KESR iS ‘in BESt ShapE yEt’ aFtER a SuccESSFul yEaR

Revenue from special events puts a smile on the faces of KesR’s accountants.

successful 2017 season has put the Kent & East Sussex Railway on its “strongest ever financial footing.” Having ended its previous financial year in October 2016 with a £37,000 deficit, increases of 8% in passenger numbers for the 2016 ‘Santa Special’ season (to 13,764) and in total visitor numbers for 2016/17 (to around 86,000), resulted in a “substantial six-figure surplus” for the year ending October 2017. The increase is attributed mainly to the £300,000 income from the 2016 Santa trains, and a successful Lego-themed ‘Bricks Britannia’ event in April which brought in £130,000. Online sales amounted to around £400,000, while the railway received bequests totalling £250,000 and enjoyed an increase in donations. Financial Director Geoff Crouch, who is also currently acting as chairman after the previous incumbent Jamie Douglas stepped down, added that the 2017 Santa season “has greatly exceeded expectations and will further contribute monies available for investment.” He said that the former Colonel Stephens light railway “has never been on such a strong financial footing” and will thus be able to “invest again after many years of being cash-starved.” A five-year ‘Capital Expenditure Plan’ has been drawn up, with three locomotives and four carriages among the beneficiaries. The overhaul of SECR ‘P’ 0-6-0T No. 753 will be restarted, having been suspended last year (SR469), while that of ‘USA’ 0-6-0T No. 30065 Maunsell will also begin, to follow the late 2017 completion of classmate No. 30070 in Longmoor Military Railway guise. The heavy overhaul of Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST Charwelton, which requires a new boiler and cylinder block, will be put out to contract thanks to generous donations. Two carriages will be restored for the ‘Wealden Pullman’ dining train – former ‘Golden Arrow’ Pullman Kitchen First No. 304 Aries, and Mk 1 RU (Restaurant Unclassed) No. 1987, neither of which have run in preservation. The latter will be sent to an external contractor, while Aries will largely be restored in-house at Tenterden, alongside Maunsell Corridor Composite No. 5618 and LNWR inspection saloon No. ED33. Other projects set to benefit are new level crossing gates at Tenterden and Bodiam, repairs to the station roof and new platform coping stones at Northiam, improvements to Tenterden car park, and developments at Rolvenden, including a new approach road and loading siding. Said Mr Crouch: “Our cash reserves are at an all-time high and have exceeded £800,000 at times. “It is wonderful to be able to plan investments rather than make cuts – it makes my job such an enjoyable one.”

Our caSh rESErvES arE at aN all-timE high Geoff CrouCh, fINANCIAL DIreCTor, KeSr