Wednesday 29 Dec
Cummulative site and news update:
One of loading gates painted, work continues on extending platform, ditch dug to loading pad for track drainage, new fence constructed at top of bank after removal of the spoil, signal post erected., Christmas party.
Progress by Christmas party..microwave oven for when minidigger driver gets the munchies!
Signal post
Christmas party (before the volunteers arrived...)
Derek and Helen preparing the feast
Platform extension work
Bank and trackbank reprofiling after spoil removal, in preparation for laying second track...soon
Reverse view from loading pad.
Sunday 21 Nov
Work finished on hanging gates. Workshop got a very overdue 'spring clean'
Crane with jib and rigging.
Wednesday 17 Nov
work on new gates and fence for loading area.
Monday 15 Nov
The crane.
Just a jib and a paint job needed!
The jib was attached by evening. Just re rigging to do.
Sunday 14 Nov
Not on site till evening. Instead four of us went over to Bluebell to see extension progress. Fantastic day, with a Wickham ride up to Kingscote, walk up (and over the tip!) over Imberhorne viaduct and into East Grinstead compound. Look round carriage and wagon and a walk down the Ardingly branch almost to the stub of the network rail line. Lots of steam trains flying about! A very useful dialogue with volunteers at the Bluebell - and thanks go to Jon Bowers and his colleagues - a wonderful day off!
For Bluebell pictures go here
On the way back home we dropped in at the RVR - crane had arrived and jib was on route.
Thursday 11 Nov
Several members went to Spa Valley to bring crane up from Groombridge to Tunbridge Wells West in preparation for its relocation to the RVR.
moving crane out at Groombridge
A lot of stock to shift first
as you can see - and on the gradient down to Birchden
passing through Groombridge on the return
Sunday 7 Nov
Loading pad bank gone.
bank gone - now needs levelling through.
Sunday 31 Oct - Sat 6 Nov
Huge progress. The clay bank is being ripped out, and should be gone by the end of this week.
Additionally since last date, the middle road into the station has been reinstated, progress made on the three plank, brake van and other numerous smaller engineering tasks forwarded.
ripping through clay bank for 2nd road
Dumping over the abyss at Oak tree
Wednesday 6 Oct
Point work in yard.
Sunday 3 Oct
Rain stopped play - except hardcore donation for platform infill and old bricks.
Thursday 30 Sep
Receieved a signal post from Canterbury (due to modernisation scheme). Will be used in yard.
Sunday 26 Sep
Continuation of pointwork in yard. Work started on extending the platform (block laying). RVRSA committee meeting in afternoon.
Sunday 12 Sep
Sponsored Walk. Left station at 1100. Walkers: (me!) Chris, Jack, Ken, Liz, Roy, John R, John H, Keith, Janet and Jamie (cycling!) and anyone who gave financial support to the walkers.
Sunday 5 Sep
Progress made with point work. Roy's tram weekend with stalls and exhibition, food and drink.
miniature tram
Video presentation
Thomas visits the RVR!
Wednesday 1 Sep
Progress made with point work. Webmaster not on site.
Sunday 29 Aug
Decision made to relay the point using interlacing as new hardwood point sleepers over £1000!
Wednesday 25 Aug
Clearing shoulder of ballast by near loading pad.
Sunday 22 Aug
New arrival from Ramsgate during the week (very early in the morning!) - 3 ex BR Banana Trucks, in good condition. One Will be used for mobile PW tool store. Jacking and packing near Oak Tree. Finished ballast shoulder top ups on concrete section between yard and loading pad.
Wednesday 18 Aug
Measured up Oak Tree point as reference for point sleepers required for station yard run round.
Finished cleaning clay encrusted check rail chairs at Oak Tree.
Tuesday 17 Aug
Work on Tug - cleaning down / stripping old paint. Undercoating front 'bumper'.
Sunday 15 Aug
Started cleaning Clay encrusted check rail chairs at Oak Tree.
