ELEVATED industrial Steam Railway

[@philwheeler7054]

Perfect example of what You Tube should be all about - Well shot, well edited , informative without needless waffle. Whets the appetite for further investigation - much thanks.

[@Ashbash-dq7ef]

Hi I'm a working volunteer of this railway we do still operate passenger services and we are due to reopen again in easter

[@SteamingThroughYorkshire]

I was going to say the track looks to be in good condition

[@marcc3514]

Best wishes!

[@kevingrime5772]

Seems an ideal situation for a PARK AND RIDE. Run a battery powered loco with P&r at one end and station next to shopping park at other!

[@Ashbash-dq7ef]

@@kevingrime5772 there was once a station at Asda but unfortunately it was vandalised and the money hasn't been there to get it rebuilt

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Fantastic! I love seeing and hearing of practical restoration of historic places.

[@philippankhurst6680]

I worked at Kemsley Mill from 1961 to 1966 and travelled to work and back on the railway (we called it The Bogey) and those squealing flanges on the viaduct really brought back memories. The 'coaches' and the flat truck seen on the maintenance train are original (the flat ruck carried huge reels of paper). Sittingbourne was never pretty and today is even less so, and this line is hardly scenic but it has a charm of its own and its great that it now seems to have a future

[@dodgydruid]

I have such fond memories of this place, it was a schlep on ones bike to get down there from the outskirts of Gravesend (Riverview Park) and relatives weren't interested in taking us as this was the time of the oil crisis and cars were put on a back burner and people walked. And so off on my Raleigh Chopper, packed lunch in the bag tied to the rear carrier, bottles of water and whatnot and we sailed off down Thong Lane towards Chalk and then along towards Higham etc until we would finally get there puffed out and being nosey. If we were lucky and my uncle Ray was waiting to go mainline from Ford we could beg for some tea and clambering in and out of his 33 til he told us to get lost as the signalman had just pulled up to open the line for him. Then watching and wishing we could have a ride on the overhead cableway and watching the little trains wending their way back and forth we would go and doss down the old docks and see what we could find until it was getting on and time to go back and no energy for the climb up to Riverview Park so we walked most pushing the bikes. If we weren't down there, we were sneaking about Southfleet rail line where sometimes my uncle would be on coal truck duty which he hated as he had to run round at Farningham to get onto Southfleet, run round at Southfleet then run round back at Farningham as the exit was then pointing towards London. Sometimes my father would be working relief from Hoo along that line and he was always good for a tea long as we didn't scuff his polished floor or touched anything and it was a magical place hearing all the signal bells pinging away as trains came and went. We often went mudraking along the old Nore shore talking like pirates and imagining the huge fleet of ships there and you found buttons and coins and bottles, happy days long long gone. Should also remember Imperial Paper Mills who also ran steam into the 70's, they were moody there though, kids not allowed :(

[@polestar696]

Oh my god. Does this bring back memories. My dad and I used to work for bowaters. I remember walking under the bridge and the noise was terrible. Thanks for bringing back good memories.

[@cesariojpn]

1:40 *11foot8+8 bridge has entered the chat.*

[@robertscollick3382]

I worked in Bowaters Sittingbourne Mill, when the Railway was still operating. The Locos used to come in under the Paper Machines and the reels were loaded by crane down through the floor, onto the Bogies. The Locos were kept immaculate, and fully lined out.

[@steves5172]

I visited the S&K in 1973 with a group of enthusiasts from Plymouth Railway Circle. Must admit the line looks a lot better than I remember! Thanks for posting!

[@jackking5567]

Nice! Always good to see sections of track being saved. I'm surprised the viaduct has been saved - I know of lot of similar-aged concrete structures have been demolished due to age or a lack of sufficient reinforcing. The fact it survives makes the railway even more special. Steam sounds so out of place in modern society!

[@frankthomas855]

Wonderful. Thanks for taking me along on another fascinating journey.

[@lynalllynall9082]

Many years ago I got called out to the bridge as one of our trucks had hit it so hard they had holed the front of the tanker trailer on the underside of the bridge, the driver ripped the steering column apart and his head smashed the windscreen, I got the pleasure of driving it back to the depot.

[@andrewbrown7181]

Hi, my name is Andrew and l just had to write and say a big thank you l thoroughly enjoyed this video and please do more and keep up the good work for you but also the volunteers who maintain the lines for bringing to our attention.

[@LondonPower]

Its nice you went there ! You are a proper explorer 😃

[@pab47able]

Very nice stretch of railway including the overhead section. Good luck with renovation works. All the very best.

[@49mrbassman]

What a lovely sight. Reminded me of the Romney, Dymchurch and Hythe miniature railway.

