With the 50th Kent & East Sussex Railway Gala in full swing at Robertsbridge Station, Sunday 2nd June saw the announcement of a new investment in the 4253 Locomotive Company by the Rother Valley Railway Heritage Trust.

On behalf of 4253, Chairman Charlie Masterson thanked Rother Valley Railway Trustee Richard Broyd CBE for the Trust’s further substantial financial input to the locomotive and presented him with a certificate in recognition.

Charlie Masterson (left) thanks Richard Broyd CBE and presents him with a certificate next to ‘Britannia’ on Robertsbridge Station.

(Photo kindly supplied by Alan Crotty)

This further investment by the RVR is proof of the continued confidence they have in 4253 Loco Company’s ability to push the project through to completion in time for the reopening of the line, with our loco expected to play a major part in the running and structure of the new line between Robertsbridge and Tenterden when it reopens.

Along with everything else, our boiler rebuild costs have rocketed in the last two or three years and this investment in the project will go a long way to securing the vital completion and installation of the boiler, together with easing the subsequent large financial ‘black hole’ that continues to develop around it.

Charlie Masterson said: “Although the all-important finance from shareholders will still be needed as we go forward to a steaming date and beyond, this additional confidence in us by the RVR will help to underpin the future of 4253 in the long term and I would like to thank them for their continued support.”