Nearly 71 years ago Colin Hogg was at Tenterden Town Station for the last day of passenger services over the Kent and East Sussex line on 4 January 1954. On the same day, the Headcorn – Tenterden Town section was completely closed. Today, the scene pictured is still recognisable, although that to the left of the train has been re-developed over the interim years, particularly since it became a heritage railway.

The train in the picture is the 8.50am Mixed from Headcorn to Rolvenden hauled by O1 Class 0-6-0 31065 allocated to Ashford Shed (74A). Prior to January 1954 the Kent and East Sussex line was operated in two sections, Headcorn – Rolvenden and Tenterden Town – Robertsbridge using two locos based at Rolvenden, a sub-shed of Ashford. The former, Duty 390 utilised the O1 Class and the latter an A1X class 0-6-0T, Duty 391, necessary due to weight restrictions on a number of bridges over water courses on the Rolvenden – Robertsbridge section.

After January 1954, Rolvenden sub-shed was closed as there was no easy access to Ashford, although track lifting between Tenterden and Headcorn was not completed until December 1955. The residual freight and occasional Hop Pickers traffic was transferred and worked by an A1X Class from St Leonards Shed (74E). Declining traffic saw the last Hop Pickers trains in 1958, after which steam was replaced by a Drewry Diesel Shunter until final closure on 12 June 1961.

The line was opened in three stages, between 1900 and 1905. It was independent until 1948. After closure in 1961, a preservation company was formed with the aim of reopening the line from Tenterden to Bodiam. This was achieved in stages between 1974 and 2000. More recently another preservation company was formed in 1990 called the Rother Valley Railway with the aim of reopening the line between Robertsbridge and west of Bodiam to connect with the Kent and East Sussex Railway.

Photographer: Colin Hogg [048007]