On Saturday, 1 June and Sunday, 2 June, the Kent & East Sussex Railway held a special weekend gala event to celebrate the passing of 50 years from its opening.

Their gala was unique in several ways, including that it was the first one to extend all the way to Robertsbridge, thereby connecting with the national rail network.

As the line’s extension from Bodiam to Robertsbridge Junction is not yet complete, this section was carried out by a replacement bus service, with through ticketing available.

In order to celebrate this important milestone for the railway, at the gala, GB Railfreight-owned Class 73 128 was given the name ‘Kent & East Sussex Railway: 50 Years of Heritage 1974-2024’.

Former directors of Network South East were present for the naming ceremony, together with the CEO of GB Railfreight, John Smith.

The gala also saw a re-enactment of the official opening of Tenterden Station, with participation from volunteers who had been there for the real event back in 1974.

There was a packed schedule of train services on both days, and so U Class 31806 was brought in from Swanage Railway in Dorset in order to help transport visitors.

The railway recently received help from UK Power Services volunteers to restore the former stationmaster’s cottage at Northiam and spruce up the train carriages.

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for making our 50th Anniversary Gala a fantastically successful event. The success is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all our volunteers and staff, who have put in countless hours behind the scenes.

Looking forward, our mission remains steadfast: to preserve our rich history, embrace the present, and pioneer into the future. With projects like the completion of the missing link between Robertsbridge and Bodiam, we are committed to growing and evolving while staying true to our roots.

K&ESR General Manager Robin Coombes