Wednesday 11 Aug
Titan serviced. Should see a few years service yet. Apparently not being used regularly or hard enough...
Started riddling ballast near loading pad as part of clearing shoulder through this area. Some ballast nearly a third dirt before riddling!
Sunday 8 Aug
Finished trench for sleeper movement. Finished recovery of ballast, and filled many shoulders on p way. Brakevan painting and restoration continued. Tug - new alternator. Tightening of chair screws completed from yard to Oak Tree. Check rail chairs rearranged as far as Oak Tree, as were not all orientated the correct way round.
Check rail chair reorientation and movement.
Jamie tightening chair bolts.
Wednesday 4 Aug
Dug trench in yard to enable instertion of new point timbers under two roads. Recovering errant ballast from near loading pad. Clearing at footbridge site continued.
Footbridge site clearance.
Advancing pipeline.
Wednesday 28th July / Sunday 1 Aug
Webmaster not on site.
Sunday25th July
RVRSA Committee Meeting in afternoon.
Wednesday 21st July
Sunday 18th July
Painted tug 'bonnet' yellow. Installed subsidence detection near first bridge (Southern Water pipeline). Continued work on installing run round at station. Marked out and cleared area for construction of public footbridge across stream (shortcut footpath).
Southern Water plant near first bridge
Big muddy hole
Marking out footbridge
Wednesday 14th July
Brakevan restoration/3 plank restoration. Chairs removed from sleepers at the dismantled kick back siding. Continued to tidy area at buffer stops near first bridge.
MINI DIGGER WEEK Commencing 3 July
Some serious work, have hired mini digger for the week from Saturday, through to and including Friday 9 July.
Friday 9th July, last day with digger. Continued preparing area where point will be rebuilt. Started to cut out clay and dirt bank by workshop, to allow room for a kick back siding, and more space along by the running line adjacent to the station car park.
Removing the bank
Dumping off spoil at Oaktree
Clear and tidy!
Thursday 8th July, tidied up around lifted point area, cleared chairs and clips up to Oaktree/station. Tidied up sleepers into piles - good and rotten. Removed straight rail in yard where point will be placed. Started moving some of the clay bank by workshop onto lomac with digger.
Wednesday 7th July, all rail now offloaded at station. The track where point is to be placed now being lifted in preparation for installation. Dumped chippings by buffet for invalid ramp. Weather appaling in afternoon, so had to abort work early.
Lifting point sleepers.
Tuesday 6th July, webmaster not on site (escaped to London!) but lots of fun had loading last piece of point, then unloading at station end. Unfortunately the mini digger was feeling the strain after that lot!
Monday 5th July, continued lifting point rails onto lomac. Finished day with one more to load. Slow progress due to several factors, including getting a genny up and running for angle grinding awkward bolts off, and the sheer difficulty of loading such heavy rail components and making sure that health & safety was observed at all times.
Angle grinding made possible by a 1965 genny!
Continuing dismantling
Angle grinding
Track lifting
Loaded!
Old meets...old!
Sunday 4 July, moved frog (heavy points component) and some point rails onto lomac. Shifted chairs and sleepers off to edge of embankment to allow access towards first bridge.
Moving the frog
Shifting point rails
A grass snake evicted from its home under a sleeper!
Saturday 3 July, loaded lomac twice with ballast with mini digger, and dumped in station yard as bed for second track movement to form part of run round loop.
Mini digger
Ballasting Yard
Wednesday 30 Jun
Ballasting top up along track / Brakevan restoration.
Sunday 27 Jun
Ballasting top up along track / Brakevan restoration. Slewed track in platform area to clear coach running boards!
Brakevan restoration
Moving the coach from platform.
Wednesday 23 Jun
Ballasting top up along track / Brakevan restoration.
Sunday 20th Jun
RVRSA board meeting in afternoon. Top up ballasting continues. Jerry M bonnet nearly done! Measuring done for proposed bridge structures near Northbridge Street.
