Invest, Repair, Renovate & Repurpose
So much work went into the renovations, so much investment that this town has never seen the like of before.
Here’s a small glimpse for you, just a glimpse mind you…there was so much done I can barely begin to show you.
In fact what little I’m showing you here almost feels inadequate but then, when you add these to those I’ve shown you already and what’s to come you can’t not understand now major this was.
As you can see, it was also a happy site…and oh so well managed.
Go West…
Nearly back to where we started now as we come to the south platform, you can see what a state that was in back then, compare that to how it is now with those carriages in situ, installed with a rather good food venue
Yes it is true, there is a hidden tunnel under there, not sure why nor where it goes but it’s still lined with the original white Victorian bevel edged ceramic tiles.
Niceties
I was going to show you that other iconic Folkestone landmark, the Signal Box here but instead let’s look at the Harbour. I’ll finish up with the Signal Box
One of the job that the new owners did was one that really did need doing, another mucky business but dredging 2 meters of muc and sand etc out of the outer harbour was years overdue and allowed for better access for fishermen and boat owners.
That two meters difference extending access times around low tide by hours.
Choo Choo No More
Being serious now though we need to look at the rail bridge or viaduct which connected the Harbour Station to the rail network proper.
The track down from Folkestone Junction to the harbour with a gradient of one in thirty is/was one of the steepest bits of rail infrastructure in the whole of the UK. It was also the most awkward and expensive bit of line to maintain, in the end it simply wasn’t needed anymore and was far from worth it.
You can see this in practice, yes that’s right even now you can see the physical evidence that shows us this all too clearly, take a look at the first five arches in the harbour for example.
You’ll observe that that huge concrete blocks of support have been added in three of the first five arches to try to restrict further slippage of the whole structure.
A structure that was found to require very urgent remedial work in many of the arches including those offering access to The Stade to save them and make them safe to walk under.
Here’s our penultimate gallery, another eye opener perhaps…
Yes it’s true folks, you nearly lost that lovely walk over the harbour not to trains but altogether, the swing bridge also saved from imminent destruction due to being legally condemned so poor was it’s condition.
No, you can’t have trains there, the whole viaduct over the harbour is just not strong enough to cope with heavy rolling stock and locos anymore, nor can it be…the line owned by Network Rail decommissioned many years ago and now having nothing in terms of the technical infrastructure to facilitate such a fantasy.
That old theory that a choo choo will bring more in terms of visitor numbers than anything else now well and truly demolished. The Harbour Arm attracts more people from a wider domographic than pandering to trainspotters ever would have done.
This Signals the End of this Article!
I think I’ve saved the best til last? This little building being something that to a few generations here has just always been there.
And it’s a fantastic thing as I learned. Apparently it was once operated by a relative, who surname was Lever, you couldn’t make that up could you!
What we walked into was a literal time machine.
No kidding, again, the old chaps just left. As you see. Beneath that fantastic set of levers is a whole gubbins of stuff that works other stuff that makes stuff up the line do stuff.
Behind, an open air covered area for keeping the reserve batteries topped up with acid. Like the box itself, everything just left…
The adjacent switching room, as you’ll see is just brilliant…that’s one thing I dearly wish the public could see. I also particuarly love the display panel and you can go there now to see that for yourselves.
End of the Line
Well it’s been a long haul this one but I hope it’s been enjoyable, also somewhat enlightening. You can probably tell by now that I have no time for trolls thus it falls to me at this point to inform that all ramblings, opinions and experiences shared in this piece are my own, they are not reflective therefore of anyone or organisation you may wish to associate.
I have used good quality files throughout and trust that people will respect my copyright, intellectual property and that of others and ask before attempting to steal any of them.
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