Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway
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| Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway | |
|---|---|
| Location | |
| Place | England |
| Terminus | Sittingbourne |
| Commercial Operations | |
| Name | Bowaters Paper Railway |
| Built by | Edward Lloyd Ltd. |
| Gauge | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
| Preserved Operations | |
| Operated by | Locomotive Club of Great Britain |
| Stations | 3 |
| Length | 3½ miles |
| Gauge | 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) |
| Commercial History | |
| Opened | 1908 |
| Closed | 1969 |
| Preservation History | |
| 1970 | Opening of Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway |
The Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway in Kent is a 2 ft 6 in (762 mm) gauge heritage railway that operates from Sittingbourne to the banks of The Swale. The line was formerly owned by Bowaters, the paper making firm, and was used to carry raw materials and finished products between Ridham Dock and the company's two mills, one at Sittingbourne and the other at Kemsley.
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[edit] History
In 1905, the horse-drawn tramway operating around the paper mill was upgraded to steam operation with the purchase of two steam locomotives - Premier and Leader - which celebrated their 100th birthday in 2005. Other locomotives were bought for use on the railway as the network expanded (see the website for more information).
In the 1960s a time and motion study was undertaken by the owners, Bowaters UK, and the railway was deemed to be more expensive than road transport and was closed. However, Bowaters UK offered the main line, some of the locos and rolling stock of the railway to the Locomotive Club of Great Britain for preservation as a tourist railway. Other locomotives and rolling stock were sold to the Great Whipsnade Railway and the Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway. The SKLR is now the longest continuous operator of the Railway.
In January 2007, the Railway entered another era as M-Real closed Sittingbourne Paper Mill, however, as one door closes, another opens - Church Marshes Country Park now has a managing committee and will see the surrounding area between Milton Regis Halt and Kemsley Down being turned into a fully-fledged country park.
[edit] Preservation
The railway is now operated by the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway and operates over almost two miles of the original main line from Sittingbourne Viaduct station to Kemsley Down station. It crosses one of the first and longest reinforced concrete viaducts in the world between Sittingbourne Viaduct and Milton Regis Halt stations.
The main fleet of locomotives worked the railway before it was preserved. "Barton Hall" was the first new arrival on the railway in over 25 years on long term loan and was eventually purchased by the Railway to assist with railway operations.
In 2005, the Railway had its first ever visit of a steam loco - 'Chevallier' returned to the Railway after being sold to a new owner. She arrived at the Railway on a low loader days before the Centenary Celebrations and stayed on site until early 2006, when she was taken away for restoration. 'Chevallier' was originally built for the Admiralty's Chattenden & Upnor Railway before being sold to Bowaters for use on the Paper Railway, she then moved to the Great Whipsnade Railway.
Trains run every Sunday and Bank Holiday Monday from Easter to the end of September. There's an annual beer festival (with live music and a large selection of real ales), a model rail day, events at Easter, Story Time events with 'Jack the Station Cat' and 'Ivor the Engine', an end of season gala weekend and Santa Specials at Christmas.
[edit] Locomotives
| Name | Builder | Type | Works Number | Built | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alpha | W.G. Bagnall | 0-6-2T | 2472 | 1932 | On display at Kemsley Down |
| Leader | Kerr Stuart | 0-4-2ST | 926 | 1905 | Being restored |
| Melior | Kerr Stuart | 0-4-2ST | 4219 | 1924 | Currently in service |
| Premier | Kerr Stuart | 0-4-2ST | 886 | 1905 | Awaiting restoration |
| Superb | W.G. Bagnall | 0-6-2T | 2624 | 1922 | Being restored |
| Triumph | W.G. Bagnall | 0-6-2T | 2511 | 1934 | Currently in service |
| Unique | W.G. Bagnall | 2-4-0F | 2216 | 1924 | A rare narrow gauge fireless locomotive. Now on static display at Kemsley Down station |
| Victor | Hudson Hunslet | 4wDM | 4182 | 1953 | Currently in service |
| Edward Lloyd | Ruston & Hornsby | 0-4-0DM | 435403 | 1961 | Currently in service |
| Barton Hall | Hunslet | 4wDH | 6651 | 1965 | Currently in service |
[edit] See also
- British narrow gauge railways
- Bowaters Paper Railway
- Welshpool and Llanfair Light Railway
- Great Whipsnade Railway
- Phyllis Rampton Trust
[edit] External links
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