Wednesday 16th Jun
Ballasting finished at buffers. Ballasting continues back along track to top up, however at 3 dumper loads a day, due to heat and physical endurance this will take some time to complete.
Restoration continues on 3 plank and Jerry M. Plus some pesky critters have snacked on the RVR allotment!
Sunday 13th Jun
Ballasting at buffer stops. Continuation of work on 'No.3 box', Jerry M and 3 plank restoration.
Saturday 12th Jun
Survey of paths from Robertsbridge to Bodiam for purposes of waymarking the Rother Valley Walk completed. RVR flower display in Salehurst (St Mary's) Church. Nice cup of coffee at Bodiam courtesy of KESR...
RVR display in Salehurst (St Mary's) Church.
Surveying - with my trusty assistant - Liz Costa!
Wednesday 9th Jun
Started repainting/repairing the 'tug' Jerry M.
Sunday 6th Jun
Some Jacking/packing at buffer stops.
Wednesday 2 Jun
Some ballasting done near buffer stops.
Monday 31 May
Burnt knotweed and other junk at Oaktree sidings. Some ballasting at buffer stops. Cleared railings from first bridge in anticipation of BRB decision. Progress on Robertsbridge 'No.3 Box'
Ballasting near buffer stops
Much clearer access at first bridge (reverse shot)
Progress on 'No.3 box'
As above.
Sunday 30 May
Cleared a big patch of knotweed from embankment. Mark Yonge completed spraying top of embankment from Northbridge St to 1st bridge. Dismantled and laid to one side all of kick back siding from point onwards for Southern Water access to embankment. They should be test drilling on Tuesday 2 June.
Unrelated mainline work - but the equipment would be handy for our project...
Wednesday 26 May
Restoration work on 3 plank wagon continuing. Limited clearance to help Mark Yonge gain access for spraying - although he had to abandon attempt today.
3 plank stripped down to chassis.
Sunday 23 May
Construction of No.3 continues...
'Robertsbridge No.3 Box' taking shape! at the Clappers/Northbridge Street.
It looks lovely...even better with ballast and rails!
Sunday 16th May
Pictures of changes around the site while webmaster away.
Some Info Signs publicising website placed around near footpaths
Southern Water rapidly approacing embankment
from valley - embankment in distance
Dennis giving the tug an overhaul
Not again!
Saturday & Sunday 24th & 25th April - Exhibition Weekend
Two great days, supported by members, family and the general public. Slightly less successful than last year, but a good time had by all with fantastic weather...
Pictures From An Exhibition...
Collectors Coach
The Main Exhibition Venue
Roy's Trams
Jamie
Helens Layout
Mike Turner
Wednesday 21 April
Continued preparation for exhibition.
Derek On The Mow...
Wednesday 14th April
Clearance work round bridge sections and more work tidying station area. Web address painted onto bridge section, so hopefully the mainline commuters will become interested! Level crossing gate in undergrowth at bridge sections photographed and measured for rebuild with new wood, as original falling to pieces. The gate will be used for North Bridge Street or access from car park at loading pad.
Ken's 'Graffiti!'
Looking across from atop bridge sections.
Poor condition of crossing gate.
Monday 12th April
General tidying at station for the model railway exhibition.
Sunday 11th April
Fencing renewed at station platform. Mowing and general tidying at station for the model railway exhibition.
Thursday 8th April
I have added a number of pictures to the Miscellaneous section of the pictures.
Wednesday 7th April
Webmaster not on site - I will let you know what the 'usual suspects' got up to on Sunday! Weather was April mixed bag of sunshine and rain.
