Dungeness Branch - Tour 5 - Dungeness Terminal and Dungeness Station (Closed)
1st January 2005 to 31st December 2008

Dungeness Station was opened on 7 December 1881 for freight services, but there was no passenger use until 1 April 1883. The station was very close to Dungeness Station on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway which opened in August 1928. However there was little time to exchange passengers because the main Dungeness Station closed to passengers on 4 July 1937, when the Southern Railway opened a realignment of the remainder of the branch towards New Romney. Freight services ceased in the 1950s and the line was lifted.

Part of the old embankment now supports the access road to Dungeness nuclear power station, and a secure terminal has been constructed at the end of the current line to handle freight related to the power station.

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One might think that the freight line to Dungeness would actually go there, but instead it terminates in the middle of Denge Marsh, at a windswept and isolated spot called Halfway Bush. It is an appropriate name. This is the secure sidings where material for the nuclear power station is handled, looking east. For reasons of security I have not provided any close up pictures. 27.09.2008
One might think that the freight line to Dungeness would actually go there, but instead it terminates in the middle of Denge Marsh, at a windswept and isolated spot called Halfway Bush. It is an appropriate name. This is the secure sidings where material for the nuclear power station is handled, looking east. For reasons of security I have not provided any close up pictures. 27.09.2008
 A second view of the secure sidings looking west. The original Dungeness branch ran through what is now the secure site, out of the gates on the left, and followed what is now the approach road to the power station. It is assumed that the railway embankment across the marsh was needed as a firm base for the power station road. On the right of the picture the area of shingle marks the approximate position where the second branch to Lydd-on-Sea and New Romney curved away east. There was no obvious way to photograph the site of the old junction, and a preliminary inspection of the remainder of the New Romney branch revealed few surviving features. The trackbed does, however, still show up clearly on Google Earth. At ground level it is less obvious. 27.09.2008
A second view of the secure sidings looking west. The original Dungeness branch ran through what is now the secure site, out of the gates on the left, and followed what is now the approach road to the power station. It is assumed that the railway embankment across the marsh was needed as a firm base for the power station road. On the right of the picture the area of shingle marks the approximate position where the second branch to Lydd-on-Sea and New Romney curved away east. There was no obvious way to photograph the site of the old junction, and a preliminary inspection of the remainder of the New Romney branch revealed few surviving features. The trackbed does, however, still show up clearly on Google Earth. At ground level it is less obvious. 27.09.2008
 Moving to the old Dungeness Station and looking north, it is now hard to distinguish the station site in the bleak landscape. The arrow indicates the hump in the shingle which marks the position of the old platform. The station closed to passengers in 1937. 27.09.2008
Moving to the old Dungeness Station and looking north, it is now hard to distinguish the station site in the bleak landscape. The arrow indicates the hump in the shingle which marks the position of the old platform. The station closed to passengers in 1937. 27.09.2008
 Coming closer to the old platform at Dungeness Station, still looking north, it becomes possible to distinguish some features. 27.09.2008
Coming closer to the old platform at Dungeness Station, still looking north, it becomes possible to distinguish some features. 27.09.2008
At the entrance to the old Dungeness Station platform a single vertical rail and fence post survive. 27.09.2008
At the entrance to the old Dungeness Station platform a single vertical rail and fence post survive. 27.09.2008
 On the shingle mound which was Dungeness Station platform, and looking north, a small area of foundations marks the position of the small station building. 27.09.2008
On the shingle mound which was Dungeness Station platform, and looking north, a small area of foundations marks the position of the small station building. 27.09.2008
 Looking north from the old platform at Dungeness Station the slightly raised embankment shows the route of the old track. The main branch line ran almost straight, heading through what is now the clump of bushes. The deviation in the shingle path is explained by three sidings that turned right to serve a ballast pit. These are clearly shown on a 1907 map. 27.09.2008
Looking north from the old platform at Dungeness Station the slightly raised embankment shows the route of the old track. The main branch line ran almost straight, heading through what is now the clump of bushes. The deviation in the shingle path is explained by three sidings that turned right to serve a ballast pit. These are clearly shown on a 1907 map. 27.09.2008
 Using a slightly longer lens, and looking beyond the line of bushes in the previous picture the overhead crane at the end of the current line can just be made out on the sky line (arrowed) in the middle of the marsh. The lifted branch line headed straight for it. 27.09.2008
Using a slightly longer lens, and looking beyond the line of bushes in the previous picture the overhead crane at the end of the current line can just be made out on the sky line (arrowed) in the middle of the marsh. The lifted branch line headed straight for it. 27.09.2008
Just to the left (west) of the route of the old track bed is this isolated building surrounded by an embankment. On old maps it is described as Dungeness Coastguard Station (formerly a Lloyds Signal Station). I admire the courage of the person who put their washing out in the wind.... 27.09.2008
Just to the left (west) of the route of the old track bed is this isolated building surrounded by an embankment. On old maps it is described as Dungeness Coastguard Station (formerly a Lloyds Signal Station). I admire the courage of the person who put their washing out in the wind.... 27.09.2008
 Now looking south along Dungeness Station platform, the track was on the left, the vertical posts marking the position of the platform edge. 27.09.2008
Now looking south along Dungeness Station platform, the track was on the left, the vertical posts marking the position of the platform edge. 27.09.2008
 The old track bed adjacent to Dungeness Station platform is now a path. A running round loop was provided, and at the southern end of the station a gated Admiralty Siding was provided in what is now a car park. 27.09.2008
The old track bed adjacent to Dungeness Station platform is now a path. A running round loop was provided, and at the southern end of the station a gated Admiralty Siding was provided in what is now a car park. 27.09.2008
 Dungeness Old Lighthouse stands at the southern end of the old station site. When the power station was built it became obvious that the light would be blocked from view by the height of the power station buildings and a new lighthouse was constructed a short distance away. The old lighthouse is open to visitors on some days and has it's own website. 27.09.2008
Dungeness Old Lighthouse stands at the southern end of the old station site. When the power station was built it became obvious that the light would be blocked from view by the height of the power station buildings and a new lighthouse was constructed a short distance away. The old lighthouse is open to visitors on some days and has it's own website. 27.09.2008

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