Cranbrook Road Crossing
This was one of no
less than twelve level crossings that were a feature of the K&ESR between
Robertsbridge and Headcorn Junction. The ‘’Rother Valley (Light) Railway’’, as
it was initially known, was the first railway in the country to take advantage
of the ‘’Light Railways Act’’ of 1896. This permitted a number of economies to
be taken during the construction of the line, and this included minimal
provision of infrastructure at stations and level crossings. As a result, right
up until its closure to through running passenger services in 1954, the K&ESR
boasted a few level crossings that lacked both gates and keepers. Thus, trains
would proceed, naturally sounding a warning ‘’whistle’’, and the locomotive
driver would literally hope for the best!
Cranbrook Road Crossing is located half a mile west of Tenterden Town, and all
infrastructure seen at the site today is from the post-preservation era. All
level crossing gates on the K&ESR have either been built from scratch, or
salvaged from elsewhere and brought to the line, the original gates having been
removed by British Rail. Cranbrook Road Crossing was rebuilt during January
2003, outside of operating season, to provide a new crossing keeper’s hut.
Hitherto, a diminutive pitched-roof hut of tongue-and-groove timber construction
was positioned immediately east of the crossing gates, on the northern side of
the single track. This was subsequently replaced by an equally small structure,
although the latter was of corrugated metal construction, and positioned to the
west of the crossing gates, south of the single-track. The crossing keeper’s hut
here has a direct telephone line with the signal boxes at Tenterden Town and
Rolvenden stations. Operational safety regulations in force along the line
require that all trains have to make a stop at each of the six level crossings
that still exist on the preserved route between Tenterden and Bodiam inclusive.
This requirement is relaxed at Cranbrook Road and Tenterden Town Crossings for
services ascending the steep 1 in 50 gradient in-between the two locations, but
only if a crossing keeper is on duty. Such trains are limited to a top speed of
10 MPH over the level crossing at the former.
26th July 2008
The open window of the hut indicates that a crossing keeper was on duty on this day. The telephone wire
attachment can be seen above the window, to the left. This corrugated hut has replaced a timber structure
which resided on the opposite side of the crossing. David Glasspool
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