RHDR: A Dungeness Return...

Hi all. After a good night sleep in my Premier Inn, I headed down for breakfast with high hopes for the day ahead. Myself and Eddie had planned our movements for today over a pint last night and our aim was the 10am departure from New Romney. Once I'd breakfasted, I grabbed my bag and checked out of the hotel, on route to meet up with Eddie and Lynne in order for us to convoy across the marsh. We arrived at the RHDR base of New Romney Station at around 09:20am, in good time for our upcoming departure for Dungeness. Having purchased our tickets: mine was free on production of my footplate pass for later on: we proceeded down towards the shed. On the apron stood two of the pacific fleet: Nos2 and 9 respectively... 

It wasn't long before No9 "Winston Churchill" hissed steadily off shed, leaving just No2 "Northern Chief". No2 was built in 1925 and was just having her superheater flues blown out. Talking to one of the staff, I learned that the Romney engines have their tubes cleaned each night but the superheater flues blown through of a morning prior to leaving shed. The blankets over the boiler go a long way to protecting the shining livery whilst the departing soot is ejected violently skyward...

With another whistle blast heard, No1 "Green Goddess" was spotted leaving the bay platform with a lengthy rake of coaches. This formed the 09:35am departure for Hythe. With steam roaring from her drain cocks, No1 made a steady departure as the driver kept a firm hand on the regulator to guard against any slips...

New Romney certainly is a hive of activity of a summer morning, with various locomotive and train movements to take place to set the railway up for the day! As No1 departed into the distance, No2 cautiously moved off shed for coaling...

No9, built in 1931 by the Yorkshire Engine Company, was now waiting for the road to cross-over onto the green rake which would form our 10am departure...

With departure time nearing, we boarded the train towards the rear. Right on time, No9 gave a blast on her Crosby whistle before starting the train away towards Romney Sands. It's a totally different feeling on the RHDR. Once you're on the move it feels like you're riding an express train, simply because of the smaller scale. Looking out from the train, I could see a trail of white steam and then the radius rod and return crank flying around as No9 strode onward. Heading out towards Dungeness, the landscape opens up into shingle beaches and desolate marshes. Nearing the terminus, the train crosses a facing point which signals the start of the huge balloon loop. Upon arrival at Dungeness we alighted from the train to examine No9 a little more...

Nos9 and 10 were built to an American outline with larger cabs. The railways founder: Captain Howey: believed that the larger cab would afford better weather protection for the crews. Despite looking slightly stronger than their Eastern region-style sisters, the American twins retain the same basic design. As No9 disappeared off into the distance, we took the time to grab a quick cuppa' in the impressive station café before visiting the Dungeness lighthouse. The current lighthouse which protects Dungeness dates from 1961, with the one that is open to the public being one of its predecessors. This one was first lit in 1904 and myself and Eddie reached the top level after climbing its 169 steps. The top of the lighthouse affords great views of the area...

As usual, there's always time for a daft shot of Eddie the Late...

Having descended from the lighthouse, we wandered towards the sea across the headland. It's an unusual place, quite moving in its own way. Behind the 1904 lighthouse stands Dungeness nuclear power station. Dungeness A was commissioned in 1965 and ceased power production in 2006. Dungeness B was commissioned in 1983 and is still operational, featuring two reactors...

At the end of a boarded path above the shingle beach, we reached the sea. It's so peaceful and quiet out here. Dungeness must surely be one of the wonders of the world. It's quite an experience on its own...

With a chime whistle heard on the breeze, No1 "Green Goddess" came into view in the distance. We wandered back towards Dungeness station ready to catch the 11:45am departure for Hythe via New Romney. As we reached the platform, No1 was just pulling in. The 1961 lighthouse can be seen in the background...

Once stationary, the driver was out refilling the lubricators on the immaculate No1. The engine hasn't long been back in service following a collision with a tractor in summer 2016. Her Apple Green livery was absolutely glistening...

As we left Dungeness behind, the sun finally broke through the clouds. No1 was well on her way to Romney sands, leaving only her crisp voice on the breeze...

Romney Sands provides the railway with a passing point in the 5.5-mile single line between New Romney and Dungeness. Once the level crossing barriers had descended, No2 "Northern Chief" arrived and the drivers exchanged tokens...

From there it was the final sprint to New Romney, from where Eddie and Lynne would continue with the train to Hythe whilst I stayed behind. My footplate pass was booked for the 1:15pm departure and so I would grab some lunch before continuing on. Alighting from the train, No1 had been given the road to pull forward to allow No9 to take over. No1, and her driver, would go 'on lunch'...

The seating position for RHDR drivers is seen clearly in this shot of No9 "Winston Churchill". Note the larger cab, offering slightly better weather protection...

With the engines switched, No9 departed towards Hythe whilst No1 settled down for a break of just under an hour. I had now worked out that No1 would be the chosen engine for my footplate ride and so, having grabbed a sandwich, I waited nearby with my bib and brace at the ready. It was then time to play the waiting game...