to storethecomponentsoftheRVR’sgazeboandlargetent.Hewasn’thelpedbythefact thatsomebodysatonthepart-builtframeearlierintheyearandcollapsedit! However, hehasnowrepairedthedamage,theframehasbeenpaintedinundercoatandtheside panelshavebeenattached.Thenextstepwillbetofixthehingesonthelid,whichhas already been cut to size. The box will make good use of the wagon. Other work has includedimprovedsecurityandtheshopanddoorrepairs.

DuringAugust,oneofmyjobswastoworkonacollectionofdonatedmodelengineering ballraceswhichhadseizedupwithrust,inorderthatthesecouldbesoldtoraisefunds. OneverywetWednesday,IwastryingtouseWD40andfingerpressureonlywhenKeith Wilson,oneofourmembers,appearedandbyusinganutandboltthroughthemiddleof eachbearingwasabletospeeduptheprocessenormously.Byusingalargerbolt,Iwas abletoloosenthebiggestbearings,atalaterdate.

Thesmall,manuallyoperated,SuffolkPunchlawnmower isnowworking.Whenfound abandoned,itwascompletelyseizedduetoabuild-upofdirtandsolidifiedgreaseinthe teethoftherackandpiniondrive.Iwasabletodigoutthedirtwithasmallscrewdriver andthenappliedgreasetotheteethonbothsides.Thisfreedeverythingupandmadeit possibleto push themower andhenceuse it tocut grass.However,it wasthen found that,althoughitwentforwardfreely,itstilljammedwhenpulledbackwards.

Thisproblemwascuredbyincreasingtheclearancebetween thecylinder andbottom bladeononeside.Thelastproblemtodatewasinsufficientgroundclearancecausingthe mowertodigitselfinratherthancuttinggrass.Loweringtherollercuredthisdifficulty.

Workcontinuestocleanupthe03’solddynamo,alreadyshinierwiththehelpofasmall wirebrushwithbrassbristles.Themountingsaddleisnowfullycleaned.

Gardening at Robertsbridge Junction, by

Faye Carney

ThemainlineRobertsbridgestationhasfeaturedsomeseriousgardeninginitshistory, withatleastonelateVictorianphotographshowingamassivegreenhousenexttotheup platform The tradition continues with the charming garden on the site of the old crossing-keeper’scottagebesidethedownplatform,andplanted-upwheelbarrowsand hangingbasketsoutsidethestationentrance.

SoonafterthenewRVRstationtookshapeacrosstheway,ourowngardeninggroupwas setup-sometenyearsagonow.Thenewplatformincorporatedashallowtrenchsome 13incheswide,15inchesdeepattherear,and100yardslong.Itwassoonfilledwith unimprovedSussexclay. Plantingbeganin2014andgraduallytheoutlinesofthebare concreteandrailingsweresoftenedbyclimbingrosesandshrubs,withcherrytreesand alongpyracanthahedgeonthefarsideoftherailings.

Summer 2013, ballasting train and tamperinnearlyreadyplatform(TEDS)

Early 2014, Geoff Wyatt, Duncan Frewen andMarkYongebusyplanting(TEDS)

TheRVRsitehasothergreenareastobetendedincludingthelargepicniclawn,thefront bank,andtworowsofboxhedging(stillsurviving,miraculously),oneofwhichisslowly becominganactualhedge

AfewyearsagoIwaspersuaded(bymyhusband,akatheEditor!)tolendahandtothe gardening team. I usually have a surplus of cuttings and divisions on the back porch which, a few at a time, get transplanted to Robertsbridge. And I must say it’s been a revelationtoseehowmuchbettersomeofmystrugglingplantsfareintheRVRplatform bed,comparedtohome.It’sanexposedsite,whichfloodsinheavyrainsandreliesonan irrigationhoseinhotweather.Hosepipebansaremuchdreaded.Thenarrownessofthe

trenchandthesheerlengthofthebedmakeitachallengetoplantup,eventenyearson. Butthankstothegeneroushelpoffellowvolunteers,donorsandsupporterswe’reslowly gettingthere.Agarden,asthegardenersamongyouwillknow,isneverfinished.

