Islineclear3_1
Established Member
I might be visiting the Kent & East Sussex Railway this weekend. Does anyone know if the thumper (on loan from the Lavender line) is operational?
TIA
TIA
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
Thumper 1118 on the K&ESR
- Thread starter Islineclear3_1
- Start date
- Status
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
It doesn't say on its website if it's running the Thumper, but it looks to be a mixture of steam and diesel running, which is good for a Saturday.
The nearby Spa Valley Railway does tell you what dates their thumper is running though.
But to answer your question based off the website calendar. The answer is no, but I would recommend checking their Facebook posts and asking this evening so that you aren't disappointed if you choose to visit the KESR this weekend.
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
@Trainlog Thank you. I've seen the Thumper on the Spa Valley umpteen times but never one on the K&ESR - hence my question/reason for going. I don't mind if it's parked up in view; I have traveled on it on the Lavender Line. I'll certainly look at their FB page (providing I don't need an account)
It would certainly be available in parked up view formation, I would have thought, albeit I haven't been down there since the 50th anniversary gala last year.
Oh even better then for the OP, It certainly suits the line.
Islineclear3_1
Established Member
The thumper wasn't out today and hidden away somewhere presumably for maintenance. Still a great day otherwise; last time I went was in the late 1990s...
Thats unfortunate regarding the Thumper, though I can relate in a way. Back in 2017, I really wanted to see Foxcote Manor on the KESR, as at the time, apart from City of Truro, when it visited earlier that decade, Kent's heritage railways, with the exception of the RHDR, were mostly run by small tank engines, so it felt like quite a big deal at the time.
Got to the Gala and Foxcote was undergoing major repairs, though I can't remember for what now, though.
Now, with Bullied pacifics at the Spa Valley Railway and the KESR hiring in tender engines quite frequently, it wouldn't exactly be a big deal to me anymore if a larger loco was replaced with a tank engine again.
But I am glad you enjoyed the KESR, especially as it was a non-event day which do need more passenger numbers these days, and as a bonus, you got to try out the Bodiam extension aswell, seeing as you haven't been there since the 90s.
But once again, its rather annoying the KESR doesn't publish what locos (Steam/Diesel-DMUs) could be running in advance when so many other lines do.
- Status