Dungeness railway station
Encyclopedia
Dungeness railway station is a station on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
on Romney Marsh
in Kent
.
, where a turning triangle was installed, so that locomotives could change direction when preparing to return to New Romney or Hythe. Construction work continued towards Dungeness, and the final section of the line (including this station) opened in August 1928. Operations have continued at this station ever since.
, allowing trains to return with the engine pointing forwards without needing to uncouple and reverse the locomotive, or use a turntable
.
Facilities at this station include two booking offices (one currently redundant), a shop, an extensive cafeteria and restaurant, toilets, and a waiting shelter. There is a water tower for the benefit of steam locomotives. There is only one formal (concreted) platform, although technically this station has two platforms: in the summer, trains sometimes arrive at and depart from the station's run-round loop
even though no platform surface is provided.
Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is a gauge light railway in Kent, England. The line runs from the Cinque Port of Hythe via Dymchurch, St...
on Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh
Romney Marsh is a sparsely populated wetland area in the counties of Kent and East Sussex in the south-east of England. It covers about 100 mi ² .-Quotations:*“As Egypt was the gift of the Nile, this level tract .....
in Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
.
History
The line to Dungeness was opened on 24 May 1928, a year after the line reached New Romney. However, construction was complete only as far as The Pilot InnThe Pilot Inn railway station
The Pilot Inn railway station was a station on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway in Kent, England.Opened on 24 May 1928, this station was a temporary terminus whilst construction of the remaining section of track to Dungeness continued...
, where a turning triangle was installed, so that locomotives could change direction when preparing to return to New Romney or Hythe. Construction work continued towards Dungeness, and the final section of the line (including this station) opened in August 1928. Operations have continued at this station ever since.
Description
It is one of only a very few stations in England to be situated on a balloon loopBalloon loop
A balloon loop or turning loop allows a rail vehicle or train to reverse direction without having to shunt or even stop. Balloon loops can be useful for passenger trains and unit freight trains, such as coal trains....
, allowing trains to return with the engine pointing forwards without needing to uncouple and reverse the locomotive, or use a turntable
Turntable (railroad)
A railway turntable is a device for turning railroad rolling stock. When steam locomotives were still in wide use, many railroads needed a way to turn the locomotives around for return trips as their controls were often not configured for extended periods of running in reverse and in many...
.
Facilities at this station include two booking offices (one currently redundant), a shop, an extensive cafeteria and restaurant, toilets, and a waiting shelter. There is a water tower for the benefit of steam locomotives. There is only one formal (concreted) platform, although technically this station has two platforms: in the summer, trains sometimes arrive at and depart from the station's run-round loop
Passing loop
A passing loop is a place on a single line railway or tramway, often located at a station, where trains or trams in opposing directions can pass each other. Trains/trams in the same direction can also overtake, providing that the signalling arrangement allows it...
even though no platform surface is provided.