‘Return to the Hayling Island Branch Line’, is a new hardback book being published for Christmas 2024. It contains the amazing photographic material taken by ‘Mr Hayling’ Alan Bell over several decades. His archives are the most comprehensive ever collected about the 4 ½-mile branch which once operated between Havant and Hayling Island until closure in November 1963. Hundreds of photographs, colourful rare plans of stations and the Langston Bridge, and details of the branch’s operations are contained in this fabulous book. Fascinating detailed plans of the swing bridge at Langston reveal how this operated.
The journey begins in the bay platform at the main line station of Havant. The book illustrates the journey as the Terrier-hauled trains progress towards Langston station and the famous photographic location at the road crossing. All the line’s signals are seen including the posts which had two semaphores attached for up and down signals. The mainland is left behind as the line takes the most famous structure on the branch at Langston harbour. Before that we see the sidings once used for engineering vehicles. We then arrived at the remote small halt at North Hayling. The final leg of the journey brings us to Hayling Island Station itself. Many photographs show every aspect of this station and the yard area. A very detailed survey is made of the goods shed added in 1900. Alan Bell took photos from every angle giving model makers a superb opportunity to get every detail. This is also the case in all the signal boxes along the route with particular detail of the SB at Havant.
Colour and black and white photographs portray the line and its engines but most importantly, the staff who operated the line. Alan would take his pictures at every opportunity with loco crews, signalling staff and station staff.
Chapters include –
Route Description of the line
Stations along the Line
Hayling Goods Shed
Operations and Signalling
The LB&SCR Terrier Class on the line
The Langston Harbour Railway Bridge
Decline and Renewed Interest with attempts to re-open -Final Closure
320 Black & white and colour photographs, plans of Langston bridge and stations, hardback, 144 pages. £30 (with added extra £1 postage being a hardback book)
Authors Ron Neal and Roger Hardingham
