Читать книгу Railway Day Trips: 160 classic train journeys around Britain - Julian Holland - Страница 40

Trains for Ramsgate depart from Folkestone’s 1960s station and soon burrow through Martello Tunnel to start their scenic, coast-hugging journey to Dover. Set immediately below the world-famous White Cliffs, the railway passes through the long Abbotscliffe Tunnel, the shorter Shakespeare Tunnel and finally the even shorter Harbour Tunnel, to arrive at Dover Priory. This 1930s station is awkwardly sandwiched between two tunnels, and trains for Ramsgate head off through Priory Tunnel and Charlton Tunnel before branching off the Faversham line at Buckland Junction. From here, the railway follows a curving S-shape route to Guston Tunnel before heading off in a northeasterly direction through Martin Mill and Walmer to reach the seaside resort of Deal. Not far from the sea, the main station building here is the original structure built in 1847, while nearby Deal Castle was built for Henry VIII as an artillery fortress in the 16th century.

From Deal, trains head inland to the historic town of Sandwich. Located on the River Stour, Sandwich was made a Cinque Port in the 12th century but silting-up of the river and shifting sands have now left it two miles from the sea. Leaving Sandwich, trains head north to Minster Junction then turn east to Ramsgate. Here, passengers need to change trains for the short journey around the coast via the seaside resort of Broadstairs to Margate. The impressive 1920s Grade II-listed station building was designed by Edwin Maxwell Fry and is located just a short walk from the beach and Marine Terrace.

DESTINATION HIGHLIGHTS

harbour; beaches; amusement park; Shell Grotto; Turner Contemporary art gallery; Old Town

FREQUENCY OF TRAINS

1 per hour

34½ MILES 1 HOUR 15 MINUTES

NUMBER OF CHANGES: 1

(Ramsgate)

The modern Turner Contemporary Art Gallery in Margate.