The Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway (HKWR) is a heritage narrow-gauge steam railway located in southwest London, preserving the industrial legacy of the Metropolitan Water Board’s coal transport system. Its origins trace back to the early 20th century, when London’s growing population demanded a cleaner and more reliable water supply.
Following the 1852 Metropolis Water Act, which prohibited water extraction from the tidal Thames due to pollution and cholera outbreaks, three major water companies established pumping stations at Hampton. These were later unified under the Metropolitan Water Board (MWB) in 1902. To fuel the massive steam engines that pumped water to London, vast quantities of coal were required—delivered by barge to Hampton Wharf and then carted to the waterworks.
In 1912, MWB engineers proposed a more efficient solution: a 2-foot (610 mm) gauge industrial railway to transport coal, ash, and maintenance materials between Hampton Wharf and the pumping stations at Hampton and Kempton. Construction began shortly after, and by 1915, the railway was operational. It spanned approximately 3.5 miles and featured three Kerr Stuart locomotives named Hampton, Kempton, and Sunbury. These green-liveried engines hauled coal wagons daily, with one engine dedicated to shunting duties at the wharf.
The railway operated for 32 years, playing a vital role in maintaining London’s water infrastructure. However, technological advances in the 1930s—such as turbine and electric pumps—reduced reliance on coal. Conveyor belts replaced rail transport, and the MWB railway was dismantled in 1947. Thames Water later took over the site in 1974.
The story didn’t end there. In 2003, the Metropolitan Water Board Railway Society was formed with the aim of restoring the railway. Volunteers began reconstructing the original trackbed, and in 2013, the Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway officially reopened as a passenger-carrying heritage line. The restored loop allows visitors to experience steam-hauled rides through the historic waterworks site.
The railway’s flagship locomotive is “Darent,” built in 1903 by Andrew Barclay for the Provan Gas Works in Glasgow. After being saved from scrap and restored, Darent now hauls passenger coaches on weekends from March to November. Two diesel locomotives from Indonesia are also part of the fleet, though steam remains the primary mode of operation.
HKWR is managed entirely by volunteers and operates as a charitable organisation. It shares its site with the Kempton Steam Museum, home to the world’s largest working triple-expansion steam engine. The railway also features the only operational Ransomes & Rapier crane of its kind in the UK.
Looking ahead, HKWR has ambitious plans to extend the line toward Hampton, recreating the original route and enhancing educational opportunities. A £1.8 million campaign is underway to fund this expansion, which would further connect the railway to its historical roots and engage future generations with London’s industrial past.
This history was generated using AI and is based on publicly available sources including the Hampton Kempton Waterworks Railway and Wikipedia.
