News

Very nice... I'm glad Dana had a nice time.

However, we are supposed to be supporting the local tourist industry and promoting the idea that Kent is an area to visit and experience all kinds of interests, including heritage railways.

So lets support the RHDR, KESR and even the Folkestone harbour campaign to re-instate the harbour link, before we embark on a worldwide discovery of railways in general.

The RHDR for example holds regular events throughout the year and is a very worthwhile way to have a day out during the school holidays.

Let's support our local tourism first, above all others.

The Gazette has recently published submitted stories of the East Kent railway at Shepherdswell, the Sittingbourne and Kemsley light railway, the Spa Valley line at Tunbridge Wells and the Wormshill and Bredgar line outside Sittingbourne.

If anyone would like to add the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch line or the Kent and East Sussex railway to our ever growing list we will happily publish those too.

With the greatest respect Ed, that's just my point.

With all the railways just mentioned within easy reach, we don't have to travel to Gloucester to experience the delight a trip on a heritage railway can bring.

All such railways operate on a shoestring budget and are mainly supported by volunteers, so they all need as much support as possible.

So let us first visit our own East Kent railway at Shepherdswell, the Sittingbourne and Kemsley light railway, the Spa Valley line at Tunbridge Wells and the Wormshill and Bredgar line outside Sittingbourne, the RHDR from Hythe to Dungeness and KESR at Tenterden, on which line can be seen the restored carriage which carried the coffin of the unknown warrior to London.

Many thanks to Dana for the travelogue but together we should, above all else, support Kent tourism first, or why should anyone else.

As our regular voluntary contibutor Dana Wiffen has already visited four of Kent's historic railways, and I guess he has probably used up most of his holiday entitlement. Maybe you would like to do the honours with one of those remaining ... I eagerly await your missive ;-)

Fair enough Ed, I accept the commission... be prepared.

It has to be said in fairness to Dana, creating an interest in heritage railways is not a bad thing. That in itself will inspire others to do the same and hopefully visit the local railways listed above

However, Damian Collins himself has just written in his weekly column how he and his own family fully support our local tourism industry. I hope all your readers do the same, because if we don't why should anyone else.

I am more than happy to turn these pages into a railway travelogue, so if anyone is interested in my recent trip on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway and Ffestiniog railway in Wales, together with the Snowdon mountain railway complete with photos and videos, then please let me know... and the RHDR of course, which was started in 1927 incidentally.