[@frglee]

Thanks for a reminder that I haven't ridden on this interesting little line for many years, I hope do it again this Summer. It's nice that these well looked after little locos can have a long and active retirement after all their industrial work, now being used to give pleasure to passengers. The terminus, a few miles to the north at Kemsley Down is almost rural with a large engine shed that the public can visit. www.sklr.net/visiting-us/what-to-see-do/

[@Queen-of-Swords]

Went to school in Sittingbourne when the mill was still open. Have always meant to go on this steam train but not got round to it. Maybe one day.

[@Flymochairman1]

It looks like a lovely little project, hard fought to keep, from what I've read and heard over these past 15 years or so. The way the pipework is laid out is very Soviet Era, Industrial and Domestic, especially set against the new back-ground of the new houses and roads. It also goes to show just how much paper has been depended on in the last century and into this one; for writing paper to toilet paper to Telex printer rolls, et.c. that system for transport between the two factories, for people as well as bespoke transport for the finished products was feasible. The Kemsley site looks like it's still 'out on the marshes', as it were. (Where there be buddleia, there be asbestos too? What a menace that buddleia is getting to be!). A nice, quiet look around. Cheers.

[@TheGodsrighthandman]

I haven't been on the S&K since @ 1973 when I was an ickle-pritty. It was on a school trip with Selling County Infants School (other side of Faversham). Nice to see it's still on the go.

[@McRocket]

What an adorable, little railroad. Once again, you did a great job showing it. Thank you.

[@jrf84]

I remember visiting the railway in the late 90s and was able to travel along the paper mill line.I remember that we went over an elevated section really slowly as even then there were safety concerns.Also I remember seeing and hearing steam coming out of the pipes beside the line too.I had no idea the papermill had closed

[@bigbadjohn10]

The bridge at Sittingbourne was taken down after being hit by a truck carrying a backhoe. This became stuck under the bridge and I believe lifted it. The closure of the road while it was dealt with caused much disruption not least to the large industrial estate for which this was the main access at the time.

[@atvar69]

Wonderful! great work from Italy. I think every kind of this "little" railway must be preserved with the original materials. Sadly here in Italy many meter gauge railway where abandoned, and some of them was masterpiece. Here in Genoa is the "Genova Casella Railway" that workd daily with some pieces of rolling stock from 1929 and still working better than the material build in the 90's, and i see in Romania a 760 mm "Mocanita" that is a time machine.. Thanks to all the workers at this line!

[@gb5uq]

Wow! I never knew this existed. A visit is in order many thanks for sharing.

[@johndufton9686]

Thank you for this nice little glimpse of this railway. It's definintely going on my list of things to do when I next visit Kent.

[@richardparker3924]

Thank you for this video! If this rail line was in the USA.....it would be history.

[@FredWilbury]

Never heard of that .... great info ... always something new to learn..... happy new .....regards Fred

[@grabham59]

This railway makes me so happy! We visit at least a couple of times a year!

[@TheUphillracer]

Fascinating, you cover all the strange things we never knew existed!

[@nigeljohnson8022]

Superb video. I love stuff like this, its great to see the line still in use, and with steam engines. Thanks for sharing.

[@LeoStarrenburg]

Thank you for a very nice video ! I had no idea the SKLR had such a special route, made me think of the Chicago 'elevated', well sort of.

[@jamesgovett2501]

It’s the same gauge as our Puffing Billy railway here in Victoria, Australia, 2’6” & we have a quite large variety of locomotives from the Baldwin’s to a Garret and Diesel units.

[@catenaire]

Your videos are always so wonderfully detailed and annotated! This was a nice surprise distraction as I’m home sick with the flu.

[@brianartillery]

Fascinating, as always. Nice to see someone with imagination who saw that it could be an attraction. It is, however, due to recent commercial development, possibly one of the least picturesque scenic railways. One of the Bowater paper mills is featured in the James Bond novel, 'Moonraker', where, to stop Bond following him, Sir Hugo Drax gets his henchman to cut free the rolls of newsprint from one of the mill's lorries - the paper rolls down a hill, and smashes Bond's Bentley off the road.

[@mirvids5036]

Excellent upload. Very interesting.

[@hojomo]

Thanks - always follow your walks on G.Maps - good to discover other #LinesInTheLandscape - found a disused spur outside Queenborough once I got to Kemsley Mill. More please! 🙂

[@dodgydruid]

The area is positively riddled with rail, Queensborough and Sheerness had quite sizeable yards, then there was the pier yard covered in another of his wonderful vids, the old Ford line which went round a fair bit to near the docks Bowaters used, the glass mill and steel mill also big users of the rail as I often cab rode with an uncle who dotted here and there dragging stuff to Hoo Junction to be moved on, that ol' 33 of his was like an old friend. Of course there is the ol' Leysdown line and quite a bit over at Grain worth exploring. My cab rides ended one summer when I as usual widdled out the open door, still have the memory frozen in my mind as this farmer chap waved his hand up to the engine as we trundled past and the very rude shouts that it turned to, I think he must have made one of the most peculiar complaints in railway history... needless to say I was no longer allowed in the cab.

