New Romney Station
New Romney Station is the Headquarters of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and being 8½ miles by train from Hythe station and 5 miles by train from Dungeness station, it is the perfect mid-line stopping off point. This was the first of the stations to be built and was inspected during the construction by HRH Duke of York in 1926. Since then, there have been many significant changes, the biggest change happening just one year after opening when the line had to pass through the terminus, under the Littlestone Road, to Dungeness via the new extension. At this station are the engine sheds, erecting shop, carriage sheds (over the main lines), workshops, permanent way depot, etc. Most of the essential day-to-day work required to keep a railway going takes place at New Romney.
Opposite the signal box, next to the line where the engine of a Hythe bound train waits, there is a rock garden and model lighthouse, here are scattered the ashes of the railways founder, Captain J. E. P. Howey. And standing here and looking beyond the 24-lever signal box, you will see Red Tiles, the house that he built so that he could live close to his railway.
During 1928, the nameboards were changed to read "Littlestone-on-Sea" in an effort to emphasise the railway's seaside location. To get to the beach, turn left out of the station and walk a good half a mile. Turn right out of the station to get to the Cinque Port town of New Romney. Here there are a good variety of shops, supermarkets, banks, pubs, cafe's and the imposing St Nicholas Church. On the way to the town you will pass The Marsh Academy. For many years now, the railway has provided the Home to School transport for a number its students.
New Romney station is unique and provides visitors with lots to see and do. For a good old-fashioned railway meal, light snack or beverage in the Heywood Buffet? Outdoor seating enables visitors to sit back and watch the work of a Heritage Railway in full swing whilst enjoying lunch, perhaps accompanied by a locally brewed beer or glass of wine. The Model Railway Exhibition is situated above the Café (with a stair lift to assist our customers who have mobility difficulties).
There is also a children’s playground and a souvenir and gift shop, including a large collection of Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise, Bigjigs Wooden Rail Sets and accessories including our “Typhoon” Engine and range of the collectable Schylling tin toys.
The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is a 15 in/381 mm gauge light railway in Kent, England. The 13 1⁄2-mile (21.7 km) line runs from the Cinque Port of Hythe via Dymchurch, St. Mary's Bay, New Romney and Romney Sands to Dungeness, close to Dungeness nuclear power station and Dungeness lighthouse.
From 1926 to 1978, the RH&DR held the title of the "Smallest public railway in the world" (in terms of track gauge). The title was lost to the 12 1⁄4 in (311 mm) gauge Réseau Guerlédan in France in 1978 and regained from 1979, when the Réseau Guerlédan closed, until 1982, when the 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge Wells and Walsingham Light Railway opened.
As well as being a tourist attraction, this railway is a public service between the small towns and villages between Hythe and Dungeness and is under contract to the local council to transport children to and from The Marsh Academy in New Romney. The railway is expanding its role as part of the public transport network; Warren Halt re-opened in 2009 to provide a transport link to the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, and discussions are taking place with local councils for the expansion of Burmarsh Road and the provision of a new station at the gravel pits in West Hythe, both in connection with proposed extensive new housing construction, and the need to provide alternative transport to the A259 coast road.
The line carries 100,000 passengers each year.
The railway celebrated its 80th birthday in 2007 with a week of celebrations including reconstructions of scenes on the railway over the previous eight decades.
All ten original locomotives remain in service, covering thousands of miles each year. The fleet, already one of the largest of any 15-inch (380 mm) railway in Britain, was expanded in 1976 with German-built locomotive no.11 'Black Prince' (formerly 'Fleißiges Lieschen' = 'Busy Lizzie'). The RH&DR is still the only user of the 4-8-2 "Mountain" locomotive in the UK, with No. 6 'Samson' and No. 5 'Hercules' in regular service. Two diesels, No. 12 'John Southland' and No. 14 (Nameless - later 'Captain Howey'), were constructed in the 1980s.
This locomotive is No. 3, Southern Maid. Ordered in 1926 and delivered on 20th April 1927, she was originally to be called Southern Chief, but for some reason, Captain Howey changed his mind and the nameplates were removed before she entered service. In 1946 Southern Maid was involved in an accident and ended up in a dyke, after being rammed by a lorry on a level crossing near Dymchurch.
During her 1947 refit, the Maid received a large capacity tender and a livery similar to that of Green Goddess. However, in 1954 she received a brown umber coat of paint and smoke deflectors soon followed in 1955. A French Grey livery was applied in 1959, a Malachite green in 1965 and LNER Apple Green in 1971, when the smoke deflectors were removed. She has seen more changes of livery than any other Romney loco.
During May 1998 she travelled up to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Cumbria for the 75th birthday party of their loco River Esk.
Prior to her most recent overhaul, Southern Maid appeared in the colours of the former South Eastern & Chatham Railway. She currently has a tender similar the one attached to Northern Chief and her whistle is an ex-Isle of Wight section 'hooter' from the Southern Railway.
Southern Maid returned to New Romney for the Steam and Diesel Gala in May 2003, following an extensive overhaul. Her new livery, lining and lettering is based on that as seen on the locomotive when delivered in 1927.
