IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Mount Field, QUEENBOROUGH, ME11 5DB

508025 was one of a few former Merseyrail class 508 units seconded to work in Kent and Surrey for a time until newer stock arrived.

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 from which this photograph was taken 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. This view looks in the direction of Sheerness.

The platform side of the building, with colourful murals painted in the blocked-up windows of the upper floor.

South Eastern 466 unit leaves for Sheerness

Looking in the direction of Sheerness, this was once the terminus of the former Sheppey Light Railway whose trains departed to Leysdown-on-Sea from the far side of the platform on the right. The Sheppey Light Railway operated from 1901 to 1950.

At one time, there was a north-facing bay to the right of the platform the train is approaching (from Sheerness), which was for Sheppey Light Railway trains. According to http://www.sheppeywebsite.co.uk/index.php?id=95 the Sheppey Light Railway opened on 1 August 1901 and closed on 4 December 1950. The total length was 8 miles 52 chains. It ran from Queenborough to Leysdown with intermediate stations at Sheerness East, East Minster-on-Sea (which was actually west of Minster), Minster-on-Sea (they're only given as Minster in the link), Brambledown Halt, Eastchurch and Harty Road Halt. Today, one can trace most of the route from the air and on the Ordnance Survey map (Explorer 149). On the ground, one can find sections overgrown with grass, brambles and trees, sections built over, sections concreted over to form a permanent way or landscaped to form paths for pedestrians.

As seen from the bridge carrying Main Road (B2007) over the tracks. It was interesting to note that the area beyond the car park still had two railway tracks in situ. One running along the back of the platform, the other running along the west side terminating in a buffer stop.