Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway 2026
Leader breaks through the banner at Sittingbourne Viaduct signifying our Return to Sittingbourne Viaduct and Leader's return to service (for the first time since the 1980s). We are finally Back in Town
Captain Jack Sparrow returns to the Railway on the Sunday of Steam & Beer (3rd July) - come and have your photo taken with Jack!
One of the highlights of the trip from Sittingbourne Viaduct, is crossing the 100 year old reinforced concrete Milton Regis Viaduct, which at about a kilometre long takes the first 5 minutes of your journey to cross
We will have three steam locos available for service again this year - Leader (the red one), Melior (seen here on Milton Regis Viaduct) and Superb (the big one)
Superb crosses the marshes
Melior approaches Sittingbourne Northern Relief Road bridge - an excellent vantage point to photograph trains crossing the marsh
The preserved southern half of the former 2ft 6in. gauge Bowater's Railway built to move raw materials for paper making and finished products around the mill at Sittingbourne. Trains depart from Sittingbourne Viaduct station to Kemsley Down across Milton Regis Viaduct and through Milton Creek Country Park to the working paper mill and Kemsley Down, the main site.
Contacts
Operator: Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway Ltd
Address: Sittingbourne Viaduct Station The Wall Sittingbourne Kent ME10 2XD
- Telephone: 01795 424 899
- Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
- Website: View website
Open Days & Times
Easter Weekend. Sun & BHol 12, 19Apr; May-Sep, also Wed 29 Jul-Aug. Also Sat 31 May; 30 Jun; 29 Jul; 26 Sep. Visit website or facebook for more details and advance booking.
Travel
- By Rail: Sittingbourne / 0.25 miles
Facilities
- Parking
- Refreshments
- Souvenir Shop
- Part disabled access
Originally, the industrial railway connected Sittingbourne and Kemsley Paper Mills with Ridham Dock, on closure of the railway by Bowater's, the Sittingbourne to Kemsley Paper Mill portion of line became the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway.
The Railway features the century-old Milton Regis Viaduct which has 118 spans and 6 bridges supporting its kilometre-long construction.
Sittingbourne Viaduct station is on the site of the former transfer sidings, trains from Ridham Dock and Kemsley Paper Mill would arrive here and be split for various destinations around the paper mill and wharf. Some wagons are based here to give a flavour of this formerly busy location.
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