Two carriages have been removed from the tracks at Folkestone’s Leas Lift, which was closed in 2017 due to issues with its braking system. The carriages will now be inspected as part of a restoration project. Each carriage weighs 1.5 tonnes and the bogies weigh three tonnes each, along with a 500kg lifting cradle.
The carriages and bogies will be taken to Northamptonshire for approximately six months restoration work.
The 140-year-old Grade II listed funicular in Folkestone, Kent, is set to reopen in early 2026. The work to remove both carriages began on Thursday 27th February, followed by the two bogies with wheels, The Leas Lift Charity said.
The overall restoration started on 10th February after a £6.7m fundraising target was met, alongside a £4.8m grant from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
Mark Robinson, director of rail refurbishment company Rapid Consulting, said it was a “large project for us doing a full renovation” and explained the company would “strip down” the carriages and do “non-destructive testing”.
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