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 Withdrawn, and entered Departmental service as DS237 at Ashford Wagon Works. Withdrawn in April 1967 and sold to Woodham Brothers, Barry, Wales in March 1968.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 

Directions in to Tenterden Town by car , bus , train and taxi

By Car

Tenterden is situated on the A28 between Hastings and Ashford and is less than an hour by car from the M25.

Distances by Car

Eurostar: Ashford International: 20 minutes
Eurotunnel: Cheriton, Folkestone  (Junction 11A on the M20 motorway): 30 minutes 
Dover ferries: 45 minutes
Manston airport, Kent: 1hr 15 minutes
Gatwick Airport: 1hr 15 minutes 
Headcorn (nearest Railway station): 15 minutes 

By Bus

There are regular bus links from Ashford, Hastings, Headcorn, Maidstone, Rolvenden, Rye and Tunbridge Wells to Tenterden. Real time bus information is available here http://kenttraffic.info

For detailed information about all routes, timetables and fares please see the Traveline Southeast website -  type 'Tenterden' into the Location box.

The following are the main bus routes to and from Tenterden:

Service 2  

Rolvenden - Tenterden - Ashford
Hastings - Tenterden
Stagecoach

Services 2A
Ashford - Tenterden
Via Kingsnorth, Shadoxhurst and Woodchurch
Stagecoach

Service 12 
Tenterden - Headcorn - Maidstone
Arriva

Service 292 
Hawkhurst - Sandhurst - ROlvenden - Tenterden
New Enterprise Coaches

Services 292 
Lydd - Rye - Sandhurst - Rolvenden Layne - Homewood School
Stagecoach

Service 293 
Tenterden - Wittersham - Appledore - Tenterden
Kent Coach Tours

Service 293 
Tunbridge Wells - Lamberhurst - Hawkhurst - Rolvenden - Tenterden - Rye
New Enterprise Coaches

Service 294 
Tenterden - Rolvenden Layne - Tenterden
Kent Coach Tours

Service 297 
Tenterden - Cranbrook - Goudhurst - Pembury - Tunbridge Wells
Renoun Coaches

Service 299 
Tonbridge - Pembury - Lamberhurst - Hawkhurst - Tenterden
New Enterprise Coaches

Service 312 
Rye to Tenterden
Via Playden, Iden, Wittersham and Small Hythe
Renown Coaches

Service 518Norton Knatchbull School - Ashford - Bethersden - Tenterden
School Bus
Stagecoach

HS1
Homewood School - Great Chart - Ashford - Willesborough
School Bus
Poynters Coaches

HS4
Homewood School - Ashford - Kennington
School Bus
Poynters Coaches

By Train

The nearest mainline railway stations to Tenterden are Headcorn (9 miles) which is served directly from London Charing Cross (1hr 3minutes) and Ashford International (12 miles) which is served directly by the High Speed line from London St Pancras (38 minutes)

Headcorn: Services for Headcorn depart from London Charing Cross (you may also board trains at London Bridge, and London Waterloo East, a short platform walk from London Waterloo). On your arrival at Headcorn station, bus numbers 12 and 12RL will bring you into the centre of Tenterden. There are normally taxis available at Headcorn station.

Ashford: Services for Ashford depart from London St Pancras (HS1, the high speed rail link). There are also regular services from London Charing Cross and from London Victoria via Maidstone East however these are  slower lines. There are taxis available at Ashford station.

Appledore: There is also a railway station at Appledore (Kent), 7.5 miles from Tenterden, however Appledore is not on the main line and services terminate at Ashford to the north and Hastings to the south and along the coast to Brighton. We do not recommend visitors using Appledore (Kent) train station as there are no facilities (i.e. no ticket office, no taxis, no buses) at Appledore station and it is 2 miles on country roads from the village of Appledore. Some locals however are starting to use Appledore station to link into the high speed rail link at Ashford so it is possible that in the future this station might develop. However at the moment if you are a visitor and you arrive at Appledore station you will be right in the depths of the Kent countryside with nowhere to go.

