Romney Footplate Pass: A Run On "Green Goddess"...

It's a rare occasion indeed when you can tick something off your "bucket list", but this was certainly one of those days! Ever since I first visited the Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in 2008, I've wondered what a trip on the footplate must be like. This afternoon, at long last, I was going to find out! In my last post I left off by breaking my journey from Dungeness at New Romney, ready to grab some lunch prior to my footplate trip. I'd changed into my bib and brace and grabbed a sandwich before visiting the ticket office to be issued with my Authority Card...

Wandering back out onto the platform, I took shelter under the station roof as by now the dull morning had opened up into a very sunny July afternoon. I was only glad I'd left my jacket in the car! The locomotive for my trip: "Green Goddess": was sat quietly simmering away to herself on the bay road, with her driver having settled her down and gone for lunch. What a fine engine she looks...

As 1pm neared, the driver: Phil: appeared and invited me to join him on the engine. Having run through the safety aspects, he seemed relieved to hear that it wasn't my first time on a footplate. I imagine that an over enthusiastic novice could be quite irritating in such close proximity! With the cab doors closed, Phil carefully moved No1 away towards the signal gantry. Sister engine No2 "Northern Chief" duly rolled in from Dungeness and, once stationary, we were given the road to steam out in front of her in order to ultimately swap places. "Chief" would now go on lunch whilst we took her train to Hythe. Whilst the New Romney controller coupled No1 to the stock, I was facing straight ahead, no doubt beaming from ear to ear. It felt like being in a rocket ready to launch as I looked out beyond the starter signal...

Before we received the "Right Away" from the controller, there was time to grab a quick shot of the cab. The initiated amongst you will spot the majority of the usual features. The water sight glasses are of the Klinger type and I believe all of the original Romney engines carry them. Other features include the vacuum braking system (with related gauge) and the steam chest pressure gauge...

A little down on time but eager to make it up, Phil got No1 on the move with the heavy train. We steamed out of New Romney with the drain cocks hissing loudly, before they were closed via the flick of a valve. (The engines carry steam operated drains). As the crisp bark of No1 echoed across the fields, Phil wound her back and let her go. The whole experience that followed was quite exhilarating and I will almost certainly fail to commit the feeling to words. Here is a video clip I took of No1 striding along at a steady 20mph under blue skies, bound for Dymchurch...
As you can see, they really get a wriggle on! The top line speed is 25mph, but Phil was saying that in most cases they cruise at 18-20mph as long as time permits. No1 took the whole thing as if she had been designed to do it...which of course she was! She was ordered in 1924 by Count Louis Zborowski, the co-founder of the RHDR. Designed by Henry Greenly with Nigel Gresley's A1 pacific in mind, "Green Goddess" was built by Davey Paxman in 1925. I believe that the engine was named after a 1921 stage play which Captain Howey had enjoyed...

All too soon the regulator was closed for the approach to Dymchurch, where there would be a short wait prior to departure. The level crossing barriers can be seen in front of the engine in the image below. Historically the RHDR crossings had been ungated but a number of incidents caused by careless motorists have prompted a need for these installations. I suppose it's better safe than sorry...

With the train ready and the barriers lowered, No1 barked out of Dymchurch bound for Hythe. Younger shed-mate No9 "Winston Churchill" duly approached with a Dungeness service. Oh the beauty of double track...

The Dymchurch to Hythe section is 5-miles of non-stop miniature main line bliss. No1 strode effortlessly onward, her wheels flying around and valve gear a blur. It was a pleasure to listen to her working away! Phil drove it like a main line engine: setting the regulator and working her back on the reverser to find that sweet spot. At 30% the engine was finding the whole job no hindrance at all...

Monitoring steam and water levels all the time, Phil occasionally splashed some coal around the firebox. He seemed to keep a fairly thick but level fire, closing the door between each shovelful to reduce the amount of cold air drawn in. The boiler water level was maintained with regular use of the injectors...

Here is No1 flying towards Hythe in the continuing sunshine...

After eight wonderful miles of 15" gauge steam action, the regulator was closed for the approach to the terminus station at Hythe. The station here originally opened in 1927. No1 stood feathering loudly prior to pulling forward...

Once uncoupled, the engine ran forward before setting back up the middle road. The signalman then set the road for the spur to the turntable...

As we left the turntable, Phil stopped to do some oiling up and check No1 over. He is a member of the permanent staff and spends a lot of time driving "Goddess". By the time this trip was over I was likely to be as green as the engine! When it hits you that this is actually somebodies 9-5 then you can't really help but become envious! He was saying that the regular staff fitters tend to be allocated to a particular engine and his was currently No1. She certainly looked a picture and was a credit to all who look after her. Once ready to move again, we were asked to shunt a short rake of ECS into Platform 1 for stabling before rejoining our 2:10pm departure...

The next section of the trip was the full journey to Dungeness via Dymchurch and New Romney. It was fantastic, absolutely fantastic. Just to sit and watch "Green Goddess" at work and experience the Romney magic was a joy to behold. At New Romney we topped up the water in the tender before our 2:48pm onward departure. The single line section to Dungeness is great fun and here is No1 absolutely tearing along, with the power station coming into view in the distance...

One thing that we did notice earlier which I had to ask about was the continuous blowdown. The boiler is blown down on the move, thus expelling any solids which have been left in suspension during evaporation. Every now and again the blowdown would be opened and the jet would expel, hardly noticed, beneath the footplate. I think the shot below really shows the difference in scenery along the RHDR. The Hythe section is open fields and greenery at this time of the year, whereas the Dungeness section is very beach-like. It must be Baltic here in winter!...

Passing over the facing point for the massive balloon loop...

After arrival at Dungeness, I left the sweltering cab for a breather...

What an amazing run it had been. No1 sat quietly having a well earned rest, whilst Phil went around again with the oil cans...

Right on time, we left Dungeness behind and continued back towards New Romney on what would be No1s last turn of the day. The final sprint towards New Romney was absolutely exhilarating and as we rolled in under the low tunnel, I thanked Phil heartily for his hospitality and commentary. I'd loved every minute of the trip and it was a fantastic thing to tick it off my bucket list. The trouble is now, I just want to do it again! Pulling into New Romney, Phil shook my hand before I left the cab so that he could prepare No1 for disposal. Here we see a last look at "Green Goddess" as she settles onto the New Romney turntable prior to turning before bed...

On the station concourse I met up with Eddie and Lynne and they could clearly see my elation. It was then time to hit the road, the part of this whole trip I'd dreaded the most! It's never the same on the return! What a trip it had been though. The mix of the KESR yesterday and the RHDR today had made for two brilliant days of full on steam action. My ambition to ride the footplate at the RHDR has now been fulfilled. Driving home, I could still hear No1s piercing Wilcox chime whistle over the droning hum of the M25. Thinking about being at that regulator, you can't help but wonder, "maybe in another life". Many thanks all, that's a wrap...