Sunday 4 April
Tried again to remove grafitti from water tower, and first bridge abutements, this time with an electric cordless drill with a rotary wire brush attachment - better, but still far from satisfactory. It is now time to try blow torching the paint, or last resort, spraying over in white. We do not have much of an ongoing graffiti problem, but it is unsightly, and adds an air of menace and dereliction to the village that cannot be tolerated. On a more positive note, commenced clearance of footpath route between first and second bridges. We will need to construct a bridge over the stream, but we have the materials in the shape of sleepers and old bridge girders - it is a 6m gap.
Dennis and Ken - Transport to the buffet.
Cleared section of new path.
Part of the cleared wood section that will need fencing.
Wednesday 31st March
Glorious weather. Repaired noticeboard at North Bridge Street after damage from someone who tried to kick it loose. Also tried to scrub graffiti off water tower with limited success. This kind of thing is an upsetting waste of our precious and limited voluntary time. Took lots of structural pictures of first bridge, as it is possible that the whole lot could come crashing down around Southern Water's ears if they try running construction vehicles for the pipeline underneath...as apparently all the plans for reconstruction are back up in the air again. However, had very successful clearance and bonfire in afternoon.
Graffiti at first bridge.
!
First bridge structural damage.
As above.
Sunday 28th March
A much better day. The weather was very pleasant, warm and sunny, The local ramblers group stopped by and are now aware of the waymarking plans for the Rother Valley Walk. Clearance recommenced and now is mostly raking and bonfires, as little remains to be cut, unfortunately we upset a resident with the smoke, but we try to be good neighbours! I have added a few pictures below to show how beautiful the valley is and more pictures at the station end as our celarance team have not been working up that part now for a couple of months. The webmaster stayed till 7pm (BST) doing clearance making the most of the 'extra' hour.
Al fresco power meeting at lunchtime...
Tug interior. Needs a bit of Kurust!
Valley from embankment at second bridge.
Towards village from 1st bridge. Footpath on right. We will establish a shortcut footpath across the stream in the middle of the picture enabling walkers to shortcut between first and second bridge.
Wednesday 24th March
Webmaster not on site, but Edith Cavell carriage was transported to Wittersham Road (K&ESR). Apparently this did not happen till late evening, so was completed in the dark!
Sunday 21st March
A run of bad weather. Small amount of clearance done in morning, including clearing the rest of the ivy from the water tower by North Bridge St. Rained constantly in afternoon so had to sit in the buffet then give up...
Wednesday 17th March
In contrast to Sunday, this was a great day. Mark Yonge brought some surplus sleepers in from Essex, on a Unimog - a road rail/maintenance vehicle (See pictures below). We will start reconstruction of 5th bridge imminently, although the clearance work has revealed serious erosion of the bank between the mill and the railway embankment between 4th and 5th bridge (see pictures below), this will need to be rectified before trains can run, although hopefully the environment agency should pick up the tab, this damage has been masked by the overgrowth of so many years. Chris and Gemma (webmaster) also surveyed another bridge that had not previously been thought accesible, it is on a landowners property who is not yet 'on side', however my trusty OS Explorer map revealed a public footpath that runs by it, the pictures of this and where trains used to run into the mill have been added to the 'down the line' page, under photos.
Area of scour marked (looking towards North Bridge St)
Reverse shot, from water tower. 4th bridge fence just visible top left.
Looking at damage from Robertsbridge Mill side.
Avondale Unimog (pity we couldn't keep it!)
More sleepers. Thanks to Mark.
Of course we had to test the rail capabilities...
'driving' the Unimog.
Sunday 14 March
Washout! A small amount of clearance performed around 4th bridge, weather was constant drizzle, so had to give up after lunch.
Tuesday 9 & Wednesday 10 March
Huge blitz on clearance to North Bridge St. Now reached 4th bridge. Cleared a massive knot of ivy encrusted overgrowth around a downed tree at third bridge. It took most of Tuesday to cut, and Wednesday to burn! Latest total is a dozen cricket balls and a couple of golf balls which have been lost from the adjacent cricket pitch, some of unknown vintage.
Recovered from the overgrowth
Now you Don't See It...