Thesameviewtoday:still roomformore plants(SG)

Butwhygiveourselvesallthislabourand expense,youmightask?Especiallywhen itwillbeafewyearsyetbeforetrainsrun from Robertsbridge Junction. The main reason, I’d argue, is that no heritage railway is complete without planting of some kind. Those beds and pots remind usofthedayswhenstationmasterswere people of social standing and their gardens a testament to the pride they, andtheirstaff,tookintheirstation.

As early as the 1880s some could compete for prizes for the best-kept platform garden on their line. Their efforts were encouraged by the Railway BanksFloralAssociationfoundedin1900 bysomeofthegreatandthegoodofthe gardening world to promote planting at stations.

Today’srailwayoperatorsmainlyseestationplanting(whereithappens)asbenefiting the environment and their green credentials, with wildlife and wildflowers a frequent focus. In the age of steam, the flowerbeds welcomed and cheered the passengers - as heritagestationgardensdonowadays. Wehopeourgardeninggroupeffortswillbenefit both biodiversity and our visitors. And the sight of an attractive well-tended station, waitingpatientlyforitstrainsfromTenterden,canonlyhelpwhenitcomestofurther fundraisingforthejoin-upproject.

The Sheppey Light Railway Greenway

DanaWiffenoftheCSShasrecentlyalertedustotheSLRGproject.Thisisaninitiativeto recreateawalkingandcyclingrouteacrossSheppey,usingthelineoftheformerColonel Stephensrailwaywherepossible.Thiswillopenupsaferoutesforresidentsandtourists, encouraging exercise and recreation. The Sheppey Light Railway opened in 1901, connectingQueenboroughwithLeysdown.Itclosedin1950andmuchofthetrackbed hasbeenlost.Theproject,whichisintheplanningstage,willrequirethecooperationof numerouslandownerstogivewalkersandcyclistspassageacrosstheir properties.It’s allbeingledbyanewvoluntarygroupwhichiscurrentlyraisingfundstoidentifyaroute in detail and also discover the owners of the land in question. Full details at https://www.slrgreenway.org/

Thisyearisthe100th anniversaryofthecreationoftheSouthernRailway,oneofthe‘Big Four’ created by the grouping of the various independent companies around Britain undertheRailwaysAct1921.K&ESRwasofcourseexcludedfromthegrouping,butlinks withSRgrewovertheyears.Thisadvertisementfrom1925neatlysumsupthescaleand spreadofthehugenewenterprise,includingdocks,shipsandhotels.SRroutesmightbe short but there were an awful lot of them with stations often closer together than the other three systems, and with more intensive services. Does anyone know about the CravenHotel,somewhereinLondon?

Mileages on the old K&ESR

MatthewBeddall’slittlebookletontheline, The Kent and East Sussex Railway – the Line that Refused to Die, published in 2000, includes a table showing the train mileages achievedyearbyyearfrom1923to1937.Thedatamustbesomekindofreflectionof thelinesfortunes,withasharpdipduringtheDepressionyears,thenrecoveringabitin thelatter30s. Herearesomeyears’totals:

1923–97366miles(steamtractionpluspetrolrailcars)

1930–81190

1934–45360

1937–48080

Onewondershowthefigureswerecompiled,asIimaginethelocomotivesandrailcars werenotfittedwithmilometers. AjobfortheTonbridgeofficeclerksperhaps?

RVR’s own steam loco Charwelton - latest

Inpreparationforthecompletionofboilerrefurbishment,RVRLtdhasnowarrangedfor Charwelton’ s chassis and running gear to be refurbished as well. Various components wererecentlyroundedupatRolvendenbyourfriendsinthe4253Group,palleted,and sentofftoJMSteamEngineeringLtd,aspecialistcompanylocatedatQuaintonRoadin Bucks,whichhandilyrail-connectedtotheBuckinghamshireSteamRailwayCentreclose by. Postsathttps://rvrailway.blogspot.com/givealotmoredetailonwhat’sinvolved andtherearealsophotosoftherecentworkdoneby4253Groupon Charwelton’s cab andtanksetc,leftbehindatRolvenden,whiletheywaitfortheirownengine’sboilerto be returned. We all hope this means RVR’s only steam loco will be back in action at K&ESRonceagainbeforetoolong,perhapswithGWR4253notfarbehind,reducingthe needtohirelocomotives.

Just one station along the line, by Bryan Atkins

Just one station eastwards on the (soon to be reinstated) line from Robertsbridge JunctioncanbefoundtheBodiamCoach,arefurbishedMark1BSKwhichhasbeenfitted outasholidayaccommodation.

