PRESS RELEASE
11th March 2025
Kent & East Sussex Railway celebrates ‘small but mighty' steam heroes
The Kent and East Sussex Railway (K&ESR) is once again breaking new ground with its first Gala of 2025 (26-27 April) by featuring some of the smallest steam locomotives in preservation.
The Dwarves of Steam Gala promises to show that small can be mighty with two extra special visiting locomotives operating (subject to final agreement) alongside three of the railway's smallest and much-loved residents on an intensive weekend timetable.
The weekend gala is the K&ESR's latest event in celebration of Rail 200 and has been sponsored by local model railway company Rapido Trains UK.
The heritage line is no stranger to small locomotives both in its heyday and as part of its 50-year preservation life. However, the demands of modern tourist operation mean that the smaller engines cannot always be used and are sometimes overlooked in favour of larger locomotives. Dwarves of Steam will celebrate the unique characteristics of diminutive engines, allowing visitors to enjoy the sights and sounds of these steam heroes demonstrating their true power.
Alongside K&ESR favourites Peckett No.1631 ‘Marcia', Southern Railway No.2678 ‘Knowle' and Hunslet No.469 ‘Hastings', the K&ESR plans to welcome two very special guests - both subject to final agreements with their owners and custodians:-
W G Bagnall No.2572 ‘Judy'
‘Judy' entered service in 1937 having been specially commissioned to deal with the geographical restrictions of Par Harbour in Cornwall. Here, engines had to pass under an 8ft tall bridge below the Cornish Mainline to reach the china clay works, as well as operate on curves down to a 70' radius.
‘Judy' and sister locomotive ‘Alfred' gained celebrity status at Par, not only because of their unusual size and stature but because they were some of the last working steam engines in Cornwall. The engines became so popular that the Rev. W. Awdry immortalised them in his Railway Series stories as ‘Bill' and ‘Ben'.
‘Judy' was returned to operational condition in 2023 at the Bodmin and Wenford Railway and has run at a number of events since. The visit to the K&ESR will be the locomotive's first ever appearance in the South East, courtesy of the Bodmin Railway.
Kerr Stuart No.3063 ‘Willy The Well Tank'
Photo courtesy of he Swindon and Cricklade Railway
Built in 1918 by Kerr, Stuart & Company to an earlier design by E Borrows & Sons, ‘Willy' was supplied new to the National Shipyard at Chepstow where it spent all of its working life.
In 1982 ‘Willy' was sold by Fairfield-Mabey Ltd, who had taken over and dismantled the shipyard in 1925, and subsequently moved to the Flour Mill in the Forest of Dean. The engine was returned to steam in 2012 and has visited a few preserved lines as well as acting as the works' shunter. The engine recently had an overhaul and repaint into its current red livery before moving to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway for the 2024 season. ‘Willy' will be visiting courtesy of Bill Parker / The Flour Mill.
Together, these five pocket-sized locomotives will operate on the stretch of line from Tenterden Town Station to Wittersham Road before returning up the steeply inclined bank between Rolvenden and Tenterden.
Gala visitors will be able to enjoy an intensive two-train service running between Tenterden Town and Wittersham Road Stations. The service will operate regularly between 1000 and 1600 and will feature two carriage sets in operation - one formed of three Victorian 4-wheeled carriages and one formed of two larger 1960s bogie carriages.
At the opposite end of the spectrum visitors will also have the opportunity to visit and see the work being carried out on the restoration of Kent's most powerful steam locomotive - GWR No.4253.
Undergoing restoration in the workshops at Rolvenden by the engine's owners - the 4253 Locomotive Company, the engine is nearing the end of its restoration from Barry scrapyard condition and will soon be making its first ever moves in preservation. Visitors will have the opportunity during the gala to alight from the train at Rolvenden station for a guided tour of the locomotive.
