Waterworks Railway
Many Victorian waterworks had their own railway. At Kew Bridge this is demonstrated by a short line featuring the "Wren" class locomotive Thomas Wicksteed, which is typical of a waterworks engine. This locomotive was completed in 2009 and is currently the newest working steam locomotive in the United Kingdom. Also featured is Alister, a 3 cylinder Lister diesel locomotive of 1957.
The museum's railway is inspired by the Hampton to Kempton Park coal railway built and operated by the Metropolitan Water Board between 1916 and 1946. Coal was delivered by barge to the MWB wharf on the river Thames at Hampton and moved by three steam locomotives to the boilerhouses of the Hampton and Kempton Park waterworks.
The engines were built by the Kerr Stuart Locomotive Company and were named Hampton, Kempton and Sunbury. None of the engines have survived, but Kew Bridge Steam Museum has one locomotive headlamp and shunter's lantern in its collections. Some of the trackwork is now incorporated in the museum's demonstration line. We also have an extensive photo collection of the lines at Hampton and Kempton Park.
Due to major refurbishment work taking place at the museum the railway will not be in operation until late 2013. Footplate experiences will be available from 2014.