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Greatstone Dunes Station
The RH& D Railway opened to traffic in 1927 as a 15" gauge (third scale) fully working steam railway. It covers a distance of 13.5 miles from Hythe, to the north of Greatstone, to Dungeness, to the south of Greatstone.
When first opened to the public the line only covered, in double track, the
eight miles between Hythe and New Romney — the railways main terminus.
However, in 1928 the line was extended by double
tracks
which carried the trains to Dungeness via Greatstone.
The Greatstone Dunes station was located near to Dunes Road in Greatstone, with New Romney station a couple of miles to the north and Romney Sands stations about a mile to the south.
The station was equipped with two platforms, with waiting rooms on each, plus a ticket office, and a signal box. There was also a water tower. Photographs taken in the 1920s and 1930s show a footbridge between the platforms, as does a 1930s railway advertising poster. However, contemporary eye-witness accounts record that this footbridge was never completed, with no steps installed on either side.
Photographic evidence from 1936 (now in the 'Real Photographs Co.' collection) shows a tearoom on the seaward platform. Greatstone Dunes had been opened to serve the anticipated development of Greatstone but, although many homes were built, the size of the development was considerably smaller than originally expected. (see 1931 Plans for Greatstone)
The attractive little station was too large for the limited traffic generated. When the railway re-opened after World War II, Greatstone Dunes was renamed Greatstone Halt, unstaffed, with its buildings closed.
The waiting room on the inland platform had been incorporated into an army pillbox during the war.
(see picture below).
In 1950 tourist trade picked up, and travellers sought out the beaches at Greatstone. The halt was upgraded again to full station status, now known simply as Greatstone the buildings were renovated or replaced, and staff were reinstated.
This revival lasted only to 1964 and at some later dates the remaining original station buildings (on the original 'down' side of the line) were demolished and replaced with a modern shelter of breeze-block and timber design, with concrete platform and corrugated roof.
In 1964 staff were withdrawn, and in 1970 the buildings were demolished. However, full station status was technically maintained right through until final closure. The publication " A Miniature Guide" was issued in 1981, and became the final official publication listing Greatstone station as fully operational.
The station closed in 1983, despite the bizarre fact that it was still listed in the 1984 timetable, but with no times in any of the train columns. The 1985 timetable was the first to have no mention of Greatstone station.
Greatstone Dunes Station Today
Today (2010) the site of the station is marked by the army pillbox, some footings and two poles which held the final station nameboard (the nameboard itself has been removed).
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