Andy Hardy, event organiser and General Manager of Rapido Trains UK said:
"Whilst many of us enjoy marvelling at the sheer size of many steam engines its safe to say that the humble little engine was the backbone of the railway system. Employed as works or depot shunters on the mainline, working on branch lines or suburban services or keeping the wheels of industry turning in industrial settings these little engines kept the UK on track. Many heritage railways look to big engines as gala guests, but we thought it was high-time to celebrate these pocket sized engines. Having recently bought Marcia, and with Rapido making so many little models of smaller prototypes, we couldn't think of a better time to try something new with Dwarves of Steam. I for one cannot wait to see the little engines tackling the climb up to Tenterden."
Robin Coombes, General Manager of the K&ESR, said:
"Heritage railways have long celebrated the giants of steam, but this event highlights the unsung heroes—small locomotives that played a vital role in keeping industry and branch lines running. The Dwarves of Steam Gala is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the strength and versatility of these engines, and we're delighted to bring together such a unique collection, including two very special visiting locomotives. It promises to be a fantastic weekend for enthusiasts and families alike, proving that when it comes to steam power, size isn't everything."
Tickets for the Dwarves of Steam Gala are available to pre-book now. Terms and conditions apply, please visit the website for more details:www.kesr.org.uk.
-ends-
For further information please contact:
Alison Miles, Press Officer, K&ESR
amiles@kesr.org.uk/ 07900 691116
Please use the blue hyperlinks below the images to download original photos
NOTES TO EDITORS
Locomotives - additional information
W G Bagnall No.2572 ‘Judy'
In 1829 Joseph Thomas Treffry started to build Par Harbour. His business interests required coal to be imported and copper, lead and granite to be exported. Other ports were too small or faced logistical obstructions - resulting in the creation of Par Harbour. However geographical restrictions meant that engines had to pass under an 8ft tall bridge under the Cornish Mainline to reach the china clay works along with operating on curves down to a 70' radius.
In September 1937 Bagnall No.2572 was delivered at a cost of £1200. It had originally been planned to name it ‘Chough' after the distinctive species of Cornish bird. The message was received by Bagnall as ‘Cough', which they thought was rather strange and so she was sent to Par without a nameplate. She was finally given nameplates that read ‘Judy' after 1955.
‘Judy' had started to experience boiler troubles and was withdrawn from traffic in 1969 - her driver Del Robins taking her into the shed for one last time for not only her retirement but also his own.
‘Judy', along with sister locomotive ‘Alfred' gained a celebrity status not least because of their unusual size and stature but because they were some of the last working steam engines in Cornwall and the site became a stronghold of visits by railway enthusiasts. The engines became so popular that they also inspired the Rev. W. Awdry to immortalise them in his Railway Series stories as ‘Bill' and ‘Ben'.
Both locomotives can now be found on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway. ‘Judy' was returned to operational condition in 2023 and has run at a number of events since. This visit to the K&ESR will be the locomotives first ever visit to the South East.
Rapido Trains UK are currently producing ‘Judy'in OO gauge and anticipate delivering this highly sought-after project at the end of 2025.
‘Judy'is visiting courtesy of the Bodmin Railway and is subject to final agreement.
Kerr Stuart No.3063 ‘Willy The Well Tank'
‘Willy' was built in 1918 by Kerr, Stuart & Company to a earlier design by E Borrows & Sons.
The engine was supplied new to the National Shipyard at Chepstow where it spent all of its working life. As a result of the number of merchant ships lost in the First World War the government established the National Shipyards. As a result, all shipbuilding companies at Chepstow came under government control. Theses shipyards were expanded to form National Shipyard Number 1 (Chepstow). Over 6,000 men from the Royal Engineers built the shipyard, and men from Tyneside and the Clyde came to work at the yard.
In 1925 Fairfield Shipbuilding and Engineering Ltd bought and later dismantled the shipyard. In due course the company became Fairfield-Mabey Ltd. In 1982 ‘Willy' was sold by Fairfield-Mabey Ltd and subsequently moved to the Flour Mill in the Forest of Dean. The engine was returned to steam in 2012 and has visited a few preserved lines and also acting as the works shunter. The engine has recently had an overhaul and repaint into its current red livery before moving to the Swindon and Cricklade Railway for the 2024 season.
