Exploring Kent's Past

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Monument details

Summary

The East Kent Light Railway was opened in 1912 to support development of the East Kent Coalfield. Passenger traffic began in 1916. It ran from a junction on the Chatham Line at Shepherdswell 10.25 miles to Wingham, connecting several pits. After World War I, the company owning Tilmanstone pit became interested in using Richborough Port for coal exports, so in 1925 a 2.25 mile branch was opened from Eastry to Sandwich, the extension to Richborough Port being completed in 1928. Passenger services to Richborough started in the same year, but were withdrawn in November, the passenger coach on the mixed train being decoupled at Eastry. In 1925, a mile long extension from Wingham Colliery to Canterbury Road was constructed. Wingham colliery closed in 1935, and only Tilmanstone colliery remained open. The railway survived to nationalisation in 1948. All general freight traffic ceased beyond Eythorne shortly afterwards, the track being taken up.

Monument Types

• RAILWAY (Modern - 1912 AD to 1948 AD)

Full description

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The East Kent Light Railway was opened in 1912 to support development of the East Kent Coalfield. Passenger traffic began in 1916. It ran from a junction on the Chatham Line at Shepherdswell 10.25 miles to Wingham, connecting several pits. After World War I, the company owning Tilmanstone pit became interested in using Richborough Port for coal exports, so in 1925 a 2.25 mile branch was opened from Eastry to Sandwich, the extension to Richborough Port being completed in 1928. Passenger services to Richborough started in the same year, but were withdrawn in November, the passenger coach on the mixed train being decoupled at Eastry. In 1925, a mile long extension from Wingham Colliery to Canterbury Road was constructed. Wingham colliery closed in 1935, and only Tilmanstone colliery remained open. The railway survived to nationalisation in 1948. All general freight traffic ceased beyond Eythorne shortly afterwards, the track being taken up.

TR 280494. The East Kent Light Railway, Eythorne. This railway connected with the main Canterbury - Dover line at Shepherdswell or Sibertswold and ran to Sandwich. The disused track still exists as far as Eythorne and the start of the single-track line to Guilford Colliery at Coldred can still be seen, though the rails on this branch have been lifted. (1)

The cropmark of a short length of this railway west of Wingham (at TR 2371 5741) can be seen on aerial photographs taken in 2003. (2)




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SOURCE TEXT
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( 1) A J Haselfoot 1978 The Batsford guide to the industrial archaeology of south-east England : Kent, Surrey, East Sussex, West Sussex

Page(s)39-40

(2) Oblique aerial photograph reference number NMR TR 2357/18 (23157/33) 4-AUG-2003

Description from record TR 24 NE 23:
The East Kent Light Railway was opened in 1912 to support development of the East Kent Coalfield. Passenger traffic began in 1916. It ran from a junction on the Chatham Line at Shepherdswell 10.25 miles to Wingham, connecting several pits. After World War I, the company owning Tilmanstone pit became interested in using Richborough Port for coal exports, so in 1925 a 2.25 mile branch was opened from Eastry to Sandwich, the extension to Richborough Port being completed in 1928. Passenger services to Richborough started in the same year, but were withdrawn in November, the passenger coach on the mixed train being decoupled at Eastry. In 1925, a mile long extension from Wingham Colliery to Canterbury Road was constructed. Wingham colliery closed in 1935, and only Tilmanstone colliery remained open. The railway survived to nationalisation in 1948. All general freight traffic ceased beyond Eythorne shortly afterwards, the track being taken up. The disused track still exists as far as Eythorne and the start of the single-track line to Guilford Colliery at Coldred can still be seen, though the rails on this branchhave been lifted. (1)

<1> Ind Arch of SE Eng 1978 39-40 (A J Haselfoot) (OS Card Reference). SKE44226.

Sources and further reading

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