USA Tank on the Kent and East Sussex Railway Tenterden Town Kent Happy Independence day July 4th USA

 Photo  Framemeplease 

Built for the United States Army Corps of Engineers as No 1968, and sent to the UK under Lend-Lease. Stored at Newbury Racecourse. One of fourteen purchased by the Southern Railway and sent to the Melbourne Military Railway for running in. Entered service with the Southern Railway in November 1947 as USA Class number 65. Renumbered 30065 by British Railways. Worked at Southampton Docks. Withdrawn, and entered Departmental service as DS237 at Ashford Wagon Works. Withdrawn in April 1967 and sold to Woodham Brothers, Barry, Wales in March 1968. Developed a hot box en route and dumped at Tonbridge. Sold to K&ESR in August 1968 and delivered the next month. arriving at Rolvenden a month later became  DS 237 No. 22.

No. 22 was the first large locomotive in service in 1974, proving itself very capable of hauling five coach trains up Tenterden bank. She was fitted with an extended bunker and a improved lubrication to overcome its bearing problems. In 1978 it exchanged boilers with No. 21 and after overhaul re-entered service in April 1981 in black livery lined out in red. Various mechanical problems occurred and were overcome before the boiler certificate again expired and the locomotive was taken out of traffic at the end of the 1990 season. Another extensive overhaul followed, the locomotive re-entering service as Southern Railway No. 65 in the summer of 1997. Its original post-war livery of black with sunshine lettering was now carried. However by 2002 a new firebox was required. This was fitted and a further overhaul undertaken the engine returning to service in 2008. has been  withdraw service on 1st January 2017 when its boiler certificate expired 

Kent and East Sussex Railways Pensioners Treat Thursday 20th July at 10.30 from Tenterden Town Kent UK USA

Pensioners Treat 

If you're over 60, take advantage of our special £13 TravelCard which is valid on all trains departing on the dates shown below.

 If you're not yet over 60, you are of course still very welcome to travel on these dates with tickets purchased at the usual rates.   

Relax in the beautifully restored carriages while the train travels 21 miles on a round trip through scenic countryside between Tenterden and Bodiam.  The return journey from Tenterden to Bodiam takes around 1 hour 50 minutes.

You can choose to pre-order a delicious cream tea or ploughman’s lunch to enjoy during the trip and if grandchildren come along there is a children’s munch box option too.

There's a warm welcome for visitors in the railway’s licensed restaurant at Tenterden station, where you'll find a choice of ‘daily specials’ and a children’s menu.

Tenterden station is a short walk from the idyllic high street in Tenterden with its beautiful Georgian and Victorian buildings which is home to attractive boutiques, quaint antique shops and attractive cafes and restaurants. 

At Bodiam station passengers can choose to take the short walk to Bodiam Castle and explore the romantic ruins, moat and impressive ramparts with their breathtaking views across the surrounding countryside.  Enjoy discounted admission to the Castle with a valid train ticket on same day as travel. 

For those who love to picnic, the railway offers an alfresco lunch option and a pre-ordered picnic hamper can be ready to collect when you arrive at Tenterden station complete with napkins, cutlery and condiments. 

When at Tenterden Station, why not visit the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum - it's free to enter with a valid train ticket. Colonel Holman Fred Stephens was an English eccentric, a brilliant railway engineer, and the man who built the Kent & East Sussex Railway (and amazingly 16 other light railways). His legacy is commemorated in the award-winning museum next to Tenterden Town Station. Open every afternoon when trains are running. 

Well-behaved dogs on leads can also travel on the railway for £3 (£2.70 when booked online) on these and normal operating days.

There is no further reduction for groups on these dates.
http://kesr.org.uk/whats-on/icalrepeat.detail/2017/07/04/1382/-/pensioners-treat