‘Willy the Well Tank' is visiting courtesy of Bill Parker / The Flour Mill and is subject to final agreement.
Peckett No.1631 ‘Marcia'
Built by Peckett & Sons of Bristol in 1923Marciais the smallest locomotive on the K&ESR. After a nomadic life in industry working in a Peak District quarry, a Scottish brickworks and shipyard and a Manchester chemical company,Marciaarrived on the K&ESR in 1962 and has resided here ever since. In 2024 the locomotive was bought jointly by Andy Hardy and Rapido Trains UK after the previous owner passed away allowing the engine to remain on the K&ESR for the future.
Southern Railway No.2678 ‘Knowle'
A total of 50 Terriers - officially, the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway A1 Class - were built at Brighton works between 1872 and 1880. The diminutive tank locomotives were designed to haul commuter trains on the already heavily congested lines in South and South-East London.
The Kent & East Sussex Railway are proud to be the home for two of these historic locomotiveswith ‘Knowle' being one of the youngest members of the type entering service in 1880. Nowowned by The Terrier Trust CIO Knowle first saw service on theoriginalK&ESR in 1940 and pulled the final passenger train when the line closedin 1954.
After a brief spell operating on Hayling Island branch towards the end of an astonishing operational career - she had covered nearly a million miles by the time the Southern Railway was formed in 1923, In the early 1930's Knowle had a short spell on the Isle of Wight becoming No.14 Bembridge - she was sold to Butlins in 1964, becoming an exhibit in the children's playground at Minehead.
Fortunately, she was rescued and brought back to working order at K&ESRwhere the locomotive is now a rare example of a locomotive working on one of its original lines.
Hunslet No.469 ‘Hastings'
Built bytheHunslet Engine Company in 1888 for the Manchester Ship Canal contractors, T A Walker.It originally carried the name Liverpool, but was sold to Price, Wills & Reeves and renamed‘Hastings'. After a spell on a contract at Immingham Docks, the locomotive the locomotive was acquired by the Park Gate Iron & Steel Company in 1915. In 1935‘Hastings'moved to Sproxton Quarry in Leicestershire.
In 1963 the quarryclosed,and the K&ESR Locomotive Trust purchased‘Hastings'for £250.
Arriving at Tenterden in January 1964, she was briefly returned to steam in April 1965 but boiler problemsresulted in her not being used again. The locomotive was subsequently privately purchased and moved to Mangapps Farm Railway Museum for restoration. Work continued at the Elsecar Heritage Railway, whilst the boiler underwent major repair work at the North Norfolk Railway before passing its hydraulic test in January 2019. Reassembly saw‘Hastings'steamed at Statfold Barn Railway in May 2021 following completion of its overhaul.
In September 2021 the locomotive moved to the Chasewater Railway and entered service there a few days afterwards.Hastingsreturned to the K&ESR in May 2022 andhas operated regular services since.
About the Kent & East Sussex Railway:The Kent & East Sussex Railway is a renowned heritage railway based in Tenterden, Kent, UK and operates as an educational charity. Built by Holman F Stephens, it was the first light passenger railway in Britain in the early 20thcentury and is today one of Britain's most loved and original heritage lines and celebrated its 50thanniversary of reopening in 2024. With a rich history spanning over 120 years, the K&ESR offers visitors an authentic steam and diesel-powered railway experience through 10½ miles of Wealden countryside in the beautiful Rother Valley, a designated National Landscape (formerly known as Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty). Staffed almost entirely by volunteers, the railway prides itself on preserving railway heritage, operating a diverse range of locomotives, and providing a unique glimpse into the golden age of rail travel.
About Rapido Trains UK:
Rapido Trains UK is a manufacturer of high-quality model trains in‘OO'and‘N'gauges. The parent company Rapido Trains Inc wasestablished in Canada nearly two decades ago by owner Jason Shron. With an interest in British trains Jason set up a UK arm to produce UK prototype models. Based in Staplehurst, Kent and run by General Manager Andy Hardy, Rapido Trains UK has become one of the leading manufacturers of high-quality models of locomotives and rollingstock.