From rural branches to high-speed arteries

More than 50 years after it reopened as a heritage line, the Kent & East Sussex Railway is embracing the future while not forgetting its roots. THOMAS BRIGHT sits down with general manager Dr Robin Coombes and new chairman Derrick Bilsby to find out more.

Running a heritage railway is not an easy job. Many of our favourite lines were set up by groups of dedicated enthusiasts in the wake of the Beeching cuts of the early 1960s, since going on to become

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