East Kent Railway
Heritage railway on a former Kent coalfield line between Shepherdswell and Eythorne, with a small museum, visitor centre and model railway.
Have only individual sections read aloud
About the museum
The East Kent Railway was built between 1911 and 1917 to serve the Kent Coalfield and was designed to light railway standards by the engineer Colonel H. F. Stephens. The first passengers were carried in 1916. Passenger services were withdrawn in 1928 on part of the line and completely on 1 November 1948, but coal traffic from Shepherdswell to Tilmanstone Colliery continued until the colliery closed in 1986 and the line shut in 1987.
The East Kent Railway Society was formed in 1985 to save the remaining two and a quarter miles. Volunteers began clearing the line in 1989, and a Light Railway Order in 1993 allowed passenger trains to run again. A replica station building, car parks, toilets, a cafe and picnic areas were added at Shepherdswell, and a new station was built at Eythorne. It became a charitable trust in 2003.
Today it runs a four-mile round trip between the two villages, through chalk cuttings and Golgotha Tunnel. The site includes a small museum, a visitor centre in a signal box from Barham, a second signal box from Selling, a WW2 trench system and the Walmer Model Railway club in an LMS coach.
Highlights
- Four-mile heritage railway journey through Golgotha Tunnel
- Visitor centre in a signal box built in 1887
- Small railway museum with interactive displays and an OO model railway
- Heritage rolling stock including vintage Southern electric trains
- WW2 trench system and miniature railways
Permanent exhibitions
- EKR Museum – A small museum and artefact viewing area with classic railway items, interactive displays and an OO model railway built by a local resident.
- Visitor Centre – A signal box from Barham station on the Elham Valley Line, built in 1887, holding original levers, station benches and a history of the East Kent Railway.
- Walmer Model Railway – A model railway layout run by the Walmer Model Railway Club in an LMS coach.
- Operated by
- East Kent Railway Trust
Admission & discounts
| Adults | £12 |
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| Reduced | £8Concessions |
| Children & teens | £8 |
| Families | £35Two adults and two children. |
Prices are for train tickets. Special events and discounted days are announced on the railway's Facebook page.
Accessibility
- Partially wheelchair accessible
- Elevator: no information
- Accessible restroom: no information
- Accessible parking: no information
- Service dogs welcome: no information
- Tactile models & exhibits: no information
- Sign language tours: no information
- Easy-to-read materials: no information
- Audio description: no information
The railway is a heritage site and many paths are rough-surfaced but suitable for standard wheelchairs. The cafe, model railway and museum are accessible for wheelchair users and people with limited mobility. Ramps allow wheelchairs and motorised wheelchairs up to a combined weight of 150 kg onto the trains, but some older carriages have no space for wheelchairs, so it is best to check before travelling.
Kids & families
Great for kids & families
| Family ticket | £35 · Two adults and two children. |
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- Family tours & workshops
- Hands-on stations
The museum has interactive displays, and there are miniature railways in The Knees Woodland. Family tickets are available, and Easter trails and seasonal train events run through the year.
Getting there & parking
By car
Parking available
Car parks at the Shepherdswell station site.
The railway is on Station Road, Shepherdswell. Journeys can be planned through Raildays.
Get directionsAmenities & dining
- Café
Colonel's Cafe at Shepherdswell and the Platform 5 Bar; toilet blocks and picnic areas on site.
Events & venue rental
The museum hasn’t published any information on this.
Plan your visit
| Good to know | Driver experience days, party bookings and special events such as Santa trains, a Halloween train and a beer and cider festival are offered. |
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