December

Special year end wishes to all our readers and supporters of the Rother Valley Railway.

A Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!

We have taken the opportunity to load our Prize Draw to this site. There are many ways to support the Railway and with this you have a chance to not only provide much needed funds, but win something too. Give it a Go.

End of year festivities.

Trackbed clearance to Northbridge Street keeps apace. An unfortunate theft in mid December meant the loss of ground clearing equipment and damage to a lock up.

 

(Upper Left) - Volunteers reviewing the events of the day.     Dougal (from June) with refurbished instrument panel and (bottom Left) Open engine housing (bottom right)

November

Of the five projects underway, working is progressing on track improvements and stock. It must be admitted that in some areas work is slow, due to continuing unfavourable factors of ill health and weather.

The curve between the Station site and Oak Tree Sidings is being ‘eased’ as one of the objectives in reaching the first bridge. Seen is the current end of the running line and an extension of one more panel in the run around (to the right). Provision within the relaying of the main line is a panel which can later be replaced with points for that day when we will steam back into Robertsbridge (Junction) Mainline Station. Whilst working is ongoing we have created our own break in the line to Tenterden, although we feel that we can bridge this gap, some of the later bridge gaps may prove a lot more challenging in resolving.

Mid-Late October - More Bad weather hence the reason for this single and poor site photo

Brake Van movement into Siding - Rain Blurs Image A little diversion at the KESR Tenterden Town Station

It appears that October is proving to be a more challenging month than expected. We have all witnessed the poor weather conditions, which although warm has been wet. Our operations Manager, Dave a considerable source of inspiration, knowledge and creativity has been taken down by long term illness and our mini digger, being the main workhorse, decided to follow suit. The Members and management have not stood idly by. In reaching the first bridge it was decided to divide the task into five key projects, each with their own Project Manager. It appears that this new organisation has generated considerable enthusiasm and where weather permits, pushes things onward. More than ever we are looking for Volunteers to challenge adversity and assist us in reaching the first bridge

October opens with more Balmy weather - Sunshine and Showers and on the first weekend  it sure was. The main event has been the effort on the Platform, being an essential item in Service Running.

September

The RVR Station Platform Continues. An essential component in the Grand Plan towards our Running goal.     <- Proving once again that Volunteers come in all shapes and sizes, ages, skills and interests.

Late August

The main Running Line is being upgraded and straightened from the station site to Oak Tree Sidings. Sadly August being as wet as it was soon turned the area to a mire. The area of stock renovation continued apace with sand blasting and painting being one way to stay out of the somewhat variable weather. A request has been made to include a stock report here and that is something we are now working upon.

18th June - Upgrading the track has taken a pause as essential repairs to the Hopper Wagon have been ongoing for the past two weeks. Given the heat on the 18th this was actually a relief!!! The Hopper doors, after years of use have reached the end of their time and are being lovingly (?)replaced.

 

"As David oblivous walks in front of the crucial shot. Anyway you get the idea. The Hopper doors are off"

" The Doors and ballast slipway under repair."

This is not to say the volunteer working gang have been slacking. Far from it! Several of the Locos and wagons are now receiving a bit of necessary TLC. Drewry "Dougal" lost his lid this weekend, which looks as though that will need to be totally replaced due to corrosion

May-Jun - Updates to this site may have been slow in the past month or so, but progress at the Robertsbridge site continues ever onwards. So what has been going on there? The inspection pit has been completed, track work continues to be tidied and repairs to essential vehicles is now increasing in pitch. The Lo-mac is here receiving new planking and very handsome it looks too. Ready for more years of useful life

The regular updates with which we have been so spoiled have been such a credit to the previous webmaster, or rather mistress, which clearly is going to be difficult to emulate.

And the website? Well we are now entering a period of consultation and inviting all members, by this update, to pass us their ideas which we will prioritise into a task and wish list. It is desired that the members should decide the functionality and 'Look and Feel' of the site. Initial ideas suggest that we need to divide the site into a 'Shop Front' and 'Members Only' area and add new features to the already 'Content Rich' site. mail to: reception@rvr.org.uk.