On a warm and sunny morning, members made their way to Folkestone West station (via South Eastern Javelin ‘High Speed’ services) to board a local bus for the short run to nearby Hythe. Upon arrival at the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch station we met up with several other members who had either stayed locally the previous evening, or travelled direct via Ashford International.

Click images for an enlargement

At speeds of up to 25mph and coupled to the low riding position within the passenger coaches, the travel experience is somewhat ‘exhilarating’ (especially with the side doors open). Prior to reaching Dymchurch station, we passed a service heading in the opposite direction, and the closing speed of almost 50mph caused quite a sensation.

IThe 11:00 departure was waiting in platform 2, and members took the opportunity to board our specially reserved seats at the front of the train. Prior to departure, the rostered steam loco (Green Goddess), performed a quick shunting move, and attached an additional three coaches to the service to strengthen it.

Class 395 Javelin Unit 395 015 at Folkestone West after a transporting Institution members at High Speed from St Pancras International.

This unit was still in original non-refurbished condition

Green Goddess leaves the engine shed at Hythe

And backs down into the adjacent platform to collect three more carriages

Coupled-up to the additional carriages, Green Goddess departs towards the station throat

Before reentering the station to form the lengthened train

Arriving into New Romney, the train passes the railway workshops and depot areas, where most of the other rolling stock was stabled when not in use. Today was considered a regular running day, so just a basic three train operation.

At New Romney station, we were welcomed with tea and coffee, before heading to the nearby function rooms for our Annual General Meeting.

At the end of the meeting, our Chairman, Alan Spencer, was presented with a 00 Gauge model of a British Railways 9F 2-10-0 steam locomotive by Humphrey Gillot  as a thank you for all Alan’s years of service to the Institution.

At 14:38 we rejoined the rails, and headed to Dungeness, taking in the spectacular scenery of the Romney Marshes. The small station at Dungeness is dwarfed by the nearby lighthouse and power station – which is still rail served on the branch line from Appledore on the Ashford (Kent) to Hastings route.

A short break is taken by all services at Dungeness whilst the loco is watered, before its 13.5 mile return journey back to Hythe via New Romney on the 15.30 departure.  The end-to-end journey time being around 1 hour and ten minutes..

At Hythe, our day concluded, with members departing in a variety of directions.

There was a choice of Stagecoach bus options - either catch about outside the station back to Folkestone for a walk to Folkestone Central, or a short walk at Hythe to catch a bus directly to Folkestone West.

Green Goddess prepares to Depart New Romney for Dungerness.

No 1, Green Goddess was built by Davey Paxman and Company in 1925 is based on Nigel Gressley’s LNER A1 Pacific locomotives

Humphrey Gilliot presents Alan Spencer with thank you gifts for his long service to the Institution

9F 92079 replaced “Big Bertha” as the Lickey Incline banker and was regularly worked by Alan early in his footplate career.

The model was specially renumbered from a standard retail model by The Model Centre

After the AGM and presentation, a generous buffet lunch was severed.  There was also plenty of time to watch trains arrive and depart from New Romney, to view the exhibition on the history of the railway and see the extensive model railway.

Mountain Class 4-8-2 No 6 Samson arrives at New Romney from Hythe.  Originally built by Davey Paxman and Co in 1927 it was rebuilt in 1961 with a with a superheated boiler

Green Goddess arrives in New Romney from Dungerness

Green Goddess departs New Romney on the wayt o Hythe

Green Goddess upon arrival at Dungeness with the old lighthouse in the background.  Dungeness old lighthouse was built in 1902 and decommissioned in 1960.  The Grade Two listed lighthouse is open to the public, though there was insufficient time to climb the tower during this trip

Another view of Green Goddess shortly after arrival at Dungeness with Dungerness A Power Nuclear Power Station closest and Dungeness B further away.  Both are now decommissioned, A in 2006 and Dungeness B in 2020

An imposing view of Green Goddess looking very much the part of a miniature Gresley Pacific.

Green Goddess’s driver kindly allowed the Locomotive & Carriage headboard to be fitted to the engine for the return visit to Hythe

Another view of Green Goddess with the Institution Headboard

Institution members taking photos of Green Goddess with headboard!

A final view of Green Goddess at Dungeness with Dungeness New Lighthouse in the background.  

The New Lighthouse was commissioned in 1961 and was built because the new Nuclear power station was obscuring the view of the Old Lighthouse.

The lighthouse is 43m high and the 134, 000 candela light is visible for 21 nautical miles

At Dymchurch we passed 4-6-2 Pacific Northern Chief on a train from Hythe to Dungerness.  No 2 Northern Chief was built by Davy Paxman and Co in 1925.  She was ordered at the same time as Green Goddess and hauled the first official train on the railway on 5th August 1926

Green Goddess arrives back at Hythe at 16.40, still with the Institution headboard attached.

Finally, with headboard recovered for the next Institution trip, Green Goddess draws forward to depart towards the locomotive shed

A 395 Javelin arrives at Folkestone Central to quickly take us back to London on Britain’s fastest line.

We had a refurbished set on the way back