DISUSED and abandoned dock sidings

[@stephenpowell5912]

It's Emotional seeing this after 33 years since I last lived in Queenborough, When I moved there in 1984 with my Two brothers as a boy myself with my Mum and Dad, This was a hive of Activity, God look at it in the 21st century 😔 Remember the Junk Yard at Rushenden in 1984 to 1987, This was such a great way to see the Shunters going back and Through, Can't believe it closed in 2013.That's sacrilage seeing this.

[@andrewparkinson9667]

I spent many an hour in Ridham as a Gillingham based secondman. The loaded scrap metal trains were tripped to Sheerness Steelworks with empties returned for loading, initially a mainline engine either a 33 or later a 47 was used but later in the early 90's this was changed to a 350 shunter and brakevan to convey the guard as technicaly you werent allowed 3 men in the 350 cab. The other daily working was a loaded coal train for the then paper mill wich became tha plasterboard factory, initially this was booked for double headed 33's but from about 1988 or so it was booked for a 56, the loaded train would be swapped for an empty HAA rake which was then worked to Betteshanger colliery for loading. All trains in the down direction had to go onto the single line at Swale to set back onto the up line in order to access the sidings through the ground frame a task which in thick fog was a pain as you couldn't see the signal on the end of Swale platform.

[@mr.berlingo8211]

I used to love looking out for all the disused industrial sidings travelling in to Paddington from Maidenhead when I was a kid. Most are built on now.

[@ronleitch7788]

A fascinating video - I have visited the ‘far’ bank of the Swale several times, gaining access via the Lifting Bridge, but was never aware, ‘til today, of the existence of the ‘Branch’ Line off the main Sheerness line! Thank you for posting the video!!

[@Aaaaaagggghhhhhh]

Great video! Those manual points have only seized fairly recently, they were working 5-6 years ago. Somewhere in that undergrowth near the road is also the button that operates the crossing signals on the road, that used to work recently as well!

[@mrroobarb]

Very accommodating Network Rail worker - taking those pictures in the signal box for you :-) Nice video - thanks for sharing.

[@jfreelan1964]

This definitely is one way to see your country, even if it is from a rather unusual perspective. I love it.

[@andywhite40]

Many thanks for this video, I've got friends on the island who I visit from time to time. I've always been interested in this overgrown siding and always wondered what it's purpose was. I think that the lights used to be operational up to a few years ago as well, just to add to the eerie feel of the place. As stated before by others here the connection has probably been retained as it'll cost more to remove it than maintain it and, there's always the possibility that Knauf or Ridham Dock are forced to utilize the railway system once again. Please keep these really interesting videos coming!

[@naveenplystore]

I don't know why but I felt so peaceful to watch this

[@muttt.whopull3252]

I worked in the Recess sidings at Cricklewood from 1985 till 1997 and the Ridham Dock coal would come in to us for a loco change ( until the Class 56s worked through) and crew change. Now I know where we sent that coal.

[@ep61611]

Great video. It took me awhile to find it on Google Earth because the abandoned tracks almost never showed up. I used the bridge as a reference point, but the tracks near there were all running the wrong way. Once I found the right tracks, it was no problem following along.

[@RUOKH]

Great piece of footage and an important historical record of the Ridham Dock track layout. I am currently working on a book which will give the history of the Queenborough Pier line and the Night TPO train that ran to the pier; only wish there were some photographic records of the line from the 1900's. Again, thanks for recording Ridham Dock.

[@cyberdonblue4413]

(5.59) The remains of a BR electric tail lamp. There was also a version for use as an emergency headlight.

[@dodgydruid]

Takes me back nearly half a century as a nipper, with me uncle Ray in his class 33 on the occasional Ford run along there and on one or two occasions me dad had walked down from Swale signal box to open the line up, several summers I spent going to work with me uncle cos me mum and dad both working couldn't find babysitters so spent my time lurking in diesel cabs out of Hoo Jnc, if for some reason Ray had to work extra, him and me dad arranged for me to be picked up by an EPB at Hoo and dropped off at Milton and I had to run up the hill as fast as me legs could carry me before the driver would set off, quick leggit up Thong Lane and home, I got to know Ridham, Sheerness and Queensferry sidings so well, wasn't allowed on the Dagenham runs but often saw Hither Green, Rochester and rare Old Oak or Willesden then it all ended with me uncle getting run over by an EPB at Higham and my dad getting promoted to relief at Cuxton. No fizzy drinks in them days, BR tea was all I could get and Ray was an absolute genius in knowing where to get a free fillup on his canteen and he had a spare for me and often had me at the hotplate, to this day many long years later I prefer a cup of tea to just about anything and Typhoo too as that was what the drivers got, thick treacly stuff made up with evap milk or powder milk, thems was happy days...

