The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is a narrow-gauge steam railway that runs for 13.5 miles (21.7 km) along the coast of Kent in southern England. The railway has a gauge of 15 inches (381 mm) and operates a fleet of small, narrow-gauge steam locomotives. The trains run from the town of Hythe, passing through the villages of Dymchurch, St Mary’s Bay, and New Romney, and ending at Dungeness, which is home to a large shingle beach and a nature reserve.
Captain J. E. P. Howey was the founder and driving force behind this Railway. He was a wealthy British industrialist and aviation pioneer who had a passion for steam railways. He conceived the idea of building a miniature railway in the early 1920s and set about raising the funds to make it a reality.
Howey’s vision was to build a railway that would not only be a tourist attraction, but also serve as a practical means of transportation for the residents of the Romney Marsh area. He spared no expense in the construction of the railway, importing locomotives and rolling stock from Germany and building stations and infrastructure to the highest standards.
The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is now operated by a team of dedicated volunteers who work hard to maintain the railway and its rolling stock. The railway also has a museum, a gift shop, and a café, and is open to visitors from April to October.
These images were taken at the train station at Hythe.
