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Sittingbourne's Steam Railway Newsletter
Week 07 2020 - 10-16th February 2020

Welcome aboard!

Welcome to the 39th Sittingbourne’s Steam Railway Newsletter.

Happy (belated) New Year!

Sorry for the gap in editions of the newsletter. I’ve spent the last month updating the website and preparing for the coming season. Hopefully, the pressure will have reduced enough now to get back to normal. Whatever that is!

Paul

Work Weekends

We have been continuing with the fortnightly Work Weekends, which have been very popular and productive.

Work is progressing well on the new wheelchair-accessible toilet and pathway to it, lots of work has been carried out on Coach 657 which is in the process of being reskinned inside and out, Premier and Superb are being readied for a return to service this year plus all the other general maintenance that is required to prepare the Railway for the season ahead.

A big thank you to the new volunteers who have been helping out at the Railway, the photos speak for themselves when you see the amount of work they have achieved.

This weekend is not a Work Weekend, that’s next week, but if you are interested in helping out, email info@sklr.net and we’ll arrange to meet you.

Work progressing on concreting the pathway to the new wheelchair-accessible toilet building
Bowaters Coach 657 has had its seats removed and work started on removing the skin of the walls
the Mill-side walls have been stripped
the Creek-side has also been stripped and new crossbeams fitted because the outside is going to be tongue-in-groove planking
Barton Hall is undergoing an external transformation - it is being rubbed down
you can see the original yellow paint through the green as it is rubbed down - it will be repainted in black
work is progressing well on the restoration of Premier, this is the front view
the cab is being rebuilt in this view of the rear
some new volunteers really got to work on the overgrowth behind the museum and back roads at Kemsley Down - this is the before photo (photo: Michael Day)
this is the after photo. Lots of plant pots were found so we will reuse some of the good ones for the potting fun on Good Friday (photo: Michael Day)

Work Weekends

Donations

The best way to donate money to the Railway is by using Just Giving and add any preference for use of the funds in the message box.
The main projects we are raising funds for at the moment are:

Premier Back-dating Project

Alpha Restoration Project

SOS - Sort Out Sittingbourne

Don’t forget to add Gift Aid if you are a UK taxpayer as this gives us even more money per donation.

Donate Now

Membership

Sittingbourne’s Steam Railway is run entirely by volunteers so new members are always welcome, whether actively volunteering at the railway or to support our work. Members receive unlimited free travel on the railway and regular issues of the railway’s magazine “The New Bogie”.

Extra help is always welcome with all aspects of running the railway; from train operating staff (no experience necessary) to restoring and maintaining buildings, track, carriages and locomotives. You can also assist with gardening, painting, selling tickets, refreshments and souvenirs. Whatever your age and interests and however little time you can spare, Sittingbourne’s Steam Railway would like to hear from you!

You don’t even have to be interested in trains – if you’ve a passion for local history, talking to people or even washing up, we can find you something to do!

Adult Membership: £21
Junior Membership: £5
Family Membership: £40
Life Membership: £400
Life Membership (Over 60): £200
Family Life Membership (available to 2 adults living at the same address): £600

Please e-mail us at info@sklr.net if you require any further information about membership.

Membership

What's going on?

This month (February):

Saturday 22nd – Work Weekend – Works Train departs Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 10am, returning at about 4pm
Sunday 23rd – Work Weekend – Works Train departs Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 10am, returning at about 4pm

Next month (March):

Saturday 7th – Work Weekend – Works Train departs Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 10am, returning at about 4pm
Sunday 8th – Work Weekend – Works Train departs Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 10am, returning at about 4pm
Saturday 21st – Work Weekend – Works Train departs Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 10am, returning at about 4pm
Saturday 21st - 'Our Shared Heritage' - Swale Heritage Forum & Conference, The Appleyard, Avenue of Remembrance, Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4DE. 9.30am start, £5 admission, includes refreshments and lunch
Sunday 22nd – Work Weekend – Works Train departs Sittingbourne Viaduct station at 10am, returning at about 4pm
Sunday 22nd – The Holiday & Leisure Show – free tourism event at The Kent Event Centre, Kent Showground, Detling, ME14 3JF, 10am-4pm.

Newsletter feedback

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Photo of the Week

A few months ago we saw Raybel passing Kemsley Down on Milton Creek arriving for the first time in many decades.
This is her berthed alongside the new Dolphin Sailing Barge Museum close to Sittingbourne Viaduct station.
We will be working with Raybel and the team on promotion and events as the year progresses.
Photo: Paul B

We hope you enjoyed this 39th Sittingbourne's Steam Railway Newsletter -
please send feedback, news stories and photos for Photo of the Week to newsletter@sklr.net

SKLR members - don’t forget to renew your membership!

Membership