Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway

About the museum

The line was built in the early twentieth century by the paper maker Frank Lloyd as a 2 ft 6 in gauge industrial railway. It carried raw materials and paper products between Ridham Dock on the Swale and the Sittingbourne paper mill, and from the mid-1920s it also served the mill at Kemsley. The Milton Regis Viaduct, a long reinforced-concrete structure of 118 spans built in 1914 and 1915, is the best-known feature of the route.

The mill owner closed the railway in 1969 because road transport had become cheaper. The Locomotive Club of Great Britain took over operations in 1970, and the section between Sittingbourne and Kemsley Down has run as a heritage railway since then, while the part towards Ridham Dock was abandoned. Its future was in doubt when the paper mill closed in 2007 and the lease ended in 2009, but an agreement allowed the railway to continue, and the full line reopened to the public in 2012.

Today steam and diesel trains run from Sittingbourne Viaduct station to Kemsley Down, where visitors can use the cafe, shop and play area. The line is run largely by volunteers and holds special events during the season, such as gala weekends and Santa Specials in December.

Highlights

• Steam and diesel trains on a 2 ft 6 in narrow-gauge line
• Milton Regis Viaduct, a long concrete viaduct of 118 spans
• Locomotives from the paper-mill era, such as Premier and Melior
• Kemsley Down station with cafe, shop and picnic and play area
• Gala weekends and Santa Specials

Permanent exhibition

• Kemsley Down museum – A small museum at Kemsley Down about the railway, paper making in Sittingbourne and Edward Lloyd, who founded the original mill.

Admission & discounts

Ordinary 2026 fares. Special fares apply to the Steam & Beer Music Festival and the Santa Specials. Railway members travel free (£2 at some events). Tickets are sold at the Sittingbourne Viaduct ticket office; experiences and Santa Specials are booked online.

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom
• 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

Sittingbourne Viaduct station has step-free access to the platform, and accessible toilet blocks are at Sittingbourne Viaduct and Kemsley Down. Kemsley Down has no public road access.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Baby changing facilities
• Playground / play area

Family fares are available, and events such as the Easter egg hunt, Jack the Station Cat weekend and Wild West weekend are aimed at families. Kemsley Down has a picnic and play area and a toilet block with baby-change facilities. Children's parties can be booked.

Getting there & parking

Use the sat nav postcode ME10 2XD for Sittingbourne Viaduct station; the postal address ME10 2DZ is a PO Box and leads to the post office. From the M2 (junction 5) or M20 (junction 7) follow the A249 towards Sheerness and take the second Sittingbourne exit.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

The Footplate Cafe at Kemsley Down serves drinks, light meals, sandwiches and ice cream, and the Railway Shop sells toys and gifts. A picnic and play area is at Kemsley Down.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties

Trains can be hired privately on other days (minimum charge of £450 per locomotive for 40 passengers, booked two months in advance), and children's parties and a footplate experience are offered.

Plan your visit