[@cefnonn]

Thanks for your railway memories. Sorry to read that your uncle was run over. My memories, in comparison, are very sparse: trips to Cricklewood depot in the early 80's (on my "Raleigh Arena") to see the 45's, 25's and diesel hydraulic DMU's. In the daytime, CW was deserted, or so it seemed. Hardly ever saw my dad as he was always out on business.He wasn't interested in trains anyway. I did get into Neasden South signal box just once; the 'bobby' invited me up and I took some pics. The box was removed years ago (preserved on the Great Central?). Cricklewood depot, though newish, was pulled down. Despite many visits, I only took one solitary photo there, of a 127 dmu (lousy picture!) Good memories.

[@captainboing]

Fantastic. A proper childhood

[@andrewparkinson9667]

Your Uncle wasn't Gillingham driver Ray Brewster was he by any chance?

[@HampshireBrony]

The signal is still on to maintain interlocking. The other route can only be cleared if that route is proven to be set and the route from the siding is not set. It's a lot cheaper to keep running that signal than to rework the interlocking to ignore it

[@delboy1727]

Further down the line, between Queenborough and Sheerness, is another set of sidings that are no longer in use, that served the Sheerness steel mill. They were in use until much more recently, until the steel mill closed down. No idea if they are accessible, as I imagine the entire site is fenced off and possibly guarded.

[@DrFod]

It's crazy that Network Rail still maintain the signal and points for the line. Even more insane is all the docks and factory freight going by road instead of rail.

[@nikosps1554]

DrFod the reason that signal is maintained and still running is because its protecting the main line.

[@MrEkg98]

Protecting it from what? There are no trains there.

[@youcanpunchmeintheface]

well... maybe runaway train from thin air, dunno.

[@MrEkg98]

From the wrong direction? There are derailing points protecting the main. Brits get all elaborate with derails. We just put a yellow block that throws the wheel off. Its of my opinion that its left in place like this so within a few weeks they could get it running again and use it. Might sound stupid but they could be thinking of their national defense.

[@youcanpunchmeintheface]

yup, derailer would definitely does the job. Maybe they planned to reuse it sometimes and recabling the signalling system would be expensive and too much hassle

[@jbhell2784]

Another great video! That long siding by knauf used to serve a powerstation with MGR trains. It used to produce the electricity and steam for the big papermills at Kemsley and Sittingbourne. There used to be an engine shed with a local hunslet shunter when I lived up that way in the early 90's.

[@banaanappel3672]

J B a hunslet in the 90s?

[@jontaylor6094]

The line fell out of use when the Kemsley paper mill switched from burning coal to gas. I had a ride up from the level crossing to the unloading point on the orange Sentinel diesel shunting locomotive in the early 1990’s. The Bowaters Paper narrow gauge railway originally ran parallel between Kemsley and Ridham.

[@denelson83]

Don't you just love the sound a Networker makes when it pulls away?

[@RedArrow73]

No.

[@RedArrow73]

I like the sound a Low-V train makes pulling out.

[@denelson83]

RedArrow73 Oh well. You can't win 'em all.

[@youcanpunchmeintheface]

VVVF fuck yeah 👍

[@lewishart9698]

Sounds like an F1 car lol

[@waldenhouse]

Fabulous video. Thanks for sharing. Quite nostalgic looking at the old stuff - maybe kept to send disused Locos & stock, eventually?! That looked like an old lamp case. Cheers, Bob

[@wendymcfadyen-allerby6142]

Enjoyed thank you very interesting seeing all the old lights still there working.

[@al66class59]

Another fantastic assortment of viewing here.