Wednesday 3 March & Sunday 7 March
Clearance.
Clearance On North Side Of Track, From The Road To Nowhere!
Clear South Side Embankments.
Sunday 29 Feb
Clearance/bonfires. Progression now between second and third bridges. Cleared a stile on footpath immediately adjacent to bottom of embankment. The clearance is raising the profile of the RVR with lots of support and encouragement from most people using the footpaths.
Clearance work - looking back from across third bridge to second.
A pleasant afternoon stroll along the embankment!
Wednesday 25 Feb
Clearance/bonfires. Hoist erected in Station area.
Down by a clear fenceline. Looking towards first bridge.
From 1st bridge back - clearance.
On embankment - tree devouring a spike!
A lovely sunny day on the clear embankment from 1st bridge looking towards North Bridge Street.
Hoist erected in station area.
Sunday 22 Feb
Clearance, around B&Q and past first bridge. Bonfires to burn some of the large amount of felled material.
New Storage Facilities - At Oak Tree. Signal Box levers in right shed.
Looking towards North Bridge Street. You can now see all the way to the bypass! A few volunteers have achieved this in a very short period of time. It can only get better...
Wednesday 18th Feb
Clearance. Contractors left site, as due to possibility of Badger Setts, cannot clear anymore until June, however they made a big difference, clearing many big trees and a lot of fenceline.
Clearance After Contractors Left Site.
Sunday 15th Feb
Buffer now connected to track again and lowered into temporary new position. Some limited track lifting to enable this. Clearance continues, much cut wood still needs to be burnt, but not much remains to be cut on the embankment before 1st bridge. We are also clearing beyond 1st bridge now. A hoist has been donated for moderate lifting work, courtesy of the tramway group.
Looking back at on going clearance from across 1st bridge.
One of many bonfires. View across 1st bridge.
Reconnecting and dropping buffers into place.
Wednesday 11th Feb
Sleepers moved off from lomac to the station area. Pointwork moved onto matting for repair, and to avoid being lost in the undergrowth yet again. Clearance continues on embankments. Volunteers smell of diesel and woodsmoke!
Retrieving broken pointwork for rebuild.
Sunday 8th Feb
You guessed it...more clearance! The embankments from Oak Tree sidings through to 1st bridge are rapidly being cleared now. Lots of fires necessary to clear the brush. Much damage inflicted on volunteers by rogue brambles!
A clearer view across valley now.
Wheels (for TRC) and pointwork reclaimed from the undergrowth.
Tug At Oak Tree.
Time for a cuppa at the 'B&Q'
The wheels fell off the trolley!
Wed 4th Feb
Brushcutting
Embankment Clearance continues...
Sunday 1 Feb
Buffer Relocation, using Titan, and a good sized track gang...
All kickback siding keys and fishplates removed, so track between new buffer stop position and first bridge plus kickback siding can be lifted to enable access for Southern Water. A lot of progress today.
Titan at Oak Tree sidings on way to shift buffer stop.
Getting Ready To Pull...
Here It Goes...
Almost In Place.
Kickback Ready For Lifting.
Wed 28 January
More Trackside Clearance. Now at stage where what is left should mostly be cleared by Southern Water.
Rather cold Day!
Sunday 25 January
More Trackside Clearance.
Wednesday 21 January 2004
More clearance.
Sunday 18th January 2004
Work progressed on lineside clearance of embankments between Oak Tree sidings and towards 1st bridge. Buffer stops were cleared of vegetation and jacked up in preparation for being moved to new position at end of concrete sleepers.
Buffer stops prior to clearance/jacking
View of clearance work from near buffer stop, which will be relocated to this point and the kickback siding removed to allow access to 1st bridge for rebuilding.
Another view of clearance work, this time from opposite Oak Tree sidings.
28 September 2003 - Northbridge Street Clearance
28 September 2003 - Northbridge Street Clearance
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