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Latest News
EMU Days at the EKR 19th / 20th September 2009
The 2009 EMU Weekend will be held at the East Kent Railway on September 19th / 20th 2009.
Trains leave Shepherdswell each day at 11.00, 12.30, 13.30 and 15.15.
The 11.00 and 15.15 services will use Motor Luggage Van S68001 and 2EPB 5759. The two lunchtime trains will use MLV S68002 and 4CEP 7105, with a bar open in the buffet car.
The 15.15 service will operate under electric power for much of the outward journey.
In addition to the normal EKR facilities there will be the EPB Group's sales stand selling a wide range of books, DVDs and gifts. Normal day rover fares apply, Adults £7, Senior £6, Child £4 and family £18.
MLV S68009 arrives from the Colne Valley Railway
On Friday 16th January 2009, Motor Luggage Van (MLV) S 68009 arrived at the East Kent Railway from the Colne Valley Railway. S 68009 joins its other classmates S68001, S68002 and S68008 already on the railway and is now in the care of the EPBPG.
EMU Days 20th & 21st September 2008 - Happy 50th Birthday 7105!
The major two day event at the East Kent Railway saw the celebration of 7105's 50th birthday and all five of our units in operation in passenger service. On Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st the EPB Preservation Group held the big annual EMU event where passengers could ride upon historic electric trains operating under their own power, unassisted by any locomotive, a first in preservation on a heritage line. This was achieved on Saturday with Motor Luggage Van (MLV) 68001 and 2EPB 5759 working in multiple. On Sunday came 7105's turn to operate with 68001.
The event also marked 4Cep unit 7105's 50th birthday, and so to commemorate the special occasion EPB Group member Chris Dunn painted a headboard which the Cep carried on both days.
The event also saw the preservation debut of newly acquired MLV 68008 making it the first time it has operated on a passenger train for nearly 16 years! After solid dedication and hard work by the preservation team, 68008 has been transformed from the extremely run down condition in which it came to the railway in to a working MLV. Although a lot of work still needs to be done, the MLV is starting to look more presentable and will see work carried out in the very near future to put it back into full independent operational condition.
The emu event for 2009 promises to be even bigger and better with more preservation firsts, 68001 & 68002's 50th Birthday celebrations and much more! The 2009 EMU gala on the East Kent Railway will be an unmissable event in the heritage railway calendar. See you there!
Please keep a close eye on www.eastkentrailway.co.uk nearer to 2009 for more information.
68008 Air Tests Started
The opportunity arose on the 27th July to charge the air system (excluding brakes) for the first time in approximately eight years in preservation. All went pretty well with only a few major leaks requiring immediate attention. Over the next few weeks we will be endeavouring to reduce its air consumption considerably in readiness for use over the EMU days on 20th&21st September. This means finding the majority of the minor weeps in the air system, usually caused by loose connections due to vibration over the years.
EMU passenger services in 2008
New to the 2008 timetable will be the re-introduction of regular EMU (Electric Train) services on the East Kent Railway. Selected dates will see either EPB 5759 or CEP 7105 with 09025 recreating the bygone days of regular loco hauled services on the EKR. In 2007 the EMUs made up few train services, however this year no less than ten of the timetabled 51 running days are planned to
be operated by Electric Multiple Units. The forthcoming dates are listed here and include which unit(s) will form the services. Days on which 7105 is operating will include First Class accommodation and the Buffet car will be open selling a wide range of drinks and food.
The remaining dates in 2008 are as follows:
No more dates planned for 2008 - 2009 dates coming soon
EKR Electrification Begins
Chairman Bob Baines stands proudly besides the first length of conductor rail recently laid on the East Kent Railway.
MLV S68008 arrives from Coventry Railway Centre - 7th September 2007
For more informantion on the progress on S 68008, please click on the Preservation page.
After a long awaited period, S68008, our third MLV finally arrived on the 7th September 2007, which means that the East Kent Railway now can claim to have the largest collection of BR Motor Luggage Vans (MLVs).