ThecoachnestlesquietlyintothegardenatthebackofBodiamstation,andprovidesan ideal setting for a short holiday. It is difficult not to relax by watching trains and the countryside.Onthegardensideofthecoach,substantialdeckingprovidesawonderful placetositprivatelyandenjoyruralviews.Thestationsideofthecoachaffordsexciting viewsoftheactivitiesontheplatformasuptofivetrainsadaycomeandgowiththeir passengers.TherearealsogoodviewsofthevineyardsandBodiamCastle.

The concept of converting redundant stock into ‘camping coaches’ dates back to the 1930s and was designed to encourage groups of people to travel by train to stations wheretheywerelocatedforarestfulandinexpensiveholiday.Bytoday’sstandardsthese early camping coaches were very basic, and so with modern improvements and expectationswehaveupgradedtheterm‘camping’to‘glamping’.Thisreflectsthecoach’s comfortable facilities for up to five people: it’s fully heated, and fitted out with two bathroomsandawell-equippedkitchen.

The coach is currently jointly owned and operated by K&ESR and a small number of members, using a separate organisation which trades as The BodiamCoach Company. Thisallowstherailwaytosharetheriskoftheventurewith otherinvestors,andearn usefulincomeevenwhentrainsarenotrunning.

Most ofourguestsseemtoenjoyheritage,gardens,countrysideandtravel.Theybook thecoachascouplesorinpairsofcouples,andoccasionallysmallfamilies. Theytellus theyaredelightedstayingatBodiaminaquirkysetting,enjoyingpeaceandquietalong withthetrains.

Strangely perhaps, most guests are not railway enthusiasts. However after few days overlookingBodiamplatformtheybecomeverywellinformedaboutpreservedrailways. They ask us not so much about the coach or the local area but how the railway is organised.

Over the next few years, the route from Robertsbridge to Bodiam will be the focus of excitingactivityandinterest.RVRmembersandvolunteersmightliketotakeadvantage of what the Bodiam Coach has to offer. Why not a short holiday while visiting the RobertsbridgeHQtofindoutthelatestdevelopmentsaswellasexploringtheremainder oftheK&ESRroutetoTenterden?

SofarwehaveattractedguestsfromasfarafieldasBerlinandAberdeen.Howeverguests whohavereturnedonmorethantwooccasionshavecomefromplacesmuchclosersuch as Seaford, St. Leonard’s and Maidstone, proving it is not the distance travelled that makesagreatshortbreakbutthechangeofenvironment.

All RVR and K&ESR members are offered a discount on hire prices plus a generous K&ESRtraintravelpackagewhilestayinginthecoach. Forfurtherdetailspleaseseerailwayglampingcoach.co.uk

Foravailabilitydatesemailbodiamcoach@gmail.com

Dates for the diary

SRP Toy Fairs (www.srptoyfairs1.co.uk)

Ditton Community Centre, ME 20 6AH – 22 October and 27 December, 9.45am to 1.30 pm.

Orpington, Crofton Halls BR6 8PR – 15 October, 10 December, 9.45 am to 1.15pm

Erith Model Railway Society model railway exhibition, Longfield, 27 & 28 January 2024

Book Corner

Just out is what looks like a terrific new book from Brian Janes.

With 176 pages and 250 b&w images, it’s available from Nigel Bird Railway Books at £27.50includingp&p.

Buses to Robertsbridge: Thereisonlyoneregularlongdistancebusservingthevillage, butthegoodnewsisthatitnowrunssevendaysaweek.It’srecentlybeenrenumbered the 1066 and runs between Hastings and Tunbridge Wells, calling also at Battle, Ticehurst and Wadhurst (hence it shadows the railway). The operator is Stagecoach SouthEast. www.bustimes.orghasaneasy-to-findtimetable.

The Cottage Lighting Company, Robertsbridge

Amongst our extensive magazine collection at the shop here at Robertsbridge, David FeltonrecentlylocatedtheSeptember1913editionofthe Railway Magazine,whichhe knewcontainedafascinatingarticle.Thisdescribesanexperimentalnewstationlighting system forRobertsbridgeStation. The‘Cotlite’apparatus was aproduct oftheCottage Lighting Company, which it just so happened was located next door to the mainline station, presumably on what is nowadays the land occupied by the modern-day RVR (someoldphotosshowvarioussmallindustrialstructuresaswellassidings),orpossibly ontheCulverwellssitenextdoor.

