Whitstable Harbour.

QUOTE (PeteD @ 24 May 2008, 19:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does anyone have any details of the layout of the lines serving Whitstable Harbour ?
I know it was taken over by the SECR in the 20`s and closed in 1952/23, but I have not been able to source any track plans at all.

I am sure that there is someone out there who will have all the answers.......

Thanks,

PeteD.
Hi Pete, after a few days spent in the area last year I got interested in the Crab & Winkle line too. There have been a few books/pamphlets published but nothing in print at the moment. S/H availability is poor too, at least at reasonable prices (£138 for books with less than 100 pages!!). I have come across a copy of B. Hart, The Canterbury & Whitstable Railway; pub 1991 by Wild Swan going for £148 - who can afford those prices, I cant. (I think it was reprinted in 2003 but I still cant find a copy). One book by R L Ratcliffe is said to include maps, others by I Maxted; Rev Fellows if you can trace them.
If anyone can supply track plans I would be interested too.
Regards
David Y

QUOTE (Brian Considine @ 25 May 2008, 07:29) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>I have an idea that BRITHO may have some information on this subject, but he probably won't be on line again till after the weekend.

Quite correct Brian,

Hi Pete I can help a little on this one, there are some details in V. Smith and K. Mitchells "Branch lines around Canterbury" Middleton Press) this is currently in stock at http://www.railwaybook.com/booksmid.htm I also believe that I may have other details in the 1926 published history of the Southern Railway.

On the loco front you are very restricted as only R later R1 class tanks With cut down cabs and boiler fittings wewe ever used.

If memory serves passenger services were withdrawn about 1924 and freight in 1953. It is worthy of note however that the branch became a lifeline immediately after the disastroud floods of 1953 as it was used to transport repair materials to Whitstable after the coast line was destroyed.

Send me a PM if you would like copies of anything I have.

Regards