Atomic Systems

I know this news has been about a while now, but thought it worth posting.

The Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Steam railway in Kent looks set to close after being given notice to quit the land by 28th Jan 2009. The railway runs through the site of a large paper mill which has now closed, and the site has now been sold for redevelopment.
The light railway, dating from the very early 1900's, was originally a supply line from the River Medway to the factory for the paper mill, and for the past 39 years has been a charitable heritage railway.

http://www.sklr.net/

This seems a real shame to me. I have been past this line many times, but have never had the oppurtunity to go on it. It is quite unique in that a significant portion of it runs on a viaduct above the mill site.
Seems that the council and developers are conveniently "forgetting" the history of the town to put up yet another faceless commercial retail area.

HI. That is sad news to read.
I often saw this little train, puffing along the viaduct, as I drove round Sittingboune doing service calls.
Surely there could be a place for it in the development as it doesn't take up much space and runs right along the edge of the site.
There is a nice picnic area by the Swale at the other end.
CU Eric

Very sad news indeed. I may not have ever been there, but I certainly wouldn't want the line to close. What'll happen to the locos I wonder?

Really sad. I visted once and it really is a fantastic line. Oh noes.

Shame we can't save out heritage whats going to happen to the trains and stock

No one knows yet. They haven't got the money to shift them, let alone store them or find a new site.