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Dover: Lock and Key of the Kingdom
The Promenade Railway
In 1918 the Admiralty authorised a rail line to connect the
eastern and western sides of the harbour. This would enable the
conveyance of defence material and other equipment to the
Admiralty Dockyard, in the area of the Eastern Docks.
The line ran from the Prince of Wales Pier to the Eastern Arm,
along the promenade. The line was single track, with no
signalling as such, but with passing loops and catch points,
which enabled trains to be run in each direction. The connection
with the main line was at Dover Harbour Station where a section
of the down platform was on wheels and could be swung out of
the way. Before they could reach this main line connection
trains had to shunt onto the Prince of Wales Pier and then cross
the swing bridge over the entrance to the Wellington Dock. As
the trains were running along the public highway they moved at
a walking pace and were proceeded by a flag man carrying a
red flag.
After the First World War the Admiralty withdrew from the
Eastern Docks but other businesses started to move in. The line
was used to move scrap metal and coal wagons to the Southern
Railway’s coal hopper. The latter loads caused great complaint
from Sea Front residents and hoteliers about the dirt and dust.
And in 1932 a limit of 50,000 tons per year was put on the line.
At the outbreak of the Second World War the Admiralty resumed
its use of the line to supply motor torpedo boats and motor gun
boats based in the Camber. After the war the Admiralty again
departed and the line returned to civilian trade use. The need
for coal to be transported along the Sea Front diminished as
vessels converted to oil and coal exports from the Eastern Arm
dwindled. Oil was still transported in tankers to the Shell-Mex
and Esso oil depots.
It was the car that spelt the end of the Promenade Railway.
Often cars would be parked across the tracks, holding up the
train until the driver's return, and the development of the Roll
On Roll-Off berths at the Eastern Docks was replacing the old
industries which had used the line. The steam locomotives were
eventually replaced by diesel shunters but the last train ran in
1964.
eastern and western sides of the harbour. This would enable the
conveyance of defence material and other equipment to the
Admiralty Dockyard, in the area of the Eastern Docks.
The line ran from the Prince of Wales Pier to the Eastern Arm,
along the promenade. The line was single track, with no
signalling as such, but with passing loops and catch points,
which enabled trains to be run in each direction. The connection
with the main line was at Dover Harbour Station where a section
of the down platform was on wheels and could be swung out of
the way. Before they could reach this main line connection
trains had to shunt onto the Prince of Wales Pier and then cross
the swing bridge over the entrance to the Wellington Dock. As
the trains were running along the public highway they moved at
a walking pace and were proceeded by a flag man carrying a
red flag.
After the First World War the Admiralty withdrew from the
Eastern Docks but other businesses started to move in. The line
was used to move scrap metal and coal wagons to the Southern
Railway’s coal hopper. The latter loads caused great complaint
from Sea Front residents and hoteliers about the dirt and dust.
And in 1932 a limit of 50,000 tons per year was put on the line.
At the outbreak of the Second World War the Admiralty resumed
its use of the line to supply motor torpedo boats and motor gun
boats based in the Camber. After the war the Admiralty again
departed and the line returned to civilian trade use. The need
for coal to be transported along the Sea Front diminished as
vessels converted to oil and coal exports from the Eastern Arm
dwindled. Oil was still transported in tankers to the Shell-Mex
and Esso oil depots.
It was the car that spelt the end of the Promenade Railway.
Often cars would be parked across the tracks, holding up the
train until the driver's return, and the development of the Roll
On Roll-Off berths at the Eastern Docks was replacing the old
industries which had used the line. The steam locomotives were
eventually replaced by diesel shunters but the last train ran in
1964.
