Romney Hythe & Dymchurch Railway Steam Gala 2018

A full weekend of the RH&DR showcasing all available steam and diesel locomotives including our rarely seen ‘yard’ machines such as the Simplex and Scooter.

The Steam and Diesel Gala will feature several special runs such a ‘Mountain Class Double Header’ with Hercules and newly relaunched Samson and non-stops including the chance to ride non-stop behind Samson.

To add to the spectacular River Mite will be joining us from our friends at Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway.

The special timetable will provide plenty of exciting photographic opportunities along the line and the engine shed will be open Saturday evening for exclusive photo opportunities.

12th and 13th May 2018

 

Sounds like a gala that is worth going to. I'm surprised Ravenglass are allowing Mite to leave the railway for this

 

A little bit of a surprise, yes. But we now know that Esk will be completed very soon indeed. And as the railway has the benefit of Whillan Beck it isn’t as though they are going to be short of engines. The RHDR is a very different line to the RER and it could well be that Nigel Day will welcome a different testing environment for his creation.

 

One day I do hope Esk can go to Romney. It won't be this time as we've nearly finished her but won't be fully tested by then.

 

Always conspired to miss the RER engines when they've visited the RHDR so looking forward to this

 

When is the timetable likely to be available please? Really looking forward to this event - 1 day riding and 1 photographing. Also, are there any further details about the photo shoot at New Romney shed? Many thanks.

 

Are there any other visitors for this gala, or just Mite

 

I believe just mite, but there may be more

 

Who knows, there Mite be...

 

We hope to visit this but a couple of queries. First the timetable codes don't make sense and second there are no clues as to which trains are diesel worked

 

I believe both big diesels are out of action or on restricted duties. The little diesels are doing shuttles around New Romney Station.

 

Rostered locos from the website : -
Sat 12th May:- Gala weekend : Winston Churchill, Doctor Syn, Hercules, Samson, Northern Chief, The Bug, Typhoon, Hurricane and River Mite from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway
Sun 13th May: - Gala weekend : Northern Chief, Hurricane, Samson, Hercules, Winston Churchill, Doctor Syn, Typhoon and River Mite from the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway

 

It would seem from that that neither Southern Maid nor Green Goddess are running. I think GG is under overhaul. Anyone know about SM?

 

How do the later parallel runs on Sunday work? The 11.25, 12.25, 1.25, 2.25 and 3.25 are shown as parallel runs from New Romney to Hythe, but they have to cross a train travelling in the opposite direction (the 11.55, 12,55, 1.55, 2.55 and 3.50 from Hythe respectively). How can this happen if the two trains running in parallel are occupying both tracks?

 

They fitted Samson with vertical take-off

 

Some photos and a video from an excellent event, even if it was slightly marred by the weather yesterday

https://railwaygalleries.smugmug.com/RomneyHythe/Steam-Diesel-Gala-May-2018/