A much loved Isle of Wight Central Railway line that served for a little more than 52 years, Andrew Britton enriches the history of the route with memories of staff from Southern Railway and British Railways days.
Completed throughout on Friday, 1 June 1900 and operated by the Isle of Wight Central Railway from the outset, subsequent recollections of both Southern Railway days and the British Railways (Southern Region) era extol the special charm of the branch line that ran south from Merstone to Ventnor West: ‘Without doubt the Ventnor West branch was the most beautiful and scenic rural branch line in the country, with a wonderful view across the sea at St Lawrence.’ Driver Ken West, Newport shed, Isle of Wight.
‘The Ventnor West branch had a unique atmosphere and operated like a gigantic family where every railwayman and woman knew each other and the passengers by name or face.’ Guard Percy Primmer.
‘Tourists travelling across the Solent for their summer holidays would head down the eastern route in their masses from Ryde Pier Head to Ventnor Town, but for those crossing via the Red Funnel paddle steamer from Southampton to Cowes and onwards by train to Newport, the journey forward to Ventnor was best via Merstone and the branch.’ Island traffic inspector Ron Russell.
The above sentiments were universally echoed by the island’s railway staff.
The final railway to be constructed on the Isle of Wight, the first section of the Newport, Godshill & St Lawrence Railway opened from Merstone through to St Lawrence (6 miles 33 chains) on 20 July 1897, and it was then extended through the Undercliff and along a rock shelf to reach Ventnor in 1900, a 76 chain extension of the branch being built to provide a terminus nearer to the town.
The board of the Isle of Wight Cent
