GREEN GODDESS PACIFIC

Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway

The late, lamented Brighton annual exhibition could be relied on for something spectacular like this wonderful Romney Hythe and Dymchurch Railway Green Goddess, one of the two original locomotives ordered in 1924 by Count Louis Zborowski, a partner of railway owner Captain Howey.  

It was designed by Henry Greenly and was built by Davey Paxman & Co at a cost of £1250 in 1925. Greenly based them on Nigel Gresley's famous A1 class locomotives of the London & North Eastern Railway, including the Flying Scotsman. The loco was initially stored by Zborowski at New Romney, then used during construction of the railway and hauled the first official train for a visit by the  Duke of York in August, 1926.

The loco weighs 8 ton 10 cwt and is 27’ 7” long. Cylinders are 5.25” bore and 8.5” stroke.

During its early years, the railway became famous and people came to ride on the 'Smallest Public Railway in the World'.The locomotive fleet was extended to nine main-line express engines and luxury coaches were built. The war years took their toll, the line being requisitioned by the War Department which even created the only miniature armoured train in the world and used extensively during the building of PLUTO (Pipe Line Under The Ocean) which fuelled the Allied invasion force.

Since it was built the Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway has been an integral part of the landscape of Romney Marsh. Known as ‘Kent’s Mainline in Miniature’ the one-third full size steam and diesel locomotives have regularly powered their way along 13½ miles of track with four stations along the way, all within walking distance of a beach.

In case Brighton visitors wanted something larger, outside the exhibition hall was this Pullman coach.

 
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