On duty on the Kent and East Sussex Railway

Today I was on Crossing Keeper Duty at Cranbrook Road Crossing on the Kent and East Sussex Railway. This job involved opening and closing the gates so as the trains can cross the road here.

In fact I had a trainee with me today, which meant he did all the work and I just had to supervise. He's ready for his passing out turn now, which he's got next week.

The Crossing Keeper here occupies a little hut next to the gates alongside the line and each time a train approaches a bell sounds in the hut and out you come to open the gates to the railway and stop the traffic.

It was warm and cosy in the hut, which is provided with a kettle, stove, fridge and radio and makes a pleasant place to while away the day, especially in the summer. There is a great view across rural Kent from the hut, as shown on my blip on 21st February 2013

The engine is a British Railways Pannier Tank No 1638 built in Swindon in 1951 but based on a much older class of locomotives designed by F W Hawksworth and built by the Great Western Railway between 1897 and 1905. The loco was withdrawn from service in 1966 and ended up on the KESR in 1992. It's painted GWR green and lettered with GWR to fit in with "Duck" from the Thomas the Tank Engine" theme

The loco is coming up from the engine shed at Rolvenden to Tenterden as a light engine to collect the carriages for the first train of the day. A wonderful day with great exhausts in the clear, cold air.

Back at the Railway on Easter Monday, in Wittersham Road Signalbox.