Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway

10/06/2026

This Sunday we are hosting Ideas Test and Dan Thompson who has been our Writer in Residence for the last year. This will be Dan's last event as the year draws to a close.

Usual fares apply, trains depart Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm.

07/06/2026

A massive thank you to all our wonderful volunteers for keeping us running day in, day out.

This is one of our youngest crews but we have members of all ages working at the Railway - so if you are looking for a new hobby, why not come down and find out more.

We have roles from maintaining to operating trains, selling tickets, working in the shop or catering or just working behind the scenes.

This year, we are also celebrating - 75 years of volunteering across the heritage railway sector.

What do you get from volunteering? You really make a difference - you see the smiles of people enjoying themselves, meet new people and work in a friendly team.

Email [email protected] for more information or pop to the Railway and we’ll show you around.

05/06/2026

That’s a scene that’s changed a bit!

Following on from the Bowaters locomotive picture yesterday, here is a view of the last journey, in 1969, before the locomotives were retired by Bowaters and handed over to the Locomotive Club of Great Britain. It was the end of an era, but not the end of the line, as you can still visit Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light railway (SKLR) another great local attraction run by hardworking volunteers. (Photo SHM EKG negatives archive 1969)

04/06/2026

Handover Day - Bowater’s wanted the railway to survive so handed it over to the Locomotive Club of Great Britain. Three years later, the LCGB created the Sittingbourne & Kemsley Light Railway and we’ve been operating and maintaining it ever since.

A piece of Bowaters history this evening. Retired locomotive Triumph being handed over to the Locomotive Club of Great Britain, October 1969. (Photo SHM EKG negatives archive 1969)

30/05/2026

No pirates in sight, but the trains are still chugging along on 30/31 May 2026 🚂 Don't miss out on the adventure!

30/05/2026

No pirates in sight, but the trains are still chugging along on 30/31 May 2026 🚂 Don't miss out on the adventure! 🌟 via ripl.com

27/05/2026

This weekend’s Pirate Weekend is cancelled due to circumstances beyond our control. Pre-booked passengers have already been contacted via TicketSource, our ticketing agent.

We will be operating the Green Timetable instead so trains will depart Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm on both days.

We are sorry for any disappointment this has caused, a similar event, Wild West Weekend will be held at the end of July.

25/05/2026

How much does it cost? One of the most understandable and frequently asked questions.

Our return fares this year are:
£10 adults
£9 seniors
£5 children (aged 3-15) - under 3s go free
£27 family (2 adults and up to 4 children)

Our Footplate Café is open too - the photos show the price list - and our shop has a range of affordable souvenirs and gifts. The Café has air conditioning.

Trains today (bank holiday Monday 25th May) depart Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 12pm, 1pm, 2pm, 3pm & 4pm.

Trains return from Kemsley Down at 12.35pm, 1.35pm, 2.35pm, 3.35pm & 4.45pm.

ℹ️www.sklr.net

18/02/2026

Raybel charters have an open day this Sunday from 11am at Lloyds Wharf, Sittingbourne. Here's an image from our collection of Lloyds Wharf in it's industrial heyday. Once full of life and activity, the creek enabled our biggest industries, like Lloyds paper mills, to transport raw materials in from, and their products out to, the wider world.

30/01/2026

In all likelihood, the last ever talk from The Sittingbourne Society. come and join us at the Methodist Church It's free!