The Kent & East Sussex Railway was opened by Colonel H.F. Stephens, the railway engineer, in 1900. At its fullest extent, it ran from Robertsbridge on the Tonbridge to Hastings line to Headcorn on the line between Tonbridge and Ashford, Kent.
It was closed to passenger traffic on 2 January 1954, and completely on 12 July 1961. In 1974, the line partially reopened as a heritage steam railway, which is still in operation, running between Tenterden Town station and Bodiam.
The KESR was opened as the Rother Valley Railway, with its first stretch of line running from Robertsbridge to Rolvenden (the station being called Tenterden). The line extended into Tenterden in 1903, and the railway's name was changed to the Kent and East Sussex Railway, in anticipation of extensions to Appledore, Rye, Cranbrook and Maidstone via Headcorn. In fact, the line extended to Headcorn in 1905, but no further extensions were ever built.
Between 1905 and closure, the stations on the line, running south to north, were:
Robertsbridge, Salehurst Halt, Junction Road Halt , Bodiam for Staplecross , Northiam , Wittersham Road, Rolvenden , Tenterden Town , Tenterden St. Michael's , High Halden Road, Biddenden, Frittenden Road and Headcorn.
With the exception of Robertsbridge, Headcorn and Tenterden Town , the stations were in rural areas some distance from the towns they served. The railway was built under the 1896 Light Railways Act, which allowed for cheaper construction methods in return for a speed restriction.
For these reasons, as well as poor engine purchasing decisions, the line was unprofitable after 1932, and after nationalisation of the railways in 1948, the closure of the line was certain. The last British Railways passenger service ran from Robertsbridge at 1750 on 2 January 1954.
See also
External links
The preservation society's website can be found at http://www.kesr.org.uk/