West Court Downs

Shepherdswell station was the southern terminus of the East Kent Light Railway. The line was constructed between 1911 and 1917 to serve the Kent Coalfields. It opened on 16th October 1916 and closed to passenger traffic on 30th October 1948. The normal practice was to run coaches into the station under gravity. Shepherdswell was the location of the engine shed and works, and a large number of sidings. The station reopened as part of the East Kent Railway in 1993. Trains now run from here to Eythorne – see Link The shunter seen here was originally at the Brett Aggregates site at Cliffe in North Kent. It can be seen in its previous location at Link

The house was built on the site of TR2647 : The Forge, 83, Church Hill.

Four 4-bedroom semi-detached houses with parking are to be constructed on the site.

With a destination blind still showing ‘Metro Centre’ (Gateshead) preserved Class 142 ‘Pacer’ unit number 142 036 is far from its last operational base in the north-east. Pictured at the reconstructed Shepherdswell station on the East Kent Railway, the unit is awaiting the 13:30 departure to Eythorne while railway volunteers and visitors enjoy a chat on the platform.

The gap between the gate and a storage container adjacent to the East Kent Railway car park appears at first glance to reveal a section of double track main line railway. However the short lengths of well ballasted track behind the fence are isolated and only used for training railway personnel. The ‘uneven ground’ sign warns of the unstable ballast slope beyond the gate.

The colour light signal is on the East Kent Railway platform at Shepherdswell Station. In the background preserved rolling stock is stored or undergoing restoration.

Looking from the road from Wootton to Shepherdswell.

It looks like wheat.

Heading out of the village towards Woolage Green.

Towards Woolage Green.

Oil-seed Rape.

Off Westcourt Lane.

Looking towards Woolage Green.

The hedge is an administrative boundary - Canterbury this side, Dover the other.

The road some way along was dug up for gas purposes.