[@pendolinokriscfc]

Great video! I didn't know this existed. Definitely need to pay a visit.

[@TomCro2022]

Very nice video ....... Best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe 2020. All the best from Zagreb / Croatia

[@sparkles9868]

Only been on it once as a kid and that was for a Santa special. If it hadnt been for that i would never of known about this railway. I know a few years back now there was reports of it closing and glad it hasn't so that others can enjoy it

[@BurtBartlow]

One of my favorite KZbin channels.

[@Queen-of-Swords]

Has anyone ever told you that you look just like that guy out of Dallas?

[@irelandbloke]

Super video

[@send2gl]

This is interesting, the Leighton Buzzard Narrow Gauge railway, I thought, was the longest uninterrupted used Narrow Gauge in UK. Originally owned by Redland Slate the local heritage railway took it over immediately Redland stopped using it (I think they still sponsor it). They celebrated 100 years of continuous use recently, I believe it was 2017. Seems this railway may be a few years older.

[@plehboy]

It would be cool if you had a drone covering the areas you can't enter, at least looking over the area from above if it was forbidden to enter

[@KeithHambidge]

Great stuff good to see line is being looked after

[@paulgreen6903]

It s sooooooooooo pleasent to watch a .....program/show......with NO COMMET or EVERY DAY NOISE.....

[@alanmuddypaws3865]

Another fascinating video! The things you show us might not be the prettiest, but they sure are interesting.

[@MilwaukeeF40C]

Looks like the mill had some great looking industrial buildings. A historic railroad without its whole context is a letdown.

[@stuarthall6631]

Happy New Year! Thank you for a great video. Fantastic start to a new decade!

[@chrischeltenham]

Perfect start to the New Year with a relaxing wander video from Morthren :-) keep up the good work as always :-)

[@tonybillstrom7069]

thanks for a very interesting movie and happy new year!

[@walterfink9782]

The size of the steam engine and the rolling stock, along with the gauge size of the track, look like something you'd see at a zoo or a tourist railroad.

[@grahamfrench340]

Well actually you're not far off, 4 of the engines from this line were sold off when the railway was made into a preserved line and now work on the Whipsnade Zoo railway, the other 8 are still on the line at Sittingbourne.

[@j8u2]

Good to see a railway preservation story!

[@jfreelan1964]

Would have liked to have seen some close ups of the locomotive, otherwise a another great video. Thanks for the history lesson.

[@mattberg6785]

That's a great little piece of history

[@ericcallender1575]

Very cool. Thanks for sharing.

[@officialmcdeath]

Have the best 2020, mate, you're starting strong with this - thanks for reminding me of the school trip I went on some 40yrs ago - while health issues clouded much of that time, I do clearly recall the deceptively vicious uphill sharp-left trajectory from the Sittingbourne platform - the departing service always benefiitted from being shoved by the released loco from the arrival - thanks again \m/

[@gabilang8407]

A fine video ! Wish you a good New Year and hope you make vids in this year . Greets from Hamburg

[@MartinZero]

Thats great !!!

[@rrich52806]

Nice it is maintained and operated as a tourist location.

[@morthren]

Yes it is

[@robertewalt7789]

NYC has a High Line, recently restored as a park, where trains brought meat to the West Side’s meat packing district.

[@SammyBFilms]

Wow! Interesting place. :-) All the best for the new year! :-)

[@1BarnetTE.]

Great video! Keep up the good work. :)

[@daveconyard8946]

Thanks have a great 2020

[@cliffleigh7450]

I must visit this railway for a ride.

[@nigelkthomas9501]

Seem to remember riding this railway in 1987.

[@britishreaction54]

Maintenance - an activity it appears to have been completely untroubled by for the first 90 odd years of its life.

[@mikego18753]

One of your best vids,(there,r all good) cheers for 2020

[@1corvair2]

Nice video, thanks

[@fastacesus8499]

As always another great vid

[@HairySteveUK]

I work in the Eurolink estate on the opposite side of the creek to the railway, and during the summer you can hear the steam trains running back and forth along the railway. I found a video of the railway when it was still in use by Bowaters back in the 60s which might be interesting: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqrWlairZdR6oqc

What a fantastic railway line. How on earth did they make the rails curved like that? I wonder what companies made the rails and do they still exist?

[@trainmanbob]

Excellent.

[@josephlatourette8329]

Very fascinating but aren't you afraid of being arrested for trespassing

[@joncoe9046]

Alot of people who post videos on here are more than happy to trespass to get the attention they crave.

[@hipcat13]

Funny how UPS trucks look the same everywhere.

