Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

Om museet

The Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway is a 15-inch gauge railway that has run across Romney Marsh in Kent since 1927. It was the dream of two wealthy racing enthusiasts, Captain J. E. P. Howey and Count Louis Zborowski. When they failed to buy the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway, the Count ordered two Pacific locomotives from the model engineer Henry Greenly. He was killed racing at Monza before they arrived, and Howey, left with the engines, chose Romney Marsh for the line. It opened on 16 July 1927 between Hythe and New Romney, and was extended to Dungeness in 1928.

The line became known as the smallest public railway in the world and grew to nine express locomotives and a fleet of comfortable carriages. During the Second World War the War Department took it over, built a miniature armoured train and used it in building PLUTO, the pipeline under the ocean that fuelled the Allied invasion. It reopened after the war, with the Dungeness section following in 1947, but New Romney to Dungeness remained single track. Passenger numbers fell after the 1960s, and a consortium led by Sir William McAlpine saved the railway in 1973.

Today steam and diesel locomotives run over 13.5 miles between Hythe and Dungeness, with stations including Dymchurch and New Romney in between. At New Romney station visitors can see the Heritage Centre, in the former paint shop, which opened in 2021, and a large model railway exhibition.

Højdepunkter

• 13.5-mile ride on 15-inch gauge steam and diesel locomotives from Hythe to Dungeness
• Heritage Centre at New Romney station on the railway's history
• Model Railway Exhibition with up to 24 trains running at a time
• Audio commentary app for the journey
• Dungeness station beneath the old lighthouse

Permanente udstillinger

• Heritage Centre – Exhibition in the former paint shop at New Romney station on the railway in wartime, royal visits, seaside holidays and why the line was built.
• Model Railway Exhibition – A large HO scale layout started in 1973 with up to 24 trains running, plus a section on the railway's wartime history; it is free with a Romney Rover ticket.

Grundlagt

1927

Entrépriser & rabatter

The Romney Rover (all-day travel, hop on and hop off) costs 30 pounds for adults and 20 pounds for children and is the only ticket sold online; station-to-station tickets are cheaper and are sold at the stations on the day. Dogs are welcome on all services for a donation of 1.50 pounds. Discounts exist for Blue Light card holders, Heritage Railway Association members and others named on the fares page. Prices may differ on special event days.

Tilgængelighed

• Kørestolsvenlig
• Elevator: ingen oplysninger
• Handicaptoilet
• Handicapparkering
• Servicehunde tilladt
• Taktile tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Rundvisninger på tegnsprog: ingen oplysninger
• Letlæste tilbud: ingen oplysninger
• Synstolkning: ingen oplysninger

Each train has at least one coach adapted for wheelchairs and small mobility scooters, with on-board ramps, panoramic windows and seats for helpers, available by prior arrangement or first come, first served. Toilets for wheelchair users are at Hythe, Dymchurch, New Romney and Dungeness stations, and the gift shops at Hythe, New Romney and Dungeness are wheelchair accessible. The Model Railway Exhibition at New Romney has a stair lift. Blue badge holders can park free at Hythe, New Romney and Dungeness by showing the badge at the ticket office.

Børn og familie

Velegnet til børn og familier

• Familieomvisninger & workshops
• Interaktive stationer
• Puslerum
• Legeplads / legehjørne

The railway holds family fun weekends, character events and seasonal Santa Specials. New Romney station has a children's playground and baby-changing facilities, and the Model Railway Exhibition has interactive push buttons. The Bug Club is a membership club for children up to age 11.

Transport & parkering

New Romney station is off the A259 coast road; from the M20 leave at junction 10, take the A2070 towards Brenzett and then the A259, and turn right at the traffic lights in New Romney. Hythe station (CT21 6LD) is 3 miles from M20 junction 11. Coach parking is available at New Romney and Dungeness.

Service & spisesteder

• Café
• Restaurant
• Museumsbutik

The Hythe Coffee Shop, the Heywood Buffet at New Romney and the End of the Line Restaurant at Dungeness serve food and drink on running days, and there are gift shops at Hythe, New Romney and Dungeness. Dogs are welcome in the Conservatory of the Heywood Buffet and in signposted areas at Dungeness.

Arrangementer & udlejning

• Lokaler til leje
• Private fester
• Firmaarrangementer

The railway offers corporate events, train charters, heritage carriages, party hire at New Romney and driver experience days. The Bar Car "Gladys" seats 14 and can be hired for private groups.

Planlæg dit besøg