Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway, 2012

35 photos of this 2ft 6in gauge railway. Bowater's closed it in 1969. The company then arranged for the Locomotive Club of Great Britain to operate the two miles from Sittingbourne to Kemsley Down as a heritage line. The LCGB subsequently transferred the operation to the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Rly, and it later took ownership of the locos and rolling stock, hitherto retained by Bowater's and their successors. In 2007 Sittingbourne paper mill closed and the SKLR were given notice to quit. The SKLR fought back, gathered local support, and have secured a 135 year lease on the southern part of the line. A separate lease is being negotiated for the Kemsley Down end. The Sittingbourne mill has now been demolished and its site, including the railway, sold to developers, who are including the railway in their plans. Trains began to run in April 2012 for the first time since December 2008.

SKLR coach crest, Kemsley Down, Sat 9 June 2012..The 2ft 6in gauge Bowater's railway closed in 1969, but the company arranged for the Locomotive Club of Great Britain to operate the two miles from Sittingbourne to Kemsley Down as a heritage line. The LCGB subsequently transferred the operation to the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Rly, and it later took ownership of the locos and rolling stock, hitherto retained by Bowater's and their successors. In 2007 Sittingbourne paper mill closed and the SKLR were given notice to quit. The SKLR fought back, gathered local support, and have secured a 135 year lease on the southern part of the line. A separate lease is being negotiated for the Kemsley Down end. The Sittingbourne mill has now been demolished and its site, including the railway, sold to developers, who are including the railway in their plans. Trains began to run in April 2012 for the first time since December 2008.

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SKLR coach crest, Kemsley Down, Sat 9 June 2012..The 2ft 6in gauge Bowater's railway closed in 1969, but the company arranged for the Locomotive Club of Great Britain to operate the two miles from Sittingbourne to Kemsley Down as a heritage line. The LCGB subsequently transferred the operation to the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Rly, and it later took ownership of the locos and rolling stock, hitherto retained by Bowater's and their successors. In 2007 Sittingbourne paper mill closed and the SKLR were given notice to quit. The SKLR fought back, gathered local support, and have secured a 135 year lease on the southern part of the line. A separate lease is being negotiated for the Kemsley Down end. The Sittingbourne mill has now been demolished and its site, including the railway, sold to developers, who are including the railway in their plans. Trains began to run in April 2012 for the first time since December 2008.

Sittingbourne Sittingbourne Kemsley Railway photos Narrow gauge railway