Celebrating 200 years of the Railway

2025 marks 200 years of the railway starting, when the Stockton & Darlington Railway opened on 27th September 1825, connecting people with places and transforming the world of travel.

With the development of the railway, visitors were able to get to Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate quicker and easier.

To mark this momentous moment in history, we take a look at Thanet’s connections to the railway

Did you know part of Ramsgate Tunnels started out as Ramsgate Sands Railway station located on the seafront before closing on 1st July 1926. Elements of this tunnel can still be seen today on a tour as you grab your hard hat and torch to adventure underground. The current train station opened at the top of the town on the 2nd July 1926.

Broadstairs is home to Crampton Tower Museum, dedicated to the life and work of local Victorian engineer Thomas Crampton who was a designer of locomotives and railways. He patented the Crampton Engine in 1843, its characteristics being large driving wheels, a long boiler, outside cylinders and a low centre of gravity. Visit the museum to see model train layouts and climb the tower seeing Crampton's working drawings, models and graphics.

For trains on a smaller scale The WonderWorks Margate showcases the history and displays of one of Britain's best loved toys ‘Hornby’. Learn about the history of its development, see displays and take control of a model train.

Did you know facts

• Thanet had 8 stations: Birchington-on-Sea, Westgate-on-Sea, Margate, Broadstairs, Dumpton Park, Ramsgate, Thanet Parkway and Minster
• Birchington-on-Sea opened on 3rd September 1863 with passengers using it from 2nd October 1863
• Westgate station opened in April 1871
• Margate originally station was built where Dreamland and Arlington Arcade now stand in 1846 and was known as Margate Sands Station. Margate West Station opened 5th October 1863, which is the present station building renamed ‘Margate’ in 1926 and became Grade II listed in 1987
• Broadstairs current station opened in 1926 yet the railway originally came to the town in 1863
• Dumpton Park station opened in 1926
• Ramsgate Sands Railway station opened on 5th October 1863 and closed 1st July 1926. The current station at the top of town (Station Approach Road) opened on 2nd July 1926
• There was previously a Newington Railway Station near Ramsgate until 1926
• Thanet Parkway station opened on 31st July 2023
• Margate Harbour Arm had a little steam train that ran along the top half 
• Local artist Lisa McGuinness produced train station posters of Margate, Broadstairs and Ramsgate 

Travel to the Isle on Southeastern’s high-speed train service from London’s St. Pancras International to Margate (90 mins), Broadstairs (85 mins) and Ramsgate (75 mins). Alternative services to London Victoria and London Charing Cross.