SMALL COAL

Series

Series Name

Mining Review 13th Year

Issue

Issue No.

1

Date Released

Sep 1959

Stories in this Issue:

1. 1KELLINGLEY
2. 2SMALL COAL
3. 3FRESH WATER
4. 4OVER-MEN

Story

Story No. within this Issue

2 / 4

Summary

BFI synopsis: the unique small gauge Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, a user of local Kent coal, is seen going through its paces
NCB Commentary - In recent months Mining Review has brought you stories of industrial users of coal and the things they make with it. We have shown you how coal goes to make steel, motor cars, paper, porcelain and beer - these industries are amongst the largest consumers of coal in the country. Now Mining Review brings you what is probably the smallest, at least it’s the smallest public railway in the world, the Romney, Hythe and Dynchurch.
It’s 15" gauge engines are a constant delight. The coal for them comes from Betteshanger Colliery in Kent where a grade very suitable for the small fire boxes is mined.
It’s run on proper railway principles with strict timetable working, and from New Romney to Hythe the line is double with most impressive civil engineering work en route.
The line is only open during the summer months but it produces a useful as well as a novel coast-town link.
For the children who throng every station on the way it really makes a holiday worth while.
There are 10 engines, all pre-war but still in perfect condition, and it’s an added thrill for the youngsters when the Down Fast goes by.
The track stretches for nearly 14 miles across the marshes and the operation of the railway, just like the full size job, is subject to Mininstry of Transport requirements.
The end of the journey (which takes an hour and ten minutes from Dungeness to Hythe) comes all too soon for most children.
Then the little engines are turned ready for the trip back. The railway has its own permanent all-the-year-round staff who do maintenance in the winter.
To the drivers it’s fun as well as being a job to do and after all there’s not nearly so much coal to shift as there is in a really big engine.

Researcher Comments

Commentary recorded 13th July 1959.

Keywords

Railways; Transport; Mining

Locations

Kent; England

Written sources

British Film Institute Databases   Used for synopsis
Film User   Vol.14 No.160 February 1960, p82.
The National Archives COAL 32   /12 Scripts for Mining Review, 1956-1960

Credits:

Production Co.

Documentary Technicians Alliance

Sponsor

National Coal Board