The article claimed that the Cotlite system produced four times as much light as the traditional station oil lamps. Such lamps were widely used, especially in rural areas whereamainsgassupplywasnotavailable.2

Theinstallationusedacetylene,whichinthosedayswasusedforthingslikemotorcar headlightsandminer’slamps.Todayit’sstillusedincavingbecausethelightissoftand diffuse, which reduces glare, while in emergencies the lamp’s heat can help stave off hypothermia.

Two Cotlite ‘generating plants’ were installed at the station. One installation was between the columns supporting the original iron footbridge, on the up platform; and onewasbehindthesignalbox,supplyingthedownplatform,stationbuildingsandgoods yard lights. A communicating pipe allowed either plant torun thewhole system if the otherwasoutofaction. Bothplantswerecontainedinwoodencabinetsorshedswith sloping roofs and prominent ‘Cotlite’ branding outside (one assumes nobody worried aboutcanistersbeingstolen!).

Altogether50lightsweresupplied,eachof25candlepower 3.Anofficelampburntabout 1cubicfootofgasperhour(atacostofaboutahalfpenny)whileplatformlightsneeded halfthat.Thewholestationsystemcost6dperhourtorun,butsavingscouldbemade byreducingthelightinglevelsinbetweentrains!

Theacetylenegaswasproducedbyacanisterofcalciumcarbide,capableofproducing 30 cubic feet ofgas.Imagine a forerunner of the modern propane gascanisters– they neededtobechangedbyastationporteratintervals,andtheemptiestakenawaytobe rechargedbythesupplier(handilynextdoor!)andbroughtbackagain.Thedifferenceis that the canister contents were a dry powder rather than liquid propane gas under pressure,sosaferthanmightatfirstseem.

2 ThestationlamphutisnowadaysrepurposedasRVR’sgardeninghut,havingbeendonatedbythemainlinestationsome yearsago. Atthetime,manyareasalsolackedmainselectricity.

3 ‘Candlepower’can’tbedirectlyequatedtomodern-daymeasureslikewattsorlumensasitmeasurestheintensityoflight asitfallsonatarget,soforexampleafocussedtorchbeammighthave highcandlepowerwhilenotprovidemuchoverall lighting.

Both plants had a number of canisters, the down platform system being larger and requiring a bigger cabinet. The canisters, called generators, had to be lowered into a larger metal container called a generator tank, contained in the little shed. The article doesnotexplainhowthecalciumcarbidewasturnedintoacetylenegasbutaquickcheck ontheinternetshowsthatwhenmixedwithwaterahighlyexplosivegasisreleased –acetylene. Sobothplantsmusthavebeenconnectedtoawatermain,unlesstheporter alsohadtotopupwaterlevels. Thelampsburnedthegas,andpresumablyeachwaslit by hand, as with oil and gas lamps. It’s not clear if something like a gas mantle was involvedorabrightflamesimplyburnedwithinaprotectiveglass.

Railway Magazine reportedthattheinstallationhadbeenrunningwithoutincidentfor overtwoyearsbySeptember1913.Presumablymoremoderngaslightingsuperseded Cotliteeventually,andittoohadequipmentnearthesignalbox. Howdidthatworkina townwithnogassupply?

A Cotlite generating plant, showing spare canisters.

Advertsing the Cotlite system. Note the telephonenumber!

IhopeyouallreceivedandenjoyedyourcopyofRVRLtd’slatestcolourfulbulletin.This fourthissueliketheothershasbeenwidelycirculatedinthelocalityasawayofupdating localcommunities about progress on the join-up project, and RVR/K&ESR visitors too areeagertofindoutthelatest.

ThefirstthreebulletinswereputtogetherbythelateMarkYonge,leadinglightinboth K&ESRandRVRsincetheearlydays. Thislatestbulletinhasbeeninpreparationfora few months, in anticipation of a go-ahead from the Government. Happily this came through just in time for the summer distribution of the Phoenix to our members! The originalconceptforthislatestbrochurewasbyGardnerCrawley,whoaskedmetowork itupwithsuitabletext.

