The five and a half mile Lymington branch is a railway which runs from Brockenhurst to Lymington Pier. The railway is single track throughout its length. It runs parallel to the Brockenhurst to Bournemouth line as far as the site of Lymington Junction. The Lymington branch line is electrified using the 750 V DC third rail system common on the former SR of BR. The weekday service is, however, operated by a diesel unit.The line was constructed by the Lymington Railway Company, being authorised on 7th July 1856, with a capital of £21,000. It was to be built from the LSWR at Brockenhurst to Lymington Town Quay. The company was authorised to purchase the Quay and the Town Bridge, and to build a jetty.The short line was constructed quickly, and an inaugural passenger train ran on 8 May 1858. However this was before the visit of the Board of Trade inspecting officer, and when he made his inspection, he expressed his satisfaction, but now the LSWR required additional work on the track before it would start operations. After this work was done, the line opened on 12 July 1858, with the LSWR working it. Goods traffic probably started on 23rd July 1858.The jetty was not opened until 1 June 1861. Courtesy Wikipedia.
Originally it was intended that the slam door stock on the line would be replaced by Class 450 Desiro units- this would have been by 2005. However, SWT considered that due to the self-contained nature of the branch it would be more cost effective to continue Mk 1 operation. On this basis SWT bought and refurbished two BR Class 421 units for use exclusively on the branch. Work carried out on the units included the fitting of central door locking and other safety features to allow them to remain in service beyond the November 2005 deadline for the withdrawal of slam-door stock and the units were also reduced from four car to three car sets
The final two units of this type to work the line were numbered 1497 and 1498 and officially named Freshwater and Farringford respectively. The units were also repainted into an approximation of their original liveries. The "heritage" service commenced on 12th May 2005 and an exemption was obtained to enable the use of the 3Cig units until 2013, at which point they were estimated to be life expired.
A Lymington Flyer headboard was made by Malcolm Ellis of Parkstone station, for use on the slam-door stock by local traincrew.
In Summer 2009 SWT announced plans to replace the heritage EMUs with more modern Class 158 sprinters on weekdays and to operate with Class 450 units an weekends (the latter were also used on occasions when the 3Cigs were unavailable, with the 4th carriage locked out of use to overcome the platform height issue at Lymington Town. This change took place on 23rd May 2010, with the final 3Cig service departing from Lymington Pier on 22nd May 2010 at 22:14 and arriving at Brockenhurst at 22:24
Again courtesy Wikipedia.
The final two units of this type to work the line were numbered 1497 and 1498 and officially named Freshwater and Farringford respectively. The units were also repainted into an approximation of their original liveries. The "heritage" service commenced on 12th May 2005 and an exemption was obtained to enable the use of the 3Cig units until 2013, at which point they were estimated to be life expired.
A Lymington Flyer headboard was made by Malcolm Ellis of Parkstone station, for use on the slam-door stock by local traincrew.
In Summer 2009 SWT announced plans to replace the heritage EMUs with more modern Class 158 sprinters on weekdays and to operate with Class 450 units an weekends (the latter were also used on occasions when the 3Cigs were unavailable, with the 4th carriage locked out of use to overcome the platform height issue at Lymington Town. This change took place on 23rd May 2010, with the final 3Cig service departing from Lymington Pier on 22nd May 2010 at 22:14 and arriving at Brockenhurst at 22:24
Again courtesy Wikipedia.
Brockenhurst
BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T no. 80134 arrives at Brockenhurst station with the Lymington branch train on 25/3/67. 80134 had been a Bournemouth allocated engine since 9/64 and would remain there until the end of steam in July 1967.
The small headboard states, “The last steam branch, 1967”.
[Mike Morant collection]
Brockenhurst where 3CIG number 1199 'Lymington Flyer' Waits its next turn of duty down th branch to Lymington Pier. 19th December 2003 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
Unit 1498 stands in the Lymington Branch Platform at Brockenhurst. 17th July 2006 Copyright Roger Winnen
Taken from the bridge west Brokenhurst where the B3055 crosses the lines. The Lymington branch is the single line bearing away to the left. Formerly the site of Lymington Junction. The 'Castemans Corkscrew' line to Ringwood turned off right here. 19th January 2003 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
Lymington Junction
Prior to its closure in April 1967 a signalbox at this location controlled traffic on the main line and the branches to Ringwood and Lymington. However after this date the Lymington branch was served by an independent single track from Brockenhurst. The branch to Ringwood closed to passengers on the 4th May 1964 and to goods on 30th March 1965.
Lymington Junction The signalman waits token as the train app Lymington Jct on route to Brockenhurst. 3rd August 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen
The site of the junction as 37711 Tremorfa Steelworks heads west towards Bournemouth.Copyright Mick House
Unit 1221 comes off of the Lymington branch heading for Brockenhurst. Copyright Mick House
For a short distance near the former Lymington Junction the line crosses open countryside. The road in the foreground is the B3055 and the distant bridge carries the main line towards Bournemouth. 9th June 2017 KJ
A very rare sight on the lymington branch. LCGB: The New Forester Rail Tour 19/3/66.
Bulleid Q1 class 0-6-0 no. 33006 approaching the Down distant signal near Brockenhurst on the Lymington branch.
[Andrew Britton / Mike Morant collection]
Ampress Works Halt Approx four miles from Brockenhurst
Ampress Works Halt was a station on the Lymington Branch which had a very short life was opened on the 1st October 1956 as Ampress Works Halt its name then changed to Ampress in Sptember 1970. It closed in 1989. Between 1956 and 1989, served the Wellworthy engineering works near Lymington. It was sited near the bridge over the A377 Lymington to Brockenhurst road, the station which never appeared in any public timetable closed when the engineering works ceased operation. Today trains on the electrified Lymington branch line run past the station. However, as of June 2006 the new Lymington Hospital is being built on part of the old Wellworthy site, and the town of Lymington has also grown northwards to surround the location. The idea of reopening the halt, which still physically exists, has been discussed, but nothing seems to have come of it.
