A Posting, Full On, Rye (2)

 Tunnel Vision

When a youthful fbb used to go on Crusader holidays on the Isle of Wight, he found Waterloo station fascinating and a bit scary. Back then, green worms (Southern Region electric trains) would slide and wiggle on the tracks approaching the station. The lad hoped that the wiggles would not bring the carriages into crunching contact.

But everything, it seemed, was green caterpillars whizzing to and fro. You might then think that everything south of the Thames was electric. 

Even today, fbb's local line at Axminster is still diesel ...

... and very much in need of some new trains.

The colours were brighter under Stagecoach ownership but they have reverted to dull and duller c/o First.

The main line between London and Hastings was a late electrification candidate. Before being plugged in, it was operated by diesel electric units ...

... later resplendent in blue and grey.

These units were somewhat thinner than standard because of restricted clearance in some of the tunnels.

But, eventually, the third rail power came along, the tunnels were up-fettled and normal thickness trains were used.

They were even given a special livery called 'jaffa cake' by enthusiasts.

... and were appropriately branded.

Single Vision

Which left just one bit of line in the area without the electric.

Trains between Hastings and Ashford remained diesel electric, in various liveries ...

... on class 207 stock.

Today's equivalent are from the class 170 stable ...

... running as two or three car sets.

The units run through from Eastbourne via Hastings to Ashford providing a clock face hourly frequency.

In passing, note the times of trains at Rye above, xx47/xx49; and in the opposite direction below, xx46/xx48.

Yes, fans of railway operation, trains cross at Rye.

They need to, because this part of the route is single track!

Tourism Vision

Although, practically, only the section between Hastings and Ashford was originally branded "Marshlink" ...

... publicity tends to extol the virtues of the whole route. This full colour illustrated map is an example.

Here we see Eastbourne to Hastings ...

You would have a long walk to Herstmonceaux and a connecting train to Battle.

Then from Hastings to Ashford.

Again, best of British for a connection to Tenterden for the Kent and East Sussex Railway. 

There would be an equal challenge to make it to the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch line.

If you wish, you might even connect with a Eurostar at Ashford!

But Eurostar won't allow you to go from Ashford to Bruxelles!

Oddly, Rye Station would appear to have a signal box!

fbb will adumbrate tomorrow.

  Next Rye station blog : Weds 24th June 

A Posting, Full On, Rye (1)

It was Agatha Crusty who penned the celebrated crime novel as illustrated above. From memory (dodgy as ever) the rye in a pocket was a crucial link for the old lady from St Mary Mead as she brilliantly solved the intricate crime.

The line comes from a gruesome children's "nursery" rhyme ...

... which, to bring joy to the kiddies, involves one of said blackbirds pecking off the nose of a hard working kitchen maid. 

So many nursery rhymes are horrible; Ring a Ring of Roses is about death from the plague; The Grand Old Duke Of York is about appalling mismanagement of the Kingdom's defence forces (nothing changes!); and as for poor Humpty!

To avoid permanently traumatising the very young, we hardly ever see pictures of Humpty's terminal brokenness. fbb does, however, remember one of a smashed Humpty from his childhood. He disliked the picture and felt sad that no one attempted a repair.

The origins of the rhyme are lost for ever, but two possibilities are suggested. It may have referred to a sudden fall from grace for a politician or a member of the Royalty (so nothing new there, eh?) OR a sombre comment on the dangers of drunkenness (so no change there, eh?).

Bur we digress.

As usual!

Rye us a delightful town in East Sussex (almost in Kent) ...

... sitting at the confluence of three rivers, The Rother (but NOT as in Rotherham!), The Tillingham and The Brede.

The area is partially reclaimed marsh and the name Rye may be derived from an ancient word for an island. Some authorities show it as an island on geological maps.

At the back of fbb's quirky brain function was the idea that Rye was one of the Cinque Ports. Yes, it's French for 'five' but we have to pronounce it "Sink"! It wouldn't do for the Brave British Bulldog breed to submit to johnny foreigner's strange and impenetrable vowel sounds.

Rye wasn't a Cinque Port but it was!

The confederation of Cinque Ports is a historic group of coastal towns in Sussex and Kent. The name is Old French, meaning "five harbours", and alludes to the original five members (Hastings, New Romney, Hythe, Dover and Sandwich). At its peak in the Late Middle Ages, the confederation included over 40 members. There is now a totalof 14 members: five "head ports", two "ancient towns" and seven  "limbs".

