During the second world war the line was relaid again to standard gauge following the original course to a point north of Fan Bay Battery, from there two new lines where laid eastwards either side of the Dover to St Margaret's road and both terminating at St Margaret's.

"Boche Buster", an 18-inch howitzer on a former World War I 14 inch railway gun carriage, was deployed in November 1943.

Maintenance and barrel changing was carried out at the disused Stone Hall Colliery sidings Lydden.

The line then continued to Wanston battery where two spurs where laid in front of the guns "Clem" and "Jane" for barrel changing.

The line was entirely worked by diesel-electric shunting locomotives requisitioned from the LMS (London Midland Scottish) and SR (Southern Railway), three from the SR and six from the LMS the smoke from a steam locomotive being visible above the cliffs would have given the guns positions away.