Engineering

Details:

Spanners, Hangers, and Bangers

For those interested in all aspects of Engineering Mechanical, Electronic, Electrical, Civil etc. 

We meet once a month on the first Thursday in a pub in Tonbridge if we are not visiting a site of interest.

We are a mixture of friendly folk (not just engineers!) who enjoy visiting both new and old engineering sites or Engineering Museums throughout the South East. 

Contact: Email the group leader(s) at engineering@tonbridgeu3a.uk 

Group Leader:  Rob McCrae

A Day Among the Steam Giants

u3a Engineering Group explores the Kent & East Sussex Railway at Rolvenden

On a mild Thursday in May, a group of eleven u3a engineering enthusiasts, led by Dave Rowlands, gathered at the Rolvenden Road locomotive sheds. Our mission: a behind-the-scenes look at the Kent & East Sussex Railway (KESR). Guided by KESR volunteer Dave Usher, we swapped the modern world for the smell of grease, coal, and hot metal.

THE HEART OF THE WORKSHOP

After the essential health and safety briefing and the signing of disclaimers—

standard procedure when navigating a working industry site—we entered the

main locomotive workshop. The sight was one of organised chaos: steam

engines sat in various stages of “surgical” dismantlement.

One of the more surprising revelations was the ownership of these titans.

Rather than the railway owning everything, many locomotives belong to

private individuals, groups, or charitable trusts. These owners are responsible for

their own fundraising, a monumental task considering a full restoration can

span decades. This specialised restoration happens alongside the relentless, day-to-day maintenance required to keep the active fleet in service.

Outside, the scale of the engineering continued to impress. We spotted a

massive steam-powered crane awaiting boiler repairs, currently being nudged into place by a nimble ex- Rowntree’s chocolate factory diesel-electric shunter.

HEAVY METAL AND HERITAGE TOOLS

At the far end of the workshop lies the machine shop, a sanctuary for “proper”

engineering. Here, the kit is as historic as the trains. We saw lathes and drill

stands, some over a century old, that still pull their weight daily. Dave pointed out that when you need to bore a 2-inch hole through 3/4-inch steel plate, your domestic power tools simply won’t cut it. It’s a place where the phrase “they don’t

make them like they used to” feels less like a cliché and more like a testament to survival.

Historic machines, still doing serious work every day. 

They don’t make them like they used to.

THE ART OF SIGNALLING

The tour transitioned from heavy machinery to the intricate logic of the signal box. Dave Usher explained that while the box likely originated from South East London, the lever frame was bespoke to KESR.

The complexity of the signalling system is staggering. Each of the four boxes on the line is a unique ecosystem of wiring diagrams and workshop manuals. Communication is a rhythmic dance of signal bells and telephones between neighbouring boxes. To ensure safety, drivers must carry a physical tablet, mechanical released by the signalling gear, to enter the next section of track.

At Rolvenden, two systems coexist: 

The Tenterdan Town Line: Utilising gear over 120 years old. The Wittersham Road Line: Reaching the 100-year milestone.

As the saying goes, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix’t’

However, operating this “unbroken” tech is no small feat: it takes two years to train a signaller for a specific box.

CARRIAGE SHEDS AND MODERN GUESTS

Our final stop was the carriage storage shed, which held a surprising modern guest: track maintenance equipment used by London Underground. Built in

Germany and sent to KESR for commissioning, this partnership allowed the railway to get some track work done for free during demonstrations. We also caught a glimpse of the Pullman coach, ARIES. While intended to bolster the railway’s popular dining services, the coach is currently a “work in progress.”

Judging by its condition, it will be some time before it’s hosting dinner guests, but in the world of heritage rail, patience is the ultimate virtue.