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 busy station on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in New Romney, Kent, England. This special railway uses small, miniature steam trains. New Romney has always been the main base for the railway's operations. It's like the railway's central office and workshop all in one!
Contents
The Station's Early Days
When the railway first opened in 1927, New Romney was the very last stop for trains coming from Hythe. The platforms were located near where the restaurant and model display are today.
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In 1928, the railway line was extended all the way to Dungeness. This meant new platforms had to be built at New Romney. The old platforms were too high to connect to the new tracks that went under the main road.
The current station building was constructed in the 1930s. It was designed with two levels: high-level platforms for trains ending their journey here, and lower-level platforms for trains continuing to Dungeness.
World War II and Reopening
The railway had to close in 1940 because of the Second World War. The military took over the line for a while.
After the war ended, the railway reopened in 1946. New Romney became the temporary end of the line again. This was because the tracks to Dungeness needed repairs.
A famous moment happened in 1947 when the comedy duo Laurel and Hardy helped reopen the Dungeness line. It was even shown on the news!
How the Station Grew and Changed
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 lower-level platforms were also made much bigger.
After this big rebuild, the station had many tracks. There were four main platforms (numbered 1, 2, 3, and 4) under the roof. There were also extra tracks for storing passenger coaches.
The old high-level platforms were not used much after this. They were eventually removed in the 1980s and 1990s. Today, the area where they once stood is part of the station restaurant.
What You'll Find at New Romney Station
New Romney is more than just a place to catch a train. It's the heart of the railway, with many important departments and facilities.
Railway Offices
The main offices for the railway company are located at the station. This is where all the important paperwork and planning happen. There are also offices for the General Manager and other department heads.
Visitor Facilities
As a major tourist spot, the station has a large ticket office, a gift shop, and a cafeteria. You can also visit an interesting museum and a model exhibition hall.
Controlling the Trains
There is a signal box at New Romney that controls trains in the local area. It also has the main Control Centre for the entire railway line. A special Control Officer works here, talking to all the train drivers and staff by radio. They make sure all trains run safely and on time.
Looking After the Locomotives
New Romney is where the railway's locomotives (the engines that pull the trains) are stored and repaired. The original engine shed has been made much larger. It can now hold all the railway's locomotives.
This shed is also a full engineering center. Here, skilled workers can do everything from small repairs to complete overhauls of the engines. There's also a separate paint shop where locomotives and carriages get their fresh coats of paint. All the railway's locomotives are based here.
Maintaining the Tracks
The team that looks after the railway tracks, called the Permanent Way department, also has its main base at New Romney. They recently built a large new shed just outside the main station. This shed stores their equipment, small locomotives, and wagons.
Preserving History
The old Permanent Way building is now used by a group that collects and preserves historical items from the railway. They have an archive of old materials and a small collection of restored old vehicles. These special vehicles might even be used on special trains sometimes!
Carriage and Wagon Workshop
Carriages (where passengers sit) and wagons are built and maintained right here at New Romney. This department has its own dedicated workshop. It's a very important part of keeping the railway running smoothly.
Other Important Departments
Several smaller departments are also based at New Romney. For example, the Signals and Telecommunications Department maintains all the railway's signals and communication systems. The Commercial Department handles marketing and promotions.
The station also has all the usual facilities you'd expect at a big tourist spot. These include restrooms, a children's play area, picnic spots, and a large car park. There's even some on-site housing for staff and volunteers.
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
