Davington Light Railway

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Davington Light Railway
Locale England
Dates of operation 1916–1919
Track gauge 1,000 mm (3 ft 3⅜ in)
Length 3 miles (4.8 km)
Headquarters Davington

The Davington Light Railway was a narrow gauge railway built to serve the armaments factory at Davington, in Kent. It ran between Davington and Uplees.

Contents

[edit] History

The main reason the line was built was to transport workers from Davington to the Cotton Powder Company's and the Explosives Loading Company's factorys between Uplees and Harty Ferry. The carriages were all open sided, with curtains to keep the weather out. As well as the terminus stations, there was also a halt at Oare. Separate trains were provided for men and women, on account of the coarse language the men used.[1] Freight was also carried, including acid, coal, cotton, detonators, mines and shells.[2] Four wagons from the Davington Light Railway were purchased by Colonel Stephens for use on the Rye and Camber Tramway.[3]

The line closed at the end of the First World War, and the line and its equipment were sold by auction. During World War Two, the tunnel at Oare was used as an air raid shelter.[2] The station sites at Davington and Uplees have been obliterated by development, but the route of the trackbed at Oare can be traced, and the tunnel under the road at Oare still exists. [1]

[edit] Locomotives

Number Builder Wheel Arrangement Date built Works number Notes
1 Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST 1916 1914 Sold after the railway closed; exported to Brazil
2 Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST 1916 1915 Sold after the railway closed; exported to Brazil. Was used at Imbituba Docks.
3 Manning Wardle 0-6-0ST 1916 1916 Sold after the railway closed; exported to Brazil. Was used at Imbituba Docks.

One of the locomotives is believed to be still in existence. Often quoted as works number 1916, the actual locomotive would appear to be works number 1915, carrying the worksplate of its sister.[4]

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Davington Light Railway. Faversham.org. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  2. ^ a b The Davington Light Railway. Underground Kent. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  3. ^ The Camber Tramway Wagons. The Colonel Stephens Museum. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.
  4. ^ Survey of steam locomotives spotted outside the North East of Brazil. Jan 2002.. Eddie Edmunson. Retrieved on 2008-04-08.

[edit] Sources

  • Mitchell, Vic and Smith, Keith (2000). Kent Narrow Gauge. Middleton Press. ISBN 1901706451. 
  • Taylor, M. Minter (1968). The Davington Light Railway, Locomotion Papers No. 40, The Oakwood Press. ISBN 0-85361-002-9. 

[edit] See also

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