RH&DR questions - ALSO NOW FOLKESTONE LOOP SUGGESTIONS

[Egg Centric]

Mods - I'm not 100% sure if this goes in this subforum, pls move if appropriate.

I'm considering going to the RH&DR on either 6th October or 12th October. Almost certainly just me.

1. Would either of these dates likely be preferable for any particular reason? From their website, they're both running the same timetable and there isn't a special event.
2. How busy would it likely be?
3. Would afternoon be enough or should it really be an entire day out?
4. Is public transport practical on those dates or would I need to drive? Very very very strong preference for trains over buses. Looks to me like Sandling is bus replacement on the 6th, but not the 12th. Any alternative to Sandling? Is there Uber or a similar taxi app in the area?
5. Any recommendations for somewhere to stay? I am in Watford evening of 6th to morning of 12th, hence my choice of dates. If I can do this practically and sensibly then I would stay nearby on the evening of the 5th or 12th.
6. Is October a sensible time to visit in general? (I am not bothered about cold, or certainly not what southerners call cold)

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I'd have thought you'd be much more likely to be able to find a taxi at Folkestone, even though Sandling is closer to Hythe; Sandling also only has an hourly service - Folkestone has two an hour each way, one of which is a High Speed to / from St Pancras.

Yes, on the Sunday 6th Sandling - and Folkestone - are buses only; I'd definitely advise the Saturday 12th for that reason.

 

[30907]

There are plenty of buses between Folkestone and Hythe, rather fewer at Sandling.

 

[duffield]

It's not far to walk from Sandling to Hythe RHDR (1.75 miles), as I remember it's pretty much all downhill from Sandling, so if the trains are running and you fancy a little leg stretch you could maybe arrive via Sandling and walk, and then go back via bus to Folkestone. That's how I've done it anyhow. It's a while ago, but as I remember it the Fokestone buses were quite convenient at both ends.

Personally I've give it an entire day, but it depends (e.g.) how you feel about Dungeness, not a lot there but it's quite an odd and interesting place (lighthouse, steep beach, interesting cottages, nuclear power station), and there is a pub and the railway refreshment room. It has a sort of "end of the world" feel if that makes any sense. Also you'll really need all day if you're going to go to Dungeness and also break your journey at New Romney (the railway's HQ) or Dymchurch for example.

If you fancy a bit more exercise it's only 5 miles via the seafront from Folkestone Central to Hythe RHDR, so a couple of hours comfortably. I seem to remember it's mostly a very pleasant walk.

I've stayed half a week at Dungeness at the old coastguard lookout. It can get pretty wild when it's windy. When I first arrived the wind snatched the glasses off my face and deposited them about 100 yards away (undamaged!).

 

[Egg Centric]

So if it's happening at all it'll be the Saturday. Just trying to square it with work - conveniently it's looking very impractical for me to come down on the earlier Sunday so I may be able to move the work hotel and still come down by train, rather than having to drive which I don't want to do (not cause I don't like to drive - I love driving - but I haven't been on trains enough recently).

Thank you all for your advice so far is anyone able to confirm the taxi bit? And are there any combined mainline tickets as there are with some heritage lines? Can't find anything under obvious search terms on brfares.

 

[Andy Pacer]

What is "RH&DR"?

 

[Mcr Warrior]

What is "RH&DR"?

"RH&DR" likely means the 'Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway', the 15 inch narrow gauge light railway in Kent.

 

[Andy Pacer]

"RH&DR" likely means the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, the 15 inch narrow gauge light railway in Kent.

Thanks!

 

[Egg Centric]

"It is decided" - I will be going on the 12th, where a colleague who is also into this sort of thing and lives very locally will pick me up from Folkestone. So that leads onto another question - I've done HS1 but not many other of the railways in Kent. Pretty obviously I should do a loop of some kind to Folkestone on the mainline (if it makes any difference I'll be coming from Watford and have all day) but what are the pros/cons of each possibility?

 

[telstarbox]

Rochester, Faversham or Margate are interesting places to break the journey if you go that way.

 

[Egg Centric]

Rochester, Faversham or Margate are interesting places to break the journey if you go that way.

For clarity - unlikely to break journey (and coincidentally I've actually been to two of those places by car). My query is about the scenery, the infrastructure (especially anything relatively unusual like semaphore, obscure psul-type-routes if take the right service) and the rolling stock... the important stuff in other words, not rubbish like cathedrals!

 

[30907]

Deal still has semaphores IIRC - while Canterbury West has a nice overhead signalbox, not sure if any semaphores left.

 

[yorksrob]

I find the scenery from all of the classic lines in rural Kent quite lovely.

You could do a loop of the historic mainlines in Kent, taking in the London, Chatham and Dover mainline from Victoria to Dover via Faversham one way, then the South Eastern Railway mainline from Dover to Charing Cross (breaking at Folkestone) the other.

The rolling stock's a bit dull since the slammers went, but the Electrostars are mainly very comfortable.

 

[D841 Roebuck]

I find the scenery from all of the classic lines in rural Kent quite lovely.

You could do a loop of the historic mainlines in Kent, taking in the London, Chatham and Dover mainline from Victoria to Dover via Faversham one way, then the South Eastern Railway mainline from Dover to Charing Cross (breaking at Folkestone) the other.

The rolling stock's a bit dull since the slammers went, but the Electrostars are mainly very comfortable.

By coincidence, I'm reading this on 375817 approaching Faversham. It is very, very comfortable.

A 12 car Electrostar rake (with pantograph) would be far pleasanter than the current tilting rubbish on a Euston to Manchester run...

 

[sh24]

2-2 Electrostars (the older versions at least) have some of the last properly cushioned seats on British trains. Very comfortable indeed.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

Deal still has semaphores IIRC - while Canterbury West has a nice overhead signalbox, not sure if any semaphores left.

No, semaphores were abolished in 2003 but the overhead box remains in use

Curiously, there is a portakabin in the shadow of the grand signalbox that controls westward towards Wye. I can't remember the history/reasoning behind this when the new signalling/extension could have been incorporated into the existing box. Obviously this wasn't possible. Canterbury West signal box enjoys listed status.

 

[paul1609]

An alternative route to the RH&DR is to travel to Rye Station (Marshlink has good connections off HS1 these days) and then get the 100 Bus (every hour on the hour) to New Romney alighting at "Greenly Way" bus stop in Mountfield Road. This is the site of the BR New Romney station and is about 100 yards from the RH&DR main enterance. The bus takes 40 mins but is quite an interesting route across the Guildeford Levels behind the sea wall.
Most of the trains start at New Romney so you can sometimes fit in more by starting there. It also has the advantage that you can stop in Rye on the way home where the atractions are much closer to the station than in Folkestone.