Work Weekends

We really need your help to maintain and repair everything at the Railway from the track to the buildings, the gardens to the locomotives and carriages, so we have planned a number of Work Weekends.

Things to remember:

  • we start at 10am and finish at about 4pm
  • email info@sklr.net (by Friday) to arrange a lift from Kemsley Paper Mill car park, Sittingbourne National Rail or Sittingbourne Viaduct stations
  • bring your own lunch (especially if we are working at Kemsley Down)
  • dress in layers of clothes, particularly if it is cold outside
  • wear clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty or ruined
  • wear safety work boots or shoes if possible
  • if you have a ‘trade’ please advise us beforehand as we may have a specific requirement for your skills – email info@sklr.net

What are we working on?

  • Premier maintenance
  • Melior maintenance
  • Alpha restoration
  • Superb maintenance
  • Chattenden & Upnor Railway Coach 204 rebuild
  • General maintenance – carriages, wagons, buildings, grounds, track etc.
  • Fitting out the new museum building

The Winter 2024 Work Weekend dates are:

  • Saturday 17th February – Kemsley Down – to be confirmed
  • Sunday 18th February – Kemsley Down – to be confirmed
  • Saturday 2nd March – Kemsley Down – to be confirmed
  • Sunday 3rd March – Kemsley Down – to be confirmed
  • Saturday 16th March – Kemsley Down – to be confirmed
  • Sunday 17th March – Kemsley Down – to be confirmed

Sittingbourne Viaduct platform reconstruction project

The first phase of the platform reconstruction project has been completed and work will resume on Phase 2 in October 2024.

 

Here are pictures of the new platform in use during the Santa Specials – the new higher and wider platform is a huge improvement and enables step-free access from the car park to the train for the first time ever. Phase 2 will see the rest of the platform replaced to this standard, although slightly narrower, and the new ramped access tot he platform from the ticket office finished.

Platform concrete beams provided funded by Swale Borough Council and Ibstock, transport free of charge by Seymour Transportation Ltd.

Kemsley Down

Work will continue as usual on Wednesdays and Saturdays for the Carriage & Wagon Department at Kemsley Down and the Permanent Way on Wednesdays and Sundays at Kemsley Down. The Locomotive Engineering Department work at Kemsley Down most Tuesdays and Saturdays and the Work Weekends detailed above.

There will be hot and cold drinks available at Kemsley Down but please bring your own lunch as there is nowhere close by to buy food. We work from 10am until about 4pm, mostly at Kemsley Down. Email info@sklr.net to arrange access as our site is within Kemsley Paper Mill.