'Shock' at train driver's death

Mr Crouch was described as a very experienced driver

The boss of a tourist railway has spoken of his shock after a train driver was killed in a crash on a level crossing.

Kevin Crouch, 31, from Mottingham in London, died when the miniature steam train he was driving hit a car near Dymchurch in Kent on Sunday morning.

The woman driver of the Ford Escort car and her baby suffered only minor injuries as did about 20 passengers who were travelling on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Light Railway.

General manager of the 75-year-old railway, Danny Martin, paid tribute to Mr Crouch.

'Sensible and enthusiastic'

He said: "Everyone on the railway is both very shocked and sad that we have lost one of our drivers.

"This is a very small company and we know all the staff very well.

"There are only 60 of us and so we all know everyone, and Kevin was part of that.

"He was only employed by us in the main season but drove for us out of season too as a volunteer.

A woman and child in the car were treated for injuries

"Despite his age he was very experienced. He was extremely sensible and enthusiastic."

Kent Police and the Health and Safety Executive were investigating the crash which happened at 1127 BST at the crossing on Burmash Road.

Mr Martin said he would not comment on the cause of the crash.

A company spokesman had said there were flashing lights at each crossing along the 13 miles of track but no gates, leaving motorists responsible for crossing safely.

The steam engine and the front carriage derailed in the accident which left Mr Crouch trapped in his cab.

About 50 passengers walked away from the train relatively unscathed.

Kate Cowell owns the Dolly Plum Cottage guest house near the scene of the crash.

She told BBC Radio Kent: "I didn't actually see the crash itself, but I heard it and went straight out of the door.

"It was just sheer devastation, it was so sad, the car's just absolutely wrecked.

"When I heard the crash noise I knew it wasn't a normal car crash, you just know.

"We've had a crash up here before and you know when it's not just cars."

The privately-owned 15-inch gauge steam railway opened in July 1927 and operates one-third scale trains on a 13 mile route between Hythe and Dungeness near the Kent coast.

It is thought the trains travel over the level crossing where the crash happened at a maximum speed of about 15mph.