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WELCOME
TO THE OFFICIAL WEBSITE OF THE TERRIER TRUST |
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Photographic Charters Conclude ATGAS EventsRather belatedly, some of the events surrounding the two photographic charters following on from the atgas06 event need to be put on record. Sentimental Journeys and Russ Hillier had organised two events for the Monday and Tuesday. The chosen locomotives were “Stepney” and “Bodiam” respectively – the former presented a rare opportunity for filming with a Terrier facing the traditional direction of Robertsbridge whilst the latter celebrated the return of the railway’s iconic locomotive following an extensive rebuild that included a new boiler. “Stepney” took on its Brighton Works alto ego occasionally witnessed on other occasions of the defunct “Morden” with the very lately applied BR running number of 32635. When the engine had worked the Tenterden end of the five-coach excursion organised by the Locomotive Club of Great Britain on 19 October 1958, it had carried the departmental number of DS377, itself a variant on the original 377S when first given the livery. Incidentally, the Robertsbridge engine that October day had been 32678. The train was formed to represent a mixed train in the immediate pre-closure period with accommodation for the photographers in the form of Maunsell Brake No.4432/K&ESR No.53 at the Tenterden end of the formation. The rains that had threatened the end of the second day of the atgas weekend duly arrived with avengeance and even immediately after lunch on Orpin’s Curve and then at the Wittersham end of Oxney Straight overcast conditions persisted. Thankfully the light began to improve for some scenes in the platform road at Wittersham Road and leaving the station. 32635 was then lined up for a series of passes over Hexden Bridge during which time the sun started to come out from behind a far from clear-cut edge to the cloud. Unfortunately the shadow was now rather straight along the track so it was decided to move on. “Stepney” then notched up another first by entering East Sussex via the Rother Bridge for the first time in over half a century before watering at Northiam then passing onto Ewhurst; again the sun was rather straight on so not everyone bothered to take pictures. The next location was in the vicinity of the footpath crossing of the line about a quarter of a mile west of Bodiam Station – the sodden marshy ground a salutary reminder of the nature of the terrain in the district which probably explains why the line tends to hug the south side of the valley in these parts. The sun was now just starting to get round and by the time Bodiam itself was attained attractive scenes were witnessed of the train with the crew taking a break followed by pseudo-departures to Robertsbridge, a mere 3.5 miles away to the west. Now being early evening, 32635 needed further refreshment so a retreat was beaten to Northiam. The consensus of opinion was that Hexden Bridge was the preferred location and on stopping on approach, there was a general exodus to both sides of the bridge and both sides of the river. “Stepney” then proceeded to write itself into the history books with a series of crossings that is rumoured to have worn a grove in the railhead. |
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No. 1050480 |
Multiple sun-side and silhouette pictures were taken as the sun went down, literally until photographers, film, tape and memory cards were exhausted. By this time several people had more than one eye on the clock with a view to long and/or later than anticipated trips home whilst others had to revise evening plans in advance of the morrow.
A smaller group started to gather in the half-light of yet another depressingly gloomy morning at Rolvenden the following day, but were treated to the wonderful sight of two Brighton Terriers shunting in the yard and station. “Bodiam’s” train for the photographers would feature the two red wagons – Pegg and Huxford with passenger stock in the form of the GER Brake No.197/K&ESR No.81. Meanwhile 32678 beavered away preparing stock for the Railway Experience Day being held at Rolvenden.
A film crisis affecting more than one photographer meant that by the time I rejoined the enterprise at Bodiam itself, a series of scenes of trains supposedly arriving from Robertbridge had just been concluded although there was time to take the picture in the platform. I then drove round to Northiam where I tipped off the Tuesday gang of the approach of the train, slightly delayed due to more photography in the area of Mill Ditch.
A few runs into Northiam itself were followed by tea or coffee – thanks to the Tuesday gang, and, with “Bodiam” duly watered, we set off back towards Bodiam; photographers being deposited at Ewhurst and attaining photographic locations before the engine returned from the west. One or two worthwhile pictures were obtained with the Castle in the background but generally the sun refused to behave. This was then followed by a return to Rolvenden for coaling, crew change and lunch.
The post-lunch session proved to be somewhat of a damp squib in comparison to the previous day’s experience with 32636. Nevertheless some good pictures were recorded later in the afternoon ascending Wittersham Bank from Hexden Bridge, in the station at Wittersham Road and by the engineers’ siding, and lastly by Gazedown Wood. This location has become rather hairy and unkempt in recent years and the quality of reflections in the water mitigated by the process of the old crayfish beds slowly returning to nature.
Many
pictures of the events on these two days have now been published and
may be found on the internet. Of course none of this would have been
possible without the organisations and people, both salaried and voluntary
who helped to make it work. Special mention must be made of the efforts
of Pete Salmon to make it all work and the Terrier Trust wishes to thank
the engine crew for kindly passing on the whip-round proceeds of the
Monday to add to funds.
HN-15/06/2006