The Hayling Billy Trail Project - History
The direct line from London arrived
in Havant in 1859 with the London and South Western Railway line
who also had an interest in a branch line to Hayling. In 1860 The
Hayling Railway Company was formed and the line first opened to
goods traffic in 1865. Passenger traffic commenced in 1867.
This branch line was something of a
curiosity to both railway enthusiasts and onlookers, the attraction
being the diminutive size and quaintness of the locomotives, in
relation to the coaches. A weight restriction on the bridge limited
it to carrying nothing heavier than the Terrier size of locomotive
(28 ton 5
cwt
).
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The map shown on the right was based on an Ordnance Survey map
and was published in Trigg's Guide to Hayling Island, which was
published in 1892.
(For all images on this page,
click the thumbnail image to
view the map full screen, and use your browser's 'back' button to
return to this page.)
Up until the end of 1871, the contractor for building the line
Mr Fredrick Furniss operated the trains, on behalf of the company.
After that date the trains were operated by the
LBSCR
until 1922
when the company was absorbed into the Southern
Railway network.
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The line finally closed in November 1963. The main reason for
the closure was quoted as being the increasing cost of maintaining
the timber trestle bridge by which the Hayling Billy Line crossed
from the mainland to Hayling Island, which included an opening span
with a signal box perched above the waters of the Harbour. The
bridge superstructure was removed very shortly after the line
closed, although to this day the lower parts of the columns
supporting the bridge remain and are clearly visible at low tide,
as can be seen in this aerial photograph looking northwards from
Hayling towards Langstone village.
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At the end of the 20th century, as part of the Millennium
Celebrations an application was made to the Millennium Commission
for funding to build The Hayling Billy Millennium Bridge and Trail.
This project proposed linking the Island to the Regional and
National Cycle Network and envisaged construction of a dramatic new
bridge on the alignment of the demolished rail bridge. It would
also have provided significant amenity improvements for walking,
horse riding, recreation and commuting cyclists.
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In this view, the route of the Hayling Billy Coastal Path on
Hayling Island itself can be clearly seen. The route is in the
ownership of Hampshire County Council for its entire length on the
island, and it forms an important off-road route for cyclists and
pedestrians.
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Whilst the Millennium Project was
not accepted by the Millennium Commission, The Hayling Billy Trail
has been successfully pursued with the Landfill Tax rebates scheme,
with the partnership support of the Borough Council, Hampshire
County Council, Sustrans, the cycling charity, and A & J Bull
Limited. Phase One of the project focuses on the mainland section
from the centre of Havant to the A3023 (Langstone Road) and
provides a first class amenity for cyclists, walkers and the
disabled.
More historical information,
including photographs of the line from the 1930s to 1963, can be
found on our
photo archive page.
For more details about the
history of the Hayling Billy, we recommend the excellent book
'Branch Line to Hayling' by Vic Mitchell and Keith Smith, in
association with Alan Bell, published by the Middleton Press in
1985 - ISBN 0 906520 12 6. Our thanks are expressed to Alan Bell
for permission to reproduce the images and text on this page and
historical images elsewhere on this section of the site.