A full investigation will not go ahead into why the Green Goddess train crashed with a tractor on the tracks on the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway (RHDR).

That is the message from the Rail Accident and Investigation Branch (RAIB) who announced the news this morning.

Emergency services were called after the locomotive with more than 50 passengers smashed into the tractor towing a trailer along a farm lane that crosses the line near Dymchurch on Saturday, September 10.

A statement from RAIB said: "We have undertaken a preliminary investigation into the circumstances surrounding this accident.

"Having assessed the evidence which has been gathered to date, we have decided not to conduct a full investigation, but to publish a safety digest.

"The safety digest will shortly be made available on our website."

The engine came off the tracks after smashing into the tractor, and ended up ploughing into the shingle at the side of the track before coming to rest on its side.

The first carriage remained upright but was also derailed in the impact.

Five people, including the train driver, were treated for “minor injuries”, while the other 50 people on board the train were also checked over by paramedics.

Firefighters dealt with Green Goddess’s boiler, which the fire service said was thought to be “at risk of exploding”, and witnesses said they saw the driver leap from the carriage and lead passengers to safety.

It is understood the train was approaching the crossing and saw the tractor on the tracks. But when the driver realised the tractor was not going to get off in time, he slammed on the engine’s brakes in a bid to slow down the train.

A statement issued by RHDR said: “The tractor was using what we call an ‘occupation crossing’, that goes from farmland over the tracks, where the driver should call ahead before crossing. It is extremely rare that this system isn’t used correctly.

“We are extremely proud of our driver, who did everything he is trained to do, putting the safety of all of our customers first and protecting himself second.

“The loco will take some time to be repaired but it certainly is repairable.”