A popular Teddy Bear and much-loved Thumper are amongst the special guests heading to the Kent & East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) this month for a three-day Gala, as part of Rail 200 marking two hundred years of passenger rail travel.
But these celebrity guests are not cuddly storybook characters: ‘Thumper’ and ‘Teddy Bear’ are actually the nicknames for two iconic and historic engines which will be part of a dynamic line-up for the multi-award-winning heritage railway’s Diesel Gala, taking place on Friday 18th July, Saturday 19th July and Sunday 20th July.
‘The Farmers Line: a Network SouthEast revival’ will evoke the sights, sounds and spirit of mid-20th Century rail travel. And following last year’s highly successful Diesel Gala, which saw hundreds of visitors and railway enthusiasts flock to the railway, this year’s event promises an even richer blend of diesel traction, heritage celebration and unique hands-on experiences for all ages.
The Gala theme takes inspiration from the K&ESR’s original nickname and ‘The Farmer’s Train’ – a poem written by Hugh Bevan, illustrated by Rowland Emett and published in Punch in 1946 – to embrace the nostalgia of a by-gone era of rail travel in the Weald.
Four visiting locomotives from across the country will join members of the K&ESR’s home fleet to provide an intensive service timetable between Tenterden and Bodiam throughout the weekend, with a special locomotive cavalcade on Sunday morning travelling from Rolvenden to Tenterden Town Station.
The Gala will also see the first ever visit by a Class 50 Diesel Locomotive No. 50017 ‘Royal Oak’ – courtesy of the Great Central Railway – to the K&ESR. This will be the most powerful locomotive ever to operate on the heritage line.
Further highlights throughout the weekend will include:
- Two Class 14 ‘Teddy Bear’ locomotives working together. The affectionate nickname hails from the time of their manufacture in Swindonwhere the works foreman quipped: “We’ve built The Great Bear, now we’re going to build a ‘Teddy Bear’!”
- Class 73 Electro-Diesel E6040hauling the Class 205 ‘Thumper’. Thumper gained its nickname for its distinctive sound in operation
- A freight train with brake van rides
- Cab visits at Bodiam Station
- ‘Drive for a Tenner’ experiences at Tenterden
- Symbolic painting of a red lamp post and the official unveiling of a ‘Farmer’s Line’ Network SouthEast-inspired logo for the Kent & East Sussex Railway
Two active restoration projects involving pre-nationalisation era locomotives will also be on display: GWR Railcar No.20 – one of the only examples left in preservation – and Ford Diesel Shunter No.1 which was the first diesel electric locomotive built in the UK in 1931.
A Saturday evening service will enable visitors to enjoy the railway into the twilight. A Real Ale Bar will be available on selected services, with an additional bar located inside the Class 108 DMU at Bodiam Station.
In terms of getting to Tenterden, a heritage bus link to Headcorn Station (on the South Eastern main line) will operate on all days, including on Saturday evening, providing convenient connections to regular train services.
Jack Marlow, Gala Joint-Organiser, said:
“We’ve worked hard to create a weekend that not only showcases an impressive and diverse line-up of diesel traction action, but one that also tells a deeper story about the heritage of the line and the evolution of British rail travel.
“Whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast, nostalgic about the era, curious about rail history or just looking for a great day out, there’ll be something for everyone — from mainline heritage to hands-on activities and immersive touches like the lamp post ceremony and our ‘Farmer’s Line’ identity. We’re really looking forward to welcoming visitors on board.”
For more information, timetables and tickets visit: www.kesr.org.uk
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