Queenborough station

Image: © Marathon Taken: 28 May 2016

The line was opened on 19th July 1860 by the Sittingbourne & Sheerness Railway (S&SR), a nominally independent company which had powers to construct a branch line from Sittingbourne across the Swale to a terminus near the entrance of Sheerness Dockyard. The line was worked from the outset by the London, Chatham & Dover Railway which absorbed the S&SR in 1876. Queenborough station opened on the same day. On 15th May 1876, Queenborough became a junction station with the opening of a short spur to Queenborough Pier to serve steam ship services. A second line was added on 1st August 1901 with the opening of the Sheppey Light Railway across the Isle of Sheppey to Leysdown. The iron footbridge seen here was erected at the southern end of the platforms to facilitate passengers changing between the main line and branch services. Services on the Sheppey Light Railway ceased as from 4th December 1950. Until the opening of Swale Halt in 1922, Queenborough was the only intermediate station on the Sheerness Line. The line through Queenborough was electrified and the platforms were lengthened in 1959 as part of phase I of the Kent Coast Electrification.

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