(All copyright Steve Sainsbury/Rail Thing 4.2.1973)
A late (and stupid) closure was Winchester to Alton, which missed electrification, provided an excellent (if difficult) alternative route, served the large town of Alresford and a lot of commuters, yet still was sacrificed as late as 1973.
I'd travelled on this lovely line a couple of times before closure, once to continue on to Bentley from Alton for a long walk down to the remains of the Longmoor Military Railway, which in 1970 was still in situ (but at 14 I didn't own a camera!)
So on the last day rather than travel the whole line again I decided to get off at Itchen Abbas, the first station on the line. It was a good choice as the station wasn't crowded with enthusiasts so I could get some decent shots - albeit square format and on a very cheap camera - without having to nudge my way through. The trains were strengthened for the last day.
We didn't know then of course that most of the line would later be saved, but Itchen Abbas, at the moment is still on the 'lost' stretch of route, and hasn't seen a train (other than demolition trains) for almost 42 years now.
I was on that last train. Got one of the red closure posters from Woking
ReplyDeleteJust brilliant. I was brought up in Itchen Abbas
ReplyDeleteItchen Abbas Was lost it would have been a wonderful western terminus for the Watercress line they would of had 14 miles not the 10 they use.
ReplyDeleteI believe Itchen Abbas station is now someone's back garden. Had the line been electrified then today it would be a well used route.
ReplyDeleteCan't any "built-over" land be C.P.O.'d ?
ReplyDeleteOf course - for a real railway rather than a heritage one. More than a few properties, including a block of flats, were demolished to rebuild the Borders Railway,
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