▁the ▁stations ▁in ▁the ▁town ▁centre ▁and ▁at ▁the ▁har bour . ▁Const ruction ▁work ▁on ▁the ▁new ▁line ▁involved ▁over ▁ 7 0 0   men ▁moving ▁ ▁of ▁ch alk , ▁at ▁a ▁cost ▁of ▁approximately ▁£ 5 0 0 , 0 0 0 ▁( £ ▁in ▁). ▁ ▁The ▁new ▁link ▁opened ▁on ▁ 2 ▁July ▁ 1 9 2 6 , ▁although ▁Dum pton ▁Park ▁station ▁was ▁not ▁fully ▁open ▁to ▁the ▁public ▁until ▁ 1 9 ▁July ▁ 1 9 2 6 . ▁On ▁ 2 ▁July ▁ 1 9 2 6 , ▁both ▁former ▁R ams gate ▁stations ▁were ▁closed ▁along ▁with ▁the ▁line ▁through ▁the ▁tunnel ▁to ▁R ams gate ▁Har bour . ▁ ▁The ▁tunnel ▁was ▁se aled ▁and ▁abandoned , ▁and ▁the ▁former ▁R ams gate ▁Har bour ▁station ▁was ▁sold ▁to ▁Th an et ▁Am us ements , ▁which ▁converted ▁the ▁site ▁into ▁a ▁zoo ▁and ▁fun f air ▁called ▁Mer rie ▁England . ▁Although ▁ade qu ate ▁for ▁the ▁town ' s ▁residents , ▁the ▁new ▁stations ▁were ▁a ▁long ▁way ▁from ▁the ▁sea front ▁attra ctions , ▁which ▁were ▁at ▁the ▁foot ▁of ▁a ▁ste ep ▁hill . ▁The ▁day - tri ppers , ▁on ▁whom ▁R ams gate ' s ▁tour ist ▁industry ▁dep ended , ▁were ▁therefore ▁increasing ly ▁attract ed ▁to ▁Marg ate , ▁where ▁the ▁station ▁was ▁next ▁to ▁the ▁beach . ▁ ▁By ▁ 1 9 3 3 , ▁Mer rie ▁England , ▁then ▁owned ▁by