Ashford Steam Centre

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Ashford Steam Centre
Ashford Steam Centre is located in Kent
Ashford Steam Centre
Ashford Steam Centre in Kent
Established 1968
Dissolved 1976
Location Willesborough, Ashford, Kent
TR 021 416
Coordinates Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
Type Operational railway museum
Founder Esmond Lewis-Evans
Owner British Railways Board
[ ]
Ashford Steam Centre
South Eastern Main Line
to Tonbridge
Maidstone East Line
Ashford West
Ashford
Marshlink Line to Hastings
to Ramsgate
via Canterbury West
Ashford Steam Centre
South Eastern Main Line
to Folkestone Central

Ashford Steam Centre was a short-lived railway museum at Willesborough, Ashford, Kent, United Kingdom. It was located at the former engine shed that was situated east of Ashford railway station. The museum opened in 1968 and closed in 1976.

History

Ashford Steam Centre was established by Esmond Lewis-Evans.[1] It occupied the former engine shed that was located east of Ashford railway station. The shed, with its turntable, coaling stage and water tower had been built by the Southern Railway in 1931. It ceased to be used for the servicing of steam locomotives in June 1962, following which it was used to service diesel locomotives. The steam centre was established in 1968.[2] On 11 April 1971, the Southern Electric Group organised the Man of Kent '71 railtour, which visited the steam centre. Class 71 locomotive E5005 and 4TC set 427 were used.[3]

In 1974, the centre was open once a month, on the second Sunday of the month. At the time, there were around a dozen locomotives on site.[4] Due to mounting debts, the steam centre was closed May 1976 and its rolling stock was dispersed.[5][6] The engine shed and surrounding area were cleared in 1989, with the area being used for the storage of motor vehicles.[2]

Rolling stock

The following items of rolling stock were based at Ashford Steam Centre.

Locomotives

Origin Wheel
arrangement		 Class Notes Photograph
SECR 0-6-0 C No 592. Moved to the Bluebell Railway post closure.[1] 150px
SECR 0-4-4T H No. 263, running in plain green livery.[7][8] Following closure, the locomotive was transferred to the Bluebell Railway.[9] 150px
SR 4-6-2 MN No 35028 Clan Line, running in full British Railways lined green livery.[10] 150px
SR 4-6-0 N15 No 777 Sir Lamiel.[11] 150px
SECR 0-6-0 O1 No. 65, running in plain green livery.[7] Bought from British Railways by Lewis-Evans in 1968. Moved to a site in Kent post-closure, then to the Bluebell Railway in 1996.[1] 150px
LMS 4-6-0 Black Five No. 45110, running in British Railways black livery. 150px
Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST Acquired from Blue Circle, Swanscombe by the Gravesend Railway Enthusiast's Society. Moved to Colne Valley Railway in May 1976.[6]
Hawthorn Leslie 0-4-0ST Singapore, Ex-HMNB Chatham. Moved to Rutland Railway Museum post-closure.[12] 150px
CF du Nord 4-6-0 3.513 De Glehn compound No 3.628. Built in 1908 for the CF du Nord, which became part of SNCF on nationalisation. Imported from France in the early 1970s. To Nene Valley Railway post-closure, where it worked the inaugural train. Sold to the Science Museum, London but later sold to a private owner. The locomotive was returned to France for restoration at Longueville, Seine-et-Marne by AJECTA.[13] 150px

Multiple units

Origin Class Notes Photograph
SR 4RES DMBTO No.11161. Returned to service in 2012 as part of 4COR unit 3402 on the East Kent Railway.[14][15]
SR 4DD Unit No. 4902, British Rail blue livery. Class 4DD no 4902 at Ashford Steam Centre.jpg
SR 5BEL Pullman First No S280S Audrey.[16] British Rail blue and grey livery.[17] To East Somerset Railway in May 1978. Sold in 1980 for use in the Venice-Simplon Orient Express.[16] 150px

Carriages

Origin Number Type Notes Photograph
SECR 950 Birdcage brake Built for the South Eastern & Chatham Railway's boat trains, with the introduction of the new corridor boat train in the early years of the Southern Railway, it was then kept as a spare, downgraded to third class. It subsequently found use in one of the Eastern Section's 'long' sets until converted into a mess van on withdrawal.[citation needed] Moved to a farm near Ashford in 1983, then to the Bluebell Railway in September 1998. It is stored unserviceable on the Bluebell Railway.[8][18]
Pullman No 243 Lucille Parlour First Built in 1928 by Metro Cammell for the LNER Queen of the Scots service. Transferred in 1963 to the Southern Region of British Railways for use on the Bournemouth Belle. Withdrawn in 1967 and arrived at Ashford the following year. Following closure, Lucille remained on site until she was sold in May 1985 for use on the Venice-Simplon Orient Express.[5][7][19] 150px
Pullman No 306 Orion Built in 1951 for use on the Golden Arrow. Withdrawn on 1 October 1972 and arrived at Ashford later that month. Moved to Peco Modelrama, Beer, Devon post-closure.[20] 150px
Pullman No 238 Phyllis Parlour First Built for the LNER in 1928. Arrived at Ashford in 1968. Moved to Molash, Kent in 1983 and subsequently to Shottenden. Stored at the Bluebell Railway in 1997. Sold to the Venice-Simplon Orient Express in 2000.[21]
Pullman No 43 Sapphire Built for the SECR in 1910, rebuilt in 1937. To Lavender Line in 1984. Sold in 1988 to a private owner and used in a restaurant at Seaburn, Tyne and Wear.[6][22]
NSB 1001 Four-wheel brake Moved to the Great Central Railway post-closure. Later moved to Bressingham, Norfolk.[23]

Other items of rolling stock

Origin Number Type Notes Photograph
Smith's, Rodley Steam crane. [6]

References

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