As with the previous bulletins, the striking design of issue4 was put together by Alex Griffin.Hekindlyofferssomebackgroundasfollows:

I've been a graphic designer for almost 20 years now, with the last 15 working as a freelancer (Kent Institute of Art and Design alumnus). I inherited an interest in the RVR project via my late stepfather, Mark Yonge - a keen supporter and general railway enthusiast. Through him I became a regular collaborator with the design of various RVR marketing materials, and very much enjoy seeing the project come to fruition.

FormoreaboutAlexgotouk.linkedin.com/in/alexgriffin81

ThelovelycentrefoldmapisthecreationofgraphicartistRickHatfieldwhosays:

I’m a trained illustrator, graduating from Kingston University in 1990. My creative journey has taken me into children’s publishing, corporate events design and graphic design, where I became a creative director for a Kent-based agency. Since lockdown I have been on a solo journey developing my own style of illustration and fine art branding. I am now delivering this for K&ESR, which in turn has led me to collaboration with the Rother Valley Railway.

For more about Rick go to his website rickhatfield.co.uk. This includes a fascinating descriptionofhowtheuniquecentrefoldmapwasconceivedandcreated.

AlexandRickarebothKentresidents.

Paper copies of the bulletins (except issue 1) are still available on request at RobertsbridgeJunctionorbyemailingme(Iwillinviteasmalldonationof£2tocover postageandpacking). Unfortunately,thereappeartobenomorecopiesofissue1. There isalsoaprintedprogressreport,publishedin2013,withplansandartists’impressions ofthenewstationasconstructiongotunderway. Thesepublicationscanallbeseenon theRVRwebsite(bulletins3and4arecurrentlyintheblogsection).

Rick’soriginallayoutsketchforBulletin4

Defibrillator/CPR Training

VolunteerswereinvitedbyRVRLtdtoatrainingsessionontheemergencyresuscitation ofpeoplewhohavebecomeunconscious,andshow nopulse.Thetrainer,Colin,wasa K&ESR volunteer who is also a trained paramedic. In dramatic fashion, he pulled no punches in conveying the importance of having a go, first summoning help and then immediately beginning chest compressions (CPR), while somebody else calls the emergencyservicesandfetchesadefibrillator. Thereareonlyafewminuteswithouta pulse before brain death occurs, so time is of the essence, and any delay in beginning resuscitationcanbefatal. Defibrillatorsapplyanelectricshocktothevictim’schestarea (skin contact essential) which can jolt a stopped or failing heart back into a steady rhythm.Alistoflocaldefibrillatorsisdisplayedinthemessvan.

K&ESRHoppersweekend:severalvolunteersattendedthisannualeventatBodiam, invariouscapacities.IanSharpwaswearinghisK&ESRvolunteerhat,seeingoff trainsasplatformassistant,whileMargeranasmallstallwithitemsfromtheshopas wellastheirhoney. JohnGardnermarshalledacollectionofclassiccars. Steve,Bob andJackweretheretoanswersquestionsfromvisitorsaboutRVRandjoin-upplans.

Who are we, and where have we got to?

Newmembersneedingtocatchup–readon!

IfyouneedaprimerontheRVRstorysofar,simplyorderacopyofour25th anniversary publication Reconnecting Robertsbridge,availableatjust£3plusp&p.Thisgivesapotted historyoftheRVRprojectincludingnumerousphotosandallthemanymilestones,and afewtwistsandturnsenroute.

Who’s who? With three separate organisations listed on the inside cover of this magazine,itmayalllookabitcomplicatedsoit’sworthtakingamomenttogetyourhead roundthebasics. RVRgotgoingin1990andcomprisesaregisteredcharity–theTrust - and its operational arm, RVR Ltd, which carries out the day-to-day roles including physicalworks.Thethirdlimb,RVRSA,isaseparatelyconstitutedassociation,enabling the public to join the scheme as supporters, to follow developments through the quarterlymagazineweproduce,andtovolunteerinvariousways,underthedirectionof theCompany. RVRSAdonatesitssurplusfundstotherailway. Asyoucanseefrompage 2,thethreeorganisationsmakinguptheRVRfamilyworkcloselytogether,andthereare peoplewhobelongtomorethanone,whichhelpswithcoordinationandcommunication. Thewholeschemeisfundedbydonationsandnopublicmoneyisinvolved.No-onein the RVR family is paid, and many external organisations and individuals provide help freeofcharge. Therearealsopaidcontractorsincludingconstructionfirms,consultants andotherspecialists.

