"Linking the Line"
- 10 October 2012 14:58195236
Linking the Line.
'Linking the Line' is an ambitious but achievable project to restore an important part of Kent's industrial heritage.
This unique project will link communities, stimulate local economies, generate both volunteer and paid employment opportunities, and provide diverse forms of recreation and tourism.
The project will restore heritage rolling stock, including the line's original steam locomotive the St Dunstan and related infrastructure, and create additional features such as museums, apprentice workshops, adventure playgrounds, nature trails and picnic areas, etc.
Possible future plans include the restoration of the former colliery line from Shepherdswell to Eastry and beyond linking up the former Collieries.
In creating a sustainable, unique heritage and community attraction, of national importance, will allow us to create an East Kent Heritage Hub, not just for Mining but for all Local Heritage Groups, to come together, as one, for help and assistance(including financially) from a local Hub but still allowing them to keep their unique existence.
Project Plan.
Restoration of St. Dunstan steam locomotive and procurement of passenger coaches.
Restoration of heritage Class 101 DMU to enhance educational opportunities and ensure efficient running.
Dismantle, move and reconstruct 3-road engine/carriage shed at Shepherdswell.
Procurement/lease of second DMU set to provide replacement during restoration of Class 101.
Lay additional track work to link engine shed, new sidings and loco 'run-around' at both stations.
Commission new toilet block, museum and cafe/classroom.
Roll out more community and tourism initiatives.
Further landscaping of Shepherdswell site to improve safety, aesthetics and use of space.
Relocation of redundant main line signal box onto the Shepherdswell site for educational use.
Development of community and school allotments to increase local involvement.
Develop woodland areas for educational and recreational purposes, including signage and interpretation.
New steam miniature 'mining' railway to broaden visitor experience and educational opportunities.
New mining and railway themed attractions and exhibits.
Develop interpretation and education to help tell the story of the EKR and Kent Mining historical importance.
Our HLF pre-application has been accepted and we are awaiting their second visit.
This is a true community project that will benefit all our communities.
What is most important to me, is in the community participation that will be needed to achieve this ambitious project.
The first stage is to restore the steam engine and acquire an engine house/workshop.
We need your help, we need more volunteers.
Can you Help???????????
Contact http://www.eastkentrailway.co.uk/"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 10 October 2012 15:10195238I would love to help in repairs when I was on the railway ,we was building rolling stock at Ashford,but I am not fit anymore so it is a no,no,to that I am sorry to say.Welding was my job.
- Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
10 October 2012 15:23195241garyc,good luck with the project,it seems intressting to follow the progress of this project.would like to help in some small way.
- 10 October 2012 17:58195255fascinating project good luck to all concerned, keep us updated gary.
- 10 October 2012 21:26195278I think this is a very exciting project Gary and I wish you and the East Kent Railway all the best with it.
When I had finished the first draft of my Tourism Strategy, I sent it to everyone mentioned in it (including the East Kent Railway) and Georges Dussant emailed me and we had a couple of good conversations about their future aspirations and how you both were going to work together on this for mutual benefit.
Roger - 10 October 2012 22:49195289It would be great to see St Thomas working with St Dunstan again. Surely there is a useful potential partnership with Dover Transport Museum who employ St Thomas as a sort of gate guardian-to have this other iconic loco of the Kent coalfield running again. There used to be triplets-sadly St Martin was scrapped in the early 70's.Never give up...
- Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
11 October 2012 07:45195294I wish the project well it is a great plan, I remember many years ago some talk about linking Shepherdswell and Eastry then it was a pipe dream now it is a possibility. I hope you get some super-fit new volunteers to speed things along. 
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I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 11 October 2012 09:32195297Richard.
That's all in the plans and yes they would look great thumping along the old colliery lines together again one day in the future.
We are looking at forging partnerships with many other heritage groups and Dover Transport Museum is right up there at the top of our list.
I must stress that although we have had our HLF pre-application accepted, that does not mean we will automatically receive the money. There is much work to do yet and gaining support for this project is probably the most important part of our bid.
Thanks for all the suport so far.
There will be many ways in which people can help, so if you think you can help, please contact us. "My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 11 October 2012 10:07195298All power to your elbow Gary, and the team.
Thoroughly local and everywhere people friendly. What better way to celebrate Britain's one true gift to the whole world than providing a local focus for our enduring affection for, and awe of, all things Railway.
Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing. - 11 October 2012 10:08195299Hi Gary, are you going to be at the Eythorne end of the line today?
