A very Brief History of the East Kent Railway

 History of East Kent Railway Trust, from two marvellous books 1

The East Kent Railway was constructed between 1911 and 1917 to serve the growth of the Kent Coalfield that was being developed in East Kent. The consortium of Kent colliery and landowners envisaged a line that would link the collieries with the mainline and a new port at Richborough.

Although Richborough became an important port during WWI, the line did not cross the River Stour until after the war, by which time the port was in decline. Branch lines to Canterbury, Deal, and Birchington were planned but never completed.

The line was built to light railway standards by the engineer, Colonel H .F. Stephens. The first passengers were carried from 16^th October 1916, with just a few facilities being provided for them.

Wells Farm, near Eastry

Sandwich Road, Eastry

Knowlton Halt, was originally known as Tilmanstone and Knowlton, at Thorndon crossroads. Presumably the site of Ground Pine.

Shepherdwell station, with the Knees area and a never-used connection to the main line.

Golgotha tunnel

Eythorne station

Elvington Halt. The platform can still be seen now.

Eastry South, at the north end of Thornden Lane

Eastry north (Poison Cross) gave an opportunity for a nice pun.

Branch line to Hammill colliery, which was built but never operated. A brickworks replaced it.

Woodnesborough Station and Roman Road Station

Ash Town - clearly a metropolis

Staple station

WinghamColliery Halt

The line from Shepherdswell to Tilmanstone Colliery remained operational until the 1984/85 Miners Strike. Tilmanstone Colliery reopened for a short while but eventually ceased production in October 1986. Inevitably closure of the line followed in 1987.

In November 1985, the East Kent Railway Society had been formed with the intention of saving and reopening the remaining two and a quarter miles of line, but it was not until 1989 that the volunteers were able to start the massive task of clearing the tangle of shrubs, trees and other vegetation that had claimed the railway since closure. 

1  M. Lawson Finch & S.R. Garratt The East Kent Railway 2 vols – Oakwood Press (from library)