Back to Wittersham Road

My first time back at Wittersham Road signal box after the disappointment of not passing out as a signalman in August. Pleased to get this turn over with and pleased that it went well, without any hitches. Mind you it was a simpler service without trains crossing here so the points were in the same position througout the day as all trains called at the platform loop.

This weekend is the "Hoppers Special" recreating the trains of 50 years ago when families came down on special trains from the East End of London to pick hops in the Hop Gardens of Kent and have a bit of a holiday at the same time.

This locomotive, the Stroudley Terrier worked on the KESR almost from the day it opened until the line closed. After working on various lines in southern England it was taken out of service in 1963 only to return to the fledgling KESR Preservation Society in 1964 where it has been ever since.

The pairing of the Terrier with the Victorian Set looks really good and shows off the railway at its best and gives a good indication of how things must have been like for real, albeit in not such as good a state of repair.

This coming weekend this locomotive will work the very first train over the newly laid 1/2 mile line between Robertsbridge Station and Northgate Street. 32670 hauled the last passenger train from Roberstsbridge in 1961 and will work the first train over the new line with the Victorian Set shown here. Wonderful.