Railway Heritage Event - 27th / 28th July 2013
- 19 July 2013 21:11238028The East Kent Railway is proud to announce its first 'proper' Diesel Gala for many years to be held over the weekend of the 27th and 28th July 2013. The 2 ½ mile railway near Dover will be celebrating its industrial mining connections by running an intensive timetable using our industrial diesel shunting locos, which saw use across the country in various mines and factories.
We have planned for these locos to run in different formations throughout the day, using the Class 101 DMMU and 2-EPB 5759 as hauled stock. Locos will run in top and tailed or double headed fashion, with many surprises in store!
Our featured locos, subject to availability, include:
Ruston & Hornsby 0-6-0 LSSH, numbered 427 and named 'The Buffs.'
English Electric 0-6-0DH 'Richborough Castle' D1197.
Fowler 416002 'Snowdown'
BR Class 09 09025 D4113
We have also secured Dutch Class 08 NS600, 687 from Middlepeak Railways, to become the first visiting loco in over ten years.
Saturday evening should see a Fish & Chip supper train run using 4-CEP 7105 as well as plenty of ale!
We aim to use the 0-4-0 Fowler on brake van rides on the Wigmore Lane extension, which would see the loco and brakevan running down in the morning and back in the evening, a rare treat for enthusiasts, with a loco that has never hauled passengers before. The loco is an ex-Snowdown colliery loco, which spent a part of its working life just two miles up the road at Snowdown, before being re-united with its partner loco 'St Dunstan' at the EKR.
Timetables will be released nearer the time. Various trade stands and societies will be present and there will be a café serving hot and cold food.
Real ale and a BBQ are also planned.
The railway can be easily reached from London by taking a train towards Dover Priory and alighting at Shepherdswell.
Visit our website for more details - www.eastkentrailway.co.uk
Many thanks,
Josh Watkins
Diesel Gala Organiser
East Kent Railway Trust
Josh Watkins - Youth Team Manager & Website Administrator
East Kent Railway, Shepherdswell near Dover - 19 July 2013 21:18238033great stuff josh - the whole thing continues to go from strength to strength.
love the "alight at shepherdswell" bit, don't hear the word so much nowadays. - 19 July 2013 21:25238037Just wish we could get more volunteers to help speed things up mate
Josh Watkins - Youth Team Manager & Website Administrator
East Kent Railway, Shepherdswell near Dover - Jan Higgins
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 5 Jul 2010
- Posts: 13,931
19 July 2013 21:34238041How about trying to get an article in the local papers asking for volunteers.-----------------------------------------------------------------------
I try to be neutral and polite but it is hard and getting even more difficult at times.
------------------------------------------------------------------- - 20 July 2013 08:58238069That's a very good idea Jan. We have good links to the Dover Express and Mercury, so perhaps I'l give it a go
Josh Watkins - Youth Team Manager & Website Administrator
East Kent Railway, Shepherdswell near Dover - 21 July 2014 20:08269620Never a shortage of things to do in the summer months here in Dover, add this to the regatta and spooky walk at Samphire Hoe.
- 21 July 2014 21:33269624When you are out there pay a vist to the bridge being done up in the car park .I will be out there if you wish to talk about it.
- 23 July 2014 03:15269676I will be going over this morning with my mate doing what we can to the bridge but the both of us are not fit me with my legs and back and my mate was on a life support machine for about 12 weeks in London not so long ago he can no longer work but a great person he will not give in he has worked out what needs doing done the reports about the bridge and what work needs doing to it so it can go up again and put back into service by the public.
I am now getting more help from the younger lads and other members of the E.K.R.
But as already said we need more help it is all unpaid work but to work on this over 100year bridge none which I am sorry to say can be welded so it is nut and bolt job.
But the work will get done it may take 3years but done it will be just hope I will see it going up at the end.
You do not have to have a trade we know what needs to be done and will show you.
Both men and woman can help and if the job stops waiting for funds etc there is always some other work on the railway site that needs to be done Allan who is a old work mate of mine been out there many years working now in his 80s will give you a job to do.
If you do not wish to work why come out to the café great food at a low cost and then have a walk round and see what the EKR have in rolling stock and work being carried out.
I think it is only closed one day a week and that is Monday café open from 0830hrs in the morning and they do a very good main meal also at dinner time.
So give it a try one day come by car or the main line train stops right next door to the site.
+ You can always come out with me I do two days a week out there from about 0830hrs till 1400hrs.
As for myself again I know what needs to be done but just cannot do it anymore . Thank you. - 23 July 2014 13:45269685Perhaps the date on the thread title could be changed?
- 25 July 2014 08:43269800Great weekend ahead out there lots to see and lots to do new m/railway will be open in the car park goes part in the woods and round the outside if you go there please have a look at he old bridge we are doing up it is fenced off it is not safe for the public to go walking over it yet but two years time it could be up and over the line.I will be out there on Sunday.
And also one of the D/train has the name Buffs the Royal East Kent Regiment 1950 to 1961 on the outside of it,
And that was the Regiment I was in before it joined up with the Royal West Kents and then Called the Queens own Buffs again I was in that regiment up till 1964 I join the Buffs as a young lad of 16 in 1958.
Infact there are not many members of the buffs left as I was only just 16 when I joined up I am one of the very young ones still going and I will be 72 soon. - 27 July 2014 03:21269868If you were at Dover on Saturday then please try to get to the EKR today lots to do and see and good food at small cost very good for the whole family take a ride on the new m/railway line also have a ride on the main trains.
Funds are need for the very old bridge now being worked on which one day will go up and across the lines from platforms to the carpark the bridge its self even as it is today is worth seeing and will show you how much work is being done and h0w much there is still to do and a lot of funding is needed for the bridge and the railway with more rolling stock being added by the year. Thank you. - 28 July 2014 02:21269917After me talking about this all week I did not go myself so if you went out there to talk to me I am very sorry.At this time I must say I feel worn out and need a few days rest.Will be out again in a few days time.
- 28 July 2014 06:43269920Don't overdo things Vic. There's a saying about the spirit is strong but the boby is weak, let your body get stronger.
Roger - 28 July 2014 07:02269922As you can see both my wife and myself are not sleeping well must be down to the very hot nights we are having(HA,HA] the weather I mean.
- 29 July 2014 04:49269995The main work on the bridge starts today if not raining al the old wood flooring and odd parts of the bridge have now been removed it was hard work.
The next step is to remove the rust from the steel repair the floor bearing or replace and repaint,but we do need funding so any help in that way would be good. Today we are going to try and lift the sections on to blocks so work can be done to the floor bearings this part of the job will take some weeks if the weather holds out .This is a very long bridge 3main sections and then five stair sections .Any help would be welcome my legs are shot away so help is most needed.
But once the work has all been done and the bridge put up and in use again it will look great they do not make them this way today and it even has a roof 96%of it is rivits or nut and bolts none can be welded .Thank you.
