Trains On The Crab And Winkle Line

September 5, 2009

Roy sent in this tale from his days growing up in the UK:

Just a little tale about the old days. I live in a little harbour town on the south east coast of England. About sixty years ago we spent many happy hours on the fishing boats and sailing barges even playing hooky from school to do so. To carry the cargoes away to other destinations we had the old steam trains, horses to pull the trucks along the harbour tracks for loading and an old victorian station with gas lighting.

Being normal mischevious boys we were often chased by the harbour master; mr couchman; he had a long stick and a big boot. The line ran from whitstable to canterbury and was known as the famous “crab and winkle line” with the oldest railway bridge in the world; sadly no more. Progress!! The line is now a cycle route. Those were the days!