3131 at Kent & East Sussex Railway Steam Gala 6th & 7th May 2012.
This was 3131's first public airing since Bernard had bought her. On Sunday 6th May we enjoyed a pleasant drive down to Rye via Camber Sands and up to Northiam in East Sussex where we were to be based that day. I was driving one of the free rail buses that were linking Northiam Station on the K&ES Railway with Robertsbridge Station on the Rother Valley Railway and the main Southeastern line to London. Fellow preservationist and good friend Nick Moore had entrusted me with his Leyland National NPD145L for this. We did one run in the morning before sampling the delights of the trains. Later that afternoon we did another run, however, NPD decided she liked Robertsbridge Station car park and decided to fail there! This was traced to an electrical issue and my trusty boost pack was dispatched on the following bus (ex M&D 5848). After successfully starting NPD we headed back to Northiam to collect the 3131 and then headed back to Nick's family home just over the border in Kent where they'd kindly let Claire, Me and 3131 stay overnight.
The next day dawned slightly drier and brighter and we were due to take NPD and 3131 to Tenderden on the K&ES Railway, however, with NPD's electrical issue, Nick and Peter decided to leave her at home and travel by car with us following in 3131. After parking up we again sampled the railway and rode the full length of the line to Bodium where we changed on to an ex Portsmouth 1935 Leyland Titan for a ride upto the nearby castle. After returning to Tenderden, we set off back to east Kent picking up the A28 which wound it's way through Ashford and Canterbury. We arrived back at base totally drained but with some great memories of fantastic two days. If you're in the area of this railway, take a ride and support them please. The trains are beautifully turned out and the line is very scenic. Also we'd like to thank Lin, Peter and Nick for putting us up for their hospitality and letting Claire, myself and 3131 sleep at their home!
The next day dawned slightly drier and brighter and we were due to take NPD and 3131 to Tenderden on the K&ES Railway, however, with NPD's electrical issue, Nick and Peter decided to leave her at home and travel by car with us following in 3131. After parking up we again sampled the railway and rode the full length of the line to Bodium where we changed on to an ex Portsmouth 1935 Leyland Titan for a ride upto the nearby castle. After returning to Tenderden, we set off back to east Kent picking up the A28 which wound it's way through Ashford and Canterbury. We arrived back at base totally drained but with some great memories of fantastic two days. If you're in the area of this railway, take a ride and support them please. The trains are beautifully turned out and the line is very scenic. Also we'd like to thank Lin, Peter and Nick for putting us up for their hospitality and letting Claire, myself and 3131 sleep at their home!