Tenterden exhibition

One of those annual pilgrimages, almost compulsory. Why though? In the great scheme of things this is a quite low level show; there are no big name layouts and barely any small name ones either. It does though have a certain something about it. The accent is often (as it was yesterday) on larger scale stuff; the main hall having three O gauge, a large G gauge and a Gauge 1 with live steam. What I do like is the trade. Again, with a couple of exceptions, is on the rummage side and independent leaning. I rarely come away without a bottom of the bin bargain and most years kick myself for rejecting something on the day.

Show: 5

Catering; 6

Parking: 8

Rucksacks: 8

It's almost rude not to pop into the KESR which is a mile away, if only for a quick look around and a cup of tea. This timed nicely with the arrival of the visiting 4MT. It's hard not to like this Horwich built standard. Apparently 1953 is a vintage year.

 

Temporary buildings

I'll bet that there are a goodly number of people that like me spent a large chunk of their school years freezing their nuts off in one of these. In my case there were three of them sitting on an annexed part of the tarmacked netball court against the perimeter wall, where they became part receptacles for any stray fag packets, beer cans and other detritus thrown by us or passers by. I seem to remember we burnt one down one summer term, Probably to win bets on how long the fire brigade would take to turn up.

Not quite a portacabin, but a close cousin and usually propped up on piles of bricks presumably to keep the rats out (or in) and relied heavily on ply and T&G for the construction. This example at a school in Tenterden looks as though it's been moved from somewhere to it's resting place here at the edge of a muddy car park. Some of it's brick legs have travelled with it and are dumped in front. What's holding it up is anyone's guess.

I can't seeing Wills producing one, but with the portacabins now out in card form, the temporary classroom can't be far behind.

KESR

I can't quite explain why (possibly the Unnycoome issues) but signals and their workings are starting to interest me more these days. As far as modellers go it's almost a no go area - they seem to get ignored and yet they add so much to train set operation. It is like walking into a minefield though with endless quirks and variants. Below is the starter at Tenterden opposite the site of the infamous three armed post that stood here through the line's working existence.

Lamps at Bodiam. Originals, or copies thereof. Another excluded subject.

Natural stock

I always think that the KESR feels better when running with terriers and rattly DMUs - more its intended state. That and nice private compartment GER 6 wheelers.

Lister factory tugs

And now for something completely different...

As railway-ers we tend to think of Listers as lightweight 2' gauge industrial locos, but I'll bet they sold more of these. I'm not sure how big the engine is, but it can't be more than 10hp. Pre-fork lifts, depots would have a couple of these chugging around - possibly with a trailer or two. I seem to remember them in the sorting office carrying mailbags.

This preserved example shot at Tenterden station a decade ago.