Another way to get up to speed on what’s going on at RVR is to read up on previous Phoenixes. Happily we have some leftover new/nearly new copies, so just contact me withyourmailorderrequirements.Theseare75peachpluspostage&packing,andthe followingareavailable: 2022spring,summer,autumn,winter. 2021spring,summer, autumn, winter. 2020spring, autumn, winter. 2019summer, winter. 2018summer. I canalsoemailapdfofanybackissuefor50peach.

Our shop at Robertsbridge (see back page) stocks some second-hand issues of the Phoenix atamodestprice.Ifanyonehasunwanted Phoenixes, we’dbegladtohavethem backasdonations.

WhiletheAssociationworkstokeepmembersabreastofprogressthroughthequarterly Phoenix,RVRLtdreleasesasteadystreamofpublicinformationavailableonitswebsite, notablytheoccasionalRVRBulletins(seealsopage 20)whichmarkmajormilestones, and also frequent blogposts featuringquality photographsand videos including drone footage,panoramicviewsandmaps. Seewww.rvr.org.ukfordetails.

RVR is on YouTube: why not subscribe to RVR’s dedicated channel and view 85+ videos made over the past few years including gems like the 2016 opening of the rail connection to Network Rail, featuring Sir Peter Hendy, then Chairman of NR and now Chairman of the Heritage Railway Association.

LBSC Class C1 locomotive 425 somehow ended up in the turntable pit at Tunbridge WellsWeston11March1905,whileanotherlocowasbeingturned.Perhapsthedriver’s reversingleverorhandbrakefailed,ortherewasanaccidentalshuntfrombehind?The 1882-builtlocowaswithdrawntwoyearslater,butothersinthesmallclass werealso withdrawn that same year and by 1911 only 2 of the 12 were left. It was one of Stroudley’sleastsuccessfuldesigns. I’mnotsurewhathappenedtotheturntableinmore recenttimes.

Membership admin

Areyouinterestedinhelpingoutinanadministrativerole? Asourmembershipgrows, wecoulddowithsomeonetotakeonthejobofmanagingtheAssociation’smembership processes.Thisisaninterestingrolewhichcanbecarriedoutfromhomebyanyonewith acomputer,agoodprinter,andadminskills.Ideally,you’dhavesomebasicgraspofExcel andWordorsimilar. Dutiesincludemaintainingthetwosimpledatabaseswhichrecord our members’ basic details. You will also use these to distribute the Phoenix and membership cards, and handle correspondence including membership applications, welcome packs and enquiries The job is very much about customer support, and demands respect for confidential personal data. You’d report to the Association Secretarywhowillprovidethenecessaryinitialtrainingandsupervision.

Letters: Humphrey Atkinson

I enjoyed the Diesel Days article in the summer issue of the Phoenix. It brought back memoriesof28th March1999,thedayweworkedtheclearancetrainfromNorthiamto Bodiam.Beforefinalballastingofthenewly-laidtrack,itwasnecessarytocollectupall thesurplusmaterialsandjunk,sotheclearancetrainwasarrangedwithawillinggang in attendance. The motive power was supplied by K&ESR’s Class 03 D2023 pictured belowatDixterStraightandatBodiam(lowerleft)

BallasttrainsranthatsummerusingClass14dieselmotivepower.The20-ton Dogfish ballasthopperwagonswereloadedupatNorthiamfromatemporarysidingbehindthe signalbox(lowerright).

Left:in1998RVRsupportersheldaboot fairinthemainlinecarpark.Notethe lackoffencing,Pullmancar Cambria on theleftbeforethearsonattack,the Cavell vancentre,andourcurrentmess van,SR2339,thenstillthe Collectors Coach. Thelocois Telemon.

Stallholdersarehardtomakeoutnow, butmightincludepaststalwartsHelen Brett,Roy,DerekandPeteSweatman.

January 2013 – aerial view at RBJ

TheaerialphotooppositebymemberPhillipLaneisdated28January,justovertenyears ago.Itshowspreparationsfortheroll-outofRobertsbridgeJunctionStationasweseeit today. Volunteer-laid trackwork which had evolved since RVR got going in 1990 had beenremovedelsewherebycontractorAndrewWood,alongwiththeballastandsmall outbuildings.Therailwayvehicleshadbeenshuntedontothenewlylaidtrackwhichlies beyondthetop(north)ofthephotograph.Afterre-profiling,geotextilemembranewas laid across the future trackbed area, and material can be seen spread on top of it in readinessforfurthertracklaying Thismaterialwasinfacttheearliershortvolunteerbuiltplatform,recycledonthespotforthepurpose–wastenotwantnot!

