Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light railway to close

[steve74]

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.

[tripman]

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

[TheAmateurBasher]

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?

[desiro5]

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

[johncas]

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

[steve74]

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