Present-Day Kent & East Sussex Railway
The K&ESR runs a scenic 10.5-mile route between Tenterden and Bodiam, offering vintage steam and diesel train experiences. It hosts popular events, including Santa Specials, dining experiences, and Thomas the Tank Engine days, attracting tourists and railway enthusiasts.
Preservation and Reopening
Enthusiasts formed the Kent & East Sussex Railway Preservation Society in 1961 to save and restore the line. The first heritage services began operating between Tenterden Town and Rolvenden in 1974. Over decades, the line was gradually extended, reaching Bodiam in 2000 and connecting back to Robertsbridge Junction with the national rail network by the mid-2010s.
History of the Kent & East Sussex Railway
The original K&ESR was designed by Colonel Holman F. Stephens, a pioneer of light railways, as a cost-effective means of serving rural areas. The first section, from Robertsbridge to Rolvenden, opened in 1900, with extensions reaching Tenterden and finally Headcorn by 1905. It was constructed under the Light Railways Act 1896, allowing simpler construction and operation standards to reduce costs. The railway primarily carried agricultural produce, livestock, and local passengers. However, the growth of road transport in the mid-20th century reduced its viability. By 1954, passenger services ceased, though freight operations continued for a short time until full closure in 1961.