So here is a list of the most recent "club" membership

Head Ports (The "Five")

• Hastings
• New Romney
• Hythe
• Dover
• Sandwich

Corporate limbs (The Hangers-On)

• Pevensey
• Seaford
• Tenterden 
• Lydd
• Folkestone
• Faversham 
• Fordwich
• Deal

Ancient Towns (because they were ancient!)

• Winchelsea
• Rye

Winston Churchill, Sir Robert Menzies and Her Majesty The Queen Mother were all once holders of the onerous task of being Lord Warden if the Cinque Ports. The main onerous duties were to turn up for the occasional knees-up in the posh clobber.

It's a tough job but someone has to do it!

The railway came to Rye in 1851 ...

... and in many ways things have not changed greatly over the years.

But it was the shelter on Platform 1 ...

... that excited fbb's blogging juices, of that shelter more too follow.

Before we go there, however, there was another railway at Rye.

This 3 foot gauge line ran from its own Rye station ...

... to Camber Sands, here with diesel haulage ...

... via  a stop at the golf course.

Some of the buildings remain, now repurposed; and most of the track bed can be spotted.

The bridge (above with train crossing) is still there, just about.

The line closed in 1939. fbb doubts whether it was ever commercially viable!

Back to National Rail platform 1 tomorrow.

  Next Posting, Full On, Rye : Tues 23 June 

Sunday Variety

 Over The Top Overground News?

As usual wth on-line news snippets, this is NOT an article about another expansion of Mr Khan's London Transport empire.

The reporter has picked up the undeniable fact that, assuming the expansion of Heathrow Airport goes ahead, it will need more and better train services.

Such trains would, by definition, travel into Surrey and Berkshire. You may wish to enlarge the extract below.

fbb could not copy and paste for some obscure technology (or personal incompetence) reason.

Yet another non news item appears on line.

Proposals for a link from the Southern region lines ...

... and a link from the west, off the Great Western main line ...

... have been around for years. But more will be needed for the third runway and its associated terminal, probably a big flashy new Terminal 1 as we don't have one of them any more.

What You Need Is More Drivers

Looking at on-line pictures of steam locomotives, you can rarely spot the driver and fireman. If the train is travelling at speed, the fireman will be manning the fire and the driver will be looking forwards to see the signals.

When the loco is static in the yard, the lads may well be off for a wad and a mugga!

Here are a few shots with staff in place as here, awaiting the next move for Stepney ...

... and here in the cab of a Schools class ...

... but at rest. These, however, are more active ...

... doing some clever shunting stuff! But mostly, in photographs, you simply do not spot the driver and fireman. They are far too busy for a photo call.

Then what do you do with your mide8l footplate crew when the loco is having a nap in the engine shed. Do we need a god-like hand and huge over-scale tweezers to remove "the lads" or do they remain glued to the floor for ever?

Oxford Rail are asking £12.50 ...

... for the two exquisitely painted OO scale staff.

Heidi In A Hurry?

Why isn't it up and running. The stations are finished. The signalling is finished. The track has been finished for years!

Dodgy Dotto Decision?

Holiday makers visiting the Isle of Wight in relatively recent times will remember Dotto trains. These italian imports ran in Ryde, Sandown and Shanklin.

fbb was familiar with the Ryde Dotto as it ran from Ryde sea front along the coast to a terminus in Appley Park.

Various liveries appeared under Council management ...

... until Southern Vectis took over and painted them orange.

The colour was chosen to match the Vectis open top routes

The bus drivers even wore orange shirts!

Now comes news of a return for the Dotto - sort of.

If the "application process" does not open until September", we will not be seeing the train this season.

And there's more.

And for the Dotto Train spotters amongst our loyal readers, here is the Shankln version ...

... and similar in Sandown.

There's A Surprise!

And Good News For Some?

Closed Pecorama

Will Be Open ...

... on four glorious summer days.

On Gala Days, multiple trains are run, sometimes with guest locomotives but with many of the home fleet in steam.

Although the site is not fully open this year, it looks as if someone will be looking after the gardens.

The views are superb from the railway ...

... and the days will be well worth the money.

Tomorrow we look at rye.

Or maybe Rye?

  Next Marshlink blog : Monday 22nd June