The Hayling Island Branch: The Hayling Billy

· Pen and Sword
Ebook
104
Pages
Eligible

About this ebook

This British Railways history presents an in-depth look at the iconic seaside line that brought residents and visitors to the tiny English Channel island.

The Hayling Island Branch was one of Britain's most iconic seaside railway lines, connecting the town of Havant with Hayling Island on the south coast of England. First serving as a freight line, it opened to passenger traffic in 1867. It was managed and operated as part of the London Brighton & South Coast Railway, who were responsible for its upkeep until the railway grouping in 1923, when it became a part of the Southern Railway.

The railway had a colorful and bucolic existence, with trains headed by the attractive Stroudley Terrier class tank locomotives and a collection of vintage carriage stock. In 1948 the branch became part of the Southern Region of British Railways, carrying on as a local and at times heavily used branch line, until its closure in November 1963.

Today the track bed of the Hayling Island Branch is an idyllic foot path and Local Nature Reserve known as the Hayling Billy. Only the former goods shed at Hayling Island stands as a reminder of the historic railway.
This British Railways history presents an in-depth look at the iconic seaside line that brought residents and visitors to the tiny English Channel island. The Hayling Island Branch was one of Britain's most iconic seaside railway lines, connecting the town of Havant with Hayling Island on the s...

Discover more

About the author

John Scott-Morgan is the author of multiple railway histories and photographic surveys, he is the founder of the British Overseas Railways Historical Trust and is a life long transport historian and preservationist. His family has been involved with the railway industry since the early days, having relatives who worked on the railways since 1836. He is also involved in a curatorial capacity, with the Great Western Society at Didcot, advising on the restoration and preservation of locomotives and rolling stock. He lives in Woking in Surrey where he continues to write transport history books.
John Scott-Morgan is the author of multiple railway histories and photographic surveys, he is the founder of the British Overseas Railways Historical Trust and is a life long transport historian and preservationist. His family has been involved with the railway industry since the early days, havi...

Rate this ebook

Tell us what you think.

Reading information

Smartphones and tablets
Install the Google Play Books app for Android and iPad/iPhone. It syncs automatically with your account and allows you to read online or offline wherever you are.
Laptops and computers
You can listen to audiobooks purchased on Google Play using your computer's web browser.
eReaders and other devices
To read on e-ink devices like Kobo eReaders, you'll need to download a file and transfer it to your device. Follow the detailed Help Center instructions to transfer the files to supported eReaders.