Many Victorian waterworks had their own railway and at the Museum this is demonstrated by a short line featuring the steam locomotive Cloister, which is owned by the Hampshire Narrow Gauge Railway Trust.
The museum's railway is inspired by the Hampton to Kempton Park coal railway built and operated by the Metropolitan Water Board between 1916 and 1946. Coal was delivered by barge to the MWB wharf on the river Thames at Hampton and moved by three steam locomotives to the boilerhouses of the Hampton and Kempton Park waterworks.
The engines were built by the Kerr Stuart Locomotive Company and were named "Hampton", "Kempton" and "Sunbury". None of the engines have survived, but Kew Bridge Steam Museum has one locomotive headlamp and shunter's lantern in its collections. Some of the trackwork is now incorporated in the museum's demonstration line. We also have an extensive photo collection of the lines at Hampton and Kempton Park.
Our passenger carriage now also features a wheelchair accessible compartment, allowing greater access to our railway rides.
Special Events at the Museum during 2007:
March 25th, Stirling and Hot Air Engine Rally
April 28th & 29th, Kew Bridge Model Boat Show
May 20th, Historic Fire Engine Rally
July 21st & 22nd, Festival of Model Tramways
August 25th, 26th & 27th, Waterworks at War
October 6th & 7th, Model Steam Extravaganza
November 17th & 18th, Live Steam Model Railway Show -- www.kbsm.org
Posted March 8th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