Soonalorrywillcometopickupthetwobluish-whiteobjectsnearby,whicharethetwo formerHastingstrambodies,carefullypreparedfortheirjourneytoanewhomeatthe Staplecrossgardencentre.Thetramscanstillbeseentheretoday,underrestorationby thethreemainstaysoftheHastingsTramwaysClub,Roy,HelenandDerek,nowjoined by others. The three volunteered enthusiastically with RVR for many years until the movemadenecessarybytheremodellingofthe RVR’sstationsite,includingofcourse theconstructionofthenewplatform.

Stillinsituisthelockerroom,justnorthoftheVSOEbuilding withitsgreyroof.Itwas movedtojointheworkshopbuildingoff-picturetothenorth. Alsoabouttomove (top centre)tooffsitestorageisthetankbodyfortheex-NERtankwagonknowntousbyits Shell/BP fleet number - BP160. The building on the right is Culverwells, our friendly next-doorneighbours,whokindlysoldsomeoftheirlandtoRVRtoallowwideningof thesitefortheproposedcarriageshedandwatertower.

Amazingly,bySeptemberRVRwasabletostageitsmemorableGalaweekendhere.

WELCOME TO THE SHOP PAGE

The Colonel’s Cupboard is at Robertsbridge Junction Station. We are open every Sunday from 10am until 4pm. It’s all run by RVRSA – all proceeds go to the railway.

Please email reception@rvr.org.uk or phone 01580 881833 for all enquiries Don’t miss the latest shop news flyer, enclosed.

Our Instagram is: @TheColonelsCupboard This page helps promote the shop, sell ‘big ticket’ items, and show the range of stock.

Latest news: We still need extra volunteers fortherota. TheshopistheAssociation’smainrevenue earner.Volunteerscancoverthewholeday,orhalfaday. Trainingisprovided,andnoexperienceis needed.It’salwaysinterestingtalkingwiththecustomersandothervisitorstotherailway-andinthe quietmomentsyoucanalwaysbrowsethethousandsofbooksandmagazines!

The painting Salehurst byRogerHillisnowavailableasanA4sizedprint,unframed,at£25.Aframed andglazedprintwithcaptionisavailabletoorderfor£50

RogerHill’srailway-themed greetings cards withenvelope(nomessage): £2.00each

Reconnecting Robertsbridge:theAssociation’sveryinformativebookletcoveringthelast30yearsor soisnowonspecialofferat£3tomembers,pluspostandpackingifneeded.

RAILWAY MAGAZINES: Mostmagazinesare30p,whilerecentissuesareabitmoreat60p–amazing value when you remember that the price new is generally over £4 these days. Please see www.rvr.org.ukfordetailsofourmail-orderserviceforsecondhandmagazines.

RAILWAY BOOKS: TheshophasprobablythebestcollectionofrailliteratureinthesouthofEngland, coveringbothmodelrailwaysandtheprototype,andsomeothertransporttoo.

MODEL RAILWAY ITEMS: usedmodelsandtrack, smallbuildingsandkits, andsome roadvehicles. ThesearemainlyUKoutlinein00,butalsoothergaugessometimes.

REAL RAILWAY ITEMS: Railchairsfrompre-1923companiesandlater,from£5upwards.RVRSApens at£1each.‘Robertsbridge’fridgemagnetsat£2.50,and‘Robertsbridge’targetstickersat50or60p.

PRINTS, POSTERS, PICTURES AND GREETINGS CARDS:Wehavevariousoilpaintingstoo.

DONATIONS: Wewelcomedonationsofrailwaybooksandmemorabilia,andmodelrailwayitems. We arenolongertakingfreshitemstoselloncommission,butexistingoneswillremainonsale.

Advertise in the Phoenix

Small box (approx.sizeshownontheleft):

£5perissue,orfoursuccessiveissuesfor£15

Half page:

£8perissue,orfoursuccessiveissuesfor£24

Full page:

£10perissue,orfoursuccessiveissuesfor£30