- 11 October 2012 15:47195352Not at Eythorne end today but i did pop into EKR's Colonel's Cafe, for a cuppa,bacon roll and a chat with the lads.
Great to see the youth team there today, they are always busy bees.
They are always looking for more youths to join them, I know it is an expense but a short train ride to Shepperdswell Staion and your there. Any youth who wants to join the youth group, on the trains or on the woodland walks or on station duties etc., are most welcome?
All ages are welcome to become volunteers.
It's not just tinkering with trains, it's much wider than that, although I have to say that is fun. The buildings and platforms need maintaining, the woodland walks, trees & plants, forest animals, all need looking after.
We need more volunteers with many types of professional qualifications, engineers, electricians, plumbers, architects solicitors etc, everyone and anyone is welcome to come and join us to make this dream come true.
This is a true community project for the community.
"Tell me and I will forget. Show me and I may not remember. Involve me and I will understand""My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 11 October 2012 15:56195356Reg.
I hear you are interested in Wigmore Lane Bridge being restored?"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 14 November 2012 14:30201343Hello All Forumites.
WE are now finalising our first round HLF application for our East Kent Railway Project and would be extremely grateful, if you feel you can support this project, could you please provide us with an official letter of support?
I apologise for this late request but as I am sure you all know, timing is so very important.
We all have much to offer our communities and we all know how hard it is to achieve our aims.
The only way forward is to work together, for the good of our communities and this is a request for your help?
As we need something by the end of this week and that it would give our application a great deal of weight were you able to assist, could you please send your supporting letter by email to me at,
betteshangerheritage@sky.com
Below is a brief, 200 word synopsis of the project:
"Our project focuses on restoring and refurbishing the East Kent Railway to tell the story of South East Kent's coal mining and railway heritage. It seeks to save a unique part of East Kent's industrial past that is in imminent danger of being lost. It will involve and educate the local and wider communities about the vital role that mining and railways played, in defining the economic and social characteristics of the area.
The project will not only secure and restore valuable artefacts for the enjoyment of current and future generations, but will create a hub for learning, development, interaction and leisure. We will create additional opportunities for volunteer work, apprenticeships and eventually paid employment, and seek to develop work already undertaken to involve areas of the community such as school children of all ages, the unemployed, the elderly, the disabled and the disadvantaged.
The project will provide the East Kent Railway with the catalyst needed to create a sustainable base for future development, and will enable it to attract more members and visitors from the local communities and the wider tourism markets and ensure they learn and discover first-hand the importance of this unique piece of industrial heritage".
Thanks "My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 14 November 2012 14:32201346well done for bringing this to the top gary i feel sure that members and non members looking in will send in their message of support.
- 14 November 2012 14:35201348Thanks Howard
The support for the "Santa Special" is going well, ticket sales are up and moving fast.
"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 14 November 2012 14:37201352Just to support Gary, this project will hopefully invest a lot of money into the tourism industry in this part of East Kent, and we are all very excited at the railway in the hope of this.Josh Watkins - Youth Team Manager & Website Administrator
East Kent Railway, Shepherdswell near Dover - 14 November 2012 14:41201354Hello Josh.
Welcome to the forum.
I look forward to hearing some of your youthfull points of view, to many different topics.
Always nice to get a fresh outlook."My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum" - 14 November 2012 14:43201357Cheers Gary! You've hit the nail on the head perfectly so I can't really add anything
Josh Watkins - Youth Team Manager & Website Administrator
East Kent Railway, Shepherdswell near Dover - 15 November 2012 18:54201575# 12..my apologies Gary,I have only just been made aware of this posting...Yes I am very interested in restoring the bridge.
in my County and District days we had a campaign to refurbish the bridge to EU standards costing £ 160,000 and we had
REME engineers interested to assist but one early morning a lorry demolished one of the abutments.......most suspicious ....
Gerry Watson and several others had put a lot of work into it.The line could then continue to join up the villages.There were also
talks with British Rail with view to connect with the main line at Shepherdswell.?..Where do we go from here ? - 16 November 2012 09:34201655Reg.
We are working close with Network Rail and other's.
There are many stories about Wigmore Bridge and yours is one I have heard before. I have also been told that the accident was a misnomer.
However, it is a problem for us, so if you or others can help with any info or help, we would appreciate it?"My New Year's Resolution, is to try and emulate Marek's level of chilled out, thoughtfulness and humour towards other forumites and not lose my decorum"
