Col.
Stephens was a pioneer of light railways and was responsible
for building and then managing the Kent and East Sussex
line. He was also involved in many other light railways in
England and Wales. The Museum is housed in one of the large
curved roof buildings next to Tenterden Station which were
used to store wartime supplies during the Second World War.
The museum looks at the life and work of Col. Stephens,
including his study, some of the railways he was associated
with and general railway artefacts.
Gazelle is possibly the smallest standard gauge loco to be
built and is displayed in the museum. It was built in 1893
and bought by Col Stephens in 1910 to run on the Shropshire
and Montgomeryshire Railway. It was used for pulling
passengers, at first without a coach until passengers
complained and the Board of Trade intervened. Next to her is
an example of the kind of coach she may have pulled. She is
on loan here from the National Railway Museum.
There is part of a booking office.
There are workmen’s tools and surveying equipment along with
station name boards, other signs and timetable boards.
Outside the museum are examples of wheels, coach chassis
from a Rye and Camber coach and a small Ashover
Railway truck.
There are examples of rail handcars.
The crane on its circular brick base was recovered from
Hawkhurst station.
The museum is open from 12.30-4.30 on days the Kent and East
Sussex Railway is running.
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