Blasts From The Past, Dumpton Park

A series of posts about those memories that just won't get out of my head. I hope writing them down will help exorcise the demons...

In 2003 I went out with a bloke who lived in Ramsgate. Ramsgate is on Planet Thanet. For those without Kentish connections, Planet Thanet was (and probably still is) one of the centres of Chavness in this universe.

I visited most weekends, leaving on the train straight after work on Friday and getting back to Folkestone on a late train on Sunday. I'd usually get off at Ramsgate station and walk the 20 minute journey to his house.

After he dumped me (collective boos would be appreciated now, Dear Constant Reader) I had to return to his house to collect some things. That day I got off, and on, at Dumpton Park station which I had belatedly discovered was on his road (trust me to find out just when I didn't need to!).

Dumpton Park is a tiny little station hidden in it's own man-made valley behind some trees. It is the lowest platform I've been on in this country and you practically have to throw yourself on to the train.

And so we get to the Blast From The Past... the words "Dumpton Park". Due to the fact my commute to work goes along the Waterloo East and Charing Cross route into London, which is also the route down to Folkestone and on to Ramsgate, I tend to hear announcements for a train to Dumpton Park almost daily. And every time I hear the words at the end of the announccement, "Sandwich, Ramsgate and DUMPTON PARK", my mind goes back to that horrible Novembers day in 2003.

I'll be glad the day they cease operating trains to that bastard station so I never need hear the words again.