Our fully restored heritage trains run between shepherdswell and. The bexleyheath railway local history article london borough of. The east kent railway ekr was incorporated in 1853 for the construction of a line from the south eastern railway ser north kent line at strood to the city of canterbury. Approved list of exclusions from the scope of the railways. It passed through a tunnel associated with a skull golgotha, had stations commemorating murder poison cross and unproductive collieries several. Penge east railway station is on the chatham main line in england, serving part of the penge and sydenham areas in the london borough of bromley, south london. A return ride on the kent and east sussex railway, diesel out from tenterden and steam back from bodiam. However, most of the collieries were either flooded out or abandoned. May 26, 2017 brief history of the east kent light railway the east kent light railway was originally conceived before the first world war as a network of lines in east kent linking at least nine proposed collieries in the newly discovered kent coalfield to a new coal port at richborough. Our fully restored heritage trains run between shepherdswell and eythorne, near dover in kent.
The progenitors were christopher solley of sandwich haven wharves syndicate at sandwich, who dreamed of his town becoming a great port again, arthur burr of kent coal concessions ltd, the original promoter of the kent coalfield. Army engine east kent railway shepherdswell kent england 2. Lets see some more of the line that best captures the essence of a col. In 2003, the east kent railway became a charitable trust. In 1911 a light railway order was granted, instigating the formation of the east kent light railway in the same year.
A portion 3,450 metres in length of the railway authorised by the east kent light railway orders 1911 to 1931 in the county of kent, district of dover, commencing in the parish of eythorne at a point national grid reference tr 2853 5003 3 metres beyond the northeast bridge abutment adjacent to wigmore lane which point is situated 1 kilometre to the. Memories of the east kent light railway bluebell railway. Mar 20, 2012 a test run from canterbury road halt upto ash. Maidstone, the county town of kent, had been reached by the railway in 1846, when the south eastern railway built a branch from paddock wood. In 1850, the railway provision in the north of the county of kent was very poor. Lee station is a suburban station on burnt ash hill in lee in southeast london, england, between hither green and mottingham on the dartford loop also known as the sidcup line. The east kent railway ekr is a heritage railway in kent, england. In the latter year it changed its name to the london, chatham and dover railway to reflect its ambitions to build a rival line from london to dover via chatham and canterbury. On some special event days trains will also run on the wigmore lane extension. Since then a new station has been built at eythorne. It ran north to south through the east end and docklands areas of london, entirely in travelcard zone 2. Converted to rail carrier wagon april 2009 lms stanier brake third no. These include swanton court, a 16thcentury house, and the 15th century manns place. The east kent light railway was opened to freight traffic in 1911 and passenger traffic in 1916.
Join one of englands most loved and most original heritage railways for a day and learn the skills required to drive a fullsteam locomotive. Showing images tagged with east kent light railway tag. See east kent light railway for details of the original lines. Click here to see a map of the east kent light railway and proposed extensions. The county also shares borders with essex along the estuary of the river thames connected by land via high speed 1 and the dartford crossing, and with the french department of pasdecalais through the channel tunnel. Headcorn and maidstone junction light railway wikipedia. The railway is open to the public on saturdays through the summer. Our current stock at east kent railways east kent railway trust. The parish includes several grade ii listed buildings. East kent railway heritage wikipedia republished wiki 2.
Eden valley railway heritage railway epping ongar railway. The east kent railway is an exciting heritage railway in eythorne, near dover in kent. The line gently wends its way from tenterden the jewel of the weald for ten and a half miles, through the unspoilt countryside of the rother valley, to terminate in the shadow of the magnificent national trust castle at bodiam. However, in view of the history and nature of hs1 the department felt a split was a less. While i enjoyed my visit to the east kent light railway, i suspect many visitors would be disappointed. East kent railway shepherdswell 2020 all you need to. A war memorial was constructed in the village centre by the pond in 1920, to commemorate soldiers fallen in world war i, and later updated for world war ii.
In 1856 a branch was built from strood to make an endon junction with the branch from paddock wood at what is now maidstone west station headcorn had been reached by the railway in 1842, on the main line between tonbridge and ashford. Nov 03, 2015 it was originally called the east kent mineral light railways when first proposed in 1909. The east kent light railway was part of the colonel stephens group of cheaply built rural light railways in england. However, most of the collieries were either flooded out or abandoned before reaching production, and the eklr only served one. East wickham house, led a petition to the south eastern railway for a railway to. A portion 3,450 metres in length of the railway authorised by the east kent light railway orders 1911 to 1931 in the county of kent, district of dover, commencing in the parish of eythorne at a point national grid reference tr 2853 5003 3 metres beyond the north east bridge abutment adjacent to wigmore lane which point is situated 1 kilometre to the. East kent model railway society whitstable home facebook. It closed temporarily on 22 december 2007 for construction work, replaced by bus services it is being extended and converted for use as the east london railway and, from 2010, will be part of the.
Converted for pushpull operation at the swindon and cricklade railway. The line gently wends its way from tenterden the jewel of the weald for ten and a half miles, through the unspoilt countryside of the rother valley, to terminate in the shadow. However, the imposing geography of the elham valley that connects canterbury to folkestone meant that unlike much of kent, no railway line was proposed to run. East kent railway trust officers free information from.
North bank crossing at shepherdswell old gates, rails in the road but still used by a preservation line. Alternatively, why not explore some other sightseeing days out nearby, including tourist attractions, or museums and art galleries. The south eastern railway opened the main line to ashford in 1842. The line was constructed between 1911 and 1917 to serve the kent coalfields. Full steam ahead on the kent and east sussex railway. Memories of the east kent light railway based on the notes and photographs of david kevan taken from 1945 to 1958. One of the most curious railways in britain, the east kent was not planned as a passenger line but was intended mainly as a carrier of coal to the coast for shipping. Undertake a return journey as train crew invite friend. Its mysterious rolling stock and bizarre termini have made it a. If you are interested in local history or you are a railway enthusiast, this is quite an interesting. Jun 26, 2016 a return ride on the kent and east sussex railway, diesel out from tenterden and steam back from bodiam. A two and a half mile heritage railway in the east kent countryside, offering exciting days out for families and enthusiasts alike on board vintage. There are 39 kent railway and transport attractions to pick from. It is located at shepherdswell station on the london to dover priory direct mainline.
Course of the east kent light railway by hugh craddock geograph for square tr3156. List of british heritage and private railways simple. Its mysterious rolling stock and bizarre termini have made it a transport. Weve rounded up the best railway and transport attractions in kent in our quest to discover brilliant family attractions and places to visit near you. Tenterden town station, station road, tenterden, kent, tn30 6he. May 25, 20 one of the most curious railways in britain, the east kent was not planned as a passenger line but was intended mainly as a carrier of coal to the coast for shipping. The line as far as canterbury was opened in 1860 and the extension to dover priory railway. Brief history of the east kent light railway the east kent light railway was originally conceived before the first world war as a network of lines in east kent linking at least nine proposed collieries in the newly discovered kent coalfield to a new coal port at richborough. The line ran from shepherdswell to wingham canterbury road station with. The line ran from shepherdswell to wingham canterbury road station with a branch from eastry poison cross to port richborough. For other railways with similar names, see east kent railways disambiguation. The east kent light railways official title was originally conceived before the first world war as a network of lines in east kent linking at least nine proposed collieries in the newly discovered kent coalfield to a new coalport at richborough port. East kent model railway society whitstable, whitstable, united kingdom. The east kent light railway, shown with other railway lines in kent.
The east kent light railway was part of the holman fred stephens group of railways and he was the engineer from its inception, subsequently becoming director and manager. In 1989 volunteers started the huge task of clearing the area and in 1993, the light railway order was obtained, allowing regular passenger trains to run on the east kent railway. Visitors to the railway will find a huge selection in the station shop. Kent is a county in south east england and one of the home counties. A 1945 ordnance survey of sandwich showing the location of the mainline station and the branch of the light railway the east kent light railway was part of the colonel stephens group of cheaply built rural light railways in england. Historic sites and artefacts x preserved railway x railway tunnel x railway tunnel portal x top. Underground and docklands light railway dlr and the area is undergoing. The east kent light railway was part of the holman fred stephens group of railways and he was the engineer from its inception, subsequently becoming director and manager the line ran from shepherdswell to wingham canterbury road station with a. Holman fred stephens was engineer from its inception, subsequently becoming director and manager. East kent railway heritage ecclesbourne valley railway. It was opened by the south eastern railway in 1866. Bring out your inner casey jones by stepping onto the footplate and heading out across the stunning kent countryside. The east kent railway ekr was an early railway operating between strood and faversham in kent england, during 1858 and 1859. It borders greater london to the northwest, surrey to the west and east sussex to the southwest.
However, most of the collieries were either flooded out or abandoned before reaching production, and the eklr only served one productive mine. Railways x level crossing, eythorne road by christine johnstone geograph for square tr2648. Memories of the east kent light railway bluebell railway in. Its purpose was to serve the new coal mines which were being opened up in the area. The east london line was a line of the london underground, coloured orange on the tube map. Heritage strategy appendix 1 theme4 dover district council. At the same time, the east kent railway was constructing a line from canterbury to dover. Also if you are looking for steam engines there are none here. The following railway books are available from amazon books. Station road survives at martin mill as does a row of railway workers cottages. The east kent light railways official title was originally conceived before the first world war as a network of lines in east kent linking at least nine proposed collieries in the newly discovered kent coalfield to a new coal port at richborough port. Volunteer staffers on the kent and east sussex railway, at rolvenden station near tenterden, october 2005 the line today is a tourist attraction in the south east of england. East kent railway shepherdswell 2020 all you need to know. From opening the line was worked by the south eastern railway ser.
The line was originally intended to serve the colliery group known as the kent coal concessions but was opened to passenger traffic in 1916. A delightful light railway trundling through the kent and east sussex countryside. In 1907 an amendment order was obtained to vary the borrowing structure, the headcorn and maidstone junction light railway amendment order, 1907. The order also makes provision for the safety of works and equipment. This is a very small railway with limited facilities and a very short track. Dover, or hell fire corner, was heavily shelled very often in the course of the war. This order provides for the transfer from brb residuary limited to the east kent railway trust of the existing east kent railway, together with certain statutory provisions and other rights and liabilities.
When the east kent light railway eklr was constructed to serve the collieries being developed in east kent, eastry station was a main junction for the lines from wingham to eastry and from shepherdswell to richborough. East kent railway heritage from wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Bredgar house is in the centre of the village, and was constructed in the 18th century. The east kent railway is run solely by volunteers to preserve the last remaining part of the kent coalfields trains currently run from shepherdswell to eythorne a round trip of 4 miles. East london railway surrey quays station to old kent road. A connection to folkestone opened the following year and to canterbury in 1846. The kent collieries were mostly a failure with only tilmanstone on the line producing any viable. East kent railway train driving experiences drive trains in kent. Next to be worked is the run to sandwich and richborough. The applicant for the order is the east kent railway trust.
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