New Romney is a small town on the edge of Romney Marsh, an area of flat, rich agricultural land reclaimed from the sea after the harbour began to silt up. New Romney was once a sea port, with the harbour adjacent to the church, but is now more than a mile from the sea. A mooring ring can still be seen in front of the church.
www.rhdr.org.uk/new-romney.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romney,_Hythe_and_Dymchurch_Railway
www.rhdr.org.uk/locomotives-southern-maid.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Romney
New Romney Station
New Romney Station is the Headquarters of the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway and being 8½ miles by train from Hythe station and 5 miles by train from Dungeness station, it is the perfect mid-line stopping off point. This was the first of the stations to be built and was inspected during the construction by HRH Duke of York in 1926. Since then, there have been many significant changes, the biggest change happening just one year after opening when the line had to pass through the terminus, under the Littlestone Road, to Dungeness via the new extension. At this station are the engine sheds, erecting shop, carriage sheds (over the main lines), workshops, permanent way depot, etc. Most of the essential day-to-day work required to keep a railway going takes place at New Romney.
Opposite the signal box, next to the line where the engine of a Hythe bound train waits, there is a rock garden and model lighthouse, here are scattered the ashes of the railways founder, Captain J. E. P. Howey. And standing here and looking beyond the 24-lever signal box, you will see Red Tiles, the house that he built so that he could live close to his railway.
During 1928, the nameboards were changed to read "Littlestone-on-Sea" in an effort to emphasise the railway's seaside location. To get to the beach, turn left out of the station and walk a good half a mile. Turn right out of the station to get to the Cinque Port town of New Romney. Here there are a good variety of shops, supermarkets, banks, pubs, cafe's and the imposing St Nicholas Church. On the way to the town you will pass The Marsh Academy. For many years now, the railway has provided the Home to School transport for a number its students.
New Romney station is unique and provides visitors with lots to see and do. For a good old-fashioned railway meal, light snack or beverage in the Heywood Buffet? Outdoor seating enables visitors to sit back and watch the work of a Heritage Railway in full swing whilst enjoying lunch, perhaps accompanied by a locally brewed beer or glass of wine. The Model Railway Exhibition is situated above the Café (with a stair lift to assist our customers who have mobility difficulties).
There is also a children’s playground and a souvenir and gift shop, including a large collection of Thomas the Tank Engine merchandise, Bigjigs Wooden Rail Sets and accessories including our “Typhoon” Engine and range of the collectable Schylling tin toys.
The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is a 15 in/381 mm gauge light railway in Kent, England. The 13 1⁄2-mile (21.7 km) line runs from the Cinque Port of Hythe via Dymchurch, St. Mary's Bay, New Romney and Romney Sands to Dungeness, close to Dungeness nuclear power station and Dungeness lighthouse.
From 1926 to 1978, the RH&DR held the title of the "Smallest public railway in the world" (in terms of track gauge). The title was lost to the 12 1⁄4 in (311 mm) gauge Réseau Guerlédan in France in 1978 and regained from 1979, when the Réseau Guerlédan closed, until 1982, when the 10 1⁄4 in (260 mm) gauge Wells and Walsingham Light Railway opened.
As well as being a tourist attraction, this railway is a public service between the small towns and villages between Hythe and Dungeness and is under contract to the local council to transport children to and from The Marsh Academy in New Romney. The railway is expanding its role as part of the public transport network; Warren Halt re-opened in 2009 to provide a transport link to the Romney Marsh Visitor Centre, and discussions are taking place with local councils for the expansion of Burmarsh Road and the provision of a new station at the gravel pits in West Hythe, both in connection with proposed extensive new housing construction, and the need to provide alternative transport to the A259 coast road.
The line carries 100,000 passengers each year.
The railway celebrated its 80th birthday in 2007 with a week of celebrations including reconstructions of scenes on the railway over the previous eight decades.
All ten original locomotives remain in service, covering thousands of miles each year. The fleet, already one of the largest of any 15-inch (380 mm) railway in Britain, was expanded in 1976 with German-built locomotive no.11 'Black Prince' (formerly 'Fleißiges Lieschen' = 'Busy Lizzie'). The RH&DR is still the only user of the 4-8-2 "Mountain" locomotive in the UK, with No. 6 'Samson' and No. 5 'Hercules' in regular service. Two diesels, No. 12 'John Southland' and No. 14 (Nameless - later 'Captain Howey'), were constructed in the 1980s.
This locomotive is No. 3, Southern Maid. Ordered in 1926 and delivered on 20th April 1927, she was originally to be called Southern Chief, but for some reason, Captain Howey changed his mind and the nameplates were removed before she entered service. In 1946 Southern Maid was involved in an accident and ended up in a dyke, after being rammed by a lorry on a level crossing near Dymchurch.
During her 1947 refit, the Maid received a large capacity tender and a livery similar to that of Green Goddess. However, in 1954 she received a brown umber coat of paint and smoke deflectors soon followed in 1955. A French Grey livery was applied in 1959, a Malachite green in 1965 and LNER Apple Green in 1971, when the smoke deflectors were removed. She has seen more changes of livery than any other Romney loco.
During May 1998 she travelled up to the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway in Cumbria for the 75th birthday party of their loco River Esk.
Prior to her most recent overhaul, Southern Maid appeared in the colours of the former South Eastern & Chatham Railway. She currently has a tender similar the one attached to Northern Chief and her whistle is an ex-Isle of Wight section 'hooter' from the Southern Railway.
Southern Maid returned to New Romney for the Steam and Diesel Gala in May 2003, following an extensive overhaul. Her new livery, lining and lettering is based on that as seen on the locomotive when delivered in 1927.
New Romney is a small town on the edge of Romney Marsh, an area of flat, rich agricultural land reclaimed from the sea after the harbour began to silt up. New Romney was once a sea port, with the harbour adjacent to the church, but is now more than a mile from the sea. A mooring ring can still be seen in front of the church.
www.rhdr.org.uk/new-romney.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Romney,_Hythe_and_Dymchurch_Railway
www.rhdr.org.uk/locomotives-southern-maid.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Romney