To cater for the anticipated ballast traffic, the railway ordered two Mountain-type locomotives from Davey Paxman, to Henry Greenly's design. The first of these, Hercules, arrived at New Romney on 20th April 1927.
Hercules hauled the inaugural train from Hythe on the opening day of the line - July 16th 1927. Her condition was close to derelict at this time, but in 1936 renewed ballast traffic saw to it that Hercules was rebuilt for use on this service.