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Laurel & Hardy: A Tiny Train's Big Hollywood Moment
15 Feb
Summary
- Laurel and Hardy attended the 1947 reopening of a miniature Kent railway.
- The comedy duo were given a key to Dungeness and entertained crowds.
- The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway is 13.5 miles long with miniature trains.
The historic Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway in Kent experienced a moment of Hollywood glamour in March 1947. Comedy icons Stan Laurel and Oliver Hardy attended the railway's reopening after World War Two, drawing massive crowds. The legendary duo were presented with a ceremonial key to Dungeness and met local dignitaries. Footage from the event shows Hardy playfully struggling with a gate lock, much to Laurel's amusement.
Their visit marked the opening of the railway section from Romney to Dungeness. The Romney, Hythe & Dymchurch Railway, established in 1927, operates miniature steam and diesel locomotives over 13.5 miles of track. It was once renowned as the world's smallest public railway. During World War Two, the line was utilized by the army, which saw armored trains and wagons constructed for defense purposes.
