Ashford Steam Centre was a short-lived railway museum at

Willesborough Willesborough is a village, now in effect a residential suburb, on the eastern side of Ashford, Kent, England. The area The South Willesborough Dykes area, on the west bank of the River East Stour, is an area of sheep fields drained by dykes. ...

Ashford, Kent Ashford is a town in the county of Kent, England. It lies on the River Stour, Kent, River Great Stour at the southern or Escarpment, scarp edge of the North Downs, about southeast of central London and northwest of Folkestone by road. In the ...

, United Kingdom. It was located at the former engine shed that was situated east of Ashford railway station. The museum opened in 1968 and closed in 1976.

History

Ashford Steam Centre was established by Esmond Lewis-Evans. It occupied the former engine shed that was located east of Ashford railway station. The shed, with its turntable, coaling stage and water tower had been built by the Southern Railway in 1931. It ceased to be used for the servicing of

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, oil or, rarely, wood) to heat water in the locomot ...

s in June 1962, following which it was used to service diesel locomotives. The steam centre was established in 1968. On 11 April 1971, the Southern Electric Group organised the ''Man of Kent 71'' railtour, which visited the steam centre. Class 71 locomotive E5005 and

4TC The British Rail TC (Trailer Control) multiple units were unpowered fixed formations of 3 or 4 carriages with a driving position at each end of the set, converted by BR's Holgate Road carriage works from locomotive-hauled Mark 1 carriages in 1 ...

set 427 were used. In 1974, the centre was open once a month, on the second Sunday of the month. At the time, there were around a dozen locomotives on site. Due to mounting debts, the steam centre was closed May 1976 and its rolling stock was dispersed. The engine shed and surrounding area were cleared in 1989, with the area being used for the storage of motor vehicles. Since 2005 most of the site has been sold for housing development.

Rolling stock

The following items of rolling stock were based at Ashford Steam Centre.

Locomotives

Multiple units

Carriages

Other items of rolling stock

References

{{Heritage railways in England Ashford, Kent Museums in the Borough of Ashford Heritage railways in Kent 1968 establishments in England 1976 disestablishments in England Defunct museums in England