Sunday 16 January 2011

"Forney" for Rhos Helyg in February

The Kent & Sussex Border Light Railway's "Forney" locomotive will be the next in line for repairs at Rhos Helyg locomotive works sometime in 2011. Since returning to traffic, this locomotive has had numerous problems, including Regulator and Boiler problems.

Still, we are rather sad that it will be leaving us next month, so the locomotive will take up the spotlight in Early February working the "Black Lion Diner Special's" every Friday night. Due to the locomotives regulator problems, these services will be double headed.

Proposed Itinerary:

Friday 4th February:
"Black Lion Special", this is expected to be double heading with Roundhouse "Millie" No.9 "Sir Christopher.

Friday 18th February:
"Black Lion Diner Special", double headed with Darjeeling "B" class "Maid of Kent". On the return, "Sir Davy Armstrong" will double head with the "Forney".

Sunday 20th February:
Slightly enhanced timetable. The normal service trains are to be top and tailed this Sunday before a spectacular climax in the afternoon.

Service Timetable: Enchanced Green service, 4 trains
Train 1 No.9 "Sir Christopher" and No.2 "Sir Davy Armstrong" top and tailing
Train 2 No.1 "Hermione" and No.5 "Maid of Kent" top and tailing
Train 4 No.4 "Holman F Stephens" and No.6 "Salem" top and tailing

Trains will run in this format until 5:00pm.

At 5:00pm The "Millie" will take charge with the "Forney" for a special double headed run to say farewell. "The Forney Farewell" will run non stop from Appledore to Camber Sands and return, arriving at Camber by 6:00pm and returning to Appledore by 7:00pm. This will be a fitting farewell to the loco. Demand will be high for this service, so please book tickets for this train.

We hope you will join us for this special event.
Regards,
Chris Nelson,
Event Organiser

Steve Nelson,
General Manager

Posted by Rye station at 15:43

Saturday 15 January 2011

Further details for "Davy Armstrong Memorial Event"

In late February, we will be holding the "Davy Armstrong Memorial Event" at the headquarters of Romney Marsh Model Engineering. Alongside the Roundhouse "Lady Anne" No.2 "Sir Davy Armstrong", we will have another "Lady Anne" No.3 "Bower Grove", built by Sabre Steam Models and restored by members of the Kent and Sussex Border Light Railway.

Another locomotive taking part is Roundhouse "Millie" No.9 "Sir Christopher", built for the construction of the Kent and Sussex Border Light Railway and completely restored by Tony Wilmore of Rhos Helyg Locomotive works in North Wales.

Proposed Itinerary:
No's 2 "Sir Davy Armstrong" and 3 "Bower Grove" will double head together for the Bower Grove staff
Then a solo working with the "Millie", once round the track, it will then be joined by "Bower Grove" for two double headed runs.
Then "Sir Christopher" and "Sir Davy Armstrong" will double head trains for the rest of the event. We are planning plenty of Photo Runby's.

Regards,
Steve Nelson
General Manager

Chris Nelson, Event Organiser

NB This visit to Romney Marsh Model Engineering is not part of our K&SBLR On Tour itinerary.
This event is a private event for freinds and relatives of Davy, however we hope to pose photographs of the event on this website. A DVD of the event will also be produced by New Romney Productions.


 

Plans now confirmed for Private Charter

Some time in the early spring, The Kent and Sussex Border Light Railway will be running a limited service with 2 locomotives instead of the usual 4. Below, are our plans, and the reason for this change.

K&SBLR trains, Late February

Two locomotives will operate the service in Late February. Three other locomotives will be away on the day. The two locomotives rostered to operate the service are Darjeeling "B" class No.5 "Maid of Kent" and Roundhouse "Lady Anne" No.1 "Hermione". As a result of the intensive service, and with only two lcos rosteres, the services wil operate between Rye and Appledore, using a combination of double heading and banking. For the last three trains, the engines will move light engine back to Rye. They will operate between Rye and Camber Sands between 4:00pm and 5:30pm.

Private Charter, Late February
Three locos from the fleet have been chosen to perform at a special event organised jointly by Romney Marsh Model Engineering and the K&SBLR. A great railway fan, Davy Armstrong, passed away after a battle for Cancer in April 2010. This special "Davy Armstrong Memorial Event", employs 3 locomotives from the K&SBLR fleet. They will operate a selection of Private Charters at the headquarters of Romney Marsh Model Engineering.

Locomotive Roster for "Davy Armstrong Memorial Event"
Roundhouse "Lady Anne" No.2 "Sir Davy Armstrong", named in memory of the deceased
Roundhouse "Millie" No.9 "Sir Christopher", named especcialy for the event, owned by Event Organiser
Sabre "Lady Anne" No.3 "Bower Grove", named after Bower Grove School, Maidstone, Kent

All three locomotives have relavance to this event. The "Millie" and "Sir Davy Armstrong" are both named after freinds. No.3 "Bower Grove" is named after the school, where we have both been educated. The full itinerary will be published later today.

Regards,
Chris Nelson,
Event Organiser.

P.S. This event is ONLY for freinds and relatives of Davy, plus the staff of Bower Grove School.

Wednesday 5 January 2011

"Millie": a reveiw of its performance

The newly restored Roundhouse "Millie" locomotive No.9 "Sir Christopher" is an ideal engine for the locomotive fleet. The locomotive was used on three of the double headers at the Winter Gala on the 27th December 2010.

It was commissioned at the start of the Gala by Steve Nelson, General Manager of the K&SBLR. It then joined Roundhouse "Jack" No.4 "Holman F Stephens" for a double headed run to Camber Sands. It was double headed twice more at the event, once with Darjeeling "B" class "Maid of Kent" and once with Roundhouse "Lady Anne" No.2 "Sir Davy Armstrong". The locomotive is to run at the head of the Black Lion Special's this weekend. It will also be taking part in the commissioning of No.3 "Bower Grove". The "Millie" is expected to be double heading with the new "Lady Anne".

Happy New Year to you all.
Regards,
Chris Nelson.
Event Organiser