Bachmann ffestiniog railway ‘curly roof’ van

As we have seen across five articles so far – see related reading from the authors, page 23 – the provision of an engine shed at Thornton Junction facilitated a broad reach of influence and operation

In a quiet corner of rural East Sussex, a railway is rising like a phoenix. What had once seemed like a pipe dream is rapidly becoming reality, with the link from Bodiam on the Kent & East Sussex Railway to the main line at Robertsbridge – one of the biggest projects happening in preservation right now – scheduled to open in 2028. THOMAS BRIGHT finds out more.

This year Direct Rail Services (DRS) celebrates 30 years of operating trains, and from an initial fleet of just five refurbished Class 20s it has grown and diversified during those three decades. DRS