Croeso i Llaniog a Ivor 'r Beiriant

For the second year running, the K&ESR welcomed an incarnation of the famous animation of Ivor the Engine, with Northiam station taking on the role of Llaniog station.

The 2008 event was held over three days mid-week in early August and for this year it was switched to the last weekend in July.

Unfortunately this not only coincided with the big holiday getaway weekend of the year but also the “War and Peace” show at Paddock Wood where Vera Lynn was the star attraction.

As a result it was reported that the railway was only about as busy as an average weekend for the time of year.

That said, Ivor proved most popular giving rides in station limits, hauling the Woolwich and balcony coaches from the Vintage set and one suspects that as many adults as children, particularly Dads’ and Granddads’, enjoyed meeting a real-life childhood animation – which of course preceded the Thomas© adventures on TV of the early 1980s.

Supplemented by two round trips with the DMMU, the Red timetable saw No.24 “Rolvenden” on the main set with 32678 behaving itself on the Vintage train though the injector system was still causing difficulties…

Of “Knowle”,
Driver Slack and Atkins his mate,
Would brook no flak
From the troublesome clack

Following on from the failure at Tenterden Town on 9th July, the engine had to be failed again prior to service a week late on the 16th.  Engineering manager Paul Wilson advised TTT by email that the problem was due to excess lift, allowing the valve to skew in the body and jam.

Paul has also provided a brief update on the state of both Terriers.  The failure of “Bodiam” late on 2nd July was due to all the securing split pins for the regulator in the boiler having corroded; replacements fabricated from stainless steel have since been fitted.  32678 has had to have both of the big ends fettled to close up excess wear and also the right-hand crosshead re-metalled.

HN-30/07/2009