Folkestone Harbour Branch
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The Folkestone Harbour Branch is a branch line from the South Eastern Main Line.
Opened in 1849 double tracked with a viaduct across the Harbour itself. The branch is short but sharply inclined meaning that trains had to be banked. It had a station Folkestone Harbour railway station though its main purpose was freight.
Until recently, the Venice-Simplon Orient Express train visited. In the latter years, the line has been single tracked with no loops so trains had to be topped and tailed.
The last official train traversed the branch on the 12th April 2008, with steam specials commemorating the line. The last train was formed of 3 GBRf Class 73s, the line officially closing after their arrival at Folkestone East. However, a formal objection against the closure of the line was handed to Network Rail, but it is not known by whom. In any case, the 17 april VSOE British Pullman service used the branch line as previously.[1]
[edit] External links
- http://www.semgonline.com/location/folkes_hbr3.html
- http://www.kentrail.co.uk/folkestone_harbour.htm
