Steam Trains, What More Could Diana Wish For?

well I could not wish for any thing better to visit,

we traveled to the world famous Romney Hythe & Dymchurch railway, a miniature 15" gauge railway, the culmination of the dreams of two men; Captain J. E. P. Howey — a sometimes racing driver, millionaire land owner, former Army Officer and miniature railway aficionado and Count Louis Zborowski — eminently well-known racing driver of his day (famous for owning and racing the Chitty Bang Bang Mercedes) and considerably richer, even, than Howey, but for a fuller history look here, back to today, Hercules pulls into Dymchurch station, our transport for the afternoon,

it is a freelance outline two-cylinder 4-8-2 Mountain class locomotive designed by Henry Greenly, built by Davey Paxman & Co., (16041) in 1927,

1926 and still going strong, the railway is the worlds smallest public railway,

with the hissing of steam and the smell of oil and coal Diana is not to sure about this, front of the time table and brochure,

speaking of tables the train has to be turned around on this turntable, in working order Hercules weighs in at 8 tons 5 cwt (8,382 kgs),

then we are off, we are traveling from Hythe to Dymchurch, we use to holiday at Dymchurch in the mid 1950's, I would take the train whilst Mum and Dad would drive to the station, then on to the caravan we had hired for the two weeks holiday there, golden sands with gently slopping shore line made it the perfect place for families,

now picking up speed we hurtle through the country side, what memories this brings back,

the seats are just about wide enough for Duncan and myself but if either of us puts on weight it will be a tight squeeze!

we finally arrive at Dymchurch,

and watch our train continue to it's final destination Dungeness,

this is the route it follows,

it is easy to walk to the town, but look out for this on the way back or you will miss the train,

the area is criss-crossed with streams as the whole area is or was marsh land, the good news loads of ducks to feed,

the bad news we had no bread to give them,

all around the area are guest houses and pubs, (I think that was why Dad like this place so much, no strong summer tides so Mum and myself were safe on the beach),

and this one I remember so well, The Ocean Inn, in the car park at the side I remember a cockle and winkle stall, nice chap used to run it, both he and Dad got on well, I guess because we were there every year, and stayed for a couple of weeks at a time, also occasionally as a treat we would also pop down to it the winter time, he was still there manning the stall for the locals and the occasional visitor,

Diana by the new sea wall, some serious flooding must have taken place, this was not here before, you just walked to the top of the steps then down to the beach, now you can not even see the sea,

there was a small funfair there but nothing as big as this, but it looks good fun for the family,

the dodgems looked so inviting,

but first the ghost train for Amber and Jade,

then Duncan and Jade had a turn,

'L' plates not needed!

then to the water slide, Duncan got quite wet, but Amber stayed dry,

seeing how wet her Dad became Jade covers herself,

but it all went horribly wrong,

a wave from nowhere soaked her,

we did not laugh, no really, we were keeping straight faces, no one said a word, not even a snigger, OK I give in, it was so funny,

after Jade had dried out it was time for the Ferris wheel,

then back to the warmth of the Ocean Inn, but we went to the garden at the side as they had a play area for Amber and there was a stall that was on the corner of the car park all those years ago, I mentioned this to the lady there who replied, 'then your Dad must have known my husbands Dad as he ran it then, I am looking after it today for my husband', so it was the same family than as now,

then back across the river to the station,

this time we had brought a packet of crisps with us, so it was a feeding frenzy,

the first train was heading the wrong direction,

still nothing coming our way,

nothing now coming either way as it happens,

Green Goddess a GN outline two-cylinder 4-6-2 Pacific locomotive, designed by Henry Greenly, built by Davey Paxman & Co., (15469) in 1925, pulls into the station to take us back to Hythe,

the engine is uncoupled, ready to go to the turn table then the engine shed for the night,

a few puffs of steam and she is gone,

and so were we to the Harvester at the top of Duncans road for our evening meal,

a full help yourself salad bar to start,

Diana had the full bar-b-q,

steak and onion rings for myself, (and medicinal red wine),

steak and huge mushrooms for Duncan,

'Cheers!' from all of us, a great day out in the fresh air, except the train ride if you do not like the smell of steam, oil and coal, but for me it was seventh heaven with so many childhood memories,

then off home, feet up to watch a bit of television, I guess you can have a bit too much fresh air.