[@haddockman30]

If Network Rail has not officially closed the sidings that is the reason the signal is still lit and the points for accessing the main line are still maintained. Those are controlled from the East Kent Signalling Centre.

[@youcanpunchmeintheface]

haddockman30 imagine the horror when suddenly the track circuit detected movements on the abandoned siding

[@SgtChip]

@@youcanpunchmeintheface That's going to be a lot of confused signallers.

[@colliecandle]

This line is reminiscent of the 'mothballed' Portishead branch, which happily, is now used again ( freight only to and from Portbury at this time )

[@paulwilliams493]

I wonder if it is still in situ because the Navy may have use for the dock in a national emergency. Sorting out the trackwork would be a straightforward job. Rail connected ROF Glascoed near Usk has a similarly overgrown permanent way and hasn't seen traffic in twenty years but remains as a contingency.

[@freebrickproductions]

Great video! How the signal facing the sidings still functions reminds me of an abandoned CSX line in Atlanta, Georgia that still had a functional (IIRC) signal facing it. Kinda surprised the small signal box at the junction is still there and mostly intact! Cool how the NR worker got those pictures for ya. There's a few abandoned lines in my area that I could probably do videos on. Especially nice find with the abandoned AOCL there as well!

[@morthren]

freebrickproductions Thanks! Try and video the abandoned CSX line if you can, that'll be interesting. I filmed this over a couple of weeks. You usually catch NR working along this stretch on a weekend so I was quite lucky to get the pics. The signal box is in good condition but looks like the phone is missing. I'm surprised the door has been left open!

[@freebrickproductions]

There's not really any abandoned CSX lines in my immediate area, other than few few abandoned tracks in Guntersville (a couple of spurs and part of the old NC&StL connection to a ferry to Huntsville) and an unused branch line in Cullman, though there is an abandoned segment of the L&N's Huntsville Branch that I can definitely document here in Huntsville. There's also a few abandoned SOU branch lines in the area (a few of which have signals at a couple of the crossings still), and there's a few old CSX and L&N branch lines in Tennessee that are abandoned.

[@freebrickproductions]

Also, GMF here on KZbin does videos on abandoned lines in Indiana if you want to check those out. I did film a few crossings on the abandoned CSX line in Atlanta a few years back, though I didn't get any close-ups of the still-lit signal. However, the line is over 4 hours away from me (in driving time), so I likely won't be heading back there any time soon. One of the heads from the signal has since been stolen anyways, so I wouldn't be surprised if NS shut off power to it long after my trip there in 2015. There's also a mast there with some gutted-out relay cases under it that used to have an old A&WP signal on it back in 2012, IIRC.

[@Sikkenbaas]

I enjoyed the video and I subscribed. I love this kind of urban exploration.

[@alcopower5710]

Smashed the like button.....outstanding video 👍

[@APOTwixx]

Very cool video. Thank you for posting.

[@johnhealy8513]

What a wonderful video and very interesting too.

[@jackthegamer3065]

JOHN HEALY yes it is

[@01276]

A little further down is the abandoned Queenborough Rolling mill with sidings which led to the dock. Used to be some industrial locos, wagons and rail cranes. Could make an interesting video.

[@morthren]

01276 Thanks for the info. I have looked at some of the old lines around Queensborough but didn't look at the sidings. I'll have to check it out again at some point.

[@01276]

Some details here of the site, not sure how much is left but I seem to remember some of the old rolling stock was moved to a neighbouring site. www.railalbum.co.uk/industrial-railways/queenborough-intro-1.htm

[@johnbarcy5222]

Bowaters paper mill at Kemsey used to run the whole outfit there, including the narrow guage section to Sittingbourne. The standard guage sidings were to import timber for pulping and coal by rail for mill and power station and take out finished products which included newsprint reels, chipboard, and hardboard. The internal standard guage locos were industrials from various sources and at one time (1962/3) a P class 0-6-0. Look at other web sites for the number. Ridham dock was built by the paper company for the import of baled pulp and timber from Scandinavia, and the export of finished goods. John Barcy.

