A shortage of suitable steam coal has forced the Kent & East Sussex Railway to source new stocks from Russia.

The Tenterden-based tourist attraction had to go outside the UK after the biggest producer of British coal, Daw Mill Colliery in Warwickshire, closed following a fire in February.

KESR had regularly bought coal from a Scottish source but this has run into production difficulties and the collapse of Scottish Coal last month, has subsequently caused a run on steam coal.

Operating manager Pete Salmon said locomotives needed a specific type of coal that was difficult to find.

“You may think coal is coal, but it’s got to have the right burning properties. If not, it causes problems for the fireman” - operating manager Pete Salmon

“There are supplies of foreign coal getting into the country, but indigenous supplies are very hard to get hold of,” he said.

KESR has now secured a regular supply of Russian coal, but Mr Salmon said it was much more expensive.

“There are a lot of railways looking for new supplies of coal and there’s less about to go round,” he said.

“You may think coal is coal, but it’s got to have the right burning properties. If not, it causes problems for the fireman.”

Unlike some other railways, KESR hasn’t been forced to turn to diesel engines.

The railway carries around 100,000 passengers a year and is currently experiencing a 30% increase in numbers following a disappointing 2012 which was effected by poor weather and a downturn in tourism.