[@redsinsaneurbex7691]

If you go past Morrison’s and under the bridge, to the right there’s an overgrown area full of pipes next to what I think is a small reservoir as well as a tunnel to small to go into, do you know if it’s related to the paper mill?

[@discontinuedchannel6145]

11:32 tbh, that locomotive kinda looks like Trojan No. 1340 from the GWR, but a smaller gauge.

[@MrMondeo2010]

very good God Bless.

[@Newtownabbeyist208]

Wow that looks abandoned!

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

My mother was reinforced with "continuous strains carbon".

[@waltereturner]

Nice!

[@BrianSeaman]

Great video as always - #HNY2020

[@manuell0791]

There was 3 stations but Milton Regis station by Asda was closed because of vandalism

[@KubotaManDan]

Nice

[@158alfie]

Interesting.

[@rodneyhull9764]

where do all those people work,serious question ?

[@butchkaminsky9470]

Strong weeder twice a year will clean up that mess. Next year come back and burn. Then stray again. Repeat.😎

[@Uktrainlife373-ed6gv]

May I ask how you got up there, I would love to to go up when no trains are available

[@morthren]

You just have to follow the track from the papermill side. It's all open and leads onto the elevated section.

[@Uktrainlife373-ed6gv]

@@morthren ok thank you very much!

[@29brendus]

Fascinating. The viaduct is ugly so I'm between two minds on whether that bit should be preserved? I suppose one cannot have everything?

[@philippankhurst6680]

Very important structure. Very early use of reinforced concrete. If there's one word that describes much of Sittingbourne, it's 'ugly'.

[@gb5uq]

Industrial architecture rarely has aesthetic appeal. It's value and importance is as a unique part of our industrial heritage. It's unique and irreplaceable.

[@Yah-Izoa-Hakaboth]

Hi! I came across this video and I noticed you said the tracks are still under maintenance. Are they taking the tracks off the ground?

[@morthren]

I probably should have said "trackwork maintenance maintenance is ongoing". The ballast and sleepers are replaced where needed. The line will be running in Easter

[@Yah-Izoa-Hakaboth]

@morthren oh no you’re fine. Thanks for explaining sir! I hope you have a wonderful and blessed weekend wherever you are! 😊

[@chrismccartney8668]

Amazing the effort made to make a successful transport system like many docks railways made for successful Businesses now we just import stuff instead perhaps Brexit will make people think of producing goods for UK consumption...

[@_mynewcareer]

Cool

[@michaelberg9656]

What is it about narrow gauge railways?

[@p6x2]

Quiz: why do the steam pipe(s) is(are) sometimes elevated in that U shape, rather than being continuously laid down along the track?

[@clivereynolds9333]

To allow for expansion so that the joints are not unduly stressed.

[@kevingrime5772]

Its also done to allow vehicles to pass under the pipe rather than burying it under the road, stops water from one section running into the other. Valves drain the water in each section. Same system used for Crown Wallpapers in Darwen, still in place over mainline railway track, ran from one mill (making the paper) to another printing it and excess steam to another building where the made paint and dyes, about a mile in total!!

[@p6x2]

@@clivereynolds9333 Not only for the gaskets, but for the pipes. Under thermal stress, they would expend and contract. The U's are used to capture the movements.

[@p6x2]

@@kevingrime5772 I did not know they used the U to drain sediments. I thought that with steam, you had "mud traps" set along the piping to capture them. But it makes sense that you use a U built to allow traffic to isolate segments and drain as necessary. However, I would think it would not be as efficient as a purposed built trap, that catches and stores out of the flow. Having a U in the stream means erosion since the flow is diverted each time it reaches an elbow in the path. But that's why you also have NDT inspections...

[@jed-henrywitkowski6470]

Strait away, I noticed the signage, are you guys in the EU somewhere? Gotta get back to work, best wishes from a rail fan in the US.

[@mittfh]

At the time of filming / writing this comment, the UK (where the railway is) is in the EU, from February it'll be legally out of the EU but practically still in, from 2021, who knows?!

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

Am concerned on how this can be a viable proposition for the future. Only half mile long with the line truncated at one end. Surely as a tourist railway you ha e to have some kind of attraction at one end of line in order to induce tourists dollars

[@gerhardschlembacher6857]

Not to use for any kind of business for pasangers or goods is shure no good way of successfull working . Wish you all the best !

[@KevinOsborne1987]

You didn't get a ride???!!!!

[@HuntGamingProductions]

10:33 only one song comes to mind..... ive been working on the railroad.......

[@wondermenel2811]

*R A I L W A Y*

[@HuntGamingProductions]

@@wondermenel2811 AS a kid it was railroad

[@bertg74]

not a nice walk past the tip and sewers

[@harper277]

The people running this railway don’t seem very friendly or accessible in this video.