Stevenage Locomotive Society "The Magnificent Seven" Event, 15th November 1998

On 15th November 1998 the Stevenage Locomotive Society organised a special event on the Kent & East Sussex Railway which runs between Tenterden in Kent and Bodiam in East Sussex. The rather grand name for the event was based on the fact that there would be seven return trips, rather than seven different locomotives used. The star of the event was former BR 07011 which had been specially imported for the event and at that time had just been overhauled and repainted in to 1970s BR blue. As 07011 had its train vacuum brake equipment removed in previous years it could only work the train by piloting dual-braked D6570 [33052].

Locomotives used on the train, in order, were:

3174 [08108] in BR green livery
07011 [D2995] in BR blue livery
D6570 [33052] in BR green livery with white lining
D2023 [withdrawn from BR service before receiving a TOPS number] in all over green livery
D9525 [withdrawn from BR service before receiving a TOPS number] in BR green with yellow warning panels.

The event started and finshed at Tenterden Town station with the train running up and down between Rolvenden and Northiam stations. Locomotives ran round the train at Northiam, locomotive changes occurred at Rolvenden station. The train stopped at least once at Wittersham Road station for photographs. All the locos performed well and a good day was had by all! Of note was BR Class 25 7594 [25244] which was visible after leaving Tenterden Town in the morning.


[DV Source]



00:00 Tenterden Town

00:37 3174 at Northiam
03:08 07011 & D6570 at Rolvenden
05:29 Wittersham Road
06:42 Northiam
11:30 Rolvenden
12:34 D2023 at Northiam
13:45 Rolvenden
19:25 Wittersham Road
20:21 Northiam
25:03 D9525 at Rolvenden
29:43 D6570 leaving Northiam
33:26 D6570 leaving Rovenden
35:40 Tenterden Town