The Kent & East Sussex Railway is springing into action a whole month earlier than usual this year with a Spring programme full of fun activities and special events for visitors of all ages.
Steam loco ‘Hastings’ arriving at Tenterden
Photo by Caroline Warne
February
From Saturday 1st February trains on the award-winning heritage line will be operating every weekend throughout February and March. In addition, during Half Term weekday services will run on Tuesday 18th, Wednesday 19th and Thursday 20th.
Whatever the weather, the journey will provide plenty to keep kids smiling. Everyone can turn Nature Detective with free nature-spotting fact sheets as the steam hauled trains travel through the stunning Rother Valley, a designated National Landscape. The smiles will continue for the grown-ups with a Half Term Kids Go Free offer where up to three children can travel free with one full fare-paying adult or senior.
Popular children’s character Bluey is set to join the fun on Tuesday 18th and Wednesday 19th February. Organised by Fox & Edwards events on selected services, this experience is only available through online pre-booking and is not included in the Kids Go Free offer.
March
For anyone keen to find out what that old family heirloom is really worth why not bring it along to Tenterden Town Station on Wednesday 5th March for an expert valuation by the team from Canterbury Auction Galleries. Who knows, you might have a valuable antique on your hands!
On Mother’s Day weekend (29th and 30th March) there’s a chance to treat mums to a ploughman’s lunch (Saturday) or cream tea (Saturday and Sunday) on selected services. Add some bubbles to your order to make the experience truly sparkling!
April
April begins with a weekend of celebrations at Bodiam Station on 5th and 6th April to mark the 25th Anniversary of the station reopening for passenger services, and finishes with a spectacular Midgets of Steam Gala weekend (26th and 27th April) showcasing the small yet mighty locomotive stars of the age of steam.
In between these two celebrations there are Easter holiday activities for all the family with Easter-themed treasure hunts, fun quizzes and, of course, appearances by the Easter Bunny.
Special events include the first of two opportunities to join expert ornithologist David Campbell of Wildstarts for an Early Morning Bird Watching Tour on Saturday 12th April, travelling on the K&ESR’s heritage diesel observation train (DOT for short) with its large viewing windows and resplendent in its newly repainted green and red livery.
Photo by Caroline Warne
With three stops en-route, there will be plenty of opportunity to watch and listen for a variety of birds which live in the biodiverse habitats along the line including rare species such as nightingales, turtle doves, cuckoos, skylarks and yellowhammers.
Cuckoo flying over a line side field
Photo by David Campbell, Wildstarts As well as a return journey with expert insights and a K&ESR guide to tell you more about the landscape you are travelling through, tickets include a delicious, cooked breakfast at the end of the trip.
Ever wondered what happens behind the scenes at the railway? The new Behind The Scenes Experience will reveal all! It includes a tour of areas not normally accessible to the general public, including the Carriage and Wagon Workshop at Tenterden and the Locomotive Works at Rolvenden, with the opportunity to talk with dedicated volunteers who work there; a visit to a signal box; lunch in the Refreshment Room at Tenterden and a full length return trip on the train. The first bookable dates are in April and May.
Photo by Robin Coombes
Meanwhile aspiring young engineers can join the first Junior Engineering Day of the year on Sunday 13th April to learn more about the workings of the railway including the chance to travel on the footplate of a steam locomotive to see exactly how it works. Chris Vine, author of the Peters Railway books, will lead each session, sharing his passion for all things engineering. The sessions are suitable for children aged 6-12 years accompanied by one adult.
13th April is also Green Fun Day at Tenterden Town Station. Held in conjunction with Plastic Free Tenterden for the third year running, there will free face painting, live music and plenty of activities with green living ideas and information – all for a £1 platform ticket.
May
May is just as busy with a Star Wars themed Day on what else but 4th May, when you can dress to impress as your favourite Star Wars character, and the second Early Morning Bird Watching Tour on Tuesday 13th May.
This year’s 1940s weekend 17th -18th May will be commemorating the 85th anniversary of the Battle of Britian and the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a bigger than ever event. Along with all the regular attractions such as re-enactors and period vehicles, the UK’s premier wartime songstresses and Britain’s Got Talent finalists The D-Day Darlings will be performing popular songs from the wartime era during the day.
The month concludes over Half Term with a genuine first for both UK gamers and the railways as gaming specialists Techzone bring their mobile gaming experience to the K&ESR. This exclusively pre-bookable event will be available on two timetabled trains at 10:20 and 15:40 each day from Monday 26th May to Friday 30th May.
More information on all Spring events and special experiences can be found in the Events section of the website – www.kesr.org.uk
ENDS
