THe Colonels' Unfulfilled Projects

Colonel Stephens was involved in a number of proposals for Light Railways during the boom years for such promotions in the late Victorian and Edwardian years. He was involved in his early years in particular with the Light Railways Syndicate. Many passed the first hurdle of a Light Railway Order but most then failed through lack of capital. Some were proposed extensions of constructed railways but many remained unbuilt. Prominent amongst these were the Hadlow Light in Kent, the Gower Light in Glamorgan (pictured: planned destination), a group of lines in Central Essex and the Maidstone and Faversham Junction Light. Finally in the 1920's there was the near crowning glory, the Southern Railway backed Southern Heights Light which would have produced a 3rd rail electric single line from Orpington to Saunderstead via Tatsfield. Stephens' optimism and enthusiasm never seemed to desert him.

The list below is believed to be a comprehensive list of failed schemes but does not include those that failed at planning stage.

Central Essex Railway
East Kent Railway Extensions
East Sussex Railway
Hadlow Railway
Headcorn and Faversham Junction Railway
Headcorn and Maidstone Junction Railway
Hedingham and Long Melford Railway
Kelvedon, Coggeshall and Halstead Railway
Lands End, St Just and Great Western Junction Railway
Long Melford and Hadleigh Railway
Maidstone and Faversham Junction Railway
Maidstone and Sittingbourne Railway
Newport and Four Ashes Railway
Orpington , Cudham and Tatsfield Railway
Shropshire Railways ( Shrewsbury and Market Drayton Extension)
Southern Heights Railway
Surrey and Sussex Railway
Worcester and Broome Railway

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