In the early 2000s I was so disgusted by the state of the miniature railway that I leased it from Black Lion Leisure. A friend and I overhauled all of the rolling stock, including the badly damaged loco and coaches that were in the tunnel/shed. We asked if we could add a small shipping container near the shed to provide secure storage for the coaches not being used but the request was refused. The level of vandalism we experienced was very high, with two gangs almost daily bent on destroying what we had built up - so I am afraid we took the easy way out and handed the railway back to the Council. It was a shame but in the end revenue was not covering expenses, let along paying a wage.
The crazy golf is brilliant! Of course the paddling pool will be like that then, because Medway Council will only get the railway clear when it is busy which is the summer. Not the blooming winter!
My parents took my brothers and Myself to the Strand when I was maybe 10 or 12 it was ok then but that was about the mid fifties, i have lived in OZ since 1970 and the same thing happens here, health and safety made a free adventure playground (for adults) pull down some of the rides, I was lucky to experience it before that happened.
As a child in the 80s, this was a brilliant place for a day out. The whirly slide, big metal roundabout, the umbrella - all of this playground equipment would give health & safety cold sweats these days, but we survived and had so much fun. It's such a shame they take it all away. The original large paddling pool was also much better. They turned it into a car park sometime in the early 90s. I haven't been there for years but for a long time its old aquatic mural was still visible on the wall.
The strand was a fantastic day out when I was a kid but now its just gone downhill medway council need to pull their finger out and get this place sorted
Who remembers the big green metal swings and the orange seesaws the round wheel. The huge green slide we all used to come flying off at the end. The big helter-skelter. The padding and boating pools. The nursery I remember very well. I haven't been here since I brought my nephews here a long time ago. The old swimming pool where the small slide and one diving board. Brings back memories.
I've been to the strand loads of times and the cafe doesn't smell the food I've had there was lush and the paddling pool didn't have any water in it so that dirty water is proboarly rain water but I think the strand is good
I can remember in the 40's,50's and 60's when the Strand was a nice place and locals were proud of its facilities. We used to be taken from school to the swimming pool. A circus, like Paulos would pitch on the large green area and I remember the excitement of the miniature railway opening. I am afraid that is all long gone and what a sorry place it has become.
Ben I've been subscribed since I came across your aerial view of Gillingham Park vid and the water leak at Chequers Centre. I'm not so interested in buses or lifts but would love to drive a train one day (particularly the javelin! or maybe a LU ("tube") train). Just wondered if you would be able to arrange to do a vid tour of the closed LU station near Covent Garden (can't remember the name of the station offhand)?
In the early 2000s I was so disgusted by the state of the miniature railway that I leased it from Black Lion Leisure. A friend and I overhauled all of the rolling stock, including the badly damaged loco and coaches that were in the tunnel/shed. We asked if we could add a small shipping container near the shed to provide secure storage for the coaches not being used but the request was refused. The level of vandalism we experienced was very high, with two gangs almost daily bent on destroying what we had built up - so I am afraid we took the easy way out and handed the railway back to the Council. It was a shame but in the end revenue was not covering expenses, let along paying a wage.
this is the German format of writing down values, we write the currency symbol behind the numbers :P
Great review, Ben. YOu are really good at explaining these things
The crazy golf is brilliant! Of course the paddling pool will be like that then, because Medway Council will only get the railway clear when it is busy which is the summer. Not the blooming winter!
My parents took my brothers and Myself to the Strand when I was maybe 10 or 12 it was ok then but that was about the mid fifties, i have lived in OZ since 1970 and the same thing happens here, health and safety made a free adventure playground (for adults) pull down some of the rides, I was lucky to experience it before that happened.
My childhood has just been put into a video
As a child in the 80s, this was a brilliant place for a day out. The whirly slide, big metal roundabout, the umbrella - all of this playground equipment would give health & safety cold sweats these days, but we survived and had so much fun. It's such a shame they take it all away.
The original large paddling pool was also much better. They turned it into a car park sometime in the early 90s. I haven't been there for years but for a long time its old aquatic mural was still visible on the wall.
I heard that it has been refurbished. Is that true and how does it look like now?
The strand was a fantastic day out when I was a kid but now its just gone downhill medway council need to pull their finger out and get this place sorted
Who remembers the big green metal swings and the orange seesaws the round wheel. The huge green slide we all used to come flying off at the end. The big helter-skelter. The padding and boating pools. The nursery I remember very well. I haven't been here since I brought my nephews here a long time ago. The old swimming pool where the small slide and one diving board. Brings back memories.
I've been to the strand loads of times and the cafe doesn't smell the food I've had there was lush and the paddling pool didn't have any water in it so that dirty water is proboarly rain water but I think the strand is good
I can remember in the 40's,50's and 60's when the Strand was a nice place and locals were proud of its facilities. We used to be taken from school to the swimming pool. A circus, like Paulos would pitch on the large green area and I remember the excitement of the miniature railway opening. I am afraid that is all long gone and what a sorry place it has become.
Benobve had an experiance in the 1990's and another November last year. I don't think that BENO would lie to every person on RUclips.
that paddeling pool, is it ment for people to swim in it
and that is just discusting
Ben I've been subscribed since I came across your aerial view of Gillingham Park vid and the water leak at Chequers Centre. I'm not so interested in buses or lifts but would love to drive a train one day (particularly the javelin! or maybe a LU ("tube") train). Just wondered if you would be able to arrange to do a vid tour of the closed LU station near Covent Garden (can't remember the name of the station offhand)?
Thing like the minture railway that could probably get some volunteers who would be happy to use it and keep looking good
Thankfully Now Renovated
In Dutch, Strand would say Beach.