East Kent Railway (heritage)

The East Kent Railway (EKR) is a short heritage railway in Kent, England. It is located at Shepherdswell station on the London to Dover Priory direct mainline. The line was constructed from 1911-1917 to serve a local colliery at Tilmanstone. See East Kent light railway for details of the original lines.The line is operated by heritage diesel locomotives designed for the Southern Region. It is also home to a growing collection of heritage diesel and electric multiple units, many of which were used in service in Kent.

Stopping Points

*Shepherdswell
*Eythorne
*Wigmore Lane (No Station)

Locomotives

Steam Locomotives

*Avonside 0-6-0ST No. 2004 'St. Dunstan'. Previously Located at British Coal Snowdown. Awaiting a major restoration.

Diesel Locomotives

*BR 0-6-0 Class 09 No. 09025. Previously located at Selhurst Depot. In service and sometimes used on passenger trains. Being repainted into BR Green as D4113.
*Fowler 0-4-0DM No. 416002 'Snowdown'. Previously located at British Coal Snowdown. In use for shunting duties but not on passenger trains.
*English Electric 0-6-0DH No. D1197 'Richborough Castle'. In use as the standby Loco on passenger trains.
*Ruston 0-6-0DH LSSH No. AD427 'The Buffs' and 'The Royal Engineers 9th Field Squadron'. Works No. 466616. Out of service, pending a minor overhaul.

Diesel Multiple Units

*BR Class 101 nos. 53256 and 54343 (set no. 101660). In use on passenger services.
*BR Class 205 no. 205001 AKA 1101. Out of service, requiring minor attention.

Electrical Multiple Units

*BR Class 412 4-BEP no. 2325 AKA 7105
*BR Class 416 2-EPB no. 6259 AKA 5759
*BR Class 419 MLV nos. 68001, 68002 and 68008

*BR Class 419 MLV no 68008 came from Coventry Railway Centre

There is also a wide variety of coaches and wagons at Shepherdswell.

The original EKR

The East Kent Railway was also the name of the main constituent part of the London, Chatham and Dover Railway, formed in 1859.

External links

* [http://www.eastkentrailway.com East Kent Railway website.]
* [http://ekrailway.fotopic.net East Kent Railway photos by volunteer Damon Cox.]
* [http://www.epbpg.co.uk EPB Preservation Group - owners of 4-CEP 2325, 2-EPB 5759, and MLVs 68001 and 68002.]
* [http://www.hfstephens-museum.org.uk/pages/his_railways/eastkent.htm Colonel Stephens Railway Museum page on the East Kent Light Railway]
* [http://www.eastkentlightrailway.moonfruit.com Informative website containing video's photo's & reports on what's left of the railway set up by two of the railway volunteers]