The Fawley Branch
Mick House
Mick House
From Wikipedia - On 21 January 2014 Hampshire County Council decided to shelve the plans to reopen the line to passengers. The council's report came down against committing further funding for the scheme due to a perceived poor value for money business case, although it said the authority should review the position should local circumstances change. The last train serving the refinery ran on 1 September 2016, after which trains would normally run only as far as Marchwood (This has also now ceased) although the occasional private hire train would travel the branch line as far as the gates at Fawley oil refinery.
Last train - On the 14th May 2017 a DMU Railtour ran – The ‘Fawley Forester’ and it was thought that that was probably the last train - gone forever.
However - since then on the 3rd October Mick House went back to see the line and found a RHTT in operation at Marchwood. He managed to speak to a member of staff who was checking the track gauge and was informed that they are still looking at fully reopening the line as a lot more housing and other development going to take place around the Fawley area. Another point all the time the military are present to Marchwood the railway will stay open.
Today If you look on Real Time Trains today you will see a train is due to depart Fawley Esso today at 08.24, a DMU is heading for Fawley Esso today at 14.03 that started out at Eastleigh at 05.18 this morning and a train for Marchwood left Bicester at 07.41 due to arrive at 11.19.
So likening it to the Lynton and Barnstable - Perchance it is not dead, but sleepeth – let’s hope so.
From Wikipedia - On 21 January 2014 Hampshire County Council decided to shelve the plans to reopen the line to passengers. The council's report came down against committing further funding for the scheme due to a perceived poor value for money business case, although it said the authority should review the position should local circumstances change. The last train serving the refinery ran on 1 September 2016, after which trains would normally run only as far as Marchwood (This has also now ceased) although the occasional private hire train would travel the branch line as far as the gates at Fawley oil refinery.
Last train - On the 14th May 2017 a DMU Railtour ran – The ‘Fawley Forester’ and it was thought that that was probably the last train - gone forever.
However - since then on the 3rd October Mick House went back to see the line and found a RHTT in operation at Marchwood. He managed to speak to a member of staff who was checking the track gauge and was informed that they are still looking at fully reopening the line as a lot more housing and other development going to take place around the Fawley area. Another point all the time the military are present to Marchwood the railway will stay open.
Today If you look on Real Time Trains today you will see a train is due to depart Fawley Esso today at 08.24, a DMU is heading for Fawley Esso today at 14.03 that started out at Eastleigh at 05.18 this morning and a train for Marchwood left Bicester at 07.41 due to arrive at 11.19.
So likening it to the Lynton and Barnstable - Perchance it is not dead, but sleepeth – let’s hope so.
Marchwood - a RHTT departs passing over 'Main Road' level crossing and heading for Eastleigh. 3rd October 2017 Copyright Mick House
Micks recent photographs have been added to the Fawley branch collection please click here. Many thanks Mick.
An appreciation
Brian Willis
Brian Willis
One of the joys of this website is the photos of the County. From my point of view, it’s the only modern connection I have on a regular basis so the countryside photos are as important as the trains. Today’s pictures from the Westwaters, particularly of Kit Hill and environs was of my old stamping ground around the mines and the Liskeard and Caradon railway. So thanks to them both for zeroing in on a favourite area and thanks also to the those who photo the rest of the County and its trains, for restoring many fading memories. Thank you too Brian.
KJ asked where Brian lives -
We live in a town in the Olympic Peninsula on Puget Sound about forty miles south of Seattle via ferry or the Narrows Bridge. The same place where the original bridge collapsed in a storm in 1940! There are some famous home movies of its demise; Google, Tacoma Narrows bridge.
I have indeed checked out the CR coverage, many times and seen how it looks years after I trekked around there a long time ago. It was particularly good to see the Wheal Jenkin engine house is still there, simply because my maternal grandfather was a Jenkin from St Austell. Not a lot of changes otherwise. I shall miss Sid’s contributions; he and I actually were in contact, not about the L&C, but the CMR and its locomotives. He knew a lot!
Brian Willis, 3812 116th St Ct NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98332. Thank you Brian.
KJ asked where Brian lives -
We live in a town in the Olympic Peninsula on Puget Sound about forty miles south of Seattle via ferry or the Narrows Bridge. The same place where the original bridge collapsed in a storm in 1940! There are some famous home movies of its demise; Google, Tacoma Narrows bridge.
I have indeed checked out the CR coverage, many times and seen how it looks years after I trekked around there a long time ago. It was particularly good to see the Wheal Jenkin engine house is still there, simply because my maternal grandfather was a Jenkin from St Austell. Not a lot of changes otherwise. I shall miss Sid’s contributions; he and I actually were in contact, not about the L&C, but the CMR and its locomotives. He knew a lot!
Brian Willis, 3812 116th St Ct NW
Gig Harbor, WA 98332. Thank you Brian.
Dunster
John Cornelius
John Cornelius
A shot made all the more interesting by the railway paraphernalia to the left. Copyright John Cornelius