This was posted on Scot-Rail forum

Tony James wrote:

The Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway, fairly unique in being 2 foot 6 inch gauge has carried passengers along two miles of the former Bowater’s Railway for 39 years, the line having first opened in 1905. The landowners Messrs Mreal are pulling out of the UK altogether and having closed Sittingbourne paper mill, and the land is up for sale in one package, a redundant paper mill and what is now named as a ‘two mile service corridor’, or what is currently a light railway. The railway often known as Sittingbourne’s Steam Railway has been given notice to quit effective 28th January, 2009. This in practice means that the line will close after service on Boxing Day, 2008. The railway is receiving no support from the local authority, Swale Borough Council despite being the largest tourist attraction in the borough. They would rather see the longest narrow gauge railway viaduct in Western Europe swept away and replaced by housing and industry. More information on the railway, its timetable and its campaign for survival can be found at Only registered users can see links on this forum! Register or Login on forum! where there is also a downloadable ‘Save Our Steam railway’ poster.

In my role as a "Liability Surveyor" I have visited sites adjacent to the railway but have never seen it in operation. However apart from its history and uniqueness there is very little to be said for it for its route has no scenic attractions nor is Sittingbourne a tourist fly trap.

So the key element is to ensure that the stock and any small items of infrastructure are preserved and hopefully used elsewhere.

Still, it's a sad piece of news and my heart goes out to all those volunteers who's endeavours have been to so little avail.

The railway was the only thing that gave an otherwise drab town any point of interest.

JG