[@dodgydruid]

We were spoiled for post modernisation steam for a while with the Bowaters operation and the little peepers up at Imperial Paper in Northfleet, used to cycle out there on my Raleigh Chopper and watch the Blue Circle and Imperial trains coming out the chalk tunnels and a cracking vantage point at Gravesend bus station of the Imperial yards, then back home via a nose around the coal terminal at Southfleet which was still active and watched the tippler doing its thing. Other times would wander into Gravesend West to get shouted at by the owner who taught us kids all our first sweary words hehe Us kids though always wanted a ride on the Bowaters cable line, never mind the danger of getting minced up, it just looked so cool :)

[@morlrd]

A very interesting video - thanks. Your videos make such a nice change from the norm on YT, which most originators seem to think don't work, unless they are blaring out BOOM BANG-A-BANG, so-called music. Where's mad Beeching? He missed this one! He coukld have another loony field day!

[@OlanKenny]

"Extremely overgrown and practically impassible" send a steamer down it and see if it remains overgrown The impassible bit we'll deal with once the fire brigade are done 😂

[@margin606]

Ha!

[@marknestbox]

Just fascinating, thank you for the upload.

[@ianclampin103]

Did anybody else duck when he went under the fence?

[@SteamboatWilley]

Very informative video. It would be nice if this line was put back into use.

[@ergotot45]

Glad I took some pics of a coal train on that branch back in the mid 90s

[@JamesSmith-zv9nw]

Really great find! I wonder is they will ever be used again. They are still connected after all...

[@Adam-Gates-Mudlark]

ok im packing my bags, screw mudlarking this will make a good video for 2021!!

[@olovhansson3917]

I looks like the unused railyard tracks of Rödby färje (Rödby Ferry) in Denmark, or Puttgarden Fährhafren Bahnhof (railyard) in Germany. Mostly overgrown. Just 2-4tracks used today.

[@47606odin]

The sidings were actually last used about 10 years ago for a trial paper train.

[@grahamrsparker]

if you ever get the chance go to Newcastle upon Tyne,go to a place called heaton just down from byker..there is an old disused railway siding you can walk along for a couple of mile. some of the old carriages are still there..it's a good place to go

[@morthren]

Thanks for the tip!

[@MMBaus]

Great work, this was really interesting again. Love these vids 👍

[@dd.greenefilms2598]

Great Video and thanks for sharing your video.

[@brianartillery]

This area is bleak to the point of being creepy. Fascinating, nevertheless.

[@uttaradit2]

The background noise, the damp surrounds the leaden sky - got to be merry england....

[@pz189]

That describes all of Sheppey tbh 😆

[@geoffreylee5199]

Abandoned with rails in place. If they wish to reopen the line, then there are no environmental hearings required. This is a common in Canada. Likewise the aboriginal land issues are negated.

[@RichieCat4223]

Had to look up fly tipping. In the the USA it's called illegal dumping of garbage.

[@michaelboys2602]

I love your videos. They are like a step back in time. One question, have you ever explored a disused railway, only to discover it was not disused and a train came trundling towards you? Just curious.

[@olasola1013]

Everybody gangsta til morthren gets run over by a class 153 going 120 kilometres per hour

[@warlord1usw]

When I was a kid I walked all the way down those sidings to a working docks, got picked up by security though.

[@Adam-Gates-Mudlark]

No security there now ?

[@bombasticbuster9340]

What you call a "sleeper" in Britain, we call a rail tie or railroad tie in the States. I envy you. We have a limited number of passenger services from the Amtrak subsidized system. Our country is 3000 miles coast to coast. You fly or drive on the interstates. The Northeast and larger cities have rail. A 12 hr drive is sort of a normal drive. Say from Tulsa, Ok to Houston, Tx. Well, we tend to drive past the 70 or 75 mph limits though.

[@theunderrated86]

I'm assuming there must've been some kind of rail contract price disagreements between the Network Rail and Plasterboard Factory, that's why the rails never got used.

[@tonyjones9442]

I saw this station on Geoff marshals 'least used station's.He didn't tell us there was a branch!!

[@theovanstaden5766]

old railway feel to this, bit spooky to, but good video!

[@freightrambler7199]

Went in there once many years ago.

[@jasinere35]

box with logo is a rear flashing warning light workers hooked to any freight when its being moved

[@GWRailFan]

the signal still works as it would cost a lot more to get all the caballing redone and get that one signal turned off then having it kept turned red all the time.

