Midhurst Railways
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The Midhurst Railways Were three Branch lines which where built to serve the Market Town of Midhurst in the English County of West Sussex. The three lines radiated from the town south to Chichester, west to Petersfield, and east to Pulborough.
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[edit] The Pulborough line
This was opened in two stages, from Pulborough to Petworth on 10 October 1859, as part of the line from Three Bridges which would later become part of the Arun Valley Line through Arundel. Later arriving in Midhurst on October 15, 1866. This line was operated by the London Brighton and South Coast Railway. There were three stations (from east to west), Fittleworth, Petworth, and Selham:
See Also: Pulborough railway station
The Line was closed in stages, first to passenger trains from 5 February 1955, then goods services were withdrawn from Selham and Fittleworth Stations May 1963. The Midhurst to Petworth section was closed completely 18 October 1964, leaving Petworth surviving until the 20 May 1966.
[edit] The Petersfield Line
This line was openned September 1, 1860 by the London and South Western Railway, beating the London Brighton and South Coast by 6 years to Midhurst. This line had 2 stations on its route, Elsted and Rogate, and its own separate station at Midhurst. However the Southern Railway closed this and moved all traffic to the former London Brighton & South Coast Railway station.
See Also: Petersfield railway station
Midhurst (LSWR) railway station
The whole line closed 1 February 1955.
[edit] The Chichester Line
Originally attempted in the 1860's, this was opened after much difficulty on the 11 July 1881, also operated by the London Brighton & South Coast Railway. Built to a very grand style the line was built to a double track loading gauge, despite only being single tracked, in case there was ever a need to increase capacity, with the stations provided with large 'Country House' style station buildings. Singleton was built with four platforms and long sidings for the Goodwood Racecourse traffic. However it all proved to be too much for the traffic involved. There were three stations, Lavant, Singleton, and Cocking.
As part of the opening of this line, the station at Midhurst was replaced, in the same 'Country House' Style.
See Also: Chichester railway station
The passenger trains were withdrawn as early as 6 July 1931 by the Southern Railway, but freight services remained until in 19 November 1951 when the section of line between Midhurst and Cocking was withdrawn due to damage by a washout of an embankment, resulting in a train crashing in to the resulting hole. The freight services to Cocking and Singleton where withdrawn on 28 August 1953, but Lavant lasted to closed to general goods 3 August 1968, and Sugar Beat traffic January 1970. The line was cut back before Lavant station to serve gravel workings from 1972, but this was in turn withdrawn finally in 1991. The line between Lavant and the junction with the mainline is now a cycle path.
[edit] Locomotives used on the lines
On the London Brighton and South Coast Railway lines the Midhurst to Pulborough services where worked by various engines designed by J. C. Craven, until the 1880's when William Stroudley's famous 'Terriers' took over. These where in turn replaced by D1 tanks, the last survivor of which was used on the line during its last days. These where replaced by D3 tanks, then ex LSWR M7s which hauled the last passengers trains in 1955. A succession of ex LB&SCR designs where used on freight trains, including C2xs and E4s, together with occasional turns with Southern Railway tender enginesQ & Q1 as well. The lines did see some diesel locomotives in the last freight days, mostly class 08 shunters, although Class 33 main line diesels ran to Midhurst in that station's last year.[1]
- ^ Smith, Keith and Mitchell, Vic (1981). Branch Lines to Midhurst. Middleton. ISBN 0-906520-01-0
[edit] Bibliography
Smith, Keith and Mitchell, Vic (1981). Branch Lines to Midhurst. Middleton. ISBN 0-906520-01-0
Mitchell, Vic and Smith, Keith (1987). Branch Lines around Midhurst. Middleton. ISBN 0-906520-49-5
