Light Railway Survival Lifeline Back from the Brink

Light Railway Survival Lifeline The first but very valuable steps back from the brink By Danny Martin General Manager, Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway

Looking Back...At the close of the first lockdown I reflected in Hythe Life on the big gap in the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway’s finances that the pandemic had caused and the serious risk this posed to our plans and indeed our very future.

I also introduced the very different way we would need to safeguard our customers within the train with individual screens between compartments and that there would be a need for you to book in advance.

The good news is that people responded positively and soon we were back running trains from our beautiful terminus in Hythe. As the summer went on each and every one of those trains had every compartment full and daily running resumed and continued most weeks until our normal shutdown at the end of October. Of course there were less trains, less catering and shop spending but we felt we were back making a positive contribution to the tourism scene our Town and District are famous for.

Fearing to look forward but giving it a go Behind the scenes finger nails were getting shorter, number crunching was an everyday event but it was clear there was not enough to get us through the winter and well prepared for the next year and beyond.

We had continued to watch for opportunities and the Culture Recovery Fund for Heritage sponsored by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport came on the radar. It was designed to ensure the survival of our national treasures (tick) our heritage (93 years in the making in the case of the railway) (tick) and to ensure generations to come could learn, experience and enjoy a trip through the wonderful changing landscape of Romney Marsh, on the finest mainline in miniature in the world, pulled by the original steam locomotives two eccentric millionaires had as their dream (tick tick). And so midnight oil was burnt to complete a comprehensive and searching application. Then the clock ticked as reviews were undertaken, and criteria/eligibility were checked. Generosity and kindness abounds Meantime we had no way to judge the chance of success and so the notices of possible redundancies were drawn up and communicated, minimum maintenance plans devised for the winter and further bids made for donated materials through the generosity of so many who gave to keep us going (my thanks to each and every one). We started a winter survival initiative and schemes to raise funds were devised.

The generosity of local people and the ingenuity of ways to seek donations amongst our management, paid staff and volunteers was humbling. EDF at Dungeness sponsored coal, The Shepherd and Crook at Burmarsh and their customers held a Quiz night with proceeds to the railway and many individuals did more for free, gave more and encouraged others to do the same. Our supporters group the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway Association dug particularly deep and donated rail for winter maintenance, a very expensive commodity.

And then the email came late on a September Friday afternoon. “You have been successful but, keep it under your hat” as there will be a big nationwide announcement in 7 days. Still we did not know if the scheme would be oversubscribed or what the conditions would be. Suffice to say when the news did come it exceeded our expectations (but not our bid of course) and very clearly we were back from the brink.

Our valuable work, our dedicated people and the joy the railway gives to so many had been recognised. We were and are so very grateful.

About turn (in military speak) or Direction adjusted (in modern day management gobbledegook)

We then realised the enormity of what we now have to deliver.

Suddenly compulsory redundancy was off the table, normal hours could resume for many and orders could be placed for the essential items that we usually use every winter. But of course we were now late to the race and had to shop around extensively. Staff had to be redeployed to new areas of work. Plans had to be re-written and communicated. But we now could overcome the deferred maintenance, prepare more coaches with Covid screens for a busier start to 2021, bring another engine or two back from their mothballed state and carry out renewal of another lengthy piece of track in the January/February quiet period (for passengers). All good news and a great motivator.

Everyone has risen to the challenge and every station had its wish list dusted off.

Work Begins (let’s see how it affects our beloved Hythe)

So let’s look at what that means for our wonderful station at Hythe and because it is the place on the railway many readers will know best. Similar approaches will occur elsewhere.

Santa’s Tearoom Before the funding had been announced we had decided that Christmas trains, which have been running for approaching 40 years, should not succumb to the pandemic. Yes, the trains would carry less people, we would need to ask Santa to stay 2m away and we would need our biggest venue decorated to maximise the space available for social distancing. But that largest space is the Light Railway Hall and the adjacent tearoom so trains will need to run New Romney to Hythe and not Hythe to New Romney. But can it be done? Ideas, Ingenuity, Funds. Many hours worked by paid staff and volunteers. We are there. Just hope Santa remembers the change of postcode!

Santa’s Steam Hauled Sleigh But Santa services without the sleigh pulled by the railway’s smallest and much loved locomotive “The Bug” would not be acceptable. However, where can they be stored? Quick shout out to our working parties – volunteer groups happy to help, full of energy and a can do attitude. We have the shed, recently vacated by the railway’s long standing friend and local resident Tony Crowhurst, but it needed readying for a new role. Yes, they said we can do it and they did with some generously given help from our track team to connect the shed back to the rails. Thanks to them all.

But what about the signals, turntable and all that goes with them? Right outside the sleigh shed is the signal-box, the turntable and the signal gantry (a lattice steel beam over the tracks) holding up in the air the traditional semaphore signals that authorise the start of so many journeys for excited passengers. But how rusty and grubby they were. Key to the Heritage Funds objectives is making sure all these vital areas get looked after too. So hands up who will get cold, wet and grubby tackling them? Straight away our Duty Controller offered to change from his warm office and lead. Regular volunteers then said “Me too” and they were off. The pictures show the smart finish. The crossing gates to the foot crossing just outside the station leading to and from the Royal Military Canal footpath got sorted too. Don’t forget the Roof Keeping the passengers dry on wet days, the snow off the tracks and giving the station its traditional feel is the overall station roof. Probably barely noticed by many from the inside is the build-up of moss on the outside. Increasing the load on the roof, regularly blocking the gutters and down pipes and damaging the tiles and mortar clearing that moss is a specialised business and another one to tackle now to extend its life. Local firm JBS Brick and Stone Restoration are on the case with the moss disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner using our own maintenance trains. The improvement is dramatic and the benefits long lasting.

Here’s to 2021 All of us nationally and locally look forward to better things from 2020. The railway is no different and we will be working hard all winter to make sure that is the case.

We will hit the floor running by extending our post-Christmas running known as “Mince Pie specials” from Monday 28th December to Saturday 2nd January 2021. Running between New Romney and Dungeness with our special social distancing coaches these provide a steam hauled start to the New Year and plenty of fresh air in the dramatic setting of Dungeness. There is plenty of free parking at New Romney but tickets do need to be booked in advance www.rhdr.org.uk.

And if all the interesting projects tempts you to become a volunteer and help then we would love to hear from you too (volunteering@rhdr.org). If you would like to contribute to the fundraising for the years ahead we would be very grateful too. Our fundraising page can be found here www.rhdr.org.uk/fundraising.