Due to the prolonged wet weather at Coventry, up until now it has not been possible to remove the MLV. Coupled with this, there were other vehicles in the way of S68008, some that were also due to leave the site, preventing the shunting that was required to position it for loading.
On the 7th July, a few of us took the opportunity to visit Coventry to check on '008 as some time had passed since our initial visit. Fortunately it had not deteriorated any further, and it was on this visit that it was prepared for the move. Assistance was given to the workforce at Coventry in the form of moving a couple of rails into place, required to shunt '008 out of its siding.
Please click on the link www.emus.co.uk to visit the Coventry Railway Centre website for more information on their site.
Basking in the Autumn sunshine: S68008 waits to be shunted from the Spur at Shepherdwell
Three MLVs at Shepherdswell: S68008 waits on the Spur as S68002 leads S68001 out of the platform
Three in line: S68008 is shunted by S68001 & 2 into Shepherdswell platform
Progress: Re-glazing work underway on the front end along with repainting into BR Green
EMU Days at the East Kent Railway - 28th & 29th July 2007
4, Yes 4! different EMUs were in action. All of our units were in operation over the two day event.
Train times from Shepherdswell were:
11.30 - 2EPB 5759
12.45 - 4Cep, 7105 with MLV 68002
14.00 - 4Cep 7105 with MLVs 68001 & 68002 - Boat Train
15.15 - 2EPB 5759 with MLV 68002
The motive power for the day was 09, D4113 (ex09025 ), except for the 14.00 Boat Train service, where part of the journey was worked under its own power using the MLVs.
All services which included 7105 had the Colonel's Bar open in S69013, the last remaining Bep Buffet Car. A wide selection of drinks and bar snacks were available.
The Group's sales stand was also in attendance.
The East Kent Railway's 1940s Weekend date has changed, it is now happening on 2&3 JUNE 2007!
7105 will be in operation with D4113 and the Colonel's Bar will be open on the Cep. A wide variety of military vehicles will be on display at Shepherdswell and Eythorne, recreating the War years in style!
5759's 50th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATIONS AT THE EAST KENT RAILWAY
SATURDAY 19TH AUGUST 2006
A very successful day! Trains departed Shepherdswell at: 11.30, 12.45, 14.00 & 15.15. A great day out for all the family was enjoyed by all of those that attended. The celebrations featured the Group's Electric Multiple Units in operation, a re-enactment boat train using MLV S68001 under its own power with 7105 and 4COR Motor Coach from 3142 on display at Eythorne station. On trains formed of 7105, in the buffet car "The Colonel's Bar" served a selection of beers, wine, soft drinks and snacks. Trains were loco hauled by 09025, except for when the MLV operated the boat train.
EKR SPECIAL EVENT DAY - DEMU 205001 AND 101 DMMU IN OPERATION
On Sunday 20th March 2005 a special train service was operated between Shepherdswell and Eythorne using the East Kent Railway's newly acquired Hampsire DEMU 1101, then running as 205001 on alternate services with the resident class 101 MetroCammell DMMU. The event was enjoyed by all. 205001 has now been renumbered to its original numbers of unit 1101 and power car coach number 60100 (was 60154).
EPB PRESERVATION GROUP 10TH ANNIVERSARY MEETING
As advertised the ten year anniversary meeting of the EPB Group took place at The Phoenix public house in London on Monday 31stJanuary 2005. It was enjoyed by all who attended. Socialising and taking time to reflect on ten years of success with models of EPBs and many photographs of the journey to our current position contributed to a positive and enjoyable reunion.
NATIONAL RAIL ADVERTISEMENT BY THE EPB GROUP AT ELMSTEAD WOODS RAILWAY STATION, KENT
South Eastern Trains kindly agreed to display this poster at Elmstead Woods station during their celebration of the 100th anniversary of the station's opening on the 1st July 1904. Group Chairman Bob Baines started his railway career as a junior porter at Elmstead Woods on 19th April 1965.
WITH THANKS TO McVITIES...
We would like to thank McVITIES for their kind contribution to the CEP Project.