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The New Zealand Railways Magazine, Volume 7, Issue 3 (July 1, 1932)

Lilliputian Stations

Lilliputian Stations.

The main terminus at New Romney is rather an elaborate proposition for so small a line. Four platforms are provided, a signal box (with 17 lever frame and full tappett locking), numerous points, crossovers and signals, and even an overhead bridge for foot passengers. It is doubtful whether other than sight-seers who wanted to obtain a good view of the station would utilise the footbridge when they wished to cross the tiny tracks! At each terminus a turntable is provided for the locomotives. Owing to the small size of the engines the driver has to ride on the front of the tender, with his feet protruding into the cab. During inclement weather it is possible for the driver to edge up closer to the boiler and obtain a certain amount of protection by sheltering under the large cab roofs provided on all the miniature locomotives.

The little railway had an auspicious informal opening in August, 1926, when H.R.H. the Duke of York, acted as driver of one of the first trains. Since then many well-known people, railway officers, and others, have been at the throttle at one of the locomotives. Mr. H. N. Gresley, Chief Mechanical Engineer of the L.N.E.R., and designer of the wonderful high-pressure express locomotive described in “Our London Letter,” in a recent issue of this Magazine, takes a keen interest in the line, and has driven the locomotives on several occasions.

The rails in use are of flat bottomed section, 24lb. to the yard. The largest engineering feature on the line is a skew bridge of 56ft. span over a deep drainage canal. Trains usually run at forty to sixty minute intervals, a more frequent service being provided on Sundays. The trains usually take half-an-hour to cover the distance of 8 ¼ miles.