Welcome aboard!

Welcome to the 41st Sittingbourne’s Steam Railway Newsletter.

Season Suspended

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Sittingbourne's Steam Railway will remain closed until further notice. The Railway is also closed to our volunteers and all work suspended.

Due to the ongoing pandemic and based on Government advice, the Railway is likely to be closed until further notice.

The Board of Trustees will continue to monitor the situation but given the current near 'lock down' it is obvious that we are unable to open at this time.

As soon as a reopening date is known, it will be published in the Newsletter and on our website, Facebook Page, Twitter, Tumblr, Google Business and Instagram accounts.

Many of our working members are key workers, we thank them for their work and hope they remain safe and well.

Some of our volunteers are also over 70 or have underlying health issues, stay at home to be safe - if you have any problems getting food or medication email info@sklr.net and we'll see if we can find a way of getting it to you.

Everyone else, stay at home (except for your daily exercise and weekly shop, of course) and keep washing those hands!

Chin up, we'll all be playing trains again soon!

Do you fancy a virtual steam-up?

As we are all confined to our engine sheds, would you like to meet up online to discuss the Railway? You don't have to be a member, it's open to everyone.

This is a good opportunity to catch up, talk trains (doesn't have to be S&K) and spread the word about our friendly little railway at the same time. It will be a bit like everyone sitting together in the Footplate Café having lunch during a Work Weekend.

I am working from home at the moment but continuing to work a 4-day week, with Wednesdays being my day off.

Would anyone like to join me for a Skype chat on Wednesday? Please click on the button below to email me with the time of day you would prefer and I'll see what I can organise.

Paul

Let's chat!

Donations

As with all heritage railways in these troubling times, we will be short of money due to the late start of the Season, this will affect us more this year as Milton Regis Viaduct will need its two-yearly maintenance next winter, which costs in the region of £20,000.

This money usually comes from the fare-box, sales and catering. As it is our 50th Anniversary of Public Trains, we were hoping the various special events and private hires would pay for this work but it is not likely to be enough.

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:

Milton Regis Viaduct Maintenance

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

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Photo of the Week

Nigel hard at work between the frames of Superb.
With the boiler out, he has space to get some other maintenance work completed.
The water tanks on either side of the boiler are being rubbed down for repainting before the boiler is returned to the locomotive (in fact, they are already painted in undercoat).

Photo: Paul B

We hope you enjoyed this 41st Sittingbourne's Steam Railway Newsletter -
please send feedback, news stories and photos for Photo of the Week to newsletter@sklr.net

We wish you and your family well during this crisis - stay safe