On the footplate of Northern Chief at New Romney in 1926 (RH&DR Association Heritage Group Collection).
from Romney, watched by crowds of holiday makers and train enthusiasts. ‘The public were well aware of the connection Howey and his friends had with Brooklands, and Brooklands people and motor racing in general were, in those pre-pop, pre-television days, star attractions.’
Development
The development of this line was not finished however, as John had his sights set on a 5½-mile extension beyond New Romney to Dungeness. This time there were no objections to the Light Railway Order, which was confirmed in July 1928. Howey was not one to wait for due legal process to take place and had already set about track-laying and station construction! The complete RH&DR, which by now was on a double track, opened in August 1928.
Early on in the railway’s history, Howey
On the footplate of his favourite loco,
Hurricane, in the 1930s (RH&DR Association Heritage Group Collection).
spent enough time in Kent to make living in a bungalow not far from New Romney Station at Littlestone worthwhile. Later, Henry Greenly designed a home which was to be known as ‘Red Tiles’ for the Howey family which was nearer the station and the works’ yard. Certainly a good time was enjoyed by all in the 1930s at ‘Red Tiles’ as John often invited fellow railway enthusiasts down to Littlestone as well as playing host to his Brooklands friends. Amongst the former was Sir John Samuel who ran the 7½-inch Greywood Central Railway which was to be purchased by the publisher Ian Allan after Samuel’s death and which was recreated at the Great Cockcrow Railway, now based in Lyne near Chertsey. Brooklands associates who made visits to the RH&DR included the racing driver Nigel Holder whose cousin Tony was a volunteer loco driver on the railway. Then there was Henry Segrave who
At his home ‘Red Tiles’ at New Romney. He bought a 10¼-inch gauge Royal Scot. It seems he couldn’t wait for a railway to run it on, so lit it up in his living room... he then had to redeco- rate the whole house before his wife returned! (RH&DR Association Heritage Group Collection).
39
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
