Folkestone town, Harbour station - news and photos

[editor]

I didn't think it would be possible to stumble upon a derelict stations untouched by graffiti and looking like something just closed by Beeching in the 60s, but as disused stations go, Folkestone Harbour is a beaut!

The signal box is still there in immaculate condition, the canopies have lost their glass, there's a weighing machine without an arm, there's still one pair of heavily rusted tracks running into the station and there's even a signal pointlessly stuck on red after the track has been lifted.

Photo report here

 

[Roadkill]

Interesting stuff ed. Good pics too.

 

[Pie 1]

I was sailing with a friend from Ramsgate to Brighton last year & we dropped anchor for the night in folkstone harbour took the dingy to the harbour wall & climbed up & found this place.
Quite spooky at dusk! But damn facsinating.

Picture of the end of the line on the harbour wall from the boat.

 

[editor]

Network have proposed closing the station and the branch line as soon as possible. There's a consultation going on until Feb 2014.

More here: http://www.urban75.org/blog/folkest...re-proposed-consultation-open-until-feb-2014/

 

[davesgcr]

Regrettably - it has "had it" - no regular traffic anymore and much money needed to retain. Gradient a bit steep for a velo rail operation. The Chunnel did for it - along with the long ago sale of Sealink to Sea Containers .....(who rationalised steam packet services)

 

[SikhWarrioR]

Regrettably - it has "had it" - no regular traffic anymore and much money needed to retain. Gradient a bit steep for a velo rail operation. The Chunnel did for it - along with the long ago sale of Sealink to Sea Containers .....(who rationalised steam packet services)

Sea Containers.....If my memory serves me correctly where not they involved in the original privatised ECML operation GNER

 

[davesgcr]

Sea Containers.....If my memory serves me correctly where not they involved in the original privatised ECML operation GNER

Indeed - Sea Containers = GNER , a stylish and democratic operation IMHO , - but the parent company went into financial trouble , which resulted in them handing back their second franchise period. (other issues also such as a tough premium and a fall-off in leisure traffic)

 

[editor]

It's now being converted into 'Folkestone Harbour Arm'

Folkestone Harbour Arm set to reopen as next stage of development gets underway

 

[davesgcr]

It's now being converted into 'Folkestone Harbour Arm'

Folkestone Harbour Arm set to reopen as next stage of development gets underway

Some of the disused track etc in the station was quite reasonable , and ideal for use on a preserved railway. (as opposed to scrapping it) , so I made the suggestion to Network Rail and hope that it was acted on. Someone like the Kent and East Sussex which is actively extending not that far away.

 

[davesgcr]

Steady improvement all round and well worth a dekko , - work still in progress , but it has helped spruce up the area and seems to be bringing in the visitors.

 

[editor]

Poignant stuff

 

[editor]

Part of the line is now up for sale...

https://www.kentonline.co.uk/folkestone/news/section-of-derelict-railway-up-for-sale-206044/

 

[editor]

I revisited the station last weekend and was impressed with the restoration work:

In photos: Return to Folkestone Harbour disused railway station – thirty images -

Eighteen years after I fist visited the now-disused Folkestone Harbour railway station, I returned last weekend to see how the place has been transformed into a bustling tourist attraction. Where steam engines once roared to meet ships taking passengers to Boulogne and Calais, a sort of mini...

www.urban75.org

 

[ska invita]

yeah it can gt really heaving down there on a summers day, nice to see it getting "used"

 

[tommers]

I revisited the station last weekend and was impressed with the restoration work:

In photos: Return to Folkestone Harbour disused railway station – thirty images -

Eighteen years after I fist visited the now-disused Folkestone Harbour railway station, I returned last weekend to see how the place has been transformed into a bustling tourist attraction. Where steam engines once roared to meet ships taking passengers to Boulogne and Calais, a sort of mini...

www.urban75.org

You should have said.

 

[Mumbles274]

I revisited the station last weekend and was impressed with the restoration work:

In photos: Return to Folkestone Harbour disused railway station – thirty images -

Eighteen years after I fist visited the now-disused Folkestone Harbour railway station, I returned last weekend to see how the place has been transformed into a bustling tourist attraction. Where steam engines once roared to meet ships taking passengers to Boulogne and Calais, a sort of mini...

www.urban75.org

Next time give me a shout, would have met ya for a beer and history chat!

 

[editor]

Next time give me a shout, would have met ya for a beer and history chat!

I was staying with a friend and had an absolutely brilliant time, so I expect I'll be down again in the not so distant future!

 

[Mumbles274]

I was staying with a friend and had an absolutely brilliant time, so I expect I'll be down again in the not so distant future!

Theres so many great places to eat and drink! And a pint on the beach at the Pilot Bar at sunset is amazing!

 

[editor]

Some more pics from my recent visit:

Folkestone in 60 photos: beach scenes, Charivari Day parade, boats, bars and night life -

Here's some more photos from a recent visit to Folkestone in Kent, featuring the Charivari Day parade, beach scenes, boats and bars. Seagulls circle for snacks. Space is an independent bar & kitchen on the Old High Street, serving craft beers and Kentish cider, housed in an old Chiropody shop...

www.urban75.org

 

[Elpenor]

Thinking of heading there tomorrow actually

 

[danny la rouge]

I made the mistake of going there when in Rye recently. Mrs LR had worked in an hotel there as a teenager and wanted to see if the hotel was still there. (It’s flats now).

Folkestone appears to be the Airdrie of the south coast.

 

[Callie]

I made the mistake of going there when in Rye recently. Mrs LR had worked in an hotel there as a teenager and wanted to see if the hotel was still there. (It’s flats now).

Folkestone appears to be the Airdrie of the south coast.

I'm not sure I get the reference. I'm guessing you didn't like it??

 

[danny la rouge]

I'm not sure I get the reference. I'm guessing you didn't like it??

I found it depressing and grey.

 

[Callie]

I found it depressing and grey.

AHH ok. I guess you didn't go to Dover then Folkestone is actually one of the better/nicer south coat towns. Especially the bit around the Harbour but I get it.

I'm off down there this weekend and have been a few times in recent years and quite like it.

 

[danny la rouge]

AHH ok. I guess you didn't go to Dover then Folkestone is actually one of the better/nicer south coat towns. Especially the bit around the Harbour but I get it.

I'm off down there this weekend and have been a few times in recent years and quite like it.

Went to the town centre and West Cliff (or East Cliff, I can’t recall). Even the Costa was grim.

 

[tommers]

It's better in the summer.

 

[danny la rouge]

It's better in the summer.

It maybe is. Maybe I was having an off day myself.

 

[editor]

Thinking of heading there tomorrow actually

I really enjoyed myself there. The Harbour Arm development is worth wandering about and there's loads of independent shops on the Old High Street.

Some good indie bars and cafes too,

 

[Saunders]

I found it depressing and grey.

There used to be a Nepal-based pashmina company that offered a colour called ‘Folkestone Grey’. I always wondered if it was remembered or seen in photos from the Gurkha regiments and their families who stayed there
It can be grey, as can everywhere on grey days, but the horizon is pretty much always very beautiful, something in the way the light plays where the sea meets the sky

 

[ska invita]

Harbour and seafront renovations are great and theres a bit of the high street up the top thats smart but overall its a poor town with the usual problems.
Tontine Street is a key road that literally runs to the beach and half the shop are shut on it
amazing wetherspoons though

the cliftop walk to dover is one of my favourites in the country