If and when the Kent & East Sussex Railway and the Rother Valley Railway finally connect to become one single line, it will be a 14-mile long route, which by my reckoning would place it in the top ten longest heritage railways in the UK (Couldn’t find a definitive list though).
The KESR currently presents itself as Britain’s finest example of a rural light railway, and the two railways between them currently operate a fleet of mainly small tank engines - predominantly 0-6-0s - plus the Norweigan tender loco on the KESR.
The joining of the two railways is predicted to bring an increase in tourism to the area - presumably meaning more passengers on the lines. Is this likely to mean that in the height of the tourist season, these smaller locomotives (perhaps the Austerity aside) won’t be sufficient to manage the trains?
In which case, my main question really is as follows - if the trains get heavier, what are their options in terms of more powerful locomotives? Mainline freight or mixed traffic locos wouldn’t be inkeeping with the Light Railway theme/feel, but I can’t think what else would do.
Hypothetical, idealistic and realistic/sensible answers all welcome (just please clarify which if it’s not obvious!)
The KESR currently presents itself as Britain’s finest example of a rural light railway, and the two railways between them currently operate a fleet of mainly small tank engines - predominantly 0-6-0s - plus the Norweigan tender loco on the KESR.
The joining of the two railways is predicted to bring an increase in tourism to the area - presumably meaning more passengers on the lines. Is this likely to mean that in the height of the tourist season, these smaller locomotives (perhaps the Austerity aside) won’t be sufficient to manage the trains?
In which case, my main question really is as follows - if the trains get heavier, what are their options in terms of more powerful locomotives? Mainline freight or mixed traffic locos wouldn’t be inkeeping with the Light Railway theme/feel, but I can’t think what else would do.
Hypothetical, idealistic and realistic/sensible answers all welcome (just please clarify which if it’s not obvious!)
