Latest news 2009

June 2009

The month starts with a superb Bus Rally , held in association with Dover Transport Museum and achieves record breaking attendance figures. In all some 20 heritage buses in attendance with at least 4 on excursion duties.

Work begins by Steve Smith and Josh Watkins on restoring the much loved Class 205 DEMU known throughout the railway as "Thumper" .This unit is hoped to be back into service by 2010 providing much needed backup to the

DMU 101 as well as providing extra variety and interest on the railway. For details of this restoration please see the link on the current projects page.

The AGM is to held on Saturday 20th June at Shepherdswell Village Hall commencing at 2.15pm. Among the items on the agenda will be the nominations for the positions of Chairman, Volunteer Co-ordinator,Community Liason Clerk,Secretary/Roster Clerk & Events Officer . All paid up members of the railway are invited to attend.

21st June 2009

Bob Baines - Re-elected as Chairman

Jeremy Hall - re-elected as Community Liason Clerk

 Jeff White - re-elected as Secretary/Roster Clerk

Alan Coe - re-elected as Volunteer Co-ordinator

Tim Upcroft - Elected as new Events Officer

Congratulations to them all

It is with great sadness that I have to inform of the untimely death of Ben Andrews at the age of 32. Ben was one of the most amiable and likeable volunteers ever to grace the railway and he will be sorely missed. It is intended to set up a tribute page for Ben in the near future. Our thoughts are with his family.

13th July 2009

The EKR features on Meridian Television primetime as part of a feature on the North Downs Way with shots of Shepherdswell Station and several locos including Richborough Castle. Despite not having the glamour of a destination town such as Tunbridge Wells or Minehead our railway at least features as a good destination on both the North Downs Way and Mining Trail walks gaining much prominence with the local tourist boards.

Tribute page to Ben Andrews now established , link button on front page of site - beautifully written by Neil Jackson and echoing the settiments of everyone who was lucky enough to meet Ben

15th July 2009

We were delighted today to play host to Shepherdswell Pre-School , with the arrival of 10 teachers/assistants and 20 children. The impeccably behaved children were treated to rides on the miniature railway, a visit to the model railway carriage and as a spur of the moment decision - a ride up to Eythorne Station and back on the DMU. We thoroughly enjoyed having the school visiting and would welcome them back whenever they would like to visit again. I am sure we spotted a few budding train drivers !!! A big well done to all the volunteers who turned out to make it such an enjoyable occasion .

9th August 2009

The Summer Teddies picnic though fighting against a wealth of other special events around the county and glorious beach weather managed to register record breaking fare revenues - up 33% on the previous year. Customer feedback was very encouraging and we welcomed many new visitors to the railway. Special thanks to Clive for supply of his excellent teddy poems which really gave the bears personnalities and being right up to date with 'Bling Bear' and 'Mobile Bear' and Josh for braving the summer heat as a great Sooty. All of the other volunteers it goes without saying - well done to you all for putting on another brilliant weekends service and for making this the 6th Record breaking special event of the year. Now onto the Beer festival and hoping for another success here ...a great way to spend a Bank Holiday Weekend

31st August 2009

Our first ever beer festival has just ended and was a huge success from start to finish - the railway really surpassed its already high standards of professionalism.presentation and customer care. Eythorne looked magnificent with a beautiful marquee , outside tables and chairs and a BBQ area.Coupled with glorious summer weather we welcomed so many new faces to the railway to sample 8 different real ales and 2 ciders and there simply isn't enough room to thank all of the staff involved but special mention must go to John Kemp who acted as security, Bar manager and DJ and without whom the event would not have been possible.Also Johns friends Julian & Jacqui , nephew Darren and Kevin who gave up their time to help our railway and who were superb throughout.Johns friends are most certainly now our friends and it was an honour to meet them. Clive was magnificent running the BBQ throughout and produced top quality food enjoyed by literally hundreds - customer feedback was overwhelming in every aspect and without doubt we will running the event same time next year with the addition of curry nights on the Saturday and Sunday.

So many thanks once again to each and every one and of course to Neil who stayed down for over a week and whose enthusiasm always inspires.

2nd November 2009

Halloween has now just been and gone and proved to be yet another huge success. This was our most ambitious event yet

and required a complete re-wire of the tunnel to provide a glittering array of different displays and effects from dancing pumpkins to flying Bats and a witches cauldron that blew out smoke through a beam of light !!! Coupled with a creepy carriage packed with interactive props, a werewolf in a cage that kids(young and old) fired water pistols at,a superbly decorated Buffet and on the Saturday night our first ever halloween disco and BBQ and quite simply you had without doubt the best Halloween event for many a mile.

A huge workload went in to making this the success it was and special mention must be given to John Kemp,Neil Jackson and Josh Watkins who worked tirelessly with me to set the event up and of course a huge vote of thanks to Ron and Jill Norris, Mary Clemson( For putting up with me and for doing such a wonderful job of promotion)Clive Wallace,Alan Coe , John Griffiths,Margaret Stirling,Wendy Sapsed,Tony Wale,Roger Bradshaw,Peter Harris,Karl,Tom,Kevin,John Tittensor,Brendan Gash,Mark Norris,Pamela Baines,Bob Field and Aprilia Kemp.

Now roll on the Santas to finish off one of our best ever years..

Registered Charity No. 1095790

Station Road, Shepherdswell, Dover, Kent, CT15 7PD