The station's former sign now hangs on the wall of the train shed at Eastleigh Lakeside Railway at the Lakeside Country Park.
The station's former sign now hangs on the wall of the train shed at Eastleigh Lakeside Railway at the Lakeside Country Park.
Seen from a passing train looking in the direction of Lymington Town. 19th February 2003 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
Ampress Halt. Looking back towards Brockenhurst 19th February 2003 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
Lymington Town Approx five miles from Brockenhurst
Copyright John Cornelius
Lymington Town, looking towards Lymington Pier. 80032 runs through on the 23rd March 1966 Copyright Geoff Matthews
Lymington Town on the 23rd March 1966 as 80032 heads out past the shed. The shed was to remain a sub shed of Eastleigh for another year until steam finished. Copyright Geoff Matthews
Closing the gates - Lymington Town Signal Box on the 3rd August 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen
Lymington Town Signal Box on the 3rd August 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen
3CIG unit 6052 Passes Lymington Town Signal Box. 3rd August 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen
A class 158 unit on the level crossing at Lymington Town. 7th July 2016 Copyright Roger Winnen. Note barriers have replaced the gates.
Lymington Town on the 19th February 2003 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
Lymington Town Station on the 7th August 2016. Note the new building development alongside. Copyright Roger Winnen
Lymington 19th February 2003 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
Lymington Town. Passengers incl CRS members, boarding the service to Brockenhurst. The young lady is not a CRS member!! 7th July 2016 Copyright Roger Winnen
158 890 at Lymington Town 22nd March 2016. Copyright Mick House
Lymington Town in low light. 19th February 2003 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
LMSR Ivatt designed 'Mickey Mouse' 2MT 2-6-2T no. 41295 between Lymington's Pier and Town stations at some time in 1966. 41295 was built at Crewe in 1951 and so was never anything other than a BR engine. Not only that but it spent its entire further working life allocated to Southern depots ending up as a Bournemouth allocated loco from November 1964 until withdrawal in April 1967.
[Mike Morant collection]
BR Standard 4MT 2-6-4T no. 80134 departing from Lymington station with a train bound for Brockenhurst circa 1965.
[Mike Morant collection]
Lymington Town - train approaches from Lymington Pier on the 19th 19th February 2003 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
A train for Brokenhurst arrives at Lymington Town. Note the fixed distant signal. 3rd August 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen
Between Lymington Town and Lymington Pier
The train between Lymington Town and Pier Stations. 3rd August 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen
158 890 On the Lymington River crossing, 22nd March 2016. Copyrght Mick House
The view from a 3 CIG having just left Lymington pier on the 20th March 2005 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
Lymington Pier Approx six miles from Brockenhurst
Copyright John Cornelius
6050 waits at Lymington Pier in May 1975. Copyright Doug Nicholls.
Lymington Pier Station with semaphores. 3rd August 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen
Lymington Pier. Old photographs displayed on the pier. Roger Winnen. Note the signals, and the station shelter. Picture taken from a public display board. The steamer could well be the P.S. Freshwater.
Steam days, photo displayed at the end of the pier.
Lymington pier 2-HAP 6052 a two car Electric Unit on the 3rd August 1976 Copyright Roger Winnen.
Copyright John Cornelius
Lymington pier on the 20th March 2005 Copyright Kevin Jenkin
The Brockenhurst end of Unit 1498 at Lymington Pier, 04 May 2008 Copyright Mick House.
Unit 1498 from Brockenhurst runs into the terminus at Lymington Pier, 04 May 2008 Copyright Mick House.
Lymington pier. Vehicles and passengers join the ferry to the Isle of Wight. 7th July 2016 Copyright Roger Winnen
Lymington pier. The M.V. Freshwater departing Lymington Pier for Freshwater. 31st July 1983 Copyright Roger Winnen. Note the branch train in the background.
Lymington Pier Departure. 31st July 1983 Copyright Roger Winnen
PS Freshwater at Lymington Pier in August 1955.
[Mike Morant]
Later called Sussex Queen, then Swanage Queen. Scrapped 1962
A day visit to the Lymington branch - Paul Barlow
Something a bit different from 2005. Shots of the soon to be withdrawn slam door SR EMUs at Brockenhurst and Lymington. With the exception of Lymington branch services, all SR slam door stock was withdrawn in May 2005. The Lymington service were operated by two dedicated 3-CIG EMUs as a heritage operation until May 2010. Unit 1499 was preserved at the Dean Forest Railway. not sure if it is still there.
Hope these are of interest. Kind regards, Paul
Hope these are of interest. Kind regards, Paul
Unit 1499 on the 11.59 Brockenhurst to Lymington crosses the water on the final stretch to Lymington flyer. Copyright Paul Barlow.
CIG 2311+1395 07.54 Waterloo to Bournemouth. In the bay 1499 0959 Brockenhurst to Lymington. 5th January 2005 Copyright Paul Barlow
1499 0959 Brockenhurst to Lymington Copyright Paul Barlow. 5th January 2005 Copyright Paul Barlow
1499 1044 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst at Lymington Pier station 5th January 2005 Copyright Paul Barlow
1499 1044 Lymington Pier to Brockenhurst at Lymington 5th January 2005 Copyright Paul Barlow
Many thanks Paul, a very enjoyable trip of the Lymington branch.