New Romney railway station facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
New Romney
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| Station on heritage railway | |
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New Romney station
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| Location | New Romney, Folkestone & Hythe England |
| Platforms | 4 |
| Key dates | |
| 16 July 1927 | Opened |
| 1940 | closed |
| 1946 | reopened |
New Romney railway station is a special place on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. This railway is in New Romney, a town in Kent, England. This station has always been the main office and control center for the entire railway line.
Contents
Early Days of the Station
New Romney station first opened on July 16, 1927. For a short time, it was the end of the line for trains coming from Hythe. The first platforms were at the same level as the road. They were located near where the restaurant and model display are today.
Building the Dungeness Extension
In 1928, the railway line was extended to Dungeness. This meant new platforms were needed at New Romney. These new platforms were built lower down. This allowed the tracks to go under the main road. The station you see today was built in the 1930s. It kept the idea of having platforms at different levels. There were high-level platforms for trains ending their journey. There were also low-level platforms for trains going through to Dungeness.
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World War II and Reopening
The railway closed in 1940 because of World War II. The military took over the line. After the war, the railway reopened in 1946. New Romney was again the temporary end of the line. This was until the Dungeness extension could be fixed. In 1947, famous comedians Laurel and Hardy helped reopen the Dungeness line. This event was even shown in newsreels.
Station Upgrades and Changes
New Romney station has changed a lot over the years. A big rebuilding project happened in the late 1970s. During this time, a large roof was added over the station. The low-level platforms were also made bigger.
Platform Changes Over Time
After the 1970s rebuild, the station had many tracks. There were two old high-level platforms. Four new platforms were built under the roof, numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4. Three more tracks were added for storing passenger coaches. The old high-level platforms were not used much. They were mostly removed in the early 1980s. Later, in the 1990s, the main turntable for locomotives was moved. This led to the complete removal of the old high-level platforms. That area is now part of the station restaurant.
What You Can Find at the Station
New Romney station is more than just a place to catch a train. It's the main hub for the entire railway.
Railway Offices
The main offices for the railway company are at the station. This is where all the important business is handled. There are also offices for the General Manager. Other managers, like those for operations and engineering, have offices here too.
Visitor Facilities
As a major station, New Romney has many things for visitors. There is a large ticket office where you can buy your tickets. You can also find a shop to buy souvenirs. A cafeteria offers food and drinks. There is even a big museum and a model exhibition hall to explore.
Train Control Center
The station has a signal box to control local trains. It also has the main Control Centre for the whole railway. A Control Officer works here. They use radios to talk to all signal boxes, train drivers, and staff. This helps keep all trains running smoothly and safely.
Locomotive Care and Storage
The original engine shed is still used today. It was made bigger to hold more locomotives. Now, it can house all the railway's locomotives. It's also a place where engines are repaired and maintained. There's a separate shop for building and painting locomotives. All the railway's locomotives are now based at New Romney.
Track Maintenance Headquarters
The team that maintains the railway tracks is also based at New Romney. They have a large new shed just north of the station. This shed stores equipment and special vehicles. These include light locomotives and wagons used for track work.
Preserving Railway History
The old track maintenance building is now used by a heritage group. They collect historical items about the railway. They also restore old railway vehicles. These special vehicles might be used for unique train rides.
Carriage and Wagon Department
Carriages and wagons are built and repaired at New Romney. This is done in a special 'Carriage and Wagon Department'. This shed used to be one of the biggest. Now, it's smaller compared to the new track maintenance shed and the larger locomotive shed.
Other Services
New Romney station also houses smaller departments. For example, the 'Signals and Telecommunications Department' keeps the railway's signals working. The 'Commercial Department' handles marketing. The station also has public restrooms, a children's play area, and picnic spots. There is a large car park for visitors. Some staff and volunteers can even stay overnight at the station.
Gallery
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No 5 'Hercules' at New Romney
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No.7 Typhoon in the carriage stabling sidings
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No.1 Green Goddess outside the former carriage sheds on the site of the original 1927 terminus
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No.8 Hurricane seen from the platforms at New Romeny
