Supporting Role for Terrier at massive
May Gala

With two visiting engines, Prairie 5552 from Bodmin & Wenford and N7 69621 from North Norfolk both anticipated to make their K&ESR debuts at the May Gala, it is not surprising that No.3 “Bodiam” is scheduled for a supporting role

The main details for the event that runs from the third to the fifth have now been published on the main K&ESR website including details of how to purchase tickets in advance for any single day, combination of two, or all three days.  Separate booking arrangements apply for the evening Fish & Chips special on the Saturday, which is likely to be headed by the Prairie

The event opens with a cavalcade, which will be held on Saturday only on this occasion, with a quintet of engines running in tandem to Tenterden Town before parading.  Likely to be making up the numbers will be P-Class No.753 and Pannier 1638 so if the engines do run up in size order as indicated, it is likely No.3 will be on the front

The chances are, therefore, that having completed the display, No.3 will be RB-end engine coupled to No.753 to work the 1115 TNT-BM train, which will leave BM at 1220.  Obviously, unless the engines swap round, which seems unlikely, No.753 will pilot the return working to Tenterden

Their next working will be drop LE down the Bank to Rolvenden in order to pilot the 1345 departure to Tenterden; the 1305 ex-Bodiam which they will have previously passed at Northiam on their Up working.  This triple-header uphill, with 5552 planned to be the train engine, is likely to prove a highlight of the weekend

Hopefully for No.3, the engines will have had opportunity to swap round for that ascent or failing that, for their main second service with the 1415 TNT-BM, which will work back at 1520.  On arrival back at Tenterden, the two engines are likely to go their separate ways.  The last real work for No.3 will be to drop down to Rolvenden in order to pilot No.1638 at around 1722, on the 1650 BM-TNT service

No.3 is not scheduled to work at all on Sunday with No.753 providing the small-engine power on an 0945 mixed train to Bodiam and back, together with two afternoon freight round trips to Wittersham Road.  This diagram will be bracketed by an early-bird freight from Rolvenden to Tenterden and return in the evening

On Bank Holiday Monday there are 13 departures planned from Tenterden Town starting at 1030 with those on the half-hour working to Bodiam trains on the hour terminated at Northiam.  No.3 is currently lined-up to work the first and fifth of the trains to Northiam, leaving Tenterden Town at 1100 and 1500 and banked on the return by No.753 – at least on the 1210 ex-Northiam, for arrangements on the 1610 are not entirely clear from the published information