Last Thursday turned out to be a perfect spring day, so Maxine & I headed south to visit Bodiam Castle – an imposing and interesting medieval ruin.

And of course, it’s only a couple of hundred yards to wander over the River Rother bridge to Bodiam Station on the KESR.

A quick check on train times shows that one was due in 10 minutes or so, and it was just the sort of day to sit in the sun on the platform.  Then the level crossing gates were closed and the train arrived.

Headed by a USA tank engine in Longmoor Military Railway colours.

Hauling a train of BR Mk1 coaches, plus this Maunsell high-window coach from the 1930’s.  My next order after the birdcages – Dapol are threatening to make some…. sometime…..

We decided not to take a quick run to Tenterden and back – this was the last round trip of the day, but watched the engine run round and the train leave.

And in the exhibition, there was this shot of a brace of Terriers top-and-tailing a train of birdcage coaches.  The train is a hop pickers special on the KESR.  These are the short version of the coaches, not quite like the longer Farish model, but a Dapol Terrier pulling the Farish birdcages seems close enough to me.