Stations 1 Preserved gauge 2' | Length .2 miles Phone +44 1932 765328 | |
1914-1916 Built as part of the waterworks infrastructure 2013 Reopen as passenger railway Address Snakey Ln, Feltham TW13 6XH, UK Hours Open today · 10:30AM–4PMSunday10:30AM–4PMMondayClosedTuesdayClosedWednesdayClosedThursdayClosedFridayClosedSaturdayClosed Locale London Borough of Hounslow | ||
The Kempton Steam Railway is a 2 ft (610 mm) narrow gauge Steam Railway that opened in 2013, giving rides to the public, based on a former industrial railway - there is only one other place in the London area giving rides on steam trains this large, London Museum of Water & Steam.
Contents
History
The original 2 ft gauge railway, known as the Metropolitan Water Board Railway, was built between 1914 and 1916 to carry coal from wharves on the River Thames to the pumping stations at Hampton and Kempton Park. In 1945 the line closed. The trackbed became a road for maintenance workers. This secret railway, which carried 760 tons of coal a week, faded from memory, except for an occasional magazine article, until 2003. In May of that year the Metropolitan Water Board Railway Society was formed with the intention of re-opening the railway using as much of the original trackbed as possible to build a 2 ft gauge passenger carrying line between Hampton and the Kempton Great Engine House.
Progress, and Opening Dates
The 2 foot gauge venue is now open to passenger rides on a covered carriage that seats four abreast, and has proper accommodation for a wheelchair, with an access ramp. The first section of track is a loop, opening on selected weekends outside of winter. The steam locomotive being used is “Darent”, built in 1903 (formerly of Provan Gas Works, Glasgow). Two diesel locomotives have just been purchased and delivered from a mine in Indonesia; they are in working order, but subject to some further restoration, so all rides are currently steam-pulled. A very rare heritage Ransomes & Rapier crane has also been restored, and is the only one in Britain in working order. The same venue also features, separately from the trains, the very large Kempton Park Steam Engines. These, each weighing 1,000 tonnes, are the same steam engines as used in old ships such as the Titanic, and are in steam (operating) on selected weekends. Public openings of the steam railway, for rides (£2 per adult, £1 per child), are on Sundays outside of winter, plus selected Saturdays (the same Saturdays that the great pumping engines are in steam), and a short period prior to Christmas for "Santa Specials".
Initially, prior to the very generous enduring loan of the beautiful steam engine "Darent", the project was generously loaned a suitable steam engine by the museum formerly known as the Kew Bridge Steam Museum, now known as the London Museum of Water & Steam - enabling the Kempton Railway to open on schedule in May 2013. The London Museum of Water & Steam also has a 400-yard section of 2 foot gauge track, operational every weekend, which comprises the only other place in the London area where rides on steam trains of this size can be taken.
The Future
The planned second phase of the railway will involve the construction of a further three miles of track, leading from the existing loop towards the Upper Sunbury Road, Hampton. This track will pass a reservoir with good bird-watching opportunities. The land on which the restored trackbed, if permission is granted, would lie (largely based on the original trackbed, but with some finesse being needed in one or two areas), is owned by Thames Water, who have been truly excellent and generous landlords to the project. Their chief executive even attended the opening of this railway in 2013, along with Sir William McAlpine, 6th Baronet. As at 2014, negotiations are in progress with Thames Water, with the aim of securing a lease for the remainder of the route, after which track construction could commence.