No 21 Wainwright warming up

Another day at Wittersham Road signalbox this time with the company of Geoff, one of our neighbours and his grandson. Geoff expressed an interest in seeing how the railway ran so I offered him a day in the box when I next had a turn. It seems like they thoroughly enjoyed their day back in time, pulling signals and operating points as well as watching trains pass at close quarters.

On the way we stopped at Rolvenden to collect the token needed to open up Wittersham Road and while there had a peek in the yard where newly out shopped No 21 had a fire lit for the first time since around 2004 when it was withdrawn from service.

We have two of these USA tanks, both are out of service. No 22 was withdrawn this year but it looks like No 21 will be back pulling trains shortly. Also nearly ready is Austerity No 25.

They're called USA tanks as they were built in the USA for use in Southampton Docks during and after the war. They survived on the national network until 1967 when both were sent for scrap. Fortunately for KESR and railway preservation they never made it to South Wales and the cutters touch. They developed a hot (axle) box at Tonbridge , languishing in a siding there until spotted by a member of the KESR railway. The railway bought them and the rest, they say, is history.