[@sapper82]

The brick building is referred to as a "Ground Frame Cabin."

[@morthren]

Thanks!

[@markcantemail8018]

Thank you Morthren , This was Interesting . I enjoyed seeing how Things are done over There . I also have a camera that can make it cloud up and Rain . You Camera Takes images that are much Clearer . Keep at it .

[@BrianSeaman]

Absolutely extraordinary video - I so glad I've subbed :)

[@steveread9386]

This line used to be used for transporting explosives/munitions to Ridham dock for export

[@alco251b9]

I think that plastic thing found along the line was a tail lamp

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

If these sidings have been derelict for 20+ years why not rip them up for either salvage or sale to the many preserved operational railways throughout the UK. I am sure they could put the metals to better use

[@davidwhitecross]

very interesting. This is the sort of grey land that should be used for housing instead of green belt

[@josephcheeseinthepie6915]

Whoa...it's cool, yet eerie. I'm surprised the signals early in the branch are still maintained, as there is no point in doing so. As for that device with the British Rail logo on it, I'm not sure what that is. However, I will be Captain Obvious and say that its motherboard is completely useless, as it has been doused in moist dirt and water. I really liked this video! Regards, Joseph cheeseinthepie. 10/7/2018

[@morthren]

It does have an eerie feel to it there! Turns out the device was the remains of a tail lamp used on the last wagon.

[@josephcheeseinthepie6915]

Now that I look back in my head, it does make sense that this device is a tail lamp. Afterall, British tail lamps are usually completely white in color. By the way, you just got another subscriber, and that was me! I really like the content you feature, morthren, as well as the dialogue in the form of captions below. This is my reason for subscribing to your awesome channel. :-D

[@Muhaimin47busfan]

Awesome video 👍

[@Bcp123]

Apparently the old shunted is still in the shed just at the end of this line

[@morthren]

I know the shed you mean. That would be interesting to see!

[@Bcp123]

morthren I think it maybe a class 08 or 09 not too sure

[@jontaylor6094]

bradley cook pattison I remember the private loco used in the 1990s- it was an orange Sentinel. BR used class 09 locos to shunt at Ridham Dock, which were based at Hither Green and changed over once a week.

[@transitkidjasonproductions]

0:26 I like that sound

[@darthdogboy]

The line should be restored

Why? And who will pay for it?

[@MrFreesearcher]

Well with all that overgrowth and rotten sleepers, I'd say they can't use it. I wonder if network rail would be willing to sell or donate the track to othe railways, who are more in need of some bullhead rail.

[@Computist40]

That grade crossing looks pretty sad.

[@trainageyt6326]

That overgrown line used to serve the paper mill. Here's a picture from flickr www.flickr.com/photos/semmytrailer/4130532038

[@train4905]

Exellent😊

[@Bassmanfallon]

You have captured lots in this video.With no disrespect to you, it has got me depressed.Seeing wanton abandonment and disregard.I'm not surprised that drugs and alcohol abuse are rife in these parts of England.Utterly shocking.As I said, no disrespect to you, on the contrary many thanks for initiating the courage to venture into these cesspits of current times.

[@onrr1726]

the sidings are probably kept in place should something to big for transport over the road is planed for arrival the railroad could move it. There are plenty of places like that here in the U.S. as well that have disused sidings going into them as well.

[@MrEkg98]

There are so many disused sidings here in the US that they store mile long trains of empty cars that are not being used. Hopefully the railroad picks up some traffic since Trump wants to increase coal production. CSX in my area has said it is going to increase flow through my area by 3. We will be up to 60 trains a day.

[@onrr1726]

CSX Sucks I used to do contract work for them their decline started as soon as they took over their half of Conrail. with 10 years of deferred track work in New York track speeds went for 70mph to 45mph with in 5 years and down to almost 30 with in 8 years and a mandatory requirement to have Sperry Rail Service and FRA Track inspection cars on the line every 3 months the mandates came after 3 coal train derailments with in 1 weeks time one was bound for Ft. Drum which is a big military base in Northern NY. A 4th derailment followed and is only 2ed behind the oil train explosion in Quebec in 2012 on MMA that set the eyes on CSX and there MW Program to which Harrison decided to cut down on again when he took over. CSX is in bad shape and if they don't get there shit together we might just see them get ripped apart like the Milwaukee Road or the Rock Island. A good chuck of the coal traffic is on the Reading and Northern they hand the Trains off to Norfolk Southern for shipment to Philadelphia where it's then trans loaded to ships bound for Ukraine.

