RH&DR No.1 Green Goddess

Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (RH&DR) locomotive No.1 Green Goddess is a 4-6-2 steam locomotive build by Davey Paxman & Co. in 1925 and was given the works number 15469. It was one of two original locomotives ordered by Captain Howey and Count Louis Zborowski in 1924 and was completed and operational the following year, two years before the RH&DR was completed. The design was based on Sir Nigel Gresley's A1 class which is the class Flying Scotsman belongs to. Its livery was also based on that of Flying Scotsman. The designing of the locomotive was done by Henry Greenly and the total cost of building it was £1,250, or around £79,800 in 2021. While on trail at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway the locomotive comfortably achieved a top running speed of 35mph. Although, due to wear on the vale gear and maintenance costs, a regular running speed limit of 25mph is observed. During the later half of the 2023 running season, a Stanier 'hooter' style whistle was fitted - a gift from a friend of the railway.

RH&DR No.1 Green Goddess
No. 1 'Green Goddess' waits for departure at Dungeness on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway. August 2016.
Type and origin
Power typeSteam
DesignerHenry Greenly
BuilderDavey Paxman & Co.
Serial number15469
ModelA1/A3 Gresley-style pacific
Build date1925
Specifications
Configuration:
 • Whyte4-6-2
Leading dia.12 in (305 mm)
Driver dia.25+12 in (648 mm)
Trailing dia.12 in (305 mm)
Length27' ft 7' in
Total weight8 ton 10 cwt
Fuel typeCoal
Fuel capacity550kg
Cylinders2
Cylinder size5+14 in × 8+12 in (133 mm × 216 mm)
Valve gearWalschaerts
Loco brakeAir
Train brakesAir
Performance figures
Maximum speed35 mph (56 km/h) Attained on trial at the Ravenglass and Eskdale Railway 1925
20–25 mph (32–40 km/h) (in regular service)
Career
OperatorsRomney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway
Numbers1
Official nameGreen Goddess
LocaleNew Romney
Delivered1925
First run1926
Restored09/06/2019
DispositionIn regular service

She currently runs in an Apple Green livery similar to that of the former Great Northern Railway.

The loco was located in the New Romney workshops throughout 2018 for repairs and overhaul. Green Goddess returned to service on 9 June 2019 following a period of repair. Subsequently the locomotive has undertaken regular duties ever since; making regular appearances at the railways Gala's every spring and autumn. During these periods, regular non-stop running of the locomotive can be witnessed through main stations, such as; New Romney & Dymchurch.



[1]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Locomotives - Green Goddess - RH&DR - Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway". www.rhdr.org.uk. Retrieved 2024-01-02.