Name: Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway
Rating: 5.0

Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway

Sittingbourne Retail Park, The Wall, Sittingbourne ME10 2XD, UK

1-99 Years

Paid

Website

Contact

Message

Description

The Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway. This unique line was built in 1905 for the transportation of the raw materials required for the manufacture of paper and, of course, the finished product. The line which is built to a gauge of 2′ 6″, continues to use the steam engines and rolling stock that were supplied to operate the railway in its working life prior to preservation in 1969.

How many other railways can claim that they operate the original engines on part of the original line with original rolling stock? The staff are not original but are all volunteers and new members are always welcome.

Wherever you see orange text this is a shortcut to another part of the website or other media, for example, to visit the Away Sales Events page click on the orange text. There are also buttons which take you directly to the page shown.

Prices starts from £10 for adults, £5 for Child and for £27 Family (2 adult + 4 children). If you are looking for Best place for day out with kids and families then this is the perfect destination offering fun, adventure, and unforgettable memories for everyone.

Features

Paid
Host birthday parties: Yes

Features

Footplate Experience: This will be a morning session or an afternoon session – participants can bring one guest at the beginning of the session with further guests being picked up later in the day from Sittingbourne Viaduct station. On arrival at Kemsley Down the participant will be given coffee/tea whilst having a safety briefing and completing a day membership form. They will then be introduced to the locomotive crew and made familiar with the locomotive. During the course the participant should have the opportunity to drive the locomotive under supervision.
Run The Railway Experience: This is a full day course split into two parts – one is the Footplate Experience as shown above, the other shows you the roles of station master and guard. You will be shown around Kemsley Down and given instruction in the signalling and use of the point levers, you will also be taught the relevant hand signals to shunt the locomotive and how to signal the engine out of the station. When it returns, you will signal its arrival and couple the engine to the train. The guard will then explain to you the operation of the brakes and the role of guard before showing you how to dispatch the train. You will ride with the guard, keeping a sharp lookout during the journey to Sittingbourne Viaduct (and back). You will work with the station master at Sittingbourne Viaduct on the uncoupling, running round and coupling up the train.
Wheels of Time: Wheels of Time is an initiative devised by Ashford Museum and is a Kent Children’s University quality assured activity. It has been adopted by 48 museums and heritage centres across Kent and we are proud to have joined the initiative in 2017 as the first railway to be involved. Children aged 5 to 11 years are invited to join Roamin Rex (left) to learn more about each heritage site where you progress through an activity to collect a unique badge for the venue. On collecting ten badges you earn a special Roamin Rex Award Badge. Our exclusive badge features a Bagnall steam locomotive (see above right).
Grovehurst Dockside Miniature Railway: The Grovehurst Dockside Miniature Railway runs parallel to the Saxon Shore Way and the Milton Creek fence-line at Kemsley Down. It’s station, Creekside, is located behind the Footplate Café, close to the pedestrian entrance to the Railway. This isn’t the first 5-inch gauge ride-on railway at this location, there was one here before from the late-1990s through to the Railway’s temporary closure in 2008. The locomotive, coaches and track are all new. The locomotive is named ‘Lily’. The name has been chosen to commemorate Lil Chisman who was a long-time member of the Railway with her husband Keith. Sadly, Lil and her husband Keith have since passed away.

Facilities

What to see

What to see & do: Aside from our collection of historic steam and diesel locomotives, coaches and wagons, the Railway has plenty for you to see and do during your visit.
The journey: The paper mill used to be located on what is now Morrisons and its car park & petrol station. The last remaining part of the mill (other than the Railway!) is the short bridge over The Wall (the entrance road to the station) at the end of our site. This used to carry trains into the mill from both the transfer sidings and the wharf. The wharf can be seen below our site, at the end of Milton Creek and is home to the Skatepark, Dolphin Barge Museum and Raybel (a Thames sailing barge – current being restored). The present Sittingbourne Retail Park used to be warehouses and even an engine shed existed here but this is all long gone.

For more information please visit: https://www.sklr.net/visiting-us/what-to-see-do/

Website

Contact

Price

Price: Paid

Price Details

Adult: £10 for Return, £6 for Single & £15 for Rover.
Children (Aged 3–15): £5 for Return, £3.50 for Single & £9 for Rover.
Infants: Free.
Family (2 adult + 4 child): £27.00.
Senior Citizens: £9 for Return, £5 for Single & £14 for Rover.
SKLR Members: Free.

Membership:

Adult: £23
Junior: £7.50
Family: £44
Life Membership: £400
Life Membership(Over 60): £200
Family Life: £600(available to 2 adults living at the same address)

For membership details please visit: https://www.sklr.net/about-us/membership/

For more price details please visit: https://www.sklr.net/timetable-fares/fares-tickets/

Pricing URL: https://www.sklr.net/timetable-fares/fares-tickets/

Birthday Parties

Offer Birthday Parties: Yes

Birthday Party Details

Children’s Parties: A party at Kemsley Down on the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway is something your children and their friends will vividly remember. A steam train ride, a party and so much more….. how much depends on you. We will ensure the venue is decorated for the party. Just tell us what you would like!

Party Food: Each child in the party will get a selection of sandwiches (special fillings can be arranged to your requirements), crisps, biscuits and as much orange or blackcurrant squash as they can drink.

Fare 1: Fares on a day when the railway is operating (Less than 15 persons)

Each Adult: £7.50
Each Child: £3.50

Fare 2: Fares on a day when the railway is operating (15 or more persons travelling)

Each Adult: £6.50
Each Child: £3.00

Fare 3: On a day when the railway is not operating (Minimum charge £250.00)

Each Adult: £6.50
Each Child: £3.00

Party Food:

Cost: £5.00 per child
Minimum charge: £50.00

For more information please visit: https://www.sklr.net/visiting-us/childrens-parties/

Closed until Good Friday (3rd April 2026): That doesn’t mean that there’s nothing going on – we will be holding fortnightly Work Weekends until the end of March.
31st January/1st February is the next Work Weekend – depending on volunteer numbers we have numerous tasks to complete from general maintenance to surfacing a new path. More hands make light work!

Address: Sittingbourne Retail Park, The Wall, Sittingbourne ME10 2XD, UK

Post Code: ME10 2XD

Council: Swale

County: Kent

By Rail: Sittingbourne Main Line station is well served by trains from London (Victoria and St Pancras International), the Medway towns, Faversham, the Kent Coast (Canterbury, Dover, Ramsgate) and Sheerness. Sittingbourne Viaduct station is just a few minutes away, within Sittingbourne retail park.
By Bus: Local buses stop at thew Forum Shopping Centre, Sittingbourne High Street (eastbound) or opposite Sittingbourne Main Line station (westbound)
By Road: From the M2 (J5) or M20 (J7), follow A249 towards Sheerness and take the second Sittingbourne exit, at Bobbing, then follow signs for B2006 and Town Centre. At B2006 Mill Way roundabout you will have Milton Regis Viaduct in front of you, turn right and follow Mill Way and turn left at the traffic lights at the top of the hill, in to Sittingbourne Retail Park. At the mini roundabout turn left and next right, our car park is on the left. Sittingbourne Viaduct station is within Sittingbourne Retail Park.