Post by Les on Sept 7, 2017 17:32:00 GMT
Hi Peter……re- Maidstone…
You may have noticed that I have from time to time added my bit to the various pages on the website being a formally Maidstone man, born at Langley and schooled and worked in Maidstone for many years. However, something has been intriguing me for years, and I think you are better placed to put it on the website as a separate item…such as ‘INFORMATION and PICTURES REQUIRED’ or similar..
Its about Maidstone Zoo. I’ve recently been surfing British Pathé News and there are lots of snippets about, of all things, Maidstone Zoo!!! I recall going to the Zoo before it closed in the late 50s or early 60s (When did it actually close??)..anyway my query is, does anyone have any photos or details about the railway that used to run from the gatehouse on the Chatham road up to the actual Zoo entrance??
I recall riding on it, it was about quarter of a mile straight run beside the driveway, powered by a petrol or diesel trolley pulling a couple of open wagon type coaches and was about 2ft gauge if I remember.
I’ve never seen any pictures of it or heard of anyone else who rode on it!!! There must be several, if not hundreds, of people still in and around Maidstone who went to the Zoo, can you make a special appeal via the website for photos or details or reminiscences of the Zoo railway please and see what turns up? Would be exciting if someone has a picture!!! There’s no mention of it in the various railway books about lines in Kent either, even though there is one book on Industrial and Private Narrow Gauge Railways of Kent.
Can you see what you can do for me please?
Just love the website too!!! By the way, you weren’t at Maidstone Grammar School were you between 1953-1958? There was a Capon in my class for most of the five years I was there, he was Robin Capon and lived near Boro Green if I recall….are you related to him? He became an artist I think and went to the West Country…I remember him being very good at art….
photos.app.goo.gl/n3acjqAKZ92mRdWZ2
Yes I went on it we would walk along the river and up to the then entrance .
Diesel engine the mark's where the rails were are still here.On the Golf corse.
You may have noticed that I have from time to time added my bit to the various pages on the website being a formally Maidstone man, born at Langley and schooled and worked in Maidstone for many years. However, something has been intriguing me for years, and I think you are better placed to put it on the website as a separate item…such as ‘INFORMATION and PICTURES REQUIRED’ or similar..
Its about Maidstone Zoo. I’ve recently been surfing British Pathé News and there are lots of snippets about, of all things, Maidstone Zoo!!! I recall going to the Zoo before it closed in the late 50s or early 60s (When did it actually close??)..anyway my query is, does anyone have any photos or details about the railway that used to run from the gatehouse on the Chatham road up to the actual Zoo entrance??
I recall riding on it, it was about quarter of a mile straight run beside the driveway, powered by a petrol or diesel trolley pulling a couple of open wagon type coaches and was about 2ft gauge if I remember.
I’ve never seen any pictures of it or heard of anyone else who rode on it!!! There must be several, if not hundreds, of people still in and around Maidstone who went to the Zoo, can you make a special appeal via the website for photos or details or reminiscences of the Zoo railway please and see what turns up? Would be exciting if someone has a picture!!! There’s no mention of it in the various railway books about lines in Kent either, even though there is one book on Industrial and Private Narrow Gauge Railways of Kent.
Can you see what you can do for me please?
Just love the website too!!! By the way, you weren’t at Maidstone Grammar School were you between 1953-1958? There was a Capon in my class for most of the five years I was there, he was Robin Capon and lived near Boro Green if I recall….are you related to him? He became an artist I think and went to the West Country…I remember him being very good at art….
photos.app.goo.gl/n3acjqAKZ92mRdWZ2
Yes I went on it we would walk along the river and up to the then entrance .
Diesel engine the mark's where the rails were are still here.On the Golf corse.