[@Timstravels01]

Love this.

[@samanthayoung9207]

Hi , Am I right in saying the Sittingbourne,Kemsley Light railway is at the other end of this track ? I am local to your video location.

[@morthren]

Yes, you are right! The overgrown track which leads to Knauf almost reaches DS Smith where the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway starts at.

[@ronleitch7788]

Samantha Young To the best of my knowledge, the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway has no ‘physical connection to Network Rail tracks!

[@trainageyt6326]

They both went to the paper mill. The light railway was just used to link to the other mill in Sittingbourne where Morrisons now stands.

[@dodgydruid]

Yes its a very short gap but a building is in the way of it being connected, a shame as a narrow gauge run to Swale could do the SKLR a whole heck of good with a network connection but crossing the river too would be an obstacle for a line running along the main track.

[@samanthayoung9207]

Ian Watson difficult as the Swale station is the least used platform but would be great if that would be possible as passengers could catch network train from Sittingbourne or Sheerness on sea lines to SKlR.

[@SADRailsim]

What a beautifull ugly place! Thanks for sharing.

[@pauldevey8628]

Great video. You need to buy a drone for these videos

[@morthren]

Thanks! A drone would be good!

[@andydrew2003]

If you give me the PCB, I might be able to get it working again.

[@davidthompson4834]

Where is this train track because I can renew it and use it for my own railway I can also use it to build a steam locomotive and carriages as well

[@tml136]

Do you think network rail would us them again

[@delboy1727]

Also curious as to how you accessed the sidings, given that they are on the other side of the live line from the halt at Swale? Is there a crossing nearby?

[@morthren]

From Swale station, you have to walk along the private road which goes under Sheppey Way and the main line. From there you can walk to the sidings.

[@kernow..exp.]

The white thing you found that you didn't know what it was it's actually a railway lamp

[@Bahamas-rd8le]

@KERNOW E X P - if I was there, I would’ve taken it

[@kernow..exp.]

It is in such bad condition I would have just left it there

[@kentrailobserver37]

How did you get down there

[@morthren]

Kent Rail Observer I started at the level crossing and walked along. From Swale Station, turn right to go along the private road to get to the crossing then you can walk the track.

[@dailyholidayspetssongs7757]

Happy Pasta Day to You Bro

[@danthetrainman5656]

why is that signal on if the track is unused?

[@Area-sw5mq]

I think network rail should reuse that signal like hand it over to tfl for the cross rail to use

[@keyed_6727]

go and look where swale is on a map then rethink your comment

[@leifliltorp1566]

Very sad!!!

[@klaus9714]

intact signal on unused siding? Could be Germany...

[@LachieVidsTransportVlogs]

Cool

[@nigeldallison5426]

Very informative. What a waste.

[@shanekelley7682]

Network worker took those photos? and you still got over the fence? ;-) C'mon!

[@richturnermusic]

So depressing and short sighted.

[@transitkidjasonproductions]

5:59

[@microbusss]

how long are these sidings?

[@morthren]

Here they are on Google Maps... www.google.co.uk/maps/@51.3825712,0.7513924,15.95z?hl=en

[@microbusss]

neat & I would love to get them crossing signs & lights hehe

[@transitkidjasonproductions]

0:40

[@emilyroberts4441]

ive never rlly liked that place and thats coiming from someone who lives near there

[@samanthayoung9207]

How can I private message you ? I have an suggestion that you may like to video.

[@samanthayoung9207]

morthren finally emailed you , look forward to your response.

[@morthren]

I don't seem to have received anything?

[@samanthayoung9207]

morthren that’s why there was a delay last time as it was not sent . I try again.

[@samanthayoung9207]

morthren I missed out the r - re - sent it , not sure if you will be interested but I wanted to ask you as being local to me.

[@morthren]

I've got it, I'll reply soon

[@cardboard_is_not_edible]

18:19 man, you shouldn't have done that.. Do I care? Noooope

[@TenOutOfTenIGN]

Like lol