Staycation 2021 - Dungeness Light Railway

Today's little excursion wasn't as far as last week's, but only to Dungeness.

Plenty of parking but with extra trains running that far there were many people walking to the pub and to the other fish places along the private site's road.  We easily parked in the parking lot near the station. Spaces are clearly marked, or at least they were, with wooden guides.  Unfortunately, shingle doesn't take long to cover the battens up. We parked anyway as best we could given the other cars.

Reggie likes a walk on the shingle. He likes the smells and of course, the rabbit holes all over the estate. 

Out first stop was for a coffee in the "End of the Line Café". There was a train in the station and another special came in. I found a table in the garden and Claire went in the building. 

It's a shame but dogs aren't allowed inside. If the weather is not too good then it is a place to avoid with no real outside cover.

Whilst we were there the second train, this one a special charter came in. Claire took my camera and took a few photos.  It is sometimes quite hard to get one as the passengers and other people crowd the platforms.

When the first train pulled out and hooted, Reggie was instantly alert and gave a growl.  After all, this railway passes right behind out back garden fence.  Luckily the fence is high enough to hide the train but not the noise or the smoke!

Once we had finished out coffee and a shared Eccles Cake, we set off for a walk around the estate to give Reggie his sniffing opportunity.

I took a few photos with the Sony Cybershot.

The station and cafe with "new" lighthouse on the left

The nuclear power station

Filled in WW2 bunker

The Old Lighthouse

New lighthouse and Britannia pub (centre)

Polish Pilots Memorial - 303 Squadron RAF

We always go by the memorial to the Polish pilots from 303 Squadron that were killed nearby during the Battle of Britain in 1940.  It's nice to see that the information board has been replaced with a more weatherproof design and that the wreaths and flowers are maintained. We owe so much to these brave men that escaped the Nazi invasions and came to Britain to take up arms against their oppressors.  Many of them gave their lives to ensure the defeat of Hitler and the Nazis.  RIP.

From here we made out way back to the car. We heard the whistle of another train entering the Dungeness loop and we could see its progress towards the station by its smoke trail.

Who doesn't love a steam train? Anyone?