The Unique Miniature Railway Which Was Vital for England in World War II

I went to secondary school on a train. Not unusual, many of you might say, but this train was a 15-inch gauge railway, not a full-size one. This was my transport for school for the seven years I was there. The train was used as school transport from 1977 to 2015.

The railway opened in 1927 and is the longest miniature railway in the world. Known to locals as the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (RHDR), it is a local attraction steeped in history.

It can run as many as fourteen trains a day at the height of the season. It boasts an impressive inventory of eleven steam trains and two diesels.

Despite many of the workforce being volunteers, it is also the third largest employer on the Romney Marsh, bringing together enthusiasts and professionals for operational roles.

The name is slightly misleading as it now travels from Hythe to Dungeness, a place I have spoken about numerous times.

Dungeness is the last stop on the track and is the world's largest shingle expanse. It is also home to six hundred plant species, one-third of the total plant species in the UK.

Building the Railway

The railway was first built by a millionaire racing driver and his property developer friend. In 1925, Captain J Howey and his racing friend Count Louis Zborowski wanted to build a replica line along the coast.

Leaving the railway in New Romney, you may visit the Captain Howey pub outside the station. Zborowski, a well-known racing driver at the time, was also said to own the Chitty Bang Bang Mercedes.

Howey first visited New Romney on 8th September 1925; he then decided this would be an ideal location. The partnership started to build the railway.

Tragically, Zborowski was killed whilst racing at Monza in the Italian Gran Prix. Howey was left with the two locomotives his friend had commissioned from Henry Greenly. He asked Greenly to help him, and they designed the RHDR railway together.

It was officially opened on 16th July 1927. It would travel from Hythe to New Romney. The section for Dungeness would be added in 1928.

World War II

Having lived near the railway, I thought I knew everything about it. However, one surprising fact was its use in the Second World War.

The railway was used to deliver troops across the coast and even had its own armoured carriages. The train would drop off the troops patrolling the coast, looking for invasion.

The railway was also a private part in delivering the components needed to create a pipeline across the channel to deliver fuel to allied troops in France. The operation became known as Operation Pluto. The pipes were loaded onto flat wagons and transported to Dungeness for further assembling.

Captain Howey would also play his part in the war effort, allowing officers to stay in his house. The soldiers would live in hunts and tents close to the station, in the ground that now houses the central car park.

Post War

Operation Pluto had left the track in disrepair as, towards the end, they had dragged the pipes along the track to increase transportation speed.

This did not deter Howey, and he re-opened the railway to the public in 1946. One year later, he re-opened the Dungeness portion of the railway. Due to the cost of materials, this could only be a single line.

Laurel and Hardy officially opened this last portion of the rebuilt track.

New Owners

The 50s and 60s saw a massive boom in tourism, especially to the Kent coast, and the RHDR benefitted greatly. Howey died in September 1963, and the railway was sold.

The extent of the lack of investment became evident to them when they took over; bridges were in poor condition, and the rolling stock was both ageing and uncomfortable. The railway was left in this condition until 1973.

When a new consortium headed by Sir William McAlpine took over, investment in the railway began again and continues to uphold the title of Kent's Mainline in Miniature.

The carriages are now a little more comfortable, and the high standard of safety and customer service is evident whenever you travel.

Modern Railway

Today, the railway welcomes visitors from around the world. The last part of the railway constructed from New Romney to Dungeness is considered one of the cheapest lines ever built. The track was laid on top of the shingle.

The railway has four stations, each within walking distance of the beach, making it popular with tourists in the hotter months.

It is a railway we ride every holiday as my eldest is slightly obsessed with trains. If you ever visit the seaside south-east coast of England, it is a sight you should not miss.

This miniature working railway is quite an adventure heaped in history.