Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway: window card

About this journey

The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway works particularly well as a day with a destination. Start beside the Royal Military Canal at Hythe, travel across Romney Marsh and leave the train beneath the Old Lighthouse at Dungeness. The changing surroundings are the point of the ride: a canal-side town, the working headquarters at New Romney and an exposed shingle landscape at the far end. We suggest making New Romney and Dungeness the two substantial pauses, with Hythe as the place to begin and finish.

The railway’s history explains why these small trains feel like a complete railway. Its own history pages describe the ambitions of Captain Howey and Count Louis Zborowski and the development of the route. New Romney is still its operational centre, with workshops and sheds supporting the public service. Those are working premises, so enjoy the visible activity from the areas open to visitors. The Heritage Centre and Model Railway Exhibition add the background that is easy to miss during a straight return ride.

Dungeness deserves time on foot. The station is close to the Old Lighthouse, whose circular staircase leads to views over the Channel and Romney Marsh when admission is available. At ground level, the contrast between the dark tower, low buildings and open shingle is striking. The lighthouse and railway publish separate visitor information: a train ticket does not guarantee entry to the tower. We recommend checking the lighthouse before deciding how long to spend at the terminus.

New Romney also shows how a terminus became a through station. The operator explains that the route to Dungeness passed beneath Littlestone Road after the original headquarters had been built. Around the station are the engine and carriage sheds, workshops and permanent-way facilities that support the service. Opposite the signal box, a rock garden and model lighthouse commemorate Captain Howey, whose house, Red Tiles, stands beyond it. These details make the headquarters stop more than a convenient place to change trains: the station itself tells part of the railway’s story.

Window card questions