For train times to Headcorn Station, see the National Rail Network website. For more detailed information about Headcorn Railway Station such as car parking, disabled access, ticket office opening hours, station facilities, live service information and engineering works see the South Eastern Railways website page for Headcorn Station. For bus times from Headcorn station, use the Traveline Southeast website

By Taxi

If you would like to book a taxi in Tenterden it is best to pre-book. 

By Bicycle

The National Cycle Network Route 18 goes through Tenterden. This 42 mile (67km) route (The Wealden Cycle Trail) runs on small country lanes through the High Weald. Further information here from Kent County Council

Car Parking

There are a number of pay and display car parks throughout the town, as well as short stay on-street parking in the High Street.  -some which you can  pay with your mobile phone.

Kent and East Sussex Real Ale Train Friday 14 July 2017, 18:30 - 22:00

Real Ale Train

Friday 14 July 2017, 18:30 - 22:00

Real Ale Train

Sourcing some of the finest real ales from micro-breweries and normally including one from each of our neighbours, the Old Dairy Brewery and the Rother Valley Brewing Company.

The train of 1950's era corridor carriages (hauled by a historic steam locomotive and including wheelchair user access and seating in Petros) will be ready for boarding from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm departure and travels from Tenterden to Bodiam return.

During the journey a pre-booked meal is served from the following selection:

Homemade Chicken Curry & Rice
Homemade Vegetable Curry & Rice
Local Sausages and Mash with a rich onion gravy

On arrival at Bodiam Station, a live band provides entertainment for the duration of the station stop. Arrival back at Tenterden is scheduled for 9.45pm.

The price of £29 includes return train travel, your meal, live entertainment at Bodiam and a souvenir branded pint glass to take home. All our real ales are just £3.00 pint!

Please note that the bar on board the train accepts payments in cash only

Hop Festival Family Fun 09 Sep 2017 - 10 Sep 2017 on the Kent and East Sussex Railway

Hop Festival Family Fun

09 Sep 2017 - 10 Sep 2017

On the 9th & 10th September, our popular HopFest Family Fun Weekend takes place at Bodiam Station.
Our Real Ale Trains source some of the finest real ales from micro-breweries and normally include one from each of our neighbours, the Old Dairy Brewery and the Rother Valley Brewing Company.
The train of 1950's era corridor carriages (hauled by a historic steam locomotive and including wheelchair user access and seating in Petros) will be ready for boarding from 6.30pm for a 7.00pm departure and travels from Tenterden to Bodiam return. The on board bar stocks a range of real ales and during the journey a pre-booked meal will be served from the following selection:

Homemade Chicken Curry & Rice
Homemade Vegetable Curry & Rice
Local Sausages and Mash with a rich onion gravy

On arrival at Bodiam Station, a live band provides entertainment for the duration of the station stop. Arrival back at Tenterden is scheduled for 9.45pm.

The price of £29 includes return train travel, your meal, live entertainment at Bodiam and a souvenir branded pint glass to take home. All our real ales are just £3.00 pint!

25th Tenterden Folk Festival Thursday 5th to Sunday 8th October 2017

TENTERDEN 25TH FOLK FESTIVAL  

Tenterden Folk Festival takes place over four days with folk song, music, dance, crafts and traditions.

Tenterden, situated in the ancient Weald of Kent, about 12 miles west of Ashford, is an ideal setting for this friendly, family folk festival.  It features one of the widest High Streets in the country lined with historic and listed buildings, numerous friendly pubs, cafes and restaurants and green verges.  

Events:Events at the festival include an English Barn Dance, concerts, sing-a-rounds, music sessions, folk clubs, special shows, a craft fair and street stalls, music stalls, free music and dance stages on the Recreation Ground, Morris dancers, dance displays, procession, showcases, meet the guest spots, workshops, dancers and musicians on the  Kent and East Sussex Railway, events for children and much more besides.

 

Venues and public houses:Festival venues include The Evans Bar and Moulton Hall upstairs in the Tenterden Club, St Mildred’s Parish Church, St Mildred’s Church Hall, The Town Hall, The Saddlery, The Recreation Ground and the High Street,  There are also events in The Woolpack, The White Lion, The Vine, The William Caxton and The Indulgence Cake and Coffee House.

