Hop aboard a heritage diesel train and take the four-mile round trip between the pretty villages of Shepherdswell and Eythorne. You'll pass through beautiful rolling countryside, steep chalk-lined cuttings and the fascinating 500-m Golgotha Tunnel. Once a thriving industrial line serving the Kent Coalfield, the East Kent Railway is now a wonderful heritage railway with lovingly restored trains, an interactive museum, visitor centre, cafe and woodland walks.
The railway is also home to two signal boxes, one from Barham on the old Elham Valley Line and another from Selling, near Faversham. Both signal boxes house interesting displays on the history of the EKR. The Walmer Model Railway Club is also at the railway and they have an exciting model display in a beautiful LMS coach. Also calling the East Kent Railway home are the 400 Series Preservation Group, Southern Electric Group and the Trolley Bus Group.
EKR runs trains on Sundays from the end of March to the end of October; there is a limited service in winter. Sunday trains currently run at 10.45am, 12pm, 1.30pm and 3pm. Please check the timetable on the EKR website for further details. As well as taking a heritage train ride, visitors can ride the miniature railways around the site - one through the picnic area and another through the woodland.
The Shepherdswell site's cafe is open from 9am-4pm Tuesdays to Sundays, as are the grounds - there's a lovely walk through 'The Knees', a 350-year-old woodland.
EKR is holding several special events in 2023 including:
- Cream Tea Train
- Fish & Chips Train
- Prosecco & Strawberries Train
- Taco & Tequila Mexican Night Train
See their website for dates and booking details.
You can also book a unique Train Driver Experience:
- Exclusive 1:1 train driving experience
- Welcome, introduction and safety briefing
- Get to grips with the controls on a short practice session
- Drive the locomotive for a return trip to Eythorne
- Information and facts about the loco from your experienced instructor
- Invite up to 4 passengers to ride on the train while you drive
- Experiences last around 2 hours
1:1 Train Driving Experience
- Drive a Vanguard Class or Ruston & Hornsby (both ex MoD) diesel shunter - loco type not guaranteed
1:1 Class 8 Train Driving Experience
- Drive a Class 08 locomotive
Contact EKR to find out more.