The Isle of Sheppey in deepest. darkest Kent used to have some very interesting railways.
Queenborough used to be one of the main channel ports with it's own station on the pier. The footbridge being the last visible remains until demolished in the early 80's if memory serves.
The present Queenborough station used to be the starting point for one of Col. Stephens light railways which ran from Queenborough to Leysdown.
There were several small branches which ran from the South from Queenborough station. Some of which still exist. The branches to the Glue Works and the Glassworks have been tarmacked (spelling) over.
The branch that still exists ends at about a mile West of Queenborough at a place locally called the Coalwasher. The branch is served by several small shunters. Probably 04's, but I can't be sure. For a short time in the early 70's there was also a saddle tank running. I don't know what type it was.
Sheerness used to be an important naval base with it's own station at Blue Town. So called because the town was painted with blue paint stolen from the dockyard.
Inside the dockyard there were lots of little lines, especially of interest were the ones for imported sherry etc. Just outside the warehouses there were y little wagon turntables shaped like a +.
Sheerness Steel ,which took over the land formerly occupied by Blue Town station, also had a small railway system. It has also now closed.
Trains used to run from Sheerness to either London or Sittinbourne alternately every 30 mins. Now, sadly, there is only an hourly service to Sittinbourne every hour. Except for one train in the morning to London which returns in the evening.
Notable historical facts. Lord Nelson and Lady Hamilton had a house at Queenborough. The Isle of Sheppey was the last part of Britain to be invaded. (Dutch) Eastchurch was the site of the first powered flight in Britain. The Battleship Bulwark blew up off Sheerness during WWI. Sheerness was the starting point for Operation Dynamo, the Dunkirk little ships. The munitions Liberty ship Richard Montgomery sunk in the channel off Sheerness in 1944. There she still lies. It is said that if her cargo goes bang, the resulting explosion will be like a small atomic bomb.
The island has little of interest today. The local inhabitants being known by the name 'Swampies'.
Teleman
Is it not an island any more ? I seem to remember hearing something on the radio about realy big green housies they were putting up there to grow veg in as its good growing soil there
poliss
At some very low tides it isn't an island. If swamps are good for growing veg in, then yes, it will be good for growing them.
y little wagon turntables shaped like a +.