The Hayling Billy Trail Project - History

 

The Railway - 1865 to 1963

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 ). 
 

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. 
 
Map of Hayling, Trigg's Guide 1892, showing original route of Hayling Billy (95kb)  

The Trail - 1963 to present day

  

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. 

 
View of old Hayling Rail bridge with road bridge in background (25kb)

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. 

 
Millennium Cycle Bridge at Langstone (47kb)

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, as part of the National Cycle Network (Route NCN 2) it forms an important off-road route for cyclists and pedestrians.

 
Hayling Island section of the Hayling Billy Coastal Path (51kb)
When the Millennium Project was not accepted by the Millennium Commission for funding, the emphasis of the project was changed. Development of the Hayling Billy Trail as part of the National Cycle Network (route NCR 2) 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 Veolia Ltd (formerly A & J Bull Limited). Phases 1, 3 and 4 of the project focus on the mainland section from the centre of Havant to Langstone and the finished route provides a high quality amenity for cyclists, walkers and the disabled. It is intended that, as funding becomes available, future phases will extend the route at high standard along its whole length, and link the Trail to adjoining cycling infrastructure (although not all sections on Hayling may be surfaced to 'mainland' standards since it could be unsafe for the horses that share this part of the route).
 
More historical information, including photographs and videos 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. You can purchase this and other books about the railway online using our link to Amazon UK, and why not buy someone an Amazon Gift Certificate so they can choose which one they want?
 
Direct Gov UK
Havant Borough Council, Civic Centre Road, Havant, Hampshire PO9 2AX