Sussex Belle – Sept 29th 2010
Well, after my recent trip to Swindon, I didn’t expect to be on the rails again so soon, but the route of the Sussex Belle, as described in the Tour Operators brochure was to tempting. Once again I didn’t allow the early start to deter me, and I duly arrived on Victoria Station with plenty of time to spare, before the impending arrival of the coaching stock, piloted by a Class 37 Diesel with of course “Black 5” number 44932 on the front end. I even managed to get up onto the footplate of this superb Loco before our departure !, any excuse !! At 10.44 the whistle blows, and off we go.
The first part of our journey today is a circular one taking us south east through South London, North Kent to Ashford, and then on to Hastings crossing the delightful Romney Marsh and passing through Rye en route.
Our first stop is at Bromley South and then Lenham where our Loco takes on water. With a tender capacity of 4,000 gallons, I’m glad I don’t pay my water rates in Lenham !!.
Awaiting departure at Victoria Taking on water 2010 style !!
As mentioned on an earlier trip, water replenishment is not the simple matter that it used to be with a Water Tower on most Station platforms, Tour Operators often as in this case have to enlist the help of the local Fire Service. So, soon after passing through Ashford International, lunch is served, accompanied by a delightful bottle of Chardonay, (well, I’m not driving am I ?), as our train meanders across the flat but never the less beautiful nature reserve that is the Romney Marsh. Soon we are passing through the historic Cinque Port of Rye, then Ore as we begin to slow down for our arrival in Hastings. Whilst the Locomotive is watered again, an opportunity to stretch our legs, the weather having now brightened up a bit. What excitement a Steam Loco causes, with people everywhere, not just the passengers, but enthusiasts and people that are just interested in seeing a Steam engine seem to appear from nowhere. Nostalgia is a wonderful thing, allowing people the luxury of letting their minds slip backwards into the past, and to better and happier times perhaps, who knows ?.
Hastings Station – nostalgia time ! Water courtesy of Hastings Fire Service
Soon we are underway again for the last leg of our journey, enjoying this time the Sussex countryside as our train takes us through Robertsbridge, Wadhurst and Tunbridge Wells, then on to Bromley South where once again we stop, presumably to disembark those passengers that joined us here this morning. We then rejoin the South London route that we took outward bound this morning, and all to soon our trip is over as we arrive back in London Victoria, bang on time !. A wonderful day is over all too soon, here’s to next time !!.
Austintatious