Welcome barn dance:The English barn dance is a regular feature of the festival and is always very popular.  As well as the barn dance there is often a chance to try other forms of traditional folk dancing over the long weekend.    Concerts:The main concerts on Saturday and Sunday are held in the Tenterden Club with smaller acoustic concerts, including concerts on Friday, being held in the Saddlery at The White Lion.  There is a special fundraising concert on Thursday in the Town Hall.  Crafts fair, music stalls, other stalls and also street stalls:The free craft fair and other stalls will be in a large marquee on The Recreation Ground, just off the High Street.  The marquee will act as the venue for the popular free music and dance stages.  There will also be even more street stalls in the High Street.

 

Sing-a-rounds and music sessions:

One of the highlights of Tenterden Folk Festival for many of the participants are the numerous friendly and informal sing-a-rounds and music sessions.  With a choice of four town centre pubs there is sure to be a session that suits your taste going on in at least one of these venues. 

Workshops and meet the guest sessions:

 is a charity formed to preserve and advance public education and appreciation of folk music, song, dance, crafts and traditions as part of the living heritage.  Therefore we offer you a chance to “Meet” some of the guests in informal sessions.  We also offer workshops where you can hear about folk related topics or traditions or improve your own skills. Dance displays:Tenterden is “the Jewel of the Weald” and over the Festival weekend it has even more colour and sparkle than usual as hundreds of Morris men and women and other folk dancers take to the streets of the town centre.  The majority of teams are Morris dance sides of varying styles, from the Cotswold tradition and Black-faced Border style, to clog to garland dancers.  The teams you will see will be both men’s, women’s and mixed sides and come from all over England.  It’s not just Morris you will see as Tenterden is regularly host to teams performing traditional dances from Scotland, Ireland, England, Slovakia and the Appalachian Mountains of North America.  There is also Saturday’s popular procession along the High Street.  

http://www.tenterdenfolkfestival.org.uk/

Kent & East Sussex Railway is the country's finest example of a rural light railway

The Kent & East Sussex Railway is the country's finest example of a rural light railway. 

A journey will take through the Jewel of the Weald 

And with the main station in Tenterden Town makes it a great day out for all ages

Regular events are held throughout the year Day out with Thomas, Real Ale Trains, Pensioners Treats to name but a few

Steam trains, disabled facilities, licensed Restaurant (Station Refreshment Rooms), Wealden Pullman Dining, Railway Experiences, Model Railway fun for children, Museum

2017 prices 
Family £34.20 (online*) £38 (ticket office)

2 adults & up to 3 children (15yrs & under) or 1 adult & up to 4 children (15yrs & under)

Adult £16.20 (online*) £18 (ticket office) (16yrs & over)

Child £10.80 (online*) £12 (ticket office)

* When booked before midnight of the preceding day

All tickets include unlimited travel throughout the day, entry to the railway museum and Cavell van




The Kent and East Sussex Railway operate three types of service listed below

Green Service

2 trains in service. Steam hauled services depart Tenterden at 10.40, 1.15 and 3.35, on-train catering and access for wheelchair users. The heritage diesel observation train departs 11.45 and 2.20, sorry this is currently unable to accommodate wheelchair usersRed Service2 trains in service. Steam hauled services depart Tenterden at 10.40, 11.45, 1.15, 2.20 and 3.35, on-train catering and access for wheelchair usersGold Service
3 trains in service, either 2 steam hauled trains and 1 diesel hauled train, or 3 steam hauled trains. Steam hauled services depart Tenterden at 10.45, 11.30, 1.00, 1.45, 3.15 and 4pm, on-train catering. Accommodation for wheelchair users is available on these services 10.45, 1.00, and 3.15. A further train will be either our heritage diesel observation train or a steam hauled train, 12.15, 2.30pm
here are listed the services for April May and June

ACCESSIBLE

The Railway has a specially designed
coach for wheelchair users called 'Petros' which is fitted with ramped access, wide aisles, an accessible toilet and moveable seating. There is full wheelchair access to the shop and restaurant at Tenterden Town Station, and the Colonel Stephens Railway Museum has level access with 42" aisles