St Mary's Bay railway station
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| St Mary's Bay | |||
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| A view of St Mary's Bay station looking towards New Romney | |||
| Location | |||
| Place | St Mary's Bay | ||
| Local authority | Shepway | ||
| Operations | |||
| Managed by | RHDR | ||
| Platforms in use | 2 | ||
| History | |||
| 1927 | Opened | ||
| National Rail - UK railway stations | |||
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St. Mary's Bay railway station is a small station in St Mary's Bay, Kent between the larger stations of New Romney and Dymchurch, on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway.
Situated off Jefferstone Lane the station has two platforms, one of which (the 'down' platform) is without station buildings. The other (the 'up' platform) has three buildings. The first is a booking office and staff shelter, which also houses the control equipment for the adjacent level crossing. This building is joined to an open-fronted platform shelter with passenger seating. The third building is a toilet block, though this is reserved to staff use only.
Although not a 'block station' for train control purposes, the station has a single-aspect signal installation in the 'starter signal' position on the 'down' platform. The one displayable aspect is 'danger' (red). This is unusual in a non-block station. This signal has the outward appearance of being two-aspect, but this is an illusion, as one apparent signal aspect is in fact the repeater flashing light to indicate to train drivers that the adjacent level crossing (with Jefferstone Lane) signals have operated correctly to stop road traffic.
When first opened this station was named "Holiday Camp" after a nearby camp site for boys. It has also been known as "Jesson" (Jesson Lane being the former name for Jefferstone Lane) and "Holiday Camp Jesson". Since the 1930s it has been known as "St Mary's Bay" apart from a short period in the late 1980s and early 1990s when it was renamed "Jefferstone Lane".
Until the early 1990s this station was fully staffed during the summer period. Since then it has been staffed only on peak operating days or when surplus staff have been available. Generally passengers are now expected to purchase their tickets at their destination.
The station is used largely by local residents as there is little in this community to attract tourists, although some alight here for the sandy beach.
Also in St Mary's Bay, about a quarter of a mile further north down Dunstall Lane is the now-closed Golden Sands Halt railway station, formerly used by the Maddieson's Golden Sands holiday camp.
| Preceding station |  Heritage railways |
Following station | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dymchurch | RHDR | New Romney | ||
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