RHDR - used to be further double track?

[Backroom_boy]

Trip on the railway today and it looks like there was the space (and the bridges are double width) for double track between New Romney and Romney Sands. Has this been singled? And is this the only singling of a railway in its preserved era?

 

[Trainlog]

Trip on the railway today and it looks like there was the space (and the bridges are double width) for double track between New Romney and Romney Sands. Has this been singled? And is this the only singling of a railway in its preserved era?

You are not wrong it did used to be double track at that section. In WW2 the line was singled there for the PLUTO project (Pipeline Under The Ocean) so that post Normandy the allies could get petrol supplies through the pipeline.

If there was a fund to restore the whole line to double track i would support it but unfortunately that would be very unlikely.

 

[Backroom_boy]

You are not wrong it did used to be double track at that section. In WW2 the line was singled there for the PLUTO project (Pipeline Under The Ocean) so that post Normandy the allies could get petrol supplies through the pipeline.

If there was a fund to restore the whole line to double track i would support it but unfortunately that would be very unlikely.

How did singling help PLUTO?

 

[Trainlog]

How did singling help PLUTO?

A lot of the track was destroyed by the Pluto project as to speed up the project they dragged the pipes along the trackbed with bulldozers which resulted in part of the trackbed being destroyed and post war the track was singled when it was being rebuilt.

 

[Backroom_boy]

A lot of the track was destroyed by the Pluto project as to speed up the project they dragged the pipes along the trackbed with bulldozers which resulted in part of the trackbed being destroyed and post war the track was singled when it was being rebuilt.

That's really interesting, thanks.

Yes a pipedream but it would definitely help operationally if it was doubled back to Romney Sands at least; the last down train of the day was delayed waiting at New Romney for the single section to clear.

 

[Calthrop]

I feel that I'd like to have seen the RHDR at Dungeness pre-war; the "balloon loop" there having then been, as I understand, just led straight-into by one line of the double track; and thence out-of, becoming the other, parallel line -- no need for messing around with points. Not a sight ever seen on many railways, one would think.

 

[Gloster]

The 1940 25” map is on the National Library of Scotland site. It shows the double track splitting opposite the Britannia Inn to provide the balloon loop: the only point is for a short trailing siding opposite (?) the station. It also shows the standard gauge Dungeness branch and a short tramway.

 

[Sean Emmett]

Trivia note. Britannia points were moved in winter 2022/23 back to where they were post WW2, having been moved a couple of chains North of crossing 28 in the 1970s IIRC?

 

[Backroom_boy]

The 1940 25” map is on the National Library of Scotland site. It shows the double track splitting opposite the Britannia Inn to provide the balloon loop: the only point is for a short trailing siding opposite (?) the station. It also shows the standard gauge Dungeness branch and a short tramway.

Interestingly it shows the line passing in front of the Britannia Inn whereas it's now behind.

 

[jumble]

Interestingly it shows the line passing in front of the Britannia Inn whereas it's now behind.

The Britannia inn on the map you refer to is about 1/4 mile away from where it is today
( Have a look at the position with reference to the old lighthouse)
I am very familiar with the area as a family member owned a shack on the Dungeness estate for around 30 years

I have no idea when it moved

 

[philthetube]

Trip on the railway today and it looks like there was the space (and the bridges are double width) for double track between New Romney and Romney Sands. Has this been singled? And is this the only singling of a railway in its preserved era?

this makes me think, when did RHDR become preserved?

 

[jumble]

I would say 1972/1973 When William Mc Alpine and a consortium saved it from being closed
Apparently it was that close that the staff had been served redundancy notices
Bit of this history on the RHDR website

 

[Gloster]

this makes me think, when did RHDR become preserved?

I know little about the RHDR or company law, but there seem to be at least three possibilities: on foundation, 15 November 1971 (on reconstruction) or it never has been. There are probably other possibilities. (Source: Wikipedia.)

 

[Backroom_boy]

The Britannia inn on the map you refer to is about 1/4 mile away from where it is today
( Have a look at the position with reference to the old lighthouse)
I am very familiar with the area as a family member owned a shack on the Dungeness estate for around 30 years

I have no idea when it moved

Oh yes it's a completely different building! The old Britannia looks like it's a holiday let near the loop points. (And it's obvious now why it was called 'Britannia points')

 

[341o2]

A lot of the track was destroyed by the Pluto project as to speed up the project they dragged the pipes along the trackbed with bulldozers which resulted in part of the trackbed being destroyed and post war the track was singled when it was being rebuilt.

Our troops also smashed the interlocking regarding points and signalling

 

[jumble]

Oh yes it's a completely different building! The old Britannia looks like it's a holiday let near the loop points. (And it's obvious now why it was called 'Britannia points')

Having studied WJK Davies Book on the railway of which I have a copy it states that the Old pub burnt down soon after the war
The Galas that they have there are well worth a visit
in particular the Parallel running and the non stop Hythe to Hythe

 

[zwk500]

this makes me think, when did RHDR become preserved?

AIUI it's never been 'preserved' in the sense that it's always been a private line (was never absorbed by BR) and has always operated for profit. It just so happens that the leisure/holiday traffic is now worth more than any of their other potential traffics (previously the line has hauled aggregates for ballast, fish, parcels, schoolchildren and others).