Two Kentish freight lines for ‘Doctor Syn’ excursion

KENT has very few freightonly lines, but the two key ones will be visited on October 30 by UK Railtours’ ‘The Doctor Syn’.

The tour starts in East Midlands railway town Derby, then calls at

East Midlands Parkway, Leicester, Kettering, Bedford and St Albans

City before traversing the London suburbs by way of Dudding Hill, Acton, Kew and Lewisham.

The first freight line to be visited will be the 11-mile Isle of Grain branch, which closed to passengers in 1961 but is still quite active for freight. Retracing steps, the tour then runs via Lee, Swanley, Maidstone East and to Ashford where a short break will be taken. Then it is south towards Appledore, where the second freight line to Lydd Town and Dungeness is taken.

The train formation will be Mk.2 blue and grey stock ‘top-and-tailed’ by DB Cargo Class 66s. As we closed for press, this tour was proving popular with only First Class non-dining seats at £139 available. More at ukrailtours.com or by calling 01438 715050.