A trip over the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch

[tedp]

The RHDR is more like a miniature main line than a true narrow gauge railway. I knew of it and had seen photos, but yesterday was the first time I visited the line, making a return trip and having a look in the works at new Romney.

The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch is a pretty serious railway operation and I was very impressed by the way it is run. Also, it is a very friendly railway. Jaap Stuurman and I, after visiting Expong and Bredgar, had an excellent day before returning to Dover to catch the ferry.

I did make some interesting video of the trip which I will post as soon as I can, but it will take at least till the weekend. It's quite exhilarating, being hauled at 20mph over 15" gauge track in a carriage reminiscent of a submarine, only a foot from the ballast streaming by below you.

Here are some photos. First, 'Northern Chief' resting in the loop after having brought us from Hythe, over the entire line and back from Dungeness.



4-8-2 'Samson' resting in the shed at New Romney.



'Hurricane' being polished in the shed.



The station at New Romney, with 'Northern Chief' gently blowing off.



'Winston Churchill' being serviced as our train departs from New Romney, behind 'Northern Chief'.



The entire album can be found here. It will possibly be extended when I add video stills:

http://www.narrowgauge.nl/albums/201410rhdr/index.htm

[tedp]

After Expong and Bredgar, this is the final photo album I added video stills to, describing the trip Jaap Stuurman and I took on the line last Monday. Before I continue, there is this view of The Bug in New Romney shed, taken by my still camera:



Here is our train arriving at Hythe, behind Northern Chief.





The space in the carriages is a tight fit for an adult, however once inside it's comfortable enough:



The loco at the platform end, then running round, being turned and fetching two more carriages from the siding:









Departure from Hythe:





On our way out in the country:



Arrival at New Romney, with the diesel (Captain Howey) on a down train, and Doctor Syn being fired up:





Dungeness comes in view, with the loop line swinging off to the right, and the nuclear power plant brooding over the lighthouse:





Departure from Dungeness, with the loco rapidly accelerating and swinging back on to the single main line to New Romney:







Crossing a train hauled by Winston Churchill at Romney Sands:



At New Romney, Doctor Syn backs on to the train and departs, leaving us on the platform for an hour's look-around:





Captain Howey leaving on an up train:



Winston Churchill is left behind as Northern Chief takes us back to Hythe. We encounter Doctor Syn again at Dymchurch:





If you hold a camera to the roof line of a coach when the train runs at speed, this is what you see - it's much like a periscope!



Finally, we arrive back at Hythe, where the loco is detached.





A video programme of the trip is being prepared.

View the remaining photos here: http://www.narrowgauge.nl/albums/201410rhdr/index.htm

[tedp]

Finally, I completed the video of our trip over the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXF3yc1KMrE

The video had to be severely edited as much of it was taken from the train. I have removed most of the unsteady images - it's not exactly a smooth ride on the narrow track! In addition, the steadying feature of youtube doesn't work well from a moving train.

Finally, I confess I have some trouble keeping a camera steady that isn't fitted with an old-fashioned viewfiner. That at least could be laid against your head which removes most tremors from the image.

Anyway, here is an overview of the trip which takes an hour each way.

In the video, we see our train arriving at Hythe, behind 'Northern Chief'. After running round and turning of the engine, two extra coaches are added and we are off to Dymchurch and beyond. At New Romney we cross a diesel-hauled train behind 'Captain Howey'. On the left, 'Doctor Syn' is raising steam in the yard. After a stop at Romney Sands and continuing to Dungeness, the return loop at Dungeness swings off to the right as the lighthouse and nuclear power plant come into view. The loco needs to keep steam on to haul the train through the curve before stopping at Dungeness.

Shortly afterwards the train continues back to Romney Sands, crossing 'Winston Churchill'. We continue to New Romney, where we get off. The train is taken over by 'Doctor Syn' as 'Northern Chief' needs to be serviced. After seeing 'Doctor Syn' depart, we visit the works, where 'Hurricane' is being cleaned and polished and several other locos rest in the shed. As we return to the station, 'Captain Howey' leaves for Dungeness. Shortly afterwards, 'Winston Churchill' comes in with our return train. This loco is exchanged for 'Northern Chief' again before we continue for Dymchurch and Hythe. Finally, at Dymchurch we cross the train hauled by 'Doctor Syn', before continuing to Hythe at around 20-25mph.

Have fun!  ;)