Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway - Preservation

Preservation

[ ] Bowaters Paper Railway / SKLR
Legend
Ridham Dock
Kemsley Down
Burley's Wharf
Milton Regis Halt
Sittingbourne Viaduct
Sittingbourne
Sittingbourne Mill

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. Excelsior, Conqueror and Superior also moved to the Great Whipsnade Railway when it officially opened in 1970.

The railway was closed to the public for the 2009 season, see "Closure threat" section below.

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