Last Day of Melior in action at the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway @paulravenscroft1704
Last Day of Melior in action at the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway  @paulravenscroft1704
Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
Kerr Stuart 0-4-2ST 'Melior' built in 1924 in action hauling a typical Bowater Paper Mill's mixed train on a photo charter. It was the last day in service for this locomotive as it's boiler ticket expired the following day.
Video footage was taken at various locations along the line, much of it focusing on the the impressive 1km long concrete viaduct near Sittingbourne station.
At the locomotive depot 'Melior' was posed next to long out of traffic and faded 2-6-2T 'Triumph' - an attempt was made to make the latter look like it was in steam by the use of burning oil-soaked rags in the smokebox and a smoke machine hidden under the locomotive!

Many thanks to Martin Creese of 30742 Charters for organising the charter and also to all the railway staff, particularly Joey Evans who ran the event, for making it happen.
Last Day of Melior in action at the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light RailwayCumbres & Toltec Railroad in June 1996 with K36s and K37 number 497British Railways T9 number 30120 and U number 31806 at the Severn Valley Railway in 2012.35006 at the Gloucestershire & Warwickshire Steam RailwayBluebell Railway Gala in May1991Evening Star at the Great Central Railway in 2010Heritage Steam 2008 Part 1British Railways 2-6-2T Class 2MT number 41312 on a mixed train at the Mid Hants Railway in 2016.
Paul Ravenscroft |

Last Day of 'Melior' in action